Sister Rosalie & Renee - 2007

First Impressions

This is the first picture (below) my mother ever saw of me. She always told me it was love at first sight. It is a picture of me and Sister Rosalie over 36 years ago. Sister Rosalie is coming to the US to visit me and to meet Landry sometime this year. Isn't amazing how life comes full circle? Do you think Landry looks like me? Look(above) how much I resemble Sister Rosalie...she could have passed as my own mother, couldn't she?

Renee(aka LAN) & Sister Rosalie 1971.

Note: My first name is LANa.......LANdry

Rain Rain Go AWAY!
Okay, I can live with the rain. It's the tornadoes I can live without. I felt really sorry for Barbie Bassett tonight as she had to spend some time explaining to a viewer...Pam, I think it was, why she had to interrupt her regularly scheduled program for a weather update. HELLOOOOOO!!! I am quite certain that the sky wasn't falling out over her house for the whole 6 hours of weather reporting but I wonder if she thought that someone else might benefit from the reports. Yeah, it can get a little annoying but she has a job to do and it is her (and her stations) responsibility to keep us safe and informed. The email she sent her was just nasty. I am sure Barbie was dying to stand up there 8 1/2 month pregnant to report the weather. The poor kid was probably wondering where supper was :) Anyway, Pam from somewhere in MS, give her a break and be thankful that you (apparently) didn't have any damage to your home or yourself. There! It's off my chest.

Hubby was out of town tonight so I had to make sure I had all of the safety provisions in order for the three of us.(Don't forget Bella!) It was pretty scary thinking that I may have to really protect her life in that way. It hadn't really dawned on me until today but EVERY day is about protecting her life...not just in dangerous situations. I mean, I knew it but I never really analyzed it like that until I began walking around the house figuring out where the safest place would be if we heard 'the train' coming. I called my neighbor to let her know that it was just us in case something happened. I got her formula and bottled water together in one place just in case, too. That was not a reality check I was prepared for. Fortunately, God was good to us and we went through the worst part of the night without a hitch. Thank you, Lord, for looking after us and especially Landry.

Pictures!
Most of you know I am a photo freak and now that I have a beautiful new model, I will finally get my money's worth out of my camera! I have added a link on the right hand side for my online photo album. Since I can't put them all on the blog, you can check the link for more pictures if you want to.

This is a great story....
I was surfing around in blog world and I found this blog and this post about a lime popsicle. If you have a minute, read it because it is a GREAT story. If you are a popsicle consumer, make sure you buy this brand. I know I will from now on! It just goes to show you how truly wonderful some people can be.

Landry is always in a good mood early in the morning. She doesn't get that from her mama!

The many faces of Landry

Back to our regularly scheduled program...

Hello everyone! I have been in and out the last few days because I have been keeping up Julie's new blog while she is picking up Baby Charlie. I haven't been able to do both blogs so this one went by the wayside. She has over 1000 hits on her blog in just 4 days!! Julie has a tremendous amount of people who love her and have been praying for this miracle to occur. I, for one, couldn't be happier. I will post some pics of Charlie as soon as I get some more. If you want to see her blog click here.

I was playing with Landry this morning and she was in a great mood. We were singing the silly songs that we heard at Marion and Silber yesterday when we had her portrait done. I may have to sell some blood to pay for them but they will be worth it. I can't wait to see the proofs..they will come in next week and I will be on the doorstep ASAP when they call. Until then, Landry will just have to settle for Mama's home cooked photos. Here are a few of my favorites from this morning. I know she looks a little deranged but isn't that the fun of it all?!

Disposable

okay...this is getting ridiculous. Landry is now moving into her second closet. We have now what we call her disposable wardrobe because like most disposable items, they are only used once or twice and then they are done. Her wardrobe is like that. She has so many really CUTE things to wear that she only gets to wear the 'good stuff' a few times before she outgrows them RATS! So with this in mind, I have decided to start dressing her to the nines every day of the week. Why not?! At least she'll look good while her mother wears thread bare clothes from the 80's. Okay, that was exagerating just a little but as I thumbed through my pitiful excuse of a closet, I couldn't help but think of all the things that Landry needed so I was just going to have to make due with what I have. Woe is me. So if you see me and I'm looking a little rough around the edges, be a dear and don't tell me. Instead, just tell me how incredibly fabulous and cute my kid is. :)

Shannon & Charlie, I tried the cute Baby Lulu out fit on that you BOTH tried to talk me out of and well, you can see for yourself that 6 months isn't what 6 months used to be. Nice gut, huh? It's still cute on her...even if it's only for today and yes, I know the flower is huge but hey, it matched!

Crumpdate!
Many of you know that one of my very best friends in the world is Julie Crump and she and her husband are in Utah right now picking up a newborn son. It is an answer to so many prayers and is yet another shining star in the galaxy of proof that God exists. Today, they will sign the paperwork to officially make him theirs. I was once told that I now belong in the same 'club' as Julie because we both share the same heartbreak of having lost a child. The person that said this isn't a very nice(or stable) person and I just had to choose to forgive her for being so ugly. There was nothing Christ-like in her words or her heart that day but she taught me a valuable lesson. She taught me that words can be used to heal a heart or hurt a heart depending on how they are viewed...not by how they are said. I chose, after many painful moments, to first forgive her. Then I chose to laugh to keep from crying because stupid won't rub off with makeup remover or turpentine so sometimes you just have to accept it. As Forest Gump says, "Stupid is, as stupid does." Lastly, I chose to use those words to remind me that any time I find out about some one in 'the club' that I need to extend my prayers to them, my heart to them and my shoulder should they need/want it. Membership into this 'club' comes with too lofty a price and that is why I know that God loved us so very, very much. He gave His only begotten Son so that we may have everlasting life. How does that love compare with anything I have ever done here on earth? There is no comparison and I know it. Being on the receiving end of adoption and having watched my sister and Julie both walk their journeys on the other side of it allowed me to see the face of Jesus in so many people. There is no mistaking the face of Jesus on someone. If you can't find it in someone today...be it for someone.

