Kickin' Off Summer

For the past several years, we have gone to Nashville for Memorial Day weekend. It is always such a fun time to be with the whole family and get to hang out and relax a little. Of course, there is not near as much relaxing as there used to be with kiddos in the picture now, but it's always so much fun. We ate out, grilled out, played games, talked, swam, and just enjoyed being together. Here are several pictures from our weekend...

It's Official...

We are moving to Tallahassee, FL sometime late summer. We are so excited that Daniel got this job because it has been his dream for several years now. He will be working with a bridge design company there, and to say he is excited is the understatement of the year! He has worked SO HARD throughout undergrad and graduate school and I am forever thankful that it is paying off for him. As for me, I think there will definitely be a period of adjustment. But I will make it. :) You see, when you have lived in the same small town your entire life, changes like this are tough. But I know this is God's plan for us. I will miss all my friends here, especially my church friends that I see and get together with all the time. They keep me sane on the days I feel like I might lose it, and they offer support and encouragement right when I need it. I just love them! But since we will only be about 2 hours from the beach, I envision lots of get-togethers and reunions in our future...

We are spending some time in Tallahassee soon to go look at houses and hopefully make a decision about that. We have been looking online for a while now and have narrowed the search down a lot. I have been talking to a great realtor down there that is going to spend 2 whole days with us, looking at house after house. I can't wait. I am super excited about this part!

I will leave you with several of the bridges that the company Daniel will work for has done... aren't they the coolest thing??

Crazy Hair

Tonight when I got Maddox out of the tub I decided to play up his curls a little bit. I just can't help myself... I have fallen in love with them! I need to enjoy them while I can b/c pretty soon he will be needing a haircut. :(

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Daniel has been playing on a church-league softball team and when the games are early enough, Maddox and I like to go out and watch him play. I have said this whole season that it will be so much easier to do thing like this with him when he is walking. People tell me I am going to eat my words, but I stand by them whole-heartedly. This child does NOT want me to sit and hold him all the time, or any of the time really. He wants to be DOWN and on the go all the time. Therefore, when he can walk, he won't be crawling in the nastiness at the park or at the softball field, or any other place for that matter. I may be getting my wish soon enough b/c today he has been taking 5-7 steps at a time. Yay!!!

Baby Curls and Outside Playtime

Sweet baby curls...

Outside playtime...

As Good As It Gets

Yes, I am talking about the kindest, most selfless, loving, humble woman on the planet... my sweet momma! It just doesn't get any better than this, and I am beyond thankful that God chose her for me! She has taught me so much about what it means to be a great mom, although I will never hold a candle to her. I talk to my mom probably 5-10 times a day and I wouldn't have it any other way. She has been there for me through everything and I love her so much!

And now sharing the same admiration for my mom is Maddox. He LOVES her and wants to be with her all the time! He is getting to where he prefers her to me, and I can't blame him! She's pretty awesome! Happy Mother's Day to my dear momma!

Cravings

I never really had any cravings with Maddox, but that does not seem to be the case this time. Let me warn you, they are not at all healthy ones either. But nonetheless, here they are:
1.

I usually prefer Chick-fil-A to Zaxby's, but not anymore!
2.


...which leads me to my next craving...
3.

cheese dip! I have been wanting this like crazy lately, and luckily, last time I ate at Moe's, I got to fill out a survey and next time I go, I get a FREE cup of queso... so exciting!!

I could eat any of these things at any point in the day and it would make me the happiest person alive. Yeah, I am hoping I don't double my weight gain this time! :)

Doctor's Appointment

Today I had my 2nd appointment at the doctor and it went really well! I will be 10 weeks tomorrow and things are progressing very smoothly. We got to hear the sweet little heartbeat, which never gets old to me. I could listen to it all day long! I go back in 4 weeks for another routine appointment and then 1-2 weeks later we will get to have our ultrasound. I am so very excited about that! Most of all, I want to know that everything is ok, and it will also be really exciting to find out whether we will be having a boy or girl. We are contemplating keeping the name a secret until the birth, but have not decided yet. Daniel really wants to, and thinks it will be really neat to get to go out into the waiting room and announce the name for the first time. We'll see...

I plan to start documenting belly growth tomorrow since I started at 10 weeks with Maddox. So check back for that. I am definitely showing more this go 'round!

Slacking

I feel like it's been a while since I gave a Maddox update, and really I feel like I have been slacking on the blog in general lately. This may be because of the extreme exhaustion I have been feeling due to the tiny baby growing inside of me... I'm sure it is. Anyway, here are some tidbits about our sweet Maddox...

-Has his bottom 2 front teeth, and I can see the top 2 front ones sticking through
-Still not walking yet, and I am so ready for him to be!! He is getting HEAVY!
-Is the most vocal child I have ever seen...he is never quiet! :)
-Is a great napper and night sleeper. Taking 2 naps a day and sleeping 10-11 hours at night
-Has been in a size 4 diaper since October (this seems like a long time!)
-Loves drinking water from his sippy cup
-Is a PICKY eater... likes most meats but will not have fruits or veggies. Hopefully we will figure out a solution to that soon
-Can bark like a dog, moo like a cow, clap, wave bye-bye, can sorta blow kisses, hug and kiss on cue, and dance
-Has the widest, chunkiest feet ever... shoes are gonna be tough
-would eat Ritz crackers all day every day if we let him
-wants to be outside all the time
-Loves to swing
-Is pretty attatched to his Nana (she likes this)
-Is the biggest blessing, even on the toughest of days

In other news, next week is a huge week for us... Daniel has 3 interviews and we will be traveling a lot. I am nervous about leaving Maddox for that long. He will be away from us for a total of 4 nights. He is staying with my parents for 3 of those 4 nights, and the other one he will spend with one of my best friends, who is also Daniel's cousin. He could not be in better hands, but this will definitely be the longest we have ever been away from him so I know it will be hard. Maybe I will have something to report soon regarding jobs.

Happy Monday everyone!!