Lately

Its been a while so here comes a quick update.
I was feeling drab with decor in our house and wanted to spruce things up a bit. i put some posts out in the blog world and got a bite. Stephanie with cre8tivedesigns is helping me out and have already done so much! I promise pictures to come :)
I rearranged some furniture i already had for the foyer a nd love it!
bought a painting "on clearance" for the living room and couldnt be happier. And got a sofa table off craigslist and its perfect!!

Couponing - my new addiction. I have only been into the store and used coupons twice since i started researching and collecting about a month ago. I plan stuff/trips to the stores every week but something might come up or i am too tired. I will get the hang of it eventually!
It is very addicting and kinda peaceful finding deals and even thought i might not follow through....i feel very good about my attemps (LOL).

Madden update: wow, my little boy is 110% BOY! He is pretending with good guys and bad guys, starting to play more independently, being very silly, pretends he is buzz lightyear or a puppy dog (too cute). He is doing great at potty training, with the exceptions of going in the car on the way home from daycare.
He is at a stage where he is testing me and seeing far he can go. for example, whining to see if i will give in. I am doing my best to be strong and firm and so far (with a little advice) it is working...i want to raise a respectful child, not one that thinks he can walk all over me or anyone else. He is an awesome kid and little person and I so lucky to be his momma.

ok, thats all for now.

Few Pics from our Trip to VA

Madden before he face planted into a huge mud hole - loved his C'ARS hat that kept him warm

After face plant - I guess it wore him out!

All the cousins...love these pics

Waiting on the TRAIN..he had such a good time on the choo choo! "All-Aboard"

DeCeMbEr

(Madden is reading "elf on the shelf" our elf's name is Jingle Bells)

(this snow flake is so easy and cute)

(Madden and Patch decorating the tree)

Sorry its been a while...again.
This month is crazy busy! Poor Adam i couldnt tell you the last time he got to hunt...they have a new space at the campt and I know he is dying to try it out. Madden's little personality has changed so much just within the last month, between melt downs and learning so much...it has kept us busy. He loves singing Christmas songs, his favorite is Frosty (oh, and he loves the old time movie too). Bed time is still going strong..a few bumps here and there, but all in all...GREAT! Santa on the other hand...not so much a fan :( (I'll post a pict of the 3 sec shot)
As far as Chrsitmas gifts, i started really early, thought I was doing good and start getting depressed when I remember how many gifts we actually have to buy. I of course love buying madden stuff (LOL) but there is just so much sometiems between white elephant and every party...phew. Maybe the nieces and nephews could start pulling names - just a thought.
Or, maybe i just need to start a little sooner...who knows!
Well, enough updating. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving Trip

We left Monday (before Thanksgiving) and got home Sunday (my bday). 17 hours in a car with 4 adults and a two year old (huge carseat) was quite interesting and actually way better than i imagined!
We arrived early afternoon Tuesday and just relaxed. Other family got there that night and Wednesday...it was so fun having all the cousins and brothers and sisters together. Aunt Stacy and Granny rocked the kitchen and everything was absolutely amazing...there was so much food we ate on everything for three days!!
Friday we all went to Washington DC...what an experience! Madden's favorite was the train ride where he learned "all aboard."
It was freezing but such an amazing feeling to be there. Great family time and amazing sites and museams. We'll have to go back one day (not in the winter) and take a few days to see things. All in all - great trip. Pictures will soon follow.

NOVEMBER...

Wow, i cant believe it is November all ready...where has the year gone?
Adam has been out of town for hunting and work training in Texas - this is his last week for Texas...whoo hoo!
Just thought I would let yall know about our upcoming festivities. Adam and Jordan are cooking in the Festival of Festivals this weekend - how exciting!
Madden is gonna spend the day with CC, daddy will cook and mom and nanna will be working on a house for Habitat. After the Habitat house we will go join daddy at the festival - free passes!!
Next weekend is the St. Jude run/walk - Me and Madden and tons of others will walk for Team Preston - St. Jude continues to amaze me and i just want them to help Preston get better.
As for the rest of the weekend we will be washing clothes and packing b/c we leave on the 22 (night) with Stephen and Kristi (yes it will be tight) to North Carolina and Viginia to visit our families!!
We cant wait to see you guys and finally meet you Genevive!
We will come home on the 28th and start decorating for Christmas!!
Have a wonderful holiday season

To my sweet baby boy....

Madden celebrated his 2nd birthday on October 31, 2010.

I honestly cant belive you are alreay two years old. I remember the day we found out we were pregnant, the doctors appointment when they told us we were having a boy, and the day you were born.





Your first year was rough but nothing we couldnt handle.

And your second year was filled with so many interesting and big events!

We started building and moved into our new house.

Mommy got a new job.

You moved from a crib to a big boy bed

You made a new friend (Payton) and absolutley loves spending time with her. Yall fight and share, hit and hug, laugh and cry...her mom and I are in trouble!

The best part of my day is when I think about picking you up from school or coming into the house and you hop out of daddy's lap and welcome me with a big madden hug!

I love watching you growup, experiencing new things, you learn a new word or see a new toy and all the excitement you share. You amaze and inspire me.

And just between us, since you are the first child I am sure your dad and I will make tons of mistakes, but we will grow from them. I'm sure nothing will seem fair but we will give you all the love you can ever imagine. We will do what we feel is right, at the time, and go from there. Take the "going to bed situation" you did not like us i am sure for a while but we made it and now it is an awesome experience that we all share every evening!

