Maddie Moo

Maddie turned 7 on January 23. I cannot believe I am old enough to have a child this age. I still feel like I did when I was 18. (Except for the arthritis I feel in my fingers every morning and squeezing into jeans that are not a size 8--lol).


I always make breakfast in bed for the birthday girl/boy. Maddie LOVES this! She also gets to open presents from Mom & Dad and grandparents on the morning of her birthday. She loves this even more. :)


The day of Maddie's birthday was a big day. Her gym was performing before the Gym Dogs (The University of Georgia's gymnastics team)meet. Maddie invited all the girls in her class to come over before the meet for dinner, cake and ice cream. My mom made the cake. (Amazing, huh?) Then we took the girls to Stegman Coliseum for the big event.

(So this post is about Maddie, but I couldn't resist throwing this one in there!)

That's my girl--excited about the CASH!!

Maddie's friends at the meet.

Right before Maddie goes in with the team to perform.
(Yes, Maddie's chest looks unusually large in this picture. Even though she's had boobies since she was born, the leotard amplifies the situation. And the six hours of gymnastics practice every week have really toned Maddie up. The girl has crazy upper-body strength.)

Here's a random picture of Maddie's room after she's cleaned it. She SWORE she would keep her room clean if I let her keep all of her stuffed animals on her bed just like this. Uh, it lasted until it was time to make her bed the next morning.

FRUSTRATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WARNING: This is a whiny post. Feel free to disregard. :)

Okay, I have been going to the gym 4-6 times a week since the second week of January. And not just for a quick jaunt on the treadmill. I'm usually there for at least an hour and half and I always do 45-60 minutes of cardio (treadmill or ellyptical) and then about 30 minutes of weight training. And I've been pretty good about watching what I eat. (Well, there are have been two trips to the Cheesecake Factory, but other than that, I've been very conscientious about what I'm ingesting.) So I've lost a ton of weight, right? WRONG! I've lost a grand total of 3 pounds. THREE LOUSY POUNDS!! For over 6 weeks of work. Yes, I've obviously gained some muscle. But my clothes don't fit any better than they did in December at the height of my holiday eating frenzy. And I'm tired all of the time! Aren't you eventually supposed to feel more energetic when you're working out and eating healthy? I've hit a plateau before I've even lost any weight. Needless to say, I'm very frustrated and will be taking the day off today to be grumpy about it.

25 (well 28) Random Facts About Me

I posted this on my Facebook page (look me up, if we're not already FB friends!) and thought it would make a mighty fine blogger post. :)

1. I'm doing this because I lie in bed at night thinking of all things I could write in this post! Dumb, I know. (Maybe it's a fear of not having 25 things to write about myself.) But I'm tired of having all of these thoughts running through my head when I want to go to sleep.

2. I went to Alaska after I graduated high school with my grandma. I was disappointed that it wasn't someplace more exotic but I LOVED it and am grateful for the experience. (especially for the memories of the hottie assistant captain who my grandma and I stalked the entire time. lol)

3. I have an embroidery business that I love--it's a way to support an expensive habit. (www.alphabetsoupembroidery.com is my website.)

4. I love keeping in touch with old friends. I think that's why I love Facebook so much.

5. I'm the oldest kid in my family and I wouldn't have it any other way.

6. I never cared if I had a son or not. I definitely wanted a girl. But now that I have a boy, I wouldn't have it any other way.

7. I have no desire to birth any more children (or to even try for that matter), but I want to adopt at least one more chocolate baby boy. I love my little man!!

8. I live vicariously through my athletically-talented daughter. She's an amazing little gymnast for a 7-year-old (in my humble opinion) and anyone who knows me knows that sports are bad for my self-esteem!

9. I am a newly commissioned stay-at-home mom. (Well, work from home is more like it.) I love it 97% of the time.

10. I taught school for 8 years. Seven years in third grade and one year in preschool.

11. I'm done teaching and ready for something else.

12. I have NO idea what that something else is. Law? Dental hygiene? Graphic design? Interior design?

13. I love the south and love living in a small city.

14. I'd love to live in a big city (NYC) for a year or so.

15. When Aaron dies (hahaha), Maddie and I are getting a house on the beach. (My non-beach loving husband says he'll have to be dead before I buy one.)

16. Aaron and I met in December, were engaged in January and got married in May. We were crazy in love (and lust.) And after almost 11 years, there are still things we discover about one another on an almost daily basis.

17. I have very few favorites--I love everything. I love most colors, most kinds of foods, almost all kinds of music (especially country and hip hop (shake it, baby!) ) and most kinds of house decorating styles.

18. I have a hard time making up my mind. (see #17)

19. I get very easily frustrated when people don't follow through or fulfill their responsibilities. But then I feel guilty for getting irritated.

