Making Memories...

Well folks... it seems as though we have a beach baby on our hands. That really does not come as a surprise to us, I suppose.
We really wanted to take a family vacation, but couldn't figure out where to go where we could drive with Madison. We knew we didn't want to fly with her yet, so choices were limited. We decided that we were going to Gulf Shores and then couldn't get a late notice reservation, so we just decided that we'd stay home and keep playing. That's actually been really fun! :-)
Then my parents called, said that they were hot and were driving to Galveston and wanted to know if we wanted to go with them. Let Madison experience the beach for the first time -- Yes, please. Grandparents are going too? Double yes, please!

My family moved to Texas when I was very young. I had a set of grandparents in Arizona and one in Iowa, so trips like these never happened. We were lucky to see them once a year. All of my aunts, uncles, and cousins lived far away as well, so my siblings and I never had the opportunity to get to know them or really see them. I feel like we missed out on so much, so I am PRO-memory making with family.

So we hopped in and headed off. Madison was perfect on the way there and lost patience in the last 2 hours on the way home. We totally understood and were very patient with her and it all ended well.

So Madison's favorite part of the beach was the sand, the waves, the hermit crabs, getting muddy in the sand then running into the water to wash it all off, collecting shells, letting the waves splash on her....She loved EVERYTHING!! She was happy just being there. Before it was over she'd crawl in head first and then belly flop right into the wave. She roll around, laugh, and then would come out high stepping just to do it all over again.

One of my favorite things is how Madison would sit on the balcony and watch the waves from our condo eating snack and just look at the water. She'd come running out yelling, "water!" then she's sit and relax. Now if you know Madison then you also know that she doesn't sit still -- ever!

Madison also calls Grandpa and Nana by name and when she needs them she'll go looking calling out their name from room to room. She'd wake up and say, "Mama, Dada." We'd let her come up into bed with us for all of 2 seconds before she would head to the door to leave saying, "Nana, Grandpa."

Those are good memories. Grandparents.

It was a short trip, it was a fun trip, it was a trip where memories were made.

Row Your Boat

Disclaimer: Please excuse the messy house that you may see in these photos. Madison lives in this house and is busy making memories! :-)

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily,merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream

I am pretty sure I have now sung this song 12,000 times this summer. Madison rows every where she goes. She will go to peoples houses and climb in things that in no way resemble a boat and start to row. She gets in, squats down, looks up and smiles while saying, "row, row."  So what else are we to do but encourage it? She wants to row? Let the girl row.

She takes out all the toys and gets in...

She climbs up and rows (more like rocks...)

She sits in her "dad made me a boat out of a box" boat and rows -- oh yes, in this one she wants her toys to come along for the ride.

And yes, she even rows on the dog, Chloe. She has tried this almost every day this summer. Chloe usually jumps up as fast as she can and runs away with Madison wildly chasing her. She just laughs and thinks its a fun game to keep trying to get on. On this day and this day only, Chloe let her get on and stay on. I am talking long enough for me to go get the camera and take a photo. I was amazed. She rowed rowed gently and then laid down and gave Chloe a "thank you" hug. Then Chloe turned over so Madison was on the dogs stomach and all I could imagine is those giant claws scratching her face, so I scooped her up and we all celebrated the ride!

Madison has the row, row part down and can do it all by herself. Don't dare try to help her - she'll definitely yell at you and tell you not to help!

So it has been the summer of boats, of singing, and of rowing in random objects until ------

She got a car!

And now who wants to row when you can drive?! :-)

Thanks to my friend Betsy and her boys we have this great automobile that has added many wonderful memories to our summer in just a few short days!

VROOM! VROOM!

Mommy is okay....

I have often wondered among many groups of people if I was good enough. I have never once stood in a group of people and ever thought that I was the best or the prettiest or the funniest. I have had that doubt recently in the parenting world and that is a guilty gut wrenching feeling. I am a working mom who wants to not work and stay at home and raise my daughter, but financially that is just not happening for us right now. Right now I am at home for summer. We play hard every day. We are tired every day. I am trying to keep us busy every day. Recently I stopped to think.... could I really be a stay at home mom? Am I good enough? Could I teach her enough? Am I enough for Madison? Will I do right by this sweet precious angel? I get choked up now just asking those questions to myself. The bottom line is that no one should be judging my parenting, including myself. Madison is loved... more than any being has been loved before! In life in general, that counts for so much! She is kind, polite, uses her manners, and is happy ever single day.

I lost sleep over this recently -- stay awake in self judgement. Then I woke up to Madison's babbles and single syllable words playing with her baby dolls in her crib. I slowly walk up the stairs still rubbing my eyes and open her bedroom door to a very enthusiastic "Mama!" She happily pets the dog calling her, "good girl" and then asks for me to play her music mobile and we sing along. Then we play humpty dumpty and she laughs and giggles wildly before she throws both arms into the air and asks me to start our day. As I kiss all over her I glance at the canvas that hangs on her wall by her crib.

And I think.... Yep. I can do that. Yep. I am doing something right.

So here's to another day of being Madison's mommy and loving it for all that it is!

 I read the following blog by a girl that I have known for a while It made me smile and gave me a little more self confidence that I needed at that moment....

http://thoughtsbycakes.blogspot.com/2012/07/rules-for-moms.html

Here's to mothers. The perfect (if there is such a thing) and those that will love unconditionally and sure try their hardest! I dont strive to be a perfect parent. I strive to raise a well-adjusted, kind, loyal, loving, knows right from wrong, believes in love, knows love, loves fully, makes happy memories, listens to their heart and loves Jesus, daughter.

 So far, so good.... :-)