Things are going great. I am almost 12 weeks and I have started to feel better. I have even been able to go to the gym this week. Woohoo! I still have not had a lot of energy, but I am not for sure it is the baby or my little girl running around. This will be a different pregnancy than last...NO going home and taking a nap or lying around.

Our friends Carrie and Alan Binkley gave birth to Sawyer Ellic on 8/20 at 1:33pm. He is so cute!! We took dinner to them last night and was there for about 2 hours. He never once made a sound. Carrie says that he hardly ever cries and really laid back.

After dinner Carrie offered us these wonderful cupcakes that Madison & I just had to try...

I think the sugar just hit her system!!!

She is so amazing and I love her more everyday. She enchances my life by her just being in it. It is amazing to watch her learn and grow. She says a new word everyday.

31 Weeks to go...

As I spoke in my last blog...there is a reason I will not be training for the Century next month...I AM PREGNANT!!! Perry and I are so excited to be welcoming baby # 2 to our family. Madison is going to be a great B-I-G sister. She loves other children and babies so much that I know this will be an easy transition for her.

So far this pregnancy has been a little more difficult than the last. With Madison I was full of energy and glowing. This time I have not felt so well. I have not actually gotten sick, but I have waves of nausea throughout the day. I am currently 9 weeks along and the due date is March 17th. Plus having a 15 month old, it is keeping me running. Maybe I will not gain 36lbs like I did last time. ;-} Actually, I have lost several lbs and I am in much better shape than I was with Madison.

Anywho, keep us in your prayers and look for Baby Ga-Ga updates.

Many blessings,

Time Flys when you are having fun...

It has been a while since I have blogged anything. Where do I start? So, many things have happened. Madison & I went to MI with my friend Katie Barnes. We spent a few days with her family and went to Mackinac Island. We had a great time and it was nice to get away. It was actually the 1st time Madison went swimming. She had a blast and I have a ton of pics to post. Hopefully I can do that soon.

My dad got out of the hospital on Friday July 11th. After 2 months he is so happy to be home. We are all happy he is home. It gets tiresome going to the hospital almost everyday. He has made so many improvements in his recovery. All the doctors have been amazed at how fast he has recovered. I am not amazed b/c I believe that all things are possible through Jesus Christ. He is the one that strengthens us. What is amazing is to watch God work right in front of your eyes. Before this accident my father was not in a good place in his life and even though he believed in God he did not have a relationship with him, nor did he want one. Now his heart is overflowing with the desire to chase after him. Amen, for that! God is good! And God is being glorified.

Madison, aka bugaboo, is growing like a weed. Everyday she is learning a new word and exploring everything. I am not for sure what I did to fill my time, but I can tell you that the only thing I want to do now is run home to see and play with my baby girl. She teaches to so many things like love without holding back and to completely trust people even if they have not proven anything to you. Sometimes I wish I could go back to that time...you know...before the world came along and tainted your thoughts and feelings.

Perry & I have been cycling a lot. We wanted to train to cycle a century this fall but unfortunately I will not be able to. I will talk about why in a later blog. I am encouraging Perry to continue with the training. Maybe next year I will be able to jump back in. We have found so much joy in cycling. It gives us time to spend alone together, talking, not talking or just enjoying the route we are on.

Enough for now...maybe I will be able to post some pics soon. I have a ton.

This man...

is my partner, best friend, lover, confidant, the person who makes me laugh the most, the one who pushes me to give my best, my shoulder to cry on, the father of my child. He is so many things to me...every time I look at him I am amazed that he loves me so much. He is wonderful and I am grateful he is mine.

Gourmet Sandwiches...

Friday night we stayed at my mom and grandmother's (A.K.A Granny D) and for dinner we had sandwiches. I am not for sure what it is...the way she opens the lunch meat...the way she displays the bread...whatever it is her sandwiches are the best...no joke! I guess it is just something about your grandparents house that makes everything better.

Here is what was left of Perry's...

New baby Helton

Daren & Kristen has a new addition to their family Taylor Paige Helton. She was born on June 9th. She is so cute!!! Last night we took dinner over and spent some time with them. I did not get any pics of the new baby but I did snag some others. Madison & Emma had a great time swinging on the front porch then we all went to the back to swing & ride on the teeter totter.

There are more on Flickr.

I could not let them have all the fun!!!

Showering Synetha

Amanda, Samantha, Ashley an I hosted a shower for Synetha on June 6th. She is having twins in August.

Below are baby pictures of Synetha & Teddy, how cute!

She is so excited and looks AMAZING!!

She got lots of wonderful items and the shower was a success. Madison made a friend and tried to run away.

Thank goodness I caught them!

Home Sick...

This is what we did last week, sit on the couch, sip pedialyte and watch cartoons. Madison was sick from Monday night to Friday morning. We could not bare going through the weekend and her not seeing the Dr. She lost 1 whole pound b/c she did not want to eat. That is a lot when you only have 21 of them.

We are much better now!

Happy 1st B-day!!!
On Saturday May 10th we celebrated Madison's 1st birthday. It is so hard for me to believe that she is already 1. She had so many friends and family come join in the fun. All the kids had a blast and ate way too much sugar. I have uploaded the pics to Flickr.


She is such a girl that she ate her cake one finger at a time. Once she was full then she tore it apart.

playing it cool...

Sunday after church we met my father, Jessica Denton and her kids at Centennial Park for a picnic. The weather was beautiful and Madison loves to be outside. We had such a wonderful time. Took tons of pics and they turned out great! To see them all click on the Flickr link on the right handside under "My Many Pics"

Just a swingin'

Madison loves to swing. I think that it is the breeze blowing through her hair that she loves the best.

New Orleans

The Fam leaves on Saturday for New Orleans. I actually have a conference Sunday night -Tuesday and Perry & Madison is tagging along. Wish us luck and keep us in your prayers for a safe travel.

The little helper

She was trying to help her father get the taxes prepared on Sunday. She is so funny! As you can see in the top picture she also enjoys tasting everything. There is a chuck of paper missing at the bottom of the page in front of her.

A Touch of Spring

We have this beautiful cherry tree in the front of our house that Madison loves. Every afternoon I have to stop so she can look at the flowers. We stop, she looks and then giggles like it is the funniest thing she has ever seen.

So here are a few pics that I just had to take yesterday. Enjoy!