Wednesday, March 28, 2012

the difference a year makes

Dear Madelyn Kate,
We visited the Azalea Trails today. You had fun running around with some of your friends. You did make me a little nervous considering your favorite thing to do to flowers is pick them and pull the petals off, but you mainly just looked today. That's a good thing considering how much time and money the families put in to the gardens so that others can enjoy them.

When we made it back home and I loaded the pictures, I couldn't believe how much you have grown and changed since we were there last year. You aren't my baby anymore. You are really starting to look like a beautiful little girl.

It seems with the change of each season so comes change with you. New words, new abilities and a continuously developing personality. I love that you are so in to storing telling right now. You begin most of your stories with, "Once upon a time..." and end them with, "Amen".

You are kind and compassionate. You are very bothered if someone around you is upset. You have a little twinkle in your eye that lets me know when you are up to no good! I love everything that makes you YOU! Learning about you and knowing you in this mother-daughter relationship has brought joy to my life in ways I cannot even begin to describe.

You are a blessing sweet girl and I love to watch you grow! I love you always.

Love,
Mom


Monday, March 26, 2012

2 year check up at 2 1/2

Since we transitioned to a new pediatricians office recently, I had not taken Madelyn to her two year check up yet. We are right at the two and a half year mark so I decided it was definitely time to take care of that!

Of course we brought some friends along. We never leave the house without at least one friend these days.
Madelyn has been learning that Jesus is healer in Sunday school the last couple of weeks. She made this picture and insisted she hang on to it until she saw Dr. Barret again. When I told her where we were going this morning she said, "My picture! I get to take Dr. B my picture!!".

The pictures on the walls at our pedi's office are filled with pictures of the children from Parental Care Ministries in Uganda. Madelyn adores them and we always have fun conversations while we wait.

I can't believe how much she has grown. I am so thankful for her health, strength and sweet personality!

I love you, Madelyn Kate! You bring so much joy to my life!

Love,
Mom

Thursday, March 22, 2012

"Am I Dora, Mommy?"


Apparently scaling giant rocks at the playground qualifies you as a real deal Dora the explorer. At least to Madelyn it does anyway. I love her excitement for adventure!




Sunday, March 18, 2012

Goodbye Aunt Rachel!

This is the norm at our house for panty hose. I am not sure why I ever buy them but I just think they are so cute on her little legs!

Aunt Rach headed back home today but not before a send off lunch at Don Juan's of course!

Come back soon!

Friday, March 16, 2012

26 1/2 but who's counting?

MK and I planned a little half birthday celebration for Daddy and set it up while he went to get donuts this morning! We love a reason to celebrate and what better reason than a 1/2 birthday!!

Despite the fact that all you can see in this picture is a twin pack of Degree, we did get him some fun presents too!


No party is complete without party games!

Happy Half Birthday to my amazing husband! I love you more every day!

Public Library Book Sale

One thing is for sure, I come from a family of book lovers. So does Luke. So far, Madelyn is turning in to quite the little book lover herself. The night before last my mom mentioned the local public library was having their annual book sale starting the next day so my sister and I decided to take Emily and Madelyn.

Rachel bought 60 books for her classroom for $30. Talk about a steal.

Madelyn, despite the fact that she has enough books to open a small library, bought nine books for under four dollars. She was so proud to pay with her quarters and was so excited about her new-to-her books.

As we were walking out, Madelyn started showing off her books to everyone who walked by. One of those people was a reporter from the newspaper and she interviewed us for a story that ran today. Despite the fact that she completely made up most of what I was quoted as saying (my sister and I laughed and were a little puzzled by that), what she said about Madelyn was sweet.

Book Lovers Turn Out For Bargains At Tyler Library Sale
By JACQUE HILBURN-SIMMONS
Staff Writer
Tyler Morning Telegraph

Tiny Madelyn Bilberry, 2, was all dimples and smiles Thursday as she lugged a small shopping bag filled with colorful children's books out of the Tyler Public Library.
The bag seemed almost as large as the tot, who was eager to show off her purchases to passersby.
"I got a tiger book!" she gushed. "Look!"
The excited child was among dozens of people who showed up bright and early to take advantage of bargain basement prices offered during the library's annual book sale.
Armloads of good reads are up for grabs -- adult books for $1 and children's books for 50 cents.
On Sunday, the buys get even better -- $5 for an entire box; $2 for a bag.
Busy mom Kathryn Bilberry of Chandler said the sale provides affordable opportunities for parents to build their own home library.
"We really don't need any more books, but we think books are pretty special," said Ms. Bilberry, who is steadily growing a small stockpile of books to address Madelyn's emerging reading skills.
She found a treasure trove of children's literature for just a few bucks.
"It's very neat," Ms. Bilberry said, snapping a few photos of her daughter's joyous reaction. "Books are very precious."
Programming associate Evelyn McLane said this year's sale offers a wide selection from which to choose: history, travel, romance, sports, politics, education, religion, cooking, fitness, classics, folklore and children's to name a few.
"If you want it, we probably have it," she said. "We encourage people to fill and overfill their bags."
Proceeds from the event will be used to buy more books, officials said.
Sale hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday; and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Book enthusiasts can find the sale in the library's Taylor Auditorium, 201 S. College Ave.
On opening day, the line of people waiting to purchase books snaked through the lobby.
Houston elementary school teacher Rachel Bitter, aided by niece Emily, 7, emerged from the line carrying a box overflowing with books for young readers.
The educator was in the area visiting family and stopped by the sale to take a look.
"I teach second grade at a charter school in a low-income area," she said. "We don't have a library and most of the children don't have books at home."
Ms. Bitter said anytime she can buy books for a bargain she scoops them up, hoping to instill in her 15 students an early love of literacy.
"I got 60 books today and spent $30," she said. "That's a deal."
Library officials said they work all year long to amass quality selections for the annual sale, relying primarily on books that were donated or withdrawn from circulation.
The article continued on but you can click the link if you want to read the rest.





It was a fun way to spend the morning. Madelyn has loved reading her books since we brought them home. Her favorite is The Little Red Hen by far but she isn't quite sure why no one wanted to help. I love my little book lover!

Monday, March 12, 2012

park days: cousin style

We spent the morning at the park with the girls. My sister and I chatted while we watched the girls play.


Madelyn wanted to do everything her cousins were doing.




My brother brought his boat out to do a little fishing and took Emily and Allison out on it after they woke up from their naps. Madelyn was still napping while they went out or else she would have been melt down central. It was sweet to watch Jarrod with the girls from the back door (got to love zoom lenses).
I am having so much fun spending time with Rach and the girls while they are on spring break. As much fun as I am having, Madelyn is having ten times more. Every single morning she wakes up asking if she gets to see Emmy or Alli. Add Aunt Rachel and getting to see Grandma every day and she's on cloud nine! She's even seen Uncle Jarrod and Aunt Marlo more frequently than she has lately.

I am starting to think spring break is pretty fun after all!

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