Pray for this birth mother as she, like God, gave up her son so that he and others may have a better life. That is a love I understand from one perspective but cannot fathom on another. Today and every day, she gets to be the face of Jesus to a special family in Brandon, MS and to all of their friends and family who have walked this journey with them. So I end this post with a huge, heartfelt thanks to a special lady in Utah today. If I could ever meet her, I know that I would recognize her. She would have the face of Jesus and that my friends, is unmistakable.

Prayer works!
Congratulations to Charles and Julie Crump for the birth of their new son...name to be determined! Landry prayed so to God for this special delivery in Utah and as alway, He delivered. She has a new fella but don't tell her Daddy yet. She can't date until she's 30. More updates to come!

It's me again....

Dear God,
It's me, Landry again. I just wanted to ask you to please be with my soon-to-be friend in Utah. Please be with his/her birth Mommy tomorrow so she can get them here safely and so her heart doesn't hurt when she gives them to their new Mommy and Daddy. I know they will be so excited to meet and I know that you will be there helping everyone get through this wonderful experience. Please be there for my Aunt J and give her a peaceful heart. Give her patience, give her understanding but most of all give her your love because that will take care of everything.

Thank you for my Mommy and Daddy. They sure act like they love me alot and they are trying really hard to give me a good life. For some reason, they think I am a pretty special kid and they sure give me lots of kisses and hugs. I'm really lucky to have so many people love me. They all think I'm cute too but I promise I won't let that go to my head :)! BTW, I hope you noticed that I was REALLY good in church today. Thank you for being in my heart.

Love,

Landry

ps...Please give my big sister, Sophie & Baby Nelson a hug & kiss for me and Mommy.

uhmmmmm-uhmmmmmm

Landry is learning YOGA! I read great reviews on this as a bonding exercise that you can do with your child and thought...hmmm, what the heck! I was going to take a class with her but the local instructor is pregnant with twins so she had to stop giving lessons recently so I bought the book and the DVD and ventured out on my own. As it turns out, she loves it. It is supposed to help in aiding digestion and improved sleep patterns. Luckily for us, she has done a phenomenal job in sleeping at night. She goes down between 7-8 pm and sleeps about 6 or 7 hours, feeds and goes down until about 5:30 or 6. Let's stop and say a prayer for CONTINUED sleep progress....silence...prayer.....AMEN!

Anyway, she smiled and cooed her way through her night time YOGA routine tonight. I hope she continues to enjoy it..I sure enjoyed spending the time with her.

Jack in the Box

Mike brought Landry a new toy home from his trip today. We talked about having a Jack in the Box as kids not too long ago and I guess he wanted his little one to have one too. He had to go to a few places to find the right one but he finally found it. Bella was hilarious when it popped out of the box....she about jumped out of her skin....even on the third time. :)

The yucks
I still feel like H**l and I don't see any relief in sight. My friend, Melissa, who lives next door to me took Landry today for several hours so I could get a little rest and brought me food and medicine. Bless her heart, she hasn't been held much because I have been trying to stay out of her face. She's right here and I miss her...how does that happen? Melissa spoiled the little one all day...she never put her down! Thank you, Melissa!!

I failed the scratch test.
I woke up this morning feeling like you know what. Mike was quarantined to the other side of the house last night and I was on the other side with the bug. I felt it coming on last night...as I posted...and I could tell it wasn't going to go away. My friend, Charlie, saved our lives by taking Landry for most of the morning and all of the afternoon. OMG...I just figured out that she had her for 8 hours!!! I really appreciate her boys, Julian and Oliver, helping their mama with Landry. The are going to be REALLY good big brothers!!! We went to the doctor and we don't have the flu but we have something God aweful. We each got a Rocephan shot(yes, it hurt a stinkin' whole lot), took a breathing treatment and was prescribed a Z-Pak and an inhaler- of course it was a Glaxo-Smith Kline product!

The fine folks in Manisha Sethi's office took care of us and even gave me a surgical mask so I could hold Landry for a few minutes. Mike is doing better than I am so he is taking over duties for tonight so I can rest. Being a Mom AND sick doesn't jive too well. No one told me that I wasn't allowed to get sick EVER again when I had kids. What gives?! Do I still feel like crap? Yes, I do but I am on the road to recovery.

I know, I know. It looks like I am impersonating a nail technician.

Cute-i-mous

I need to send a shout out to my other girl. Bella has been so good lately. I can't get over how well she has adjusted to Landry and she is really protective of her. She has an occasional...'OK, will you put a muzzle on that kid look' but all in all she loves her. I really can't tell you how much I love that dog. She is such a joy to have around. There is no other dog that I would spend more money on for 'spa' services than myself than Bella:) Lucky mutt...she has it made! Someone told me not too long ago that she has it better than 80% of all the children in the world. Sadly enough, I think she's right. Another friend of Mike's made the comment that when Landry was born she went from a princess back to a dog in one day. Naa...she's still my princess. There's just a new heir to the throne :)

Uh-oh!

I feel a tickle in my throat....drat!

The Man Cold
I couldn't go to church today because my little sweet potato had belly troubles and her daddy is sick. Mike is one of the few men I know that wants total and complete isolation when he is feeling bad. He doesn't want to be bothered...at all. He doesn't even want me to fix him food. Even if he feels like $^%$&# he wants to do everything for himself. I guess I should be thankful that he isn't the needy pest I am when I am sick(or pregnant) but there is something about the mothering in me that wants to help him. I have learned, though, to leave well enough alone. So to my sweetie in the guest bedroom on the other side of the house....HOLLA if you need me - or call me on my cell phone and I'll come running. This video is hilarious....it's the MAN COLD and you won't want to miss it. http://youtube.com/watch?v=rXLHWmjA5IE&feature=related

Since Landry was still was experiencing a little lower body technical difficulties last night, she didn't sleep well at all. When Landry doesn't sleep, Mama doesn't sleep. I think I slept a total of 3 hours and not all of them together. I feel like a zombie but she finally had some sucess. Victory! Victory! Rah! Rah! Rah!!! Bless her heart...she struggled and she looked so sad and frustrated. I felt really helpless but luckily, I didn't have to intervene. I am not looking forward to that motherhood moment. Okay, I am done talking about her bowels. I hope she forgives me one day :)

Houdini-Part 2
Landry has decided that she likes magic tricks. This is how I found her this morning when she woke up. I about broke my neck to get my camera before she started wailing. I was laughing so hard thinking about what she will be like tomorrow when she wakes up. I hope this is no indication of what it will be like in years to come.....bad thought, mama. Bad thought.

