oh Monday...

Monday mornings at Chuck-E-Cheese equal inexpensive fun! Madelyn loves all the rides and even paid attention to some of the games long enough to play them! Her favorite ride was definitely the cow horse. Poor girl is still insisting that a horse is a cow. I hope she gets this sorted out by kindergarten!

Is there hope??

I have always had a love for photography. Photographs of those I love are my favorite form of art in my home. Every day since Madelyn was born I have taken pictures of her with my Digital SLR that my hubs had the whole family go in on the first Christmas we were married. I think I've used it every single day since.

Two weeks ago MK and I were taking an afternoon dip in the pool. My phone, camera and her fruit snacks were in a bag being shaded under a chair. Until she got hungry and wanted a snack. I was sitting on the steps somewhat distracted by a neighbor who walked over to say hi and Madelyn was getting in to the bag. I'm not really sure what happened, but all I remember is hearing her say, "Snack please Mommy" and then seeing the bag splash in to the pool.

Out floated the iPhone. Out floated the camera. And of course the fruit snacks too.

My phone, after 24 hours submerged in rice, survived. No problems at all.

My camera was a different story. It wouldn't turn on. The viewfinder was full of water. And it was almost impossible to push some of the buttons.

Honestly, it was a little emotional. I know this is going to sound lame, but I had photographed some of the most tender moments of the last three and half years with that camera. Our first Christmas together, some of the first pictures of our niece Allison, the day we found out we were expecting, the night we shared the news with my unsuspecting family, and of course our entire journey to this point with our precious Madelyn Kate. On top of that, I had committed to going to Uganda in October and that camera was my way of raising money to go.

Don't get me wrong, as much as I talked about it and hoped that it would work, I knew that it wasn't the end of the world. I'm thankful that my phone is capable of taking pictures so I don't miss capturing the sweet little moments of our daily life with Madelyn. Since then I have carried my camera with me still out of habit and in hopes that it would work again.

Then today it did. It came on for more than just a flicker. We were even able to take some pictures with it! The lens that sunk with it seems to be a goner and it has a hard time focusing part of the time, but there is a little hope that maybe it will come back to life! Ha!

If not, that's OK too. Just because the moments aren't photographed, does not mean they are not savored and enjoyed!

MK & Elmo...buds for life.

Madelyn adores Sesame Street. More specifically, the episodes where Elmo is in the forefront! This morning I was not feeling well at all after food poisoning the night before, so I let her watch a full episode (they are almost an hour long) on Netflix. While she watched she shared her milk and "pappy" with her Elmo doll that my Aunt Nancy gave her. It was pretty precious. Despite my own feelings about characters, I can't deny that she really does love Elmo. I'm just glad that this year she won't be able to beg me for an Elmo themed birthday party because she won't yet know to ask! Ha. For now, MK and Elmo are definitely best buds!

garage sale! let's get to Uganda!

It's garage sale weekend at our house. I'm hoping to raise some funds for my trip to Uganda in the fall and clear out the garage of the "waiting for a garage sale" clutter. However the weekend goes, I know it will be fun with the mister and my sweet girl by my side! I am so thankful for their help!

what we've been up to...bullet style

•  I'm in total disbelief that we purchased these. However, MK seems to be ready. We haven't put the cute panties that Grandma bought on yet, but we are just waiting to have a few days at home since there will be lots to clean up! She knows when it's time to go and usually gives me enough warning to run her to the bathroom as fast as I can! Way to go, Maddie Kate!

•  After being with friends and family non-stop for over two weeks, MK and I spent the afternoon together on Tuesday. Just the two of us. It was a much needed Mommy-Daughter date. I love my time with this sweet girl and was craving some one-on-one time. We went to eat her favorite chicken nuggets at Chick-fil-A and did a little window shopping too.

•  She has really gotten sneaky and tries to get a sip of our drinks whenever she can! What a mess!

•  Bath time at the Bilberry house consists of lots of splashing, water crayons and singing. I think I enjoy it just as much as she does.

•  After bath time, MK watched out her bedroom window as Daddy mowed. Every time he came around, she would start screaming and banging on the window! It was precious. She sure loves her Daddy.

