4th of July

First thing in the morning we went to the church for the flag raising ceremony and Madison got her first taste of pancakes. needless to say they were a big hit and she ate good.

 

We did 4th of July at our house this year since we had the pool and we're the ones who lived in the city where we could do it legally. Madison did splendidly until it came time for the fire works. first we did a little swimming. Then we had a good old fashioned BBQ with my grandparents, mom, sisters, and The Azimi family. After we played a rousing game of what am I which was actually pretty fun even my grandparents got in on the game. Madison did not like the fire works at all she stayed awake for about 3 and then went to bed for the rest of the night.

 dessert with family

 Love our matching family shirts

 This girl is always happy!

 My grandparents are the best sports when it comes to playing games

Splash Pad

Recently we went to the splash pad which is a local tiny water park
Madison very much enjoyed the water (when it was working it is a city run water park) and she had some fun playing with friends. Aunt Kelly went to play with her so that mommy could take pictures

Teething Round 2

The first time Madison was teething she was quite the fuss bucket...This time

She cant stop drooling... and yet still no teeth

Sippy Cup Sippy Cup

 After much deliberation and fighting Madison has finally decided to give in and try the sippy cup (plus it helps that we found one that she likes and can figure out how to use). she's still not a big fan of it, she would much rather have a bottle!

what hasn't happened

Two weeks ago I'm pretty sure heavenly father decided that my life was way to easy and it was time for a challenge. so my car broke down (again) right before we were suppose to go to my cousin's wedding an hour away. then on the way to Emily's wedding the traffic was at a complete standstill and I quickly realized we were going to be pretty late (we actually made it to the wedding just in time) and then my computer went CRAZY!!! so for the last two weeks i have spent a lot of time praying and following my heavenly fathers guidance and although life has not been absolutely perfect we have found as a family the time to come together in prayer and to exercise faith in our heavenly father's plan. We finally got the computer fixed (and the laptop too) and the car is still a work in progress.

In the last two weeks I have learned to pray with true meaning and to learn to trust my heavenly father because he knows exactly what is going on, how we feel and HE is COMPLETELY IN CONTROL!

Brownies with Mommy

I decided to have a fun day with madison one after noon. we decided it would be a good idea to make some brownies! we had a good time.

7 months

Our sweet Madison is growing so fast... she's already seven months.

this last month she learned how to:

feed herself with finger food and she can even eat things as difficult as cheerio's
she will eat anything especially if she can feed it to herself
she sits up so good and is starting to rock back and forth on her knees
she loves to see her daddy and is excited to see him come home
she still goes to grandma's house almost every night so mommy and daddy can go to the gym
she eats three meals a day and i struggle with her all the time to drink enough formula...i definantly wont have problems there
she is getting more comfortable with strangers but still is not a fan of men in general espcially my dad.
she is learning to love the swimming pool more and more
she laughs all the time
she is getting to be quite the handful at church
she loves to be down and moving
she is getting really strong in her upper body

6 Months

Holy cow Madison turned 6 months this week and I cant believe where the time has gone. she is half way to a year which just amazes me. here's her stats (these are all estimates considering I'm not a doctor just a well educated nurse)

weight: 15lbs
Height: 25"

as far as I can tell she's healthy and happy. Here's some things I noticed about her this month

-she has become very vocal...she loves to talk but only when she thinks no one is listening
-she loves food especially squash and sweet potatoes and she doesn't really like fruits at all except banana's
-she's learning how to sit but she topples over pretty fast
-she eats three meals a day and has 4 bottles
-she doesn't like me to read to her she just wants to eat the book
-she has learned to roll over from back to front and does it alot so she can play with her toys
-she uses rolling to get around the room
- she pushes her walker all over the house (very slowly)
-She started taking regular naps that last 2-4 hours at a time (which I love because I know what she needs and when she needs it)
-she loves her daddy and is usually excited to see him when he gets home
-she plays well with toys now and loves exploring new ones all the time
-she loves to play in the bath tub

Madison has brought so many adventures to our lives and we're so glad she's apart of them. we cant wait to see her learn and grow more and more every day.