Dear God,

I know this may be a strange request to most but I would really love it if you would bring me a new friend from Utah. There is a baby in someones tummy that needs to come to Mississippi so we can be forever friends and there is a mommy here that needs a new baby...a whole, whole bunch! You know who it is because you know EVERYTHING!! I want to pray for a few things. Here they are:

1. I pray for peace and understanding in YOUR will beyond all comprehension for everyone. That's kind of hard for most of us humans. We have to trust in you and give it all to you and that is hard for the big people. For me, I just do what I'm told(for right now anyway!)

2. I pray for a happy, healthy friend. I want to run and jump and play with this new friend and I would like for them to have a healthy body and a healthy spirit. We have a lot of playing to do on Sophie's playground and we want to swing high...so high on Nelson's swings!

3. I pray for his/her new mommy(you know who it is) to not be scared. To have fear is to not have trust and we HAVE to trust you. It's in the rule book.

4. Be with my new friends birth mommy so that she has a peace and understanding beyond all comprehension. Give her heart the right answers and the right direction so that she will have a life filled with your love. It's good stuff! Please give her an easy pregnancy so she can bring my new friend in to the world without complications. Whew! These are some big words for a little girl!!

5. I pray that you bring their child(whomever it is) to my mommy's best friend. She has the capacity to love in such a huge way. There is a child out there that needs her and she needs them to help make her life (almost) complete again. Give her faith...Give her peace...and please, please please give her a baby so she can love him or her like my mommy loves me.

I know this is alot of stuff to ask for but I am told that you are better than Santa, better than the Easter bunny and even better than my mommy and daddy(I know that is REALLY hard to believe) and that YOU can deliver! Thank you for giving your son for us. According to my mommy, that is a love that surpasses all. Thank you for taking care of Sophie, Nelson and my Grandmother. One day, after I have walked your walk, I will meet them in your playground to play with for eternity. It will be a while because I have lots of important stuff to do here on this earth. Please walk with me on my journey and if you can spare a wish for little Landry, please send me a friend from Utah.

With lots of love,

Landry

Hair Mail
Yes, Mommy put a stamp on my forehead. Does anyone have the number to DHS?

Happy Valentines Day!

Landry was in cahoots with my sister, Rhonda and they sent me my first Mommy Valentine! It was much cuter than the way I had to post it but I couldn't resist sharing it with you. Of course, Rhonda put it a cute Powerpoint presentation complete with a pink background, cute lettering and graphics. I couldn't copy it on here so I cut and pasted it on the next few blogs. I didn't even know she took these pics! Sneaky sneaky!

Today, we were talking and I was telling her that I wasn't sure what I was going to do about Bella when we go on our vacation/family reunion. I am going to fly down early(Mike will join us later) and she suggested I take her with with me on the plane. I said I couldn't take her AND Landry. She so didn't offer much sympathy when she said "Try hauling 4 kids on a plane." I had to remind her that all of her kids could at least walk! I could see me trying to take Bella and Landry on a plane along with all of our luggage and traveling paraphernalia. I just don't see that happening in my lifetime but nice try Rhonda! :) I hesitate to ever get in a contest of any sort with her because I think she may kick my butt on the kiddie front. Drat! I hate it when she wins.

Hmmmm..who should be my Valentine??

Should it be Aunt Rhonda?

Because she is so sweet!!

No, that is not quite right…
I pick YOU!

I love you Mommy – Please be my Valentine?!

Of course I will, my sweet!

You are my forever Valentine!!

Houdini

Normally, Landry is swaddled very tight when we put her down for the night but lately she had been wiggling loose from her swaddle. She has grown out of almost all of her blankets :(.
I cried when she out grew her newborn diapers and got a little teary tonight when she graduated up to the bigger bottles. She is growing toooo fast! Slow down little one...Mama is not ready for all of these new steps. I am just getting used to the stage she is in before she is moving on to bigger and better things. I love every minute of being her Mama!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Yesterday was Mike's birthday and after church and going by to see Sophie we had a nice relaxing day at home. We went for a really long walk and I cooked him a great dinner. It was a whole lot less fanfare than his big 40th birthday last year. I didn't even try to compete with that! Landry got her Daddy 2 PC cameras to go on our computers so when he is out of town, he can see her on a live camera if he needs/wants to. I am not that computer savvy so I hope he can figure them out and tell me what buttons to push.

I also had another one of those moments closest to Christ that I have written about before. Mike had her and was finishing up feeding her a bottle and as I walked by him I noticed that he was singing to her. He was singing 'I got the whole world in my hands. I got the whole world in my hands... I got the whole world in my hands. I got the whole world in my hands.' The simplest moments can be the most special and that my friends, was a special moment.

What's in a name?

Landry means Ruler of the Land and boy is that fitting her at the 104. She rules the roost here but luckily she doesn't quite know it yet. Today, we were in church and one of our friends came over to say hello and have a look see at Landry. He gave her her first nickname besides the one her daddy calls her...he calls her BUG. It's really pretty cute. Bella is cutimous...don't know where that came from but it fits her. Anyway, Lee said ' I guess Landry is a MADERTOT....get it..tater tot...Madertot. Hee. Hee. I guess I could sew her an Ore-Ida bag for Halloween this year. Before she was born, several people just called IT Tow-Mader....from the movie CARS. I think we'll stick to Bug or Madertot....bless her heart.

