Family trip to Busch Gardens

We spent Father's Day at Busch Gardens. What a fun day!! Maddison got to see all the Sesame Street Character's she loves, Daddy got to ride really big coasters and drink beer !! Maddison has also decided that she loves to go fast and roller coasters are the greatest thing ever. We are scared, she is only 3 and a half. Mommy had fun too just watching, but once baby is born, watch out it's my turn !!! Oh and the best part of the day was getting in for free, thanks to Jason and his service to the U.S. Air Force.

Happy Father's Day Jason !!

To an amazing husband and father. Thanks for just being you. We love you so much. You are still Maddie's favorite snuggler (and mine too). We hope you have a great day.
Love you ...... And just think this time next year there will be another little girl for you to cuddle with !!

Jason is "officially" done with being a lowly intern !!!!

We now have more reason to celebrate some changes coming our way, like a new baby daughter. Jason is no longer an intern !!! He is now a CA-1. This may not sound like much to you, but for us it's a big deal. The first year of medical residency for a new doctor is the hardest one and we made it !!! It was a very, very, very challenging and hard year for all of us, especially Jason. Once again we made it through, and it feels really good. Now he is able to do strictly anesthesia in the operating room. His hours will be normal, 5 am to 3 ish everyday and NO WEEKENDS !!

I am so proud of him (I know I say that a lot)!!! He just never gives up and just keeps going. He tells me that Maddison and I keep him going. His desire is to create a safe and secure future for our family, which makes my heart melt. It makes me so proud to be his wife and to be the one standing by his side through this journey we are on.

25 and a half weeks !!

Little baby "Minty" is growing.

Family Pictures

Funny how pictures can tell a story. It was so good to see our family despite the reason we all were together. It was a day of mixed emotions. Remembering my Father with tears and laughter. I know he was there with us......

For those of us that need a smile-- Vintage Maddie

My Father's Passing

This picture was taken the day we brought Maddie home from the hospital, she was a day old. My Dad was so excited to see her and kept saying she was "so pretty, so pretty." My Dad always loved babies and he really loved holding Maddie and kissing on her. This is one of my favorite pictures and memories of him.

My Dad passed away on May 20th, he was 73 years old. I am grateful to have so many memories of him that make me laugh out loud. He always had something to say !!! You are missed Dad, and we will always love you !!!

(Give everyone you love a hug today, just for me !!)

Strawberries on Mother's Day

My Rowdy Mom's group told us about this great Strawberry Farm, so we drove out on Mother's Day. We had so much fun. Maddison had a pony ride and a hay ride to go pick strawberries !! She was in heaven and the strawberries were so yummy.

Baby Girl in 3D

I hope you can see these o.k. These were taken today. She is so cute !! That is her little hand under her chin. Maddison was there with me and it was so sweet to hear her talk to "her baby" as she was seeing her move. We may have had a breakthrough on the naming of this baby, today she decided that "lollypop" was better than "minty" !!! That is progress.

Today was amazing, I could actually see this little baby taking breaths (gulps) of fluid, and as I was watching her I could not get over how much she looks like Maddie !!

Happy Mother's Day !!

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing Mom's that we know. We hope you remember on this special day how important the role of a Mother is. Being a mother is an "all the time" job of full of many ups and downs. Thank you to all the wonderful Mom's that have sacrificed so much of themselves to raise amazing children. And a special thank you to the Mom's that have touched our lives and taught us how to be better parents !! We were always listening and learning. Thank you to our Mom's who sacrificed to raise Jason and I both, you did an excellent job and we would not be the people we are today without you !!!! We wish you an amazing day and we hope you know how much you are loved !!!

Spring flowers make me smile

After days and days of rain, the sun came out today and the flowers in our yard were amazing.
Maddie and I had the worst night ever. She was crying for her Daddy all night and was in terrible pain from an ear infection that I thought was gone. After trying every trick I knew and getting frustrated at not being able to make my daughter feel better, I finally just held her tight and let her cry, then she fell asleep from exhaustion at 4:30 in the morning. A trip to the pediatrician today proved it is a bad infection so we are on our 2nd round of antibiotics !!!
She just wanted her Daddy and it broke my heart. So sad to hear her cry for him. This 2 weeks of him being gone has been very hard, but he comes home Saturday night and I know she will not let him out of her sight !!! WE MISS YOU DADDY, COME HOME TO YOUR GIRLS......

Belly is growing !!

The picture in pink was taken at 11 weeks at the park, the sports bra photo is at 19 weeks. Baby is growing as is my belly. I am going to try to stay in better shape this time. Hopefully it will make labor easier and I can bounce back faster.

Hug your babies for me !!!!

Today Maddison and I walked 5 miles for the March of Dimes, march for babies. It was so great to be part of something so big. So many people have had their lives take drastic turns when their babies are born with health problems and some of them do not make it. I just hope that all of you with healthy beautiful children give them an extra kiss and hug for me today. We take it for granted when our babies are born so perfect and healthy.

Missing Daddy sooo much !!

