Hello Again

So I remembered last night that I had not blogged for a while.....my background was still Christmas trees! I told myself I would be better at this once Maddy got here, but apparently I was wrong. I don't think I'm cut out to blog or write for that matter. I don't particularly enjoy it. I mainly have a blog because I live so far away from friends and family. Anything that makes it on here is better than nothing. Right?? I guess I'll keep it.

So Maddy is a little bigger than when I last blogged. Instead of tell you every little thing that has happened in 5 months, I'll post some pics.

Christmas
3 months old

5 months old

St. Patrick's Day
6 months old

Easter
7 months old

Maddy and her BFF, Gabbi Grace

(I know I'm missing her 4 month pic. I take a lot of pics with my phone and don't know how to get them on my computer. I'm not one of the lucky ones to own a smartphone. )

Here are a few new facts:
~Maddy can sit up by herself, although I'm still afraid that she is going to face plant one of these days.
~She got her 2 bottom teeth at 5 months. I didn't even know they were in. She is such a great baby and took it like a champ.
~She looks more like her daddy every day (or so I'm told).
~She's learning to wave and clap. She will randomly do both but as soon as you start to clap or wave back she stops and looks at you.
~She loves all foods. There hasn't been a thing that I've put in front of her face that she didn't like.
~We have to make sure she is strapped in the bouncer or she will try to roll herself over the side.

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Maddy and I made a trip back home for Adrienne's shower a couple weekends ago. Jay got lots of super cute stuff. His nursery is Auburn themed, so he received a ton of orange and blue. I think Bry and Adge have most everything they need. Now we wait!! He is expected June 14. We (Dusty included) will be home the last weekend in June to meet the newest member of the famjam! We are looking forward to taking Maddy to the beach for her first time too.

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Last, but certainly not least, Dusty's last day of school is tomorrow!!!!! We (me more so than him) are so excited! He graduates May 20 with his Master's of Divinity. I feel like I've been waiting for this day for so long, but then I realize he's been waiting for this day since he was 5. He wins! We have no clue what it feels like to be married and come home where there is no certain obligation for the night. It's always been reading or writing papers. Oh the freedom!! Maddy will enjoy more daddy/daughter time, as will I!

2 Months

Miss Maddy is now 2 months old! Well actually she was 11 weeks old yesterday. I'm a little late with my post. I chose this picture because we think it's hilarious. She is now in the pout phase. This is now her signature warning sign that she is unhappy and is about to let us know it! We just laugh at her because it's so darn cute. Oh and she is probably pouting because, as you can see, her houndstooth didn't help Bama pull out a victory against Auburn.

Well it is now official....I'm a stay-at-home mom. I'm loving every second of it! She is such a great baby. She loves to smile and "talk" to me now. I'm amazed at the little things that she does. For instance, yesterday I put her down for a nap in her crib. She woke up about 30 minutes later but instead of crying for me to come get her, I heard her chatting it up with her stuffed animal. I wonder what deep theological thing they were discussing. It was the sweetest thing! I'm excited about staying at home and catching these precious moments that I wouldn't have otherwise. She has the strongest legs too! She will definitely be walking sooner rather than later. When she is in our laps, she likes to stand up and look around. She's not interested in crawling in the least bit! And did I mention she sleeps 10 hours every night!!! What a blessing! We joke that God had to give us a good baby since our labor and delivery was a nightmare. Otherwise she would be an only child! :) Not really, but we couldn't have asked for a better one!

This is our family picture! While we were home for Thanksgiving, Tessa came over and took some family pics. I had to share this one. In case you can't see, Decoy is wearing an orange collar to match Mom and Dad. :)  I loved our little color coordinated family. We actually got Maddy and Decoy looking straight at the same time. That is quite an accomplishment. Props to Tessa for capturing this great image!
Oh and in case some of you didn't know.....next year we will have another little one to add to the picture! Bryan and Adrienne are expecting a precious baby in June! We are all so excited for them. Maddy can't wait to meet her new cousin!

1 Month Old

Maddy was 1 month old on Sunday. My how time flies! I really do believe she will be grown up before we realize it. Here are a few things about Miss Maddy that we have learned:
1. She doesn't mind flying home to visit Alabama.
2. She now weighs 9 lbs and 12 oz.
3. She is sleeping about 5-6 hours at night most of the time.
4. She didn't mind getting her Hep B shot in the leg. (She was more concerned about me taking her bottle away.)
5. She is very observant and alert.
6. She loves her mylicon drops.
7. She likes to eat and sleep just like her mother!