Sweet & Smiley

#%^$*&*$#$!@#!!!!

Since I have given up most everything bad that I do...caffiene, wine, sleep(oh, I forgot-that's not bad for you)...when I became pregnant with Landry I decided that I would take on something for Lent instead of giving something up. I decided that I was going to take Landry for a walk at least 4 times a week to give us both some fresh air and exercise. Not much to it but at least I will benefit from it some. Mike on the other hand is going to do something REALLY challenging. He is not going to cuss or say ANYTHING we wouldn't want Landry to say for the entire Lenten season. If he does he has to put $5 in Landry's piggy bank for each offense. So far, he has to pay her $10. He may have to hock is golf clubs at this rate since we actually just started today at noon. She may have her Ferrari sooner than we thought.

Does it get better than this?

Cry Baby

Poor Landry got her 8 week shots yesterday. I have had anxiety about it for weeks and was not looking forward to it at all. Mike met me at the doctors office and I sat out in the car with Landry while we waited our turn. I wasn't about to bring her into that office with the flu going around like it has been. When we got in there, we got her weighed and measured and she was the happiest baby you have ever seen. She had no idea that she was in the STABBIN' CABIN!! She weighed a whopping 10 lbs 4 oz!! She's my big ole girl :)! She went from the 28th percentile to the 40th since her last visit so I was very pleased with that. She had to get a total of 5 vaccines in 3 shots. I was not amused when my sweetie started to cry and my husband started to laugh! I was crying and he was laughing at me because he knew I would cry. He tried to encourage me to leave the room but I just couldn't abandon her in her time of need. Okay, I know that is a little dramatic but that is the way I felt at the time. As soon as she got over one shot...she got STABBED with another one. Bless her heart. She got over it much quicker than I did...guess I'm just a cry baby.

Flower Power!

Landry's favorite pacifier is the one that they gave her at the hospital. Of course, I didn't figure that out until I bought a pack of EVERY kind that Babys r' Us had. While she'll take all of them, she definately has her preferences. I saw this pacifier holder on a baby while I was at the airport and I thought it was pretty sassy so of course I had to get her one. Okay, I know it is a little big for her but it sure looks cute...guess she'll have to grow in to it :)

RTR & TTT

Roll Tide Roll and To the Top! Bama kicked some butt today in the college recruiting game. Alabama ended up being the number 1 class and USM finished better than they ever have at 38. Since we don't play each other for another 8 or 9 years there will be peace in the Mader household this fall. It fired me up already for football season already....guess I better get over it since I have 7 months to wait!

Landry has been growing like crazy. I think that is why she has been a little cranky at times. She did sleep for 6.5 hours the other night....STRAIGHT!!! I didn't sleep that whole time unfortunately. If I had known she would sleep that long I would have been out too. I think I have slept 4 hours straight..once...since she's been born. I feel a little haggard these days but it will get better. She is so beautiful...am I allowed to say that? I get compliments about her all the time and all I can really do is agree with them. I hope her head doesn't swell up too much :). Her Daddy did say that she had a big ole water head the other day. I'm glad she can't understand him. She could develop a complex.

Have I mentioned that she is the best thing I have ever done lately? She makes me a kind of happy that I didn't know existed. You know you could only be this tired(with a smile on your face)for some one you love like I do her. Cheeeez. :)

I hope she knows how lucky she is.

Lucky Girls

I got home from visiting my Daddy late Friday afternoon and it took me a few days to catch my breath. I was so thrilled at how happy he seemed to be with her. He had her it seems every chance he got and she absolutely loved it. My stepmother Lindsey, took turns spoiling her too. She is fitting into the Grandmother role quite well...Lucky for Landry!

The flight to Florida was fairly uneventful. Getting in and out of Jackson was pretty easy and I got through security with Landry with no problem. Orlando was a different story. It took an hour to get through security. Luckily for me, Lindsey stayed with me until she couldn't any longer and as I approached the hard part of getting through the actual screening two young studs helped me get the stroller and car seat broken down and my backpack..with computer..on to the conveyor belt. They were on their way to Sin City to live it up for a few days....oh the memories! I would have liked to think they helped me cause 'I still had it' but I think they felt sorry for me and Landry's cuteness won 'em over. Hey folks...these days, what ever it takes!!! :)

Vroom Vroom!

We are extremely fortunate that we live in a neighborhood where a good number of our friends live. I am very thankful that we have such great friends in such close proximity. Our Whispy friends have been there for us in so many ways and we hold all of them very close to our hearts.

Most of you know that my husband, Mike, is a golfer and he also loves a good game of poker...both of which he does in our own neighborhood with his buddies. Basically, the guys swap money back and forth from week to week because one week will be a winning week for some of them and the next will be a losing week. Either way, they usually don't get in to too much trouble one way or the other...at least that what Mike tells me :) The deal lately is that when he wins, he puts money in Landry's piggy bank. We decided we would buy her a car (if she deserves one)when she is old enough. At seven weeks old, she already has $130 in her piggy bank. Someone needs to get this kid a financial planner! I figured at that rate, she should have enough for a Bentley or at the very least, a nice Mercedes....yeah right! I think she will be getting a PRE-LOVED, safe, econimical, not-too-flashy, point A to point B kind of car. My first car..which I bought with my own money while I was in college...was a 1982 Ford Tempo for $1950. It was a stripped down former Govenment vehicle that had holes in the dash from some equipment that was mounted on it at one time. It was NIIIICE!(There was NO sarcasm there at all!!) There are some GREAT stories about that car. Oh the memories :)........I guess we all have first car stories don't we?

Round and around she goes!

I thought that Landry needed a little tummy time so I propped her up on a pillow while I did a few things. I never got around to doing anything because she was so fun to watch. I ended up filming her because she was really working her neck out. This video is really funny but make sure you watch all 18 seconds of it because the end will crack you up....or at least it did her mama :)

My Grandaddy!