Madden, (what) your second year has been amazing and I am so glad I get to be your mommy (and I am sure you dad feels the same way because I see the way he lights up when you talk to him) and I cant wait for many more years!

Happy Halloween

These might be a little out of order but the one above is us trick-and-treating

this is our new family "happy bday sign" that i made and am very proud of

Enjoying our birthday boy's hayride

Ok, so this one is madden's first STA football game (nothing to do with Halloween) but really cute picture of him and daddy cheering on the Alligators (i mean the Gators) LOL

October 2010

I apologize for not posting in so long. Let me try and catch you up...we moved into our house in April. We spent the summer enjoying it and getting to know some people down the road who has a daughter Madden's age. We are enjoying hanging out with them and between their girls and Madden they keep us on our toes!

My Job - I absolutely love it. I never thought of myself as a "secretary" type person. I always thought i would want to be out and in the middle of everything...well, surprise!

I love listening to people's problems and giving them a kind word, helping out divorcing couples, hearing about criminal happenings....i just LOVE IT!

On another note, i have been obsessed with crafting blogs and want to try and get better (start) making decor for around the house. I am also trying to "fly" (http://www.flylady.net/), and try to do better with our finances (budgeting).

Adam - Still enjoys his job (as far as i know) he doesn't say much but i think he really enjoys what he does and the people he works with. We were apart of two weddings this summer and even though i am thrilled for them...i am so glad they are over. We are not into hunting season and he is trying to squeeze in (with our busy schedule this month) some hunts. Adam and Jordan have also cooked in two festivals and got second place in this last one...Congratulations!

Madden - has been doing great! He is talking up a storm, getting such a personality, moving like crazy, running, squirming, kicking, biting, hitting, snuggling, kissing....Bring it on Terrible Twos!

So far we have had a few colds and that's about it. We went to the doctor two weeks ago for a little limp...xrays were clear so we are just watching him. He is so loving and sweet it kills me. Lately, "a hug, a kiss" is what he says when you part from him...tells everyone by...waves and tells "hello" to everyone - just the best darn kid ever!

February...

....yet another month I will skip in the futre. Madden has had a "fever virus" the next week he was ok, then pnemonia!
Really!
Well, we survived and yesterday (3-1-10) we went to the doc for chest x-rays to see if its completely gone and.....drumroll please......it is!
whoo hoo
now all he has is a sinus and eye infection. I think we can handle this!

PS. Pnemonia = not fun when every afternoon the fever is so high you contemplate going to the hospital

Em

January

Sorry its been so long. I started a new job! We are building a new house and nothing was ever secure at the agcenter. It was fun for a while; the traveling, conferences (yes I enjoyed them), projects, and co-workers mainly. But it was time to move on. I needed something stable, preferably closer to home (the drive to LSU was killing me) and that would still understand my child gets sick and needs to go to the doctor.
I found it! Working at a law office in Gonzales. Small office so no HR people to deal with and very family oriented (the people and the practice.)
There is actual work for me to do.....unlike LSU where we just waited for projects.
I am always busy (but never overwhelmed) I absolutely love it!
Thanks Joni for this opportunity!

Em

Sorry about the delayed update..

Sorry its been so long. November and December were filled with family, food, laughs, and madden being sick. Yup, you guessed it - colds, which turned into ear infections. I had enough, I told my doctor I would like to meet with an allergist - so we did, the week of Christmas and got tested for allergies. The negative thing was that even if he is allergic to some things, they might not show up because he is so young - which is what happened. I still think he is allergic to dust or something...he acts just like I do after we clean the house and go outside. We will see in a few years when we can do it again. The doctor is also an asthma specialist - he suggested some measure we should take as precaution (he thinks he will have asthma) and I was very satisfied after meeting with him. So far, we are doing good...Yeah!

Madden One year and Family Pics..

My cousin took our pictures - she is amazing. Check her out at www.stefaniecasciophotography.com

If you want to look at ours...go to client proof - password: madden

ENJOY!

October...

Not looking much better. Started out with Stomatitis, then a horrible stomach virus and not a really bad cough (going to doc today). Oh, this is all Madden - one right after the other - poor thing. I think we will get him a medal for surviving his first year!
There are so many fun activities this month - I hope we get to make them all - and the best/saddest activity is our little one's first birthday...Yeah and boo at the same time. He is doing so much. Walking all over the place, clapping, catching and bouncing balls, making faces at you when you make them at him, and so much more. Can I just video his entire life?
Ok, enough of me whining about him growing up. It has been a blessing, each and every day and we look forward to more and more!

September...

So far, way better than August. Oh, did I mention we are fixing to build a house! There was some craziness with that but it fell into August - I think next year we will just skip that month!
Right now we are: planning a birthday party, trying to stay well (not get the infamous Swine Flu, and loving every minute of our life!

Thanks for all the prayers while we were sick!

August..

So, we return from Disney and this is what happens. Adam and I got a parasite infection (cryptosporidium). NOT FUN! He then spent the next two weeks in Beaumont, TX while recovering. Thank goodness I had mom to help me with Madden. Oh wait. She got sick after a few days and was out of commission. After a few tests we found out what it was and was given medicine and realized it is spread through toilets and water parks...hmmm - oh, and bleach could not kill. What the HECK.
I spent 3 weeks recovering and praying that Madden did not get it. so, when Adam got home and normalcy was approaching, we were called to pick up Madden from Daycare with fever (strange). Ear infection!! Oh, and the first medicine did not work so we had to switch - yeah!