Reflection

I have spent the last couple of days really looking back on life and what the last year has brought me. Everyday is not perfect but there have been some perfect moments. I had a goal I set when i started High school oh so long ago. that goal was to

1. get married (Completed 2008)
2. finish school and have a nursing license (Completed 2010)
3. have a baby (Completed 2010)

I didnt necessarily want to do them in that order but the goal was to accomplish them by the time I was 25. I completed These goals just days before I turned 25

I actually intended to do them in a different order but I did it and I have this huge sense of self accomplishment. I didnt do each of these things in order to check them off my list it just happened to work out that I made my goal. As I look back over the last 7 years since I graduated High school I'm amazed at all the avenues the lord has provided for me. There has been so much on my mind lately as I have taken this journey of Motherhood on.
Motherhood has been much more difficult then I ever imagined it would be. In the first six months of Madison's life I know that I have already made mistakes as a parent and I have made huge strides as a mother and a wife. I have learned to manage a home, take care of a baby and a husband, all while trying to better myself and create the life I want with my Family. Everyday provides a perfect opportunity for me to gain patients and love for my savior as he gives me trials he knows that I can overcome.

We (me and Anthony) have been in primary practically all of our married lives. first we started off as ctr 5 teachers then less than a year later I was called as the primary secretary and Anthony was called as the 11 year old boy scout leader. I have been the primary secretary for 1 year and 7 months. its a calling I loved and hated at the same time. I spent alot of time away from my family doing "primary stuff" When I didn't even have children in primary. Most of the time I didn't mind but there were many of times I didn't understand why the Lord would give me this calling. recently I was overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising a newborn and trying to care for my family and trying to keep up with the primary as well. I quickly realized that I was in way over my head and I had to asked to be released the reluctance of them to release me from my calling put me on the verg of attending another ward because I needed to be with my family. the finally agreed and I feel as though a weight has been lifted off my shoulder and I can now focus on my job of being a Mother.

Mother's Day

A Couple of weeks ago I Celebrated my very first mothers day for the first time as a real mother. Not a girl over 18 or a married woman...NO a REAL Mother. it was wonderful. I woke up to a wonderful suprise basket of goodies which included a card, starbucks card, chocolate, best mom pillow, mirrored picture with a childs writing on it, and Little Fockers on DVD. We went to church where they celebrated mothers with some wonderful talks about the value of being woman and our divine calling as a mother. After church we came home for Madison to take a nap and just spend time as a family. After my mom got off work we went out to dinner at Tony's Spunky Steer. I know it was Sunday but I refused to cook dinner on my special day so we went out. we had a nice dinner with my two sisters, Madison, Me, Anthony, and My Mom. After dinner we came back to my house and did the whole gift exchange thing for my mom. It was an amazing day that I will look forward to for many years to come.

Easter 2011

Playing with my Easter Gift

with great grandma Dotson

With Cousin Hannah

Easter Basket

Easter Dress


For Easter we went to my dad's side of the family. We started at church for the first hour and Madison wore her beautiful dress she was given by Joe. then we came home and get dressed in clothes a little more casual and comfortable. we got to Teresa's house early (around noon and dinner was at 2) so we enjoyed some good normal conversation and family time with grandma Dotson, Melissa, and Teresa's Families. Melissa flew in from northern California. everything seemed to be going okay...Madison even slept through dinner letting me eat in peace (she loves me so much). but she just didnt feel like being social that day all she wanted was mommy and who could blame her with 4 teenagers in her face constantly I would be mommy crazy too. she never really got "happy" while we were there. None the less we played pass the baby. The big conversation of the night was why Amanda was 2 hours late to dinner. Not something I enjoyed. the day was so stressful for madison that on the way home I called my mom and asked her if she was home. she said she was out at Grandma Anderson's house so I asked her if we could swing by since it was on the way home so we did. Madison was much more relaxed around all the adults she spends so much time with.