Landry and I are in Florida and she got to meet her Granddaddy and Grandma yesterday. She was quite a happy camper in his arms and was very content the whole first night. I think that you can see in the picture that he was quite enamoured with her too. I absolutely adore this man and now Landry does too. Makes my heart smile...

Desperate times....

call for desperate measures! No this isn't an ad for a Conair Ionic Cord Keeper hairdryer. It is now called the 'sanity wand'. I have found that Landry really likes the hum of the hairdryer roaring on the highest speed possible. The louder, the better. I think that is her motto when she is having a fit too. She went from screaming to slumber in about 38 seconds..yes, I counted all 38 of them. Who would of thought I would have gotten ALL of my money's worth out of this purchase?! Go Con-air!Go Con-air! Go Con-Air! :)

Jeans, Jeans, Jeans!

Howdy folks! I tried on about 35 or 40 pair of jeans today but I finally bought a pair that fit. :) And yes, they were a size 4. Victory! Victory! Rah! Rah! Rah! For those of you that don't understand the significance of this monumental feat, please refer back a few posts.

**Aunt Elaine and Rhonda, does Jeans, Jeans, Jeans remind you of anything? HA! HA! :)

My little Bowhead!

click on the image for a better look see :)

For Jill

Hello everyone! I have attached a short little video of Landry. It is especially for my friend Jill who doesn't believe she has eyes :) She is asleep everytime she sees her and has yet to show off her coal black eyes to her. She is starting to get a little personality. I think she is going to be quite the diva. I can't imagine why. She is a sweetie but she shows a little bit of her temper toward the end...

Take cover!!
I don't have any problem making fun of myself but even I hesitated in admitting this. I have been trying to get my baby weight off and luckily for me, it hasn't been too difficult. I haven't exercised yet or anything but I am within a few pounds of my starting weight so I am really happy about my progress. I was afraid to put on my favorite jeans until the other day and with a tug or two, they made it over my newly aligned hips. Okay, they were a little snug but they did zip AND button up so I went with it. In a size 4 again...hallelujah! I struggled with breathing a little that day but that is the price we women pay for success, right?! Well, I was in a store and I bent over to pick up something from a lower shelf and all of the sudden my permanently fastened metal button popped from my waist and flew across the aisle. I realize at this moment that the sheer force of this flying object could have easily taken out an eye out. The zipper didn't want to stay up now so I had no choice but to laugh, pull my shirt wayyyy down and head to the house.

Eddie had ESPN.....

This is funny. Looks Eddie should have taken this one to Vegas and bet the farm. I have always loved this movie. Get your Soul-Glo!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izArWUVtMC4

Landry, your Daddy was not very happy that his Southern Miss star, Brett Farve didn't pull this one out. There is another Mississippi boy in the Super Bowl though. I am a long time Patriots fan so this one will be tough for me! Go EVERYBODY!

My Moment

I wrote about how I recognize my moments closest to Christ in an earlier post and I wanted to tell you about the one I had today. It was quite a moment. I had little Landry in my arms trying to calm her down a little and since I had my computer right next to me I went to my iTunes and looked for a song that might help with the cause. I went straight to You are My Sunshine and she seemed to calm down a little but she was still a little fidgety. Then I went to this song and when I began to sing it to her, she immediately calmed down and had the most peaceful look on her face. I am sure it wasn't my singing but the words came through to her and I found myself crying as I looked down at her sweet little face. She is growing so much and so fast that it seems like she changes every time I look at her. In that moment she changed me. The name of the song is Give Me Jesus by Fernando Ortega. If you click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxKy_NxB398&feature=related
you can hear it. If you click on the (more) under About this Video you will find the lyrics. It is really a great song. I hope it does for you what it did for me today but try to remember that those 'moments' just happen. Don't look for them or try to create them....just make sure you never fail to recognize them.

Let it snow!

Mike went out to walk Bella this morning and he yelled out "It's snowing!!" I jumped up and took this video. Make sure to notice the 'accumulation' toward the end of the video :)

They usually call Mississippi snow 'cotton' but today is different.

Let it snow...let it snow...let it snow!!!!

The Witching Hour

My sweet angel has found her witching hour. She has decided that about 6:30 or so she wants to induldge us in hearing just how many decibels her voice can reach. She was raising cain and boy is she loud!

She is her mother's child.

Mike had her for a few hours tonight while I went to the grocery store and ran a few errands. I called to see if he needed any thing and when he answered the phone he didn't say a word. He just held the phone to Landry. All I could do was laugh. He had such a great attitude about it and did a great job taking care of his baby girl. I am sure Landry won't appreciate my posting this about her but I can't help but think that most of you will find this funny. Mike said that she had gas so bad that she sounded like she could have been one of the guys at his poker game. Has anyone ever heard of BEANO? Bless her heart...I hope she out grows this because she'll have a hard time getting a date to the prom if she doesn't.

Come back!!
I sent Rhonda an email yesterday and all it said in big red letters was "COME BACK!!!!"
She sent me an oh, that's sweet email back but this morning the tide had changed. Her email to me today at 11:58 am was:

Ok - this a.m. I have made BF for five, got two out the door, bathed two girls, did their hair, cleaned a kitchen that was not a disaster but close, cleaned a half bath and got myself cleaned up - can I come back now?

I promptly replied that Northwest was on my speed dial and this weekend would be just fine. Rhonda, I didn't want to have to say I TOLD YOU SO but...... :)
Do you want a window or aisle seat?

My delicate flower
My sweet, precious little angel burps & toots like a truck driver.....and as Forest Gump says, That's all I really got to say about that.

Rhonda is my hero...yeah, I said it.

Most of you all know I have a twin sister and most of you know she has four beautiful adopted children. Most of you know that she is a cancer survivor and that I adore every bone in her body. She is a great mother, a great wife, a great sister and a great friend. Most people don't have the luxury of having someone in their lives like my sister and it really is a shame because everyone should blessed to have a Rhonda too.