•  This morning we went to Sam's Club to print pictures. MK insisted that her baby be buckled up. Safety first, right?

• After a fun long day I got to hold this sleepy girl after she begged to watch Elmo instead of take a nap. Apparently the need for a nap one, but I was thankful that I got to hold my sleeping baby girl.

Children's Miracle Network

 This weekend was the annual Children's Miracle Network Telethon.I cannot even begin to describe how special the Children's Miracle Network is to our family. My mom, sister and sister-in-law have all donated financially and through the gift of volunteer time for years. This is the second year for our family of three. It took us needing what the money raised through the Children's Miracle Network provides to get involved. Although I wish it hadn't come to that, we have been so blessed to see first hand how the money raised gets put to use.

We have grown to love the faces of those in our community who put in countless hours of hard work all year long, as champions for the children of East Texas. We have also grown to know and love several of the families whose children's lives have been impacted for good by the money raised.

One family is that of the miracle child for our area this year, Faith. She has Type 1 Diabetes. I don't know much about Type 1, but I do know that Faith is a walking miracle. She was diagnosed at 9 months of age. I remember vividly the day I heard her story. We were at a planning lunch for last year's telethon and they were talking about how many times a day this baby girl was poked with needles, just to make sure she made it through that day. From that day on, I prayed for her mother. She was only a few months older than Madelyn and my heart ached for Faith, but also for her mom.

She almost didn't make it to the telethon this year because she was hospitalized earlier in the week. She was discharged just hours before the telethon ended. Her family came straight from the hospital, because they too have felt first hand what the Children's Miracle Network does! What a blessing they are by sharing their story!

Emily was up there the whole weekend. She loved talking to everyone that came in, getting people snacks and drinks, but most of all she LOVED being on camera! After several times out, she was a pro.

The ladies of the volunteer committee are awesome and I was so blessed to be able to play a very small part of the team! I cannot wait until next year.

Madelyn had fun running around with the older girls while she was there.

We loved being able to see Dr. Morris. She is such an asset to our community and we are thankful each day for her skills in caring for sick babies!

We did a short, live update interview this afternoon on Madelyn. I was so nervous. My toddler smack dab in the middle of her usual nap time live on TV? I had prepared myself for the worst, prayed for the best and sat down with a smile on my face. Although she definitely did not want us to hold her, she did pretty well. Of course, she picked her nose and screamed a few times, but she also told them her name and made some cute animal sounds! We survived and those that watched got a few good laughs, I'm sure!

We are so thankful for the Children's Miracle Network!

"ride the cow"

One of MK's newest favorite things to do is "ride the cow" in the playroom at Grandma and Grandpa's house. The only problem is, they don't have a cow to ride. Although she knows that a cow says, "moo", can point it out in her barn set, and yells, "coooowwwww!" when she sees one on TV (and likewise for a horse), she relentlessly insists that the HORSE in their house is a cow. Oh dear. I'm wondering if this kid is stubborn? Ha! Either way, it provides comedic relief for all and watching her bounce on that thing until her legs are so tired they can barely move is so much fun!

the feeling is mutual

Madelyn,
Today we delivered flowers and cupcakes to the NICU. We dropped them off, said hi to one of the nurses and gave some hugs. Grandma came with us to the unit and then took us to lunch down in the cafeteria. Grandma is such a hard working nurse. She is great at what she does and loves helping people. Another thing she loves? YOU! You make her face light up and I'm confident she would do anything for you, Emily and Allison. You adore her just as much. When we drive up to her house, you immediately start clapping. When she walks through the door, you run towards her. The feeling is mutual. The love is obvious.
Just wanted you to know,
Mommy

An afternoon with the cousins...

 There were homemade popsicles.

 MK decided to try two at once!

 There was lots of cuddling.

 Emily lost her first tooth.

 And apparently when it comes to taking pictures of the three of you girls together, you always manage to be topless!

 All in all it was a good afternoon!

We love summer.

MK and I had such a fun summer lunch date with Emily today. We ate on the patio at Fresh. The girls had the lunchables of their choosing. I had apricot chicken salad (SO tasty). Then we shopped. Emily loved filling up her basket and checking the items off our list.

We love summer.