A Blessed Weekend

Family has always been an important part of our lives. With family there is comfort knowing you have a built in support system, people in which to share laughs and tears. Someone to call when you just need to talk or email when you have some exciting news to share. Or someone to text when you don't really have anything else to do. I realized this weekend how much we need our family in our lives.

We traveled to Atlanta, Georgia for Ryan's cousin's wedding.
Just Ryan and I.
No Maddie.

Oh man, it was tough leaving our little sugar booger behind. It still makes me well up just remembering how hard it was to leave her. I felt as if I was cutting off my right arm and leaving it behind. Yep, it was that hard.

When we first planned this trip we didn't have to think about who would keep our little Maddie O. The choice was simple, my sister would keep our little munchkin. I was going to miss my Maddie O. but I knew that she would be in great hands and was going to be with our family that loves her to pieces.

So, what does a sad Mama do prior to boarding a plane that is taking her away from her daughter. Ummm...she buys $17 worth of candy. Yeah, not on purpose but I guess we should have known that everything is outrageously overpriced in an airport.



That candy sure was tasty though. Oh, and after spending that much on candy we didn't even buy gum for the flight. We were on a sugar high with ears a popping.

Thank goodness for our family and thank goodness for picture phones. My sister kept us posted with our Maddie with numerous text messages and photos. This is what kept us going.....



The weekend was very busy with luncheons, dinners and golf.



We even took a helicopter ride to get an aerial view of the area.



Just kidding this was a miniature diagram set up in the lobby of the Ritz. Looks like were in a plane though, right? Alright, not really.

Moving on to the main event....





The wedding took place at the Ritz Carlton on Reynold's Plantation, which is located about an hour and a half outside of Atlanta. For you country music lovers, this is the same location that Carrie Underwood wed her hockey honey a few weeks ago. To mildly put it the place is freaking gorgeous.





Hmmm, whatcha' thinking about Brent?  171?  Just a guess.

Ryan's Cousin Sean and Aunt Sue entered the ceremony and Aunt Sue was beaming.



The most climatic moment of a wedding is the entrance of the bride. The beginning of the best yet to come from a marriage of two friends.



I love that Jennifer stopped. Her emotions got the best of her and rightfully so because mine got me too. She stopped with her proud Poppa, took a moment, composed herself and continued on to begin her journey.



And the best part of any wedding, the face of the groom once he lays eyes on his bride. Oh, if that doesn't jerk a tear from you, you must be made of stone.





Proof that I'm not the only one who loves to take pictures.



Can I get a copy of that one Charlie?

Then two become one.



We spent a lot of time catching up with Ryan's family that we don't see too often. I enjoyed seeing them again and sharing stories about Madison.



They made us feel so welcomed and loved.





Congratulations Jennifer and Andy! We are so blessed that we were able to spend this day with you. May your marriage be joyous and happy. The best is yet to come.

Lots of love!
-K

Goodbye Friend

There is no way to say this other then simply stating, Marvin is gone.  Yes, you read it correctly, Marvin is gone.  Tears are streaming down my face as I type.  I'm like the little girl who lost her first puppy sitting on the front porch crying.  Only, I'm not little, I'm an adult, Marvin isn't a puppy, he's an adult too and I'm on the couch.  So, maybe it isn't like that at all.  Anyway, we are no longer pet owners.



I acquired Marvin from the breeder when I moved back to Indiana from Florida.  I wanted a pet because I lived on my own and I had never had a pet before.  I told Ryan I was going to get a cat.  He said no cats are stupid.  I guess I would kind of have to agree with him there.  That is when I found my first puppy, Marvin.



I didn't have the first clue as to how to raise a puppy or care for one but I figured it out.  Marvin quickly grew into a loving dog.  He was the best cuddle pup around.  He loved taking naps and we were always impressed by his ability at finding the most comfortable spot in the house. 





The tough decision to get rid of Marvin was made because Marvin shed.  He shed a lot.  This had always been a problem for me.  Had I known anything about dogs I wouldn't have gotten a dog that shed so profusely.  However, I did and I fell in love with a shedder.  I put up with it for 6 1/2 years because Marvin was my baby.  Only now my other baby is crawling and is acquiring fur when she should not have fur.  We wanted Maddie to be able to crawl around in her own home.  The decision was tough and took many months for us to finally act on it but it is for the best.



Marvin was my first dog and I'm really going to miss.  We are all going to miss him.  Goodbye friend.  I love you!

Boredom

Sunday evening Ryan was watching golf and I was surfing the web for new project ideas. It's not that I need to start another project it's just I had nothing else to do or wanted to do for that matter. I shut the laptop and announced to Ryan that I was bored. He laughed at me. Madison was taking a nap and had been asleep for about an hour and a half and wasn't stirring as if she might wake soon. She was on her belly and her legs were tucked tightly underneath her which forced that tiny butt in the air. I asked Ryan what we did before Maddie and he replied with this. This is what we did before we had her, he watched golf and I did my thing. Well, this sucks.



When Madison was born, I will never forget something my father-in-law said to me. He said Maddie lives in your world, you do not live in hers. I love this and will consistently keep this piece of advice replaying in my head. So far, I think we have held true and she's fit right in with whatever we are doing or wherever we are going. Although on Sunday, I wanted to be in her world and I wanted her world to wake up. Wake up I say, Mama is bored, Mama wants to play with you.



Our lives have changed. We have changed. It's not that we have changed who we are, it's that we have evolved into different people. We have been enhanced by the addition of our daughter.



Ryan said the other day that he loves Madison more and more everyday. I couldn't agree with you more Babe.

The Middle

Like all good things....



....they come to an end.



Meme and Papaw are gone. They returned to Naples last night. It's always hard seeing them go. But, to that beginning and end, there is always a middle. During their stay we took a trip to the Indianapolis Children's Museum. We have one of the best children's museums right here in Indy. It contains four floors of exhibits that are consistently changing. Each trip is then different from the last. The museum is very hands on and is fun for kids of all ages, even adults. Man, these people should call me for a commercial.

The main reason I wanted to go was so Maddie could have another new experience. Ha! Just kidding that's sort of a lie. I wanted to go because I heard they had a Barbie exhibit! Boy did they ever, it was awesome!



There is so much going on in this picture that it just makes me laugh.



I'm so thankful that I have Madison because I would have looked silly going down the Barbie runway by myself.







After we got our pink on, we moved over to something a little more prehistoric. I told Maddie she came from an egg just like these. I don't think she bought it.



There is aways time to stop for a little art.





Check it...yeah, that's my dragon.



I had to kick a few kids off of this croc so I could get my picture taken. Totally worth it don't you think?



The children's museum has a totally fun area for infants up to age 5. There is so much for them to do. We started with the water table.









After our little Maddie O. was wet and wrinkled, we moved on to the padded area. She was able to look at her favorite person, herself.



And play a little "Patty Cake".



There was so much that this little area offered. I think she played with everything and anyone that would come near her.









We found a maze full of mirrors. It was awesome and we were able to capture a group shot.





To cap off our discovery trail at the museum we took a spin on the carousel. Madison has never ridden anything so I wasn't sure how she would do. The little cutie pie showed her frustration, by screaming, when I placed her on the horse. I totally get it. If someone placed me on a giant plastic horse and I didn't know what was about to happen I might scream too. The little girl quickly changed her tune though once that music started and began going round and round. The music was loud, the wind was blowing through her hairs and our little gal loved it. She loved it so much she waved as we went by the people. Our little future Miss America.



By the end of the day, after five fun filled hours, our little Maddie O. was tuckered out.





As always, we are going to miss our Meme and Papaw but we sure did have fun while they were here.