She worked herself HARD the whole time she was here and felt like it was still a vacation! I guess that one little baby is a cake walk when you have 4! Landry just loves her..and her Godmother really loves her. She spoiled her the whole time she was here and REALLY spoiled her mama giving me some much needed rest time. Most of all she just gave me encouragement and that is what I needed most. I guess like any new mother, you second guess every thing you think, do and feel about this new job and hope that the decisions you make for this new life are the right ones. I keep waiting for the Landry Mader manual (that I am certain they forgot to give me at the hospital) to show up in my mailbox ANY day now.....HELLOOOOO Mr. Postman. Where are you?!

Anyway, thanks again Rhonda. I love you for all that you are to me and now...to Landry.

We will, with God's help.

Father Tom gave one of the best sermons today. He spoke about being radicals in our faith and John the Baptist and how radical he was. He also talked about how Landry's baptism was also a renewal of OUR commitments to God. Each time he referred to her by name, it made my heart skip a beat. He blessed her with the holy water and sealed her with oil. She is and always will be God's child...she is just ours to enjoy here on earth. We were so happy to have Landry baptized on the day we celebrate the baptism of Jesus. Since Landry wasn't born on Christmas Day as she was due, it was really special to have her baptized on this holy day. We promised to raise her in a Christian home and guide her in her walk with the Lord and we will, with God's help.
Earlier in the week, I called the very talented James Martin to ask him a favor. He is a baritone that sings in our choir and I asked him to sing something special for today's service. James has the most gifted voice...it is truly breathtaking. He sang at my wedding, Sophie's funeral and at the dedication of her playground so naturally I wanted him to sing today and of course he didn't disappoint. You could have heard a pin drop when he began to sing and he gave me a priceless gift...thank you, James!

Landry's Day

What a day! Landry was baptized on this beautiful January day and the whole service was just perfect. First of all, she was so good throughout the service....she never even gave so much as a whimper. Secondly, she was gorgeous in her Christening gown. It is a gown that was handmade by me and it took me over 100 hours to construct it. It has over a 100 yards of french lace and is made out of yards and yards of Swiss batiste. It is the most beautiful gown I have ever seen and was truly a labor of love. I couldn't have been more proud of my angel. My sister Rhonda...her Godmother and my brother, Roger and his family were here to celebrate with us in addition to many wonderful friends. Check out more pictures at: http://picasaweb.google.com/urmysunshine1935/LandrySChristening

Doctor Visit

Landry had a checkup today and our girl is getting back to her fighting weight! She is up to 8 lbs. 5 oz. now and she grew 1.25 inches! Heck she should be...she gets fed EVERY 3 hours around the clock and this mama is tired. She is so worth it though. Manisha Sethi is her doctor and I have been really happy with the way she has cared for Landry. There is nothing like feeling confident in your pediatrician and knowing that she genuinely cares for your child. She is brilliant, her resume is long and very impressive, I have her cell number and she lives in my neighborhood....what more could I ask for?! Anyway, good news on the growth front.

I think I see the makings of a smile!

I was holding Landry and looking at my cell phone when she had the most melancholy look on her face. I took these with my phone and thought this one was really sweet. The next one wasn"t so nice....she got ill as you can see. My, my she is a changing.

Cheering for Bama tuckered her out!

If her first words aren't Mama then I guess Roll Tide will do :)

Back update!

My back is still hurting but the few days that I was knocked out on flexoril and percocet did me some good. I am sitting on a donut and just trying to deal with it. My doctor said it would take a while to heal and that it was just going to hurt for a while. Mike went back to work today so I had a full dose of Miss Landry. She was great...I pray she stays that way :)!

Surprises...

I have found myself in the past few weeks in awe of how truly blessed we are. In addition to little Landry, we have had some of the most wonderful surprises bestowed upon us. I opened the mail the other day and there was a package from someone who I was certainly not expecting something from. It was from a sweet couple that Mike and I met on our trip to Vietnam. They were the nicest couple and despite our age differences we found ourselves drawn to them because as my friend Kelley puts it...they were just good people. I have sent them along with a few others from the trip emails and updates on my pregnancy and delivery of Landry. They certainly rejoiced in her arrival. This gift was special not only in what they sent, but the fact that they thought of us and how we were now all a special part of each others lives. Thank you Bill and Sandra, my forever friends!

Some of you know of the story of the little baby I found on the internet one night shortly after Sophie died. I was in a miserable state about 3 months after I lost her and I Googled her name....Sophia Caroline Mader. Up popped a birth announcement for a Sophie Mader born in May of that year. I almost choked on my tongue when I saw it. I looked up their address, wrote them a letter and mailed it before I chickened out. I told them about my Sophie and that they had angel looking after theirs now. Lord knows what they thought of me!!! I gave them my email address and about a week later, I got an email from them. It was thoughtful, detailed and compassionate. They have sent pictures of their little ones and we have corresponded several times throughout the year and half since I first wrote. Sophie's grandmother wrote me several long beautiful letters and we have found so many similarities between us it's almost scary. Sophie's mothers name is even Caroline. Crazy, huh?! Anyway, I received a very nice gift from them today and the absolute best part about it was a piece of 'art' from all of her children. It is one of my favorite things I have received because it reminded me not of what I have lost now but what I to look forward to and that, my friends, is a great feeling.
Thank you Mader family!

That's my girl!

I hope she always looks at me this way.....

Pain in the $%&!@#%!!!!

I haven't posted much lately because I really did a doozie on Christmas Eve. I slipped..with Landry in my arms...and landed on my back hitting my tailbone on the metal bar of my pack 'n' play. I now have a sacral spine fracture in addition to my carpel tunnel, incision...yada yada yada. Am I a train wreck or what?! In addition to that I have a nice knot on my leg from the fall. I don't know how long it will take to heal but it sure hurts like heck!