5 Months already

My Easter dress

Playing with daddy is one of my favorite things

I love My grandma

Waiting for my check up and shots

I cant believe my baby is 5 months. I feel like I have already miss out on so much between trying to get healthy and spending time trying to find a job...filling out a million of applications that all ask the same thing and take forever to do and no response. Some of my favorite days is when I take time to just spend time with my sweet baby Madison. So here's the stats for this month

14 lbs 2oz (25%)
26 " long (95%)
16" head (30%)

She got her 4 month old shots a little late because we couldn't get a doctors appointment. I was so scared that she wouldnt do well that she would struggle as bad as she did last time. I was so anxious and nervous that she shouldn't be able to cope with the pain. So in order to care for her in the event that her shots went crazy I cleared the whole day and Anthony took the day off work. Much to our surprise she did amazing! after an hour she didn't even know the difference.

The rain drops are falling on my head

Yesterday we were sitting in Sacrament and Madison was quietly playing on the floor with her feet. Apparently she wore herself out because she got really quiet so I looked down to check on her and she was sound asleep even with the two rows of kids screaming in front of us. So I pulled a blanket out of the diaper bag and covered her up with it. but as usual she pulled her arms out immediately and clutched the blanket. she was asleep about 20 minutes and I was periodically looking down to check on her when I noticed Suddenly that the blanket she was laying on was all wet and SO WAS SHE!! I'm looking everywhere for this water at first I thought it was spit only to realize the child in the pew in front of us had spilled an 8oz water bottle down the crack of the seat! She only sort of woke up and was actually trying to fall asleep again so I left her after I wiped up the water but she never fell back asleep. I know I'm a cruel parent for saying this but I couldn't stop laughing! Definitely the highlight of the day for me at least.

4 months old

Here's the Stats for 4 months:
11 lbs 14 oz (25%)
25.5 inches (95 %)

My baby turned 4 months old this weekend. My has time flown by in the last month so much has happened and changed here's a couple of the fun moments i remember:

She went to her first funeral
she now does tummy time without crying most of the time
started chewing on her hands
She loves to play in her baby Einstein toy a lot
We tried rice cereal but it was a disaster she just wasn't ready
she loves to stand up all the time
she does this lip smacking thing that i think is hilarious
at the end of the month she learned to pick up toys and put them in her mouth
She laughs and smiles all the time
Great grandma Ruth and Grandma Teresa came to visit
she is always very happy and loves to be with mommy pretty much all the time
she still hasn't rolled over
she sits at the dinner table with us every night and plays with a toy while we eat dinner
she loves her baths
she has slept through the night several times

I love my happy little Madison more than anything. and although parenthood is difficult at times I wouldn't trade it for anything in the whole world she is totally amazing and its so fun to watch her lean and grow every day. Some days are harder than others but I believe she has truly made me a stronger woman, mother, and wife because of the trials. Because of her my life is full of laughter and light happiness and i truly understand the word joy. she has also taught me that life isn't perfect but there are many perfect moments that come and to enjoy those little moments. Motherhood has given me an insight into the love heavenly father has for his children. My testimony of his love and mercy has grown so much in the last for moths.

We love you Madison, You are our whole life

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

PIctures from March 3 months old

I sleep in my own bed every night

I know how to play with toys now

Aunt Collette came to visit

Snuck my hand out of mommy's swaddle

Beauty Queen Shot

Daddy's Hat is big

I don't Like Rice Cereal

Tummy Time with now crying is a miracle

I love my new toy daddy built for me

3 Months

Okay so I'm way behind here's some things I noticed during her third month

she really leaned to smile and laugh (or the long coo that sounds like a laugh)
she loves to play on the floor as long as I'm next to her
she still hates the car seat and most car rides
we go to park day every Tuesday and spend time with all the other babies

I'm sure there is lots more i cant think of right now

I love her so much and I know she is mine for a reason no matter how good or bad the day

To My Sweet Madison:
Mommy and daddy want you to know that we love you so much! Everyday is such a joy to spend with you. Mommy's favorite thing is to listen to you laugh and coo when she plays with you. You make my day full and joyful. The more that time passes the more in love I fall with you. No matter how hard or easy the days and nights are YOU ARE WORTH EVERY MOMENT. You are a divine daughter of God who already has a sweet and loving personality. I cant wait to continue to share all the special moments to come in your life. We love you with all our hearts

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

a quick 3 month photo shoot