Just some pics...

Just some random pics from this weekend. Madalynn & I had a great time haning out together, and with family & friends.

Hanging out in her pool...

A girl, a sunny day, her Cheerios, and juice... does life get any better??











Ready for church in a pretty dress that Mommy's friend Colleen gave her (only 2 sundresses left).

11 Months Old 3 Months Home!!

I missed posting yesterday (as I was in bed right after Madalynn), but I couldn't let the day go by and not acknowledge that my baby girl is now 11 months old. I'm so excited for what she is on the threshold of becoming, and feeling so sad of what she is leaving behind. I know after the 1st year they turn from baby to toddler, and I already see glimpses of that toddler girl that is just around the corner, and yet I'm not ready to let go of the baby.

BTW- Any advice on this hair would be welcomed!!! It is a head full of cowlicks!!!

I also cannot believe that we have been Mom & daughter for 3 months now!! How have 3 months gone by. Three months ago it was still winter, and we got some more snow after she came home. All the trees were bare, and everything was gray & brown. Now, here we are 3 months later, and everything has become green, and flowers are blooming. I no longer have to put tights on her, and a sweater when we go out. She can wear all the cute summer clothes I've been waiting to put her in. In my mind I fast forward to 3 months, and realize in this same span of time it will be September (my favorite time of year will have arrived... the Pats will be playing again), and I'll be dressing her in cozy sweaters, corduroys, and fleece hats. Another season I can't wait for.

I've mentioned before that I love living in New England because I love the change of seasons. I look out at the woods in back of my house, and can gauge how things change, and time progresses. I think that life is like that. In times when we feel discouraged, and as if we can't go on in our present circumstances we need to remember this too is just a season, and it won't always be like this. This life we live is dynamic, and changing. Sometimes changing to the new season takes longer than we would like, sometimes it happens faster than we're ready for, but one thing is certain a new season will come.

My belief is that God is in control of our seasons, and their length

is pre-determined by Him, for the purposes He wants to achieve in our life. I don't always understand His reason for keeping me in a difficult season, but I know that I can trust Him, and His ways aren't my ways.

Big Birthdays & Fun in the Sun!!

One of the things I love about living in New England is the shifts in weather at the drop of a hat. Yesterday was reasonabably sunny & warm in New England, and humid (after being over 100 earlier in the week). Today it was cold, raw, rainy, probably bearly breaking 60... I do love it. This is a picture from the 100 degree day... a girl & her juice!! (This was right before she dropped my new camera, and broke the lens...oyyyy... thankfully it wasn't the camera, and a new lens is on it's way).

Anyway, yesterday was nice enough to take Madalynn out in the little blow up pool I bought her. The water was quite cold as I filled it right before she went in. It didn't phase her though, and she got mad when I took her out. Sitting in a folding chair in my backyard watching my daughter splash, and play in her kiddie pool made me feel like such a Mom!!

First we tried out the swing giving the water time to warm up a bit. I don't know why she stops smiling & laughing the second my camera comes out.

I was remiss in my blogging duties to wish 2 important guys a Happy Birthday!!

My brother Rob is celebrating his 30ish-something b-day today (and he was actually born on Father's Day!!).

My nephew Adam had his big 7th birthday blowout yesterday!! He had a Red Sox themed party. I can't believe he's 7 already. I used to call him Mr.Big but he asked quite awhile ago for me to stop calling him that.

I also got out a musical table I got as a shower gift from my dear friends the Murphies!! She LOOOOVES it, and this is her reaction to using it for the first time.

Just an update on my attempt at gardening. It's coming along pretty well.

Celebrity Fathers

So one of those articles came up on the MSN news page that said "Our Favorite Celebrity Dads, and the kids Who Love Them". I didn't click on the article b/c our societies obsession with celebrities drives me crazy. Why we put them up on a pedestal because they can read a line, sing a song, or hit a ball as 'GODS' is beyond me. But that is for another post.


The purpose of this post is to talk about MY favorite celebrity dads, and the kids who love them. These are Dads who put family first, at great sacrifice to themselves.



My Dad who worked hard all during my growing up years to keep our family thriving. I know it was a struggle for he & my Mom to make ends meets, but we never wanted for anything. My Dad is a man of exceptional integrity. I doubt you could find a more honest or moral man. The greatest gift he gave to me & my brother was to honor our mother. To this day after 40 years of marriage he still looks at her with adoration in his eyes, and would move heaven & earth for her if he needed to. He is a very gentle man, of quiet humbleness. A man who adores his grandchildren, and didn't hesitate at all to step in as the male role model in Madalynn's life.


My brother who has at times worked up to 3 jobs to provide for his family of 3 children, and has still found time to coach little league, and be treasurer of their schools PTO(and go back to school for his masters). He lights up around his children, and truly puts them first. He enjoys them, and finds delight in them. He coaches their teams, and video tapes all dance recitals, and birthday parties.



At Christmastime we had driven over an hour to my aunt & uncles house for a celebration, and after having driven over an hour home, his cell phone rings to say that 'Puddles' his youngest daughter's most beloved, can't live (or sleep) without friend has been left at my aunt & uncles. What does my brother the Dad do? He drops everyone off, and turns around in his car to drive an hour plus back to their house to pick up 'Puddles'... that is a great Dad. (Did I mention it was the day of the Patriots final game in their undefeated season, and we had left my aunt & uncles house to make it home in time for the game).



When Madalynn was just a far away dream in my heart, and mind. I pondered what would happen if she were in a dance recital with a 'Father/Daughter' number, and my brother responded without missing a beat 'I'd go up there with her'. Not hesitating for one moment to fill that space in her life despite the needs of his own family, and constraints on his time.