I have also had my best friend from college in town visiting and haven't had much time. Kelley wanted to take Bella home with her and I found myself taking inventory of all my peeps when she left!!! As always, our visit was great. I love her like a sister and I feel very blessed to have her in my life. She has a better picture with Landry than I do! She was posing hard in this photo! BTW...I recognize the fact that this picture is going to be right above the caption and they very independent of each other. I couldn't put the picture on the bottom of the post so I had to keep it this way Sorry...KELLEY!! You are FAR from a pain in the @#$%#$&!!! :)

To The Top!

Landry and her Daddy are her watching the first of many Southern Miss games. She has already made her in utero debut at an Alabama game this year at Vandy and then again at Ole Miss. She has a new outfit for the the Alabama Bowl Game....stay tuned!

Landry's Debut

We had a big day today. We went to the doctor for Landry's two week check up. She did great with the exception of her weight. The little booger is having a hard time gaining weight so we are having to increase her supplementing. Bummer for me. I had hoped that she would be completely be nursing by now but we gotta get some weight on that child!

We went to the 5:30 service..late and left early. Sorry Father Tom!! We really wanted to be there for a service this year and she did great. There was so much love for us there. We never felt more at home. While we were waiting to go take communion, Mike and I were deciding who was going to carry her to the alter. For those of you who know what Ultrea and Cursillo is, we talk about our moment closest to Christ during these weekends and gatherings. My closest moment was tonight. Mike looked at me with these misty eyes and said he was thinking about Sophie and wanted to carry his daughter down the aisle. Well, that was all it took to get me crying. For those of you who know or remember, Mike carried little Sophie out of the church when we left to bury her and it was the most heart wrenching moment of my life. Watching him carry Landry in her sweet little Christmas dress with both arms wrapped around her was the one of the happiest moments of my life. Isn't strange how the same event in name can be such polar opposites? We loved being among all of our friends and seeing the joy in their faces because of the joy in ours. Landry made quite the debut on this full mooned Christmas Eve. Happy Birthday Jesus....and thank you so very much for Landry.

A Picture is Worth a

Thousand Words....

I hesitated to post this picture because I thought it was a personal moment between the two of us but I couldn't help but think of everything it meant to both of us being there in that moment. I look at it and see something totally different than most of you will. I see 21 months of grieving, fear, pain, anger, sadness and frustration being drastically softened. It will never go away but it has been replaced with a love I knew existed but never fully knew. Now I know its glory and it is divine! I also see the better side of two people that have weathered a lot together because they have felt an outpouring of love and friendship not experienced by most. We are eternally grateful for all of our friends and family who have not left our sides throughout this pregnancy. I said at the beginning of this pregnancy that if I had my husband and one good friend at the end of it, I would feel like I had accomplished something BIG. As far as I know, everyone I started with is still around. The one thing I know for sure is that my friends are my family and my family are my friends....what a lucky girl I am.

Carpel tunnel and a bad tooth....

Since about 3 weeks before Landry arrived I have been suffering with carpel tunnel syndrome. It really stinks too. I never understood what it was before now but I have a new sense of respect/understanding for those that suffer from it. I am told that it will probably go away after a while but it couldn't be soon enough. If any one has any suggestions for relief...hook a sister up!

I went to the dentist yesterday. Yes, 10 days after a c-section, I was laid up at the dentist office to get some work done that was supposed to be done before I got pregnant. I had some flexible spending dollars that had to be used before the end of the year. It was a use it or lose it situation and if any one knows me, I am couldn't possibly let it go to waste. My dentist asked my how I was feeling and I told him that all I needed was an ingrown toenail to make my life complete.
Luckily, I didn't have to have the root canal we originally thought I was going to have so my visit was cut down to only 2.5 hours instead of 3-4...ugh! I made a return trip today because I had a high spot on one of the fillings I had replaced. Hurt like heck but it was fixed in an instant. There is something about having someone stick a drill in your mouth with no deadening....makes you shrivel up a little. All is well on that front now.

Gotta go feed the bug...and yes, she is still a cutie pa-tu-tie. :)

Scrub-a-dub-dub!

Landry changes every time I look at her. I had a dentist appointment today and had to leave her with her Daddy for several hours. (He did a great job by the way.) When I finally got home, I didn't put her down for the next 4 hours.

This was taken after her 1st bath. She was not a happy camper! She does, however, look very grateful in this photo. That is the sweetest face I have ever seen.

My Glow Worm

Landry went to the doctor yesterday and got a good report on the jaundice front. I did, however, have to get a picture before we turned in her billiblanket. She looked like a glow worm with a tail....a cute glow worm that is.

Mike and I are slowly but surely getting the hang of this parenting thing. Where the heck is the manuel for this kid?! I have to say that he has done a great job of taking care of both of us. My carpel tunnel has been one of the biggest obstacles I have had to overcome. My left hand is pretty essential in most every task so I have been trying to get used to the brace. Hopefully it will be a temporary ailment.

As most of you know, I have been looking forward to a visit from my Daddy and stepmother Lindsey ever since we found out we were pregnant. Unfortunately, he is in a great deal of pain with his back and cannot come as he has planned. They are as disappointed as I am so please keep him in your prayers as he recovers. Landry is ready to meet her Granddaddy!

I almost didn't post this but it is too funny not to.

The other night...in the middle of the night... we were getting Landry settled back in her bassinett/pack n play that is in our room. It was one of the many gifts that my family bought for her and it has been a lifesaver. It is all decked out with a changing table, music, nature sounds, lights, yada yada yada. Any way, it is loaded with features and we have used them all. I was half asleep and Landry woke up because the vibrator in it had shut off automatically. When Mike asked what was wrong I told her that her vibrator wasn't on. Without skipping a beat...he said "I don't ever want to hear the words vibrator and my daughters name in the same sentence again." I started laughing which made my incision hurt and of course he started laughing and we ended up having a really funny moment....I am sure one of many in this little girls future.