I really do not like to be away from my husband. I would imagine some people would think differently after 12 years of marriage, but not me. I am just not complete or myself when he is not with us. He is the other half of me. Maddison told me last night, through her little teary eyes how much she misses her "special best friend Daddy". So then we both were crying.

Jason is on a 2 week Officer's training for the military and is not happy. We thought about going with him but so far he has not had any free time.

11 more days to go !! That statement makes my heart sink. We miss you so much Jason, thank you for always working so hard and being so dedicated to doing what is best for our family !! Come home to your girls !!!
Love, the 3 of us !!

Who took the Easter eggs ??

Someone took Maddie's Easter eggs !!! Don't worry, she found them.

That's not my name !!!

Maddison just loves dancing to this song by the Ting Tings !! Unfortunately Tuesday our dog does not. Enjoy !!

Baby Girl #2 !!!!!!

This is Maddison's baby sister "Minty" !!!! Let's hope the name does not stick. She knew before we did that a baby was in Mommy's tummy and that is was a girl !!! We are all very excited. Another girl, poor Jason is really going to be outnumbered !!!

She is due on September 26th, which also happens to be Mommy's Birthday !!

Picnic at the park with Daddy

Last Sunday we packed a picnic lunch, grabbed a blanket and off we went to the park for a picnic. The weather was great that day and it was so great to get some time with Daddy. There is a petting zoo area at this park and Maddie is in love with the 3 new baby goats. She and Daddy also took a carriage ride, shared an ice cream cone and spent some good family time together. What a fun day. Thank you Daddy for forgetting all the other things we could have got done that day, and doing what was most important, we love you !!!

Winter to Summer in 2 days !!!

Jason and I are used to the weather changing from day to day after living in all the many places we have lived, however for the seasons to change in 2 days, that is a new one!!! Maddie and I made a snowman on March 5th, then on March 7th the 3 of us went to Maymont park and spent the day in 80 degree weather !!! We actually have the sunburn to prove it. Virginia weather is amazing !! I don't think Maddison stopped smiling the whole day. We hope the weather is nice for all of you, we have really enjoyed this last week.

Snow in Virginia

SNOW !!!

Well Virginia has been hit with the biggest storm in years. 1-2 inches of snow is normal, but this storm was amazing !! So much snow. Maddie and Tuesday are having so much fun playing in it.

Balloons from Grandma & Grandpa

Maddison was so excited when her balloons from Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Tom arrived !!! She could not believe they were all for her. Thank you so much for making her feel special on Valentine's Day !!! We love and miss you !!

Valentine's Day party at Preschool

What a girly girl she is. She was so excited to wear a pretty dress and get her hair curled for the party. They also got to take pictures with little bunnies for Easter. It was a great day at school, no wonder she asks to go 5 days a week !!

The start of a easier month for all of us

Jason began a new rotation in the Neuro Intensive Care ward and when he walked in the door yesterday at 3:30, I was jumping up and down (would have screamed but Maddie was still napping). I could not believe it was really him. To top it all off he will get weekends off !!! Yes I said weekends meaning 2 days off in a row !! I know you think my excitement is crazy, but poor Jason has had only 4 days off in the last month. He worked every 3rd day until 10 at night, it was a crazy month for all of us, we missed him so much.
My sweet husband came home yesterday and when Maddie woke up, we all played Zingo (it's like Bingo). Then he sent me out of the house for a pedicure !! While I was gone he and Maddie made a Valentine craft, she was so happy to have her Daddy all to herself. It was a great afternoon. Thanks Jason, I love you. So happy that we get to see you more in this coming 4 weeks.

We are making Jason go golfing

My sweet husband is worn out. He is on this crazy rotation of internal medicine and it really sucks. Every other day he is at the hospital until 9 or 10 at night, he is there at 6 each morning. Tomorrow is his day off and I have a 10 o'clock tee time for him. I hope he can just relax and do something he wants to do.

Thank you so much Jason for working so hard, what would we do without you !!!

Oh, and by the way, after golf can we go to lunch ????

First trip to the dentist !!

Our little girl is growing up too fast. After seeing Mom and Dad go to the dentist for a cleaning, she decided she wanted one too. The hygienist and the dentist were so great with her and she did so great. No cavities and all her teeth look good. She informed the whole office that "sugar rots our teeth, but vegetables do not". What a little old lady she is !!!!!

Maddie singing at Leanne (Lu Lu) and John's house

Here is another classic Maddison moment. While staying in Kansas at our dear friend's home, Maddie enjoyed playing the piano and singing. Too funny.

Are you ready for us KANSAS ????

Maddison and I are so excited, we are going to Kansas on Tuesday !!!!! We can hardly wait to see all our friends !!! It is going to be so fun and it is all Maddie and Mommy can talk about. Our dear friend Leanne is letting us stay with her and her family (so sweet of her).

Very quiet weekend

This weekend was Jason's first weekend at the base as Captain Rolfe. Maddie and I decided to stay home so Daddy could get used to the base without us bugging him. It has been cold and rainy, so we played some games. Next time we will go with Daddy, we missed him too much !!