Gatlinburg Trip

We went to Gatlinburg this past weekend for a few days with Mom, Dad, Gigi, Justin, Kayla, & Cameron. Cam had baseball games Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, so we watched him play & got to spend some time with family.

We stayed at Grand Getaway Cabin in Pigeon Forge. It's a great cabin & it's in a convenient location too. It's owned by my great-uncle and great-aunt. The link is below for more information.

http://www.grandgetawaycabin.com/

Thursday we watched Cameron play ball in Knoxville, and then went on to the cabin to get settled in.

 Papa & Madison

On Friday, Cameron didn't play until later in the afternoon, so we ate a big breakfast (thanks to Gigi & Mom), then took Madison swimming. She cried at first when we got in the water, but after a few minutes she got used to it. Then it took her a little bit longer to like being in the float we brought her. After that, she didn't want to get out! She liked splashing & being pulled in her float.

 Uncle Cameron, Uncle Justin, Madison, and Aunt Kayla

 



The field Cam played at Friday (and Saturday) was in Gatlinburg. The view behind the field was so pretty - perfect backdrop to watch a good baseball game!

Cameron - #8 for Greenbrier

Mimi & Madison reading books at the game

Saturday, Cameron played at noon. So we went to his game, then stopped to eat a late lunch at Alamo Steakhouse. We didn't know anything about the restaurant, but it was very good! (with big portions too).

 http://www.alamosteakhouse.com/

After lunch, we took a spur-of-the-moment trip up into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The drive up into the mountains was so beautiful. It was also scary at times - I'm very afraid of heights & get car sick easily, so looking straight down off the side of a mountain while driving made me a little dizzy. It was so worth it once you got up into the mountains & could see the beautiful views though!

 Gigi & Mama

 

 Mimi, Papa, & Madison

 

 

On the way back down to Gatlinburg / Pigeon Forge, we stopped at this mountain stream. You were able to walk out into the stream on big rocks that were sticking out of the water. It was a lot of fun - Madison especially loved throwing rocks & making a big splash!

Madison throwing rocks with Jake & Papa

Sunday we left early & ate breakfast at the Old Mill in Pigeon Forge. It was delicious - especially the complimentary banana nut muffins!

http://www.old-mill.com/

We had such a wonderful trip & loved getting to spend time with family. Next trip up is Gulf Shores in June!

Growing Up

I had a mommy melt-down this afternoon...

In speech today, Madison's speech therapist said, "She's growing up mom... her face is even starting to change. She's getting so big!" Felt like I hit a brick wall! I had to act like I was coughing because I started tearing up! But I held it together until I got in the car - then let the melt-down begin.

Here is a picture of Madison with her pony tail she's been rocking the last couple of days... makes her look even more grown up!

So I'm crying in the car... turn around... and see Madison chewing on something. Pull over to the side of the road & she's chewing on a piece of a TUCKS PAD. I about died. I had one in her car seat where she has had an upset stomach from taking amoxicillin. I finally got it out of her mouth, and then go to take the tucks pad out of her car seat. She decides to have a tug-of-war with me because apparently it's her new favorite thing! Another sign of growing up - fighting with mommy :)

Time needs to slow down some - I'm not ready for her to be big yet!

Random Update :)

I have added a lot to my plate lately. This past weekend was definitely the busiest since I've been staying home with Madison. Thursday & Friday were spent cleaning & picking up the house because I had a Kelly's Kids Open House Sunday. Friday night & Saturday I had volleyball practice / games. Saturday night we went to a baseball dinner for Cameron (GHS baseball fundraiser). Sunday morning I had to be at church early to play the keyboard & then my Kelly's Kids Open House was Sunday afternoon. Many late nights & stress this weekend (most of it unnecessary).

However, my first Kelly's Kids Open House was a big success! I exceeded my sales goal I had set for myself & got Madison lots of cute clothes with my rewards. I really didn't know what to expect & how it would go, but now I definitely have a better idea for future open houses / trunk shows. Besides online orders or individual customer orders, I don't have any more parties for the Spring season. Thank you again to everyone who came to the open house or who has placed an order online! I'm so glad I get to share a brand I love with friends & family!

Today is a beautiful day & tomorrow is supposed to be nice as well. Madison & I are going to enjoy the sunshine and watch Cameron play baseball the next 2 days. I love getting to watch him play! I'm also glad this week is a slower week for us so I can spend some time with my favorite girl! I didn't get to spend as much time as I would like with Madi last week with everything going on. So I'll have to make up for that this week :)

On Friday (the 14th) at 11:30am, Madison is having surgery #3. She'll be having her tongue clipped, tear ducts unclogged, ear tubes cleaned out or replaced, and a sedated hearing test. We should get to go home Friday afternoon since everything is outpatient surgery. So prayers would be appreciated that she does well being put to sleep & that Jake and I are able to not worry.

This post was a little random, but I haven't written an update in a while. Our life has been very busy & hectic lately - never a dull moment!

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day has never been my favorite holiday. I'm a big believer in you should show love every day of the year, not go all out one day just because it's a "holiday," and you feel like you have to.

With that being said, I did have a great Valentine's Day this year. I got to spend the day with my smallest Valentine, Madison. We went to the library for storytime & then met Jake and his dad for lunch at Mexican (one of mine & Madison's favorites!) She has been so sweet lately, and she has really been wanting to give us hugs. She'll come over & hold her little arms out for a hug. Then she'll say "awww." It's really cute!