Kudos to the the Bella! She has done so well with her new baby sister. She is a little jealous but she vhas done remarkably well adjusting to her new less than the queen status in our family. She has gotten a lot more attention from her daddy(Mike) so she really hasn't skipped a beat.

Thanks for all of the prayers and well wishes for Landry's jaundice recovery. She is starting to get her color back and starting to gain weight. She couldn't get much cuter I don't think.

I want to send a shout out to all of my high school friends that are checking the blog. Karen, one of the girls I graduated with, recently put together a yahoo group to begin organizing our next reunion and it has become a really fun way to reunite with my long lost past. Since I left Mobile in '89 to go to the University of Alabama, I have been away for 18.5 years...the same age I was when I left!!! YIKES!! It has been a lot of fun catching up with everyone and they all seem to be excited about my new addition. Thanks for the well wishes...can't wait to see you all again!

I'll post more soon...gotta go watch my baby breathe. :)

Welcome to the World, Landry!

Hello everyone! I have been away for a while now and boy have I missed you! As most of you all well know, I have been busy bringing Landry Elaine Mader in to the world. She is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. I couldn't have imagined the range of emotions and feelings I have had for her. She is as close to perfection as I have ever come to with the exception of our little angel Sophie. She IS perfection and I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to love her like I have.

Little Miss Landry came after 15 hours of labor and the last minute decision to do a c-section. She was too big for mama to deliver so we opted to go in after her. Dr. Bush was wonderful and so were all of the L & D nurses at Women's Hospital. Mike and I felt so lucky to have a team of professionals looking after us as capable and caring as they are.

Mike is my hero....Super Daddy. He has changed ALL but one diaper since she was born and has spent most of his time taking care of his three girls...me, Landry and Bella. Bella is not sure about this new infiltrator. She was a little...okay, VERY depressed when we got home with Landry on Thursday. She is starting to come around and is very sweet with her. She loves all of the company coming to see HER. :)

I made this video and I have some better pictures that were taken by the photographer/friend I hired to take photos of the blessed event. She was really great to have there and she said that little Landry looked like she has paparazzi waiting for her grand entrance. I was conked out so it was nice to have someone there to document it for me.

We went to the doctor today for the 2 day weight check and we found out she has jaundice so she is now hooked up to a billiblanket for the next 2 days. She also lost 19 ounces so she is having to supplement with formula. It was awful watching them stick her little foot. This was just the first of many moments that I will cry as much as she does during her doctor visits. Mike thinks I am such a wimp! :) I will keep you posted on her progress.

I want to thank everyone for all of the prayers, visits, calls, gifts and well wishes that we have had. These last few weeks have meant so much to both of us and sharing it with all of you made it even more special. I hope you enjoy the pictures. I will post more soon.

Love,

Renee

*note*

I just saw how my video downloaded and I didn't mean for this picture to be the front of the video screen. I am too tired to change it so have a laugh on me!

6.5 hours and counting...

I can't believe this is the last night without child. If I get any sleep, I will be shocked. The little one has been kicking me all night so I feel pretty good about everything. Say a prayer for me, Mike and this precious baby and let the miracles begin!!!

BTW, I measured my gut one last time and it was 43 1/3 inches. OMG!!!

Is anyone up?!

I have been up since 3:30 am. What is wrong with me?! I know that my days and nights of sleeping a solid 8 hours are coming to a close for a while and I can't sleep. Go figure. Bella, the schnorkie, decided that she wanted to stay up all night. Mike got up with her 3 times and she finally settled down. I think she knows that something big is about to happen. Call it intuition or whatever but she definately knows the gig is up. We are taking her to Aunt Tracey's tonight because we have to leave here at 5am for the hospital. She loves going to visit with Bogie and Lacey and always comes home worn out. She will be in for quite a surprise on Wednesday when we come home with Baby M.

We have narrowed down Baby M's name to four options. We figured we would know what this baby's name should be when we see him or her. I am sure I will check in again throughout the day. My head is swimming in a sea of thoughts. Missing my mother and my baby girl Sophie are ever present but I am trying really hard not to take any of the joy in these moments away from this miracle I am carrying. Baby M2 deserves all of the joy and excitement that his/her arrival will bring. I am so excited to share these moments with all of you.

This picture shows how big my gut is. Soon I won't

have anything to prop my plate on when I eat.

GNO Ornament Swap 2007

Let the Countdown begin!

I had my annual ornament swap last night and it was so much fun! I think there were bets going on as to whether or not I was actually still going to have it! I always look forward to having the girls over and last night was no exception. Due to various other commitments, illness and other parties, the crowd was lighter than normal but the same amount of fun was had. Having this special group of women around me reiterated just how important all of my friends are to me. I could not have made it through this pregnancy without each and every one of them and all of the ones who could not make it. They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, I think it has taken a village to help ME have the strength to get this child here. My friends are just another extension of my family and I am so much more than grateful...I am blessed. I can't wait to show off Baby M2 to the world...only 3 days left!

MADER ALERT!

I got a surprise phone call today from my doctor. He wants to induce me on December 10th instead of the 17th! YIKES!! We are so excited...scared...nervous but most of all READY and HAPPY! I wasn't expecting it so I have lots to do before next Monday. If I go before then, I will let you all know....or someone will.

Come on little one! We are ready for you.

...and this baby was Kung Foo Fighting!

I am so thankful that this baby keeps me aware of its presence but let me tell you, he/she has got a leg!! I know that with my Asian genes that if it is a boy, he doesn't have much of a chance at being a lineman but a kicker isn't so bad.
If it's a girl, then I won't have to worry about her not being able to protect her self! I have knitted booties in blue and pink (and white and Crimson too) so they are ready either way.

Ballerina toes or a Punter?

Have you ever felt like someone was kicking you while you were down? Well Baby M kicks me when I'm up, down, sideways....wherever! This is the foot that keeps kicking the bajeezus out of me. Cute, huh? I know that most of you wanted to pan over a little to the left to see the goods but we will have the grand debut soon enough. I can't wait to meet you little one. Mama is ready for you to get here. :)