Maybe these celebrity dads talked about in the article would do some or all of these things too, I can't say. This father's day I wish my Dad, and my brother all the best, and thank them for the love, and support they give to all of us.




HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD!!







HAPPY FATHER'S DAY ROB!!

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Things I Love about my daughter...

• I love saying 'my daughter'.



• I love the fact that whenever the theme song to the tv show 'Reba' comes on she will stop WHATEVER she is doing (eating, playing, crying) to turn, and listen, and sometimes even bop a little bit. As an aside the song 'There ain't no bugs on me...' from the Advantix commercial will bring the same reaction.



• I love that when she plays peek-a-boo her hands go to the side of her head instead of over her eyes, and she is oh so proud of herself.



• I love her determined spirit (I'm sure this will give me challenges down the road).



• I love that even though she is awake she still loves to have some snuggly time in her bed (just like her Mommy).



• I love when she sees me in the mirror in the car, she points, and then waves with a big somewhat toothless grin.



• I love to hear her say 'MommMa' (even at 2am).



• I love that when she's tired she'll lay her head down wherever she is.



• I love that she loves Winnie the Pooh.


• I love her wild, and crazy hair

I love being her Mommy

Note to Self #1 & # 2

Note to self #1;

When opening a new toy for Madalynn that requires assembly do so when Madalynn is in her crib preferrably sleeping.

Note to self #2;

Prior to assembling a new toy for Madalynn be sure to have the appropriate batteries on hand.

Ga-Ga Love

Just a pic of Ga-Ga & baby girl...

That's My Girl!!!

Okay... Madalynn LOOOVES 'The Heffalump Movie' (such a cute movie). When she gets really tired but it's not quite bedtime I'll put it on for her, and she is mesmerized.

The other night we were watching it, she was sitting on my lap, and there is this scene when the Pooh gang tells Roo he's too little to go on the 'Expotition'. He becomes quite forlorn, lowering his ears, slumping his shoulders, and walking away. Well, the other night that scene came on & my daughter started to cry!!! How sweet is that??? It was just for a second... she got her double pout, and 2 big fat tears rolled down her cheeks. She did it again tonight when that same scene came on.

I say 'That's my girl' b/c her Mommy cries at movies all the time (sometimes commercials, and sometimes I've even cried at Heffalump).

Being Single...

I have spent my entire life single. When I was in high school (yes high school) all I dreamed of was getting married, and having kids. I figured that would happen in college... it didn't. I did feel discouraged at this point wondering where I would meet "HIM". My 20's went by in various churches, and jobs. In my late 20's I got plugged into a dynamic singles group at my church. These were great years where I met some amazing friends that I still have today. We had grand (and not so grand) adventures together. But, alas... "HE" was still not to be found.



Now I am grateful that I didn't meet him in my 20's. Looking back I LOOOVED my 20's. I really found out who I am, and felt comfortable, and confident embracing that woman. I don't know that would have happened as a married version of me.



I've loved my 30's too. That woman I became in my 20's I've come to completely own in my 30's. My 30's have given me the freedom to let go of priorities from my 20's, and relax in my singleness. The desperation I felt to meet someone when I was younger has disappeared. I'm more resigned to life as a single woman, and now a single Mom.



In my 'About Me' section of this blog I say "I'm a single Mom by choice". I say 'by choice' so people will understand this is not a decision I have made lightly of flippantly. I sought God from the beginning of this journey, and now seek His wisdom, and guidance as a single Mom raising a daughter. I also sought the wisdom, and counsel of family, and friends. I don't know God's reasoning for calling me to this life, but this is where He has brought me, and I'm trusting Him to continue to provide.



Being single has it's rough days (as I'm sure marriage does too). There is a loneliness, and quiet in being single that unless you've lived it I don't think you can truly understand. I'm not referring to the loneliness & quiet that comes from being alone at home (although that plays a part). I'm referring to a loneliness & quiet in all things you do. Daily things can be constant reminders of your singleness.

Thankfully as I've gotten older those days are less, and less. When I do have one of those days I call it a 'singleness sucks' day (sorry Mom.... I know you hate that word). Mostly what I long for is just someone to share my life with. If any of you have a single in your life I would encourage you to reach out to him/her (and if you know a single Christian guy around my age in the New England area send him my way... heee-heee), invite him/her over for dinner, or back for lunch after church.

I wondered how having Madalynn in my life would change my single perspective. Before I moved forward with my plans to become a Mom I wanted to be sure I wasn't going to use my child to fill the emptiness of being single, that's not fair to a child. She can't fill the space, and longing I have for a husband.

As I've reflected on my life now as a Mom it's interesting how my single life thinking has changed. Having Madalynn didn't make the longing for a man to share my life fade, and in some ways having her has made it more acute. I get so much joy & delight from her that it makes me sad there isn't a man here to share in that joy & delight. To share in her celebrations, and her sorrows. Someone who will know her as well as I do. A co-cheerleader if you will. Of course there's all the practical things that having a husband would make easier as well.

She has brought life to a house that used to be empty, and truly made it a home.

I still pray everyday for God to provide a husband, however I know it will be okay if I come to the end of this life having never known that relationship.

Just Curious #3

Just curious that if you name a food item 'Vanilla Bean...' does that mean it's better than just 'Vanilla...'?? And as a sub question... can it be 'Vanilla' without a 'Bean'?

Garden Update #1

Just an update on my garden... they haven't died yet....

Week 1





Week #2








If you look close you can see some buds on this one.







Week #1






Week #2









And just a picture of Ga-Ga & Madalynn from today...