 

Madison was reaching out to give Jake a hug at lunch :)

 

 



Madison has only spent the night away from us a handful of times since she's been born (because of all the issues she's had, especially with sleep). But last night she spent the night with her Granny & Pa (Jake's parents) where Jake & I could have a date night! We went to eat at Carabba's - yum!! (I was even adventurous and tried the lobster mac-n-cheese instead of my usual chicken alfredo. It was actually really good)!

 

It was a very relaxing dinner. It felt weird just being able to eat & talk instead of constantly managing a 20 month old. I kept looking over to the end of the table where the high chair usually would be. :)

I had a great time getting to spend time with just Jake, but of course we still missed Madi! I was very happy to see her today when she came home!

January 2014

I haven't written a post in several weeks... things have been pretty quiet with Madison medically (knock on wood)! Her next big thing coming up is March 14th - she'll be having surgery to get her tongue clipped, have her ear tubes cleaned out or replaced, have a sedated hearing test, and possibly have her tear ducts unclogged. As long as she does fine during & after surgery coming out of the sedation we should get to go home the same day.

Things for me have gotten much busier over the past couple of weeks...

Jake & I are doing the T25 videos & I'm also running 3 times a week, so that's taken up more time than before. I'm also counting calories when I can (trying to eat between 1200 and 1400 a day). In January I lost almost 10 pounds (20 more to go)!

I started helping coach in a Portland volleyball league, so I'll be doing that most Friday nights & Saturday mornings through the end of March. Jake & I are also playing in a co-ed volleyball league in Hendersonville on Sunday afternoons. It is so much fun - I love getting to play!

Jake & I have also been getting more and more involved at our church. Besides Sunday mornings, we are also going to discipleship classes on Sunday nights. I'm involved in the Women's Ministry on Wednesday nights, and I have also started helping out with the praise band on Sunday mornings when needed playing the keyboard. When we decided to join a new church together, we made the decision that we wanted to be involved, and it truly has been such a blessing.

Last, but not least, I made the decision a couple of weeks ago to start selling Kelly's Kids clothing. My mom bought Kelly's Kids for my brothers & I, and she also bought Madison some outfits for Christmas this year. I absolutely love the clothes & figured if I want to buy Madison clothes from there, why not sell it! I also want to make a little extra money to help out with some additional expenses we will have starting later in the year. I want to send Madison to Mother's Day Out at my church a couple of days a week, and if I can make enough, I would love to put her in gymnastics or dance. My website is below if you want to check it out!

www.Kellyskids.com/kristendaughtry

It has been a very cold January, so we haven't gotten to go outside much. We did get a couple inches of snow not long ago, so I took Madison outside to play in it for a few minutes. She wasn't sure what to think about it!

I'm looking forward to February. Jake & I already have a date night planned (yay!) & it's a month closer to Spring!

18 Month Checkup

Madison went today for her 18 month checkup. She was 25 lb. 8 oz. (80%) & 34" tall (97%). She's growing like a weed!

I felt much better about her 18 month developmental checklist. We were able to check off a lot more milestones this checkup than at 15 months. There are still a few areas she's behind, but most of them are in communication (which she has definitely improved on since she's been getting speech therapy).
She did fail her M-Chat (which checks for autism & other spectrum disorders), but I was a little iffy about a couple of the ones I answered that contributed to her failing it. Regardless, Dr. White doesn't seem concerned right now.

Nothing else surprising came up during her checkup, so that's always good!

She did much better with her immunization she had to get today than she did with her Synagis (RSV) shot she got Sunday. (Sunday she got mad when we held her down to get her shot & held her breath. She ended up almost passing out because she had a breath-holding spell. Super scary.) She held her breath some today when she was mad, but not as long as she did Sunday. I'm hoping that this isn't a continuing trend!!

On a side note, Madison's surgery is tentatively scheduled for March 14th. She's getting her tongue clipped (she's tongue-tied), ear tubes cleaned out or replaced, sedated hearing test, and her tear duct unclogged in her right eye. As long as she does well, we shouldn't have to stay overnight in the hospital.

It's been a crazy 18 (and a half) months, but I am so proud of Madison. She continues to amaze me all the time with new things she learns. She is busy all the time right now, but she always wants to come over and give me hugs & kisses. I'll take all of those sweet hugs & kisses I can get!

No, No, No

Today has been one of those days where I feel like every other word out of my mouth has been "No, Stop, or Quit." I know some of you moms out there know exactly what I'm talking about. It gets to the point where after saying "no" over and over, or trying to put an 18 month old in timeout (which really consists of sitting Madison back down against the wall over and over), etc., I'm tired of it & I'm sure Madison is to.

You hear all kinds of things when it comes to disciplining your child, and it is easy to second-guess your methods. Saying "no" comes out much easier when your child is climbing on the furniture, playing in the toilet, or hitting at someone than trying to reason or rationally explain that something will hurt or make a mess. "No" is quick and usually gets their attention. It's also easier when you are extremely tired and it seems like it takes all your effort just to get the everyday tasks done.

However, I don't want Madi's earliest memories of me to be of me constantly telling her not to do something. I want to try to come up with other ways to teach her why she shouldn't be doing something. I want her to remember me teaching her things, protecting her, and most of all loving her. I know there are going to be times when she needs tough discipline, but on those days where it seems like "no" is the only word in my vocabulary, I need to take a step back... Think about why she may be getting into everything or acting up... Try to explain to her what her actions may cause (she may get hurt, etc.)... Take a deep breath... & say a prayer!