20. I HATE being told what to do. I've been that way since I was in diapers, I think.

21. I have a very strong sense of right and wrong.

22. I am a liberal Republican. (How's that for not being able to make up my mind?) Most of my opinions/beliefs are Republican but I have a lot of Democratic tendencies.

23. Incorrect grammar is a huge pet peeve of mine. I don't like no bad English.

24. I think cleaniness is next to godliness but I hate cleaning! There are so many more interesting things to do. But I feel very unsettled when I have a messy house.

25. I have lots of good friends but have a hard time making close friends. (Probably since everyone at church is only here for a short time since most are in grad school.)

26. Even though I haven't seen my oldest friends in a long time (10+ years for some), I still count them as my best friends.

27. When I'm wealthy some day (okay, stop laughing), I want to start an adoption scholarship program. There are way too many good families who would make great adoptive families but they just can't afford the outrageous fees that most agencies charge. I think everyone should adopt!!

28. I am a very loyal BYU fan. I grew up yelling "Roll Tide" and an surrounded on all sides by crazy UGA fans, but after graduating from BYU, I yell "C-O-U-G-A-R-S" when the Georgia cheerleaders and fans are saying "G-E-O-R-G-I-A." I've promised Maddie a car if she goes to my alma mater. And I don't care how unethical or sleazy you think that is. lol


If you haven't already done this (or something like it) then TAG! YOU'RE IT!!

Hope for the future

"O-rock Obama" (as Wesley calls him) being sworn in as our 44th president.

Let me just say that Mr. Obama and I do not share the same political views so I didn't vote for him. (I have a lot of mixed feelings about him as a politician.) And I don't think Mr. Bush is the worst thing that has ever happened to the US like so may liberal lefties seem to think. BUT I do like Obama as a person and it thrills me that we live in a country that has gotten past so much racism and ignorance.

I was glued to the television on Inauguration Day, full of emotion and happy tears. I have always been very touched by the civil rights movement but never as much as I was moved by it on Inauguration Day. I could almost feel the absolute joy that I saw on the faces of so many older, black Americans who had once lived in a country where they couldn't eat, drink or even walk where white people did. This was an event that none of them ever thought would actually come to fruition.

Forty years ago we would not not been able to have Wesley in our family. I'm not even sure it was even legal for a white family to adopt a black child. And now Wesley is accepted by society as a part of our family just as much as Maddie is. I take MLK's words very personally, especially when he said, "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood." I am actually a descendant of slave owners (I've been to several plantations that were once owned by my ancestors.) and more than likely, Wesley is the descendant of slaves. But he is my son--how awesome is that? I don't think MLK knew how true his historic words would be. I am grateful to MLK and all of the other civil rights activists (especially those quiet unknowns who had to live with the hate every day) for the sacrifice and hard work that made it possible for Wesley to be in our family.

Life may be a bit more difficult for our Wesley because of the color of his skin. But thankfully Obama as a role model will let him know that it doesn't matter what he looks like--he really, truly can be anything he wants to be if he works hard and puts forth the effort! God bless America!!

Future president? doctor? NBA star? artist? teacher? Dryer repair man?

November

I don't know what Wesley's doing in this picture (saying "Cheese" maybe?) but I love it.

11/7/208

Maddie having a slumber party with her baby
11/2008

Before her first gymnastics meet
(Maddie won third place over-all, for her class!)
11/08/08

Trying on winter clothes, willy-nilly style
11/12/08


My little man loving the game

Maddie and school friend at
UGA Basketball Game
11/14/08

Too cute to not take the picture!
11/16/08

WARNING: Nudie picture! LOL
11/24/08

11/25/08

Wesley's new shoes
We got these shoes at a consignment sale for $2. Wesley has worn them almost every day since (hence the stains), even though they're several sizes too big.
(The cutie in the background is my niece, Caitlin.)
11/27/08

Twlight Part II

I LOVE the Twilight books, but the movie was a joke. I laughed through the entire movie--it was SO bad. This spoof is roll-on-the-floor hilarious!

September & October

I haven't posted in forever and I was just looking through all the pictures I've taken since we got a digital camera. Getting the camera was supposed to make blogging easier. It has, but it didn't come with a time machine to give me more time to do everything I want to. SO, here's a bunch of pictures of my cuties. I'm shamelessly bragging--sorry! :)

Wearing Dad's glasses and a new haircut

9/29/08

Picture Day

10/2/08

"Helping" Mom sew
10/2/08

Cleaning out the Highlander
after watching "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" on our Mommy/Daughter Day
10/4/08

Copying Daddy :)

10/5/08

Mr. Independent after feeding himself chocolate ice cream

10/10/08

Maddie's Jack-o-lantern
10/13/08

A sweet moment
10/20/08

Pebbles
10/31/08

Bam-Bam
10/31/08