Madelyn Grace

I'm sorry it has been so long since my last blog. Things have been hectic and I just can't seem to find much time. Well as you must have guessed by the name of my post, we are having a precious little girl!! We are so excited to welcome Madelyn Grace into the world in September. Not only did we find out that we were having a girl today but it was our first ultrasound. It was so sweet to see her moving around...even if she was kicking me most of the time! We had a doctor appt right before the ultrasound so we had some idea that it might be a girl. Dr. Gerwe told us with that heartbeat that he was betting on a girl. Also, a very nice lady at our church knitted us some pink booties a couple weeks ago. I guess everyone knew we were having a girl except for us! Dusty said he had a feeling it would be a girl. He is very excited about his little girl. He asked my dad to buy him a shotgun to run off the boys in a couple of years! Here are the pics of the ultrasound. Enjoy!

What a wonderful world...

What a wonderful world...that song came to my mind today as I thought back over the events that have happened in these 2 short months in 2010. Mom and Dad came to visit the third weekend in February. I was so excited to have them both stay in my house. What did we do you ask?? EAT....a lot! :) That's exactly what my family knows best....good food! We had a great visit with them and I was so sad to see them go. Dusty always says I just light up whenever I'm at home with friends and family or they are up here visiting. I hope to go back home sometime soon!
I finally got a job this month! After 3 interviews and meeting my spouse, they hired me on the spot. I love my accounting job and every day Dusty asks me if I did anything exciting....I just shake my head because what I find exciting about accounts payable and general ledgers, he definitely would not!  I'm very blessed to work for a Christian employer. As a matter of fact, every person that works in the office with me is a Christian. I'm so thankful that I don't have to put up with worldly attitudes each day that I am at work. I am only working part-time now. I think that will be the best thing when the baby is born.
Friday, we had my first appointment with the actual doctor.  One of the first things he did was put the microphone thing up to my stomach so we could hear the little heartbeat. It took all I could not to cry. I guess actually hearing my little bundle of joy made it all too real. Now we can't wait to go back April 2 to hear it again! Doctor said that mom and baby were healthy. Oh and it was only 1 heartbeat so no multiples! :) I've been joking with Dusty about that so he made sure to listen closely. This week begins my 12th week so I will finally be in my second trimester next week! I've been blessed beyond measure to have been very rarely sick. (Thanks Mom....I'm sure I get that from you!)

So far in 2010...

So this is long overdue! Here are some pics from Christmas when Dustin and I went home. Dad planned a hunting trip for the family. None of the girls had ever been. It was kind of scary at times...I thought they were going to shoot me! We survived and the best part of the hunting trip was the amazing supper at the hunting house. I would go back any day just to eat!
There has been a lot going on since we've gotten back after Christmas. Upward Basketball began at church for the kids. Dustin and I are refs for the 3rd and 4th grade and Dustin coaches a 5th and 6th grade team. Our Women's Ministry Team held an event, Chili & Chocolate, to kick off some of our new groups like Sassy Scrappers, Flicker Chicks, and Cuisine Queens. It was a great success and very delicious!

Dustin and I also got some great news the end of January. We are going to be parents!! We are so excited! We can't wait for Baby Coleman to get here in September!

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

Tonight was the big night...we put up the Christmas tree! Dusty finally let me put it up...probably because he was tired of my constant questioning "if he was ready yet". I would celebrate Christmas 365 days a year if everyone would let me! When Mom came to visit in October, we popped in Elf and drank hot chocolate. I just love it!

I decorated most of the mantle and then began the joyous event of putting up the tree. Of course, I popped in some Christmas music as we fluffed the tree. Dusty carefully strung the lights. Then we put on the ornaments only to find out that the colored lights did not look so good with our ornaments of gold, green, and red. I didn't think it was possible for any Christmas tree to look bad but we had achieved just that. All that hard work for nothing! Oh well, tomorrow is another day and we shall try again! This time with white lights. Here are some pics of our unfinished mantle and our attempt at a good-looking Christmas tree.