Autozone, Bulldog Baseball, and Junk Food

Well Madison finally got to experience her first Bulldog Baseball game. Very unfortunate that it was not at Dudy Noble Field, but she will have to settle for Autozone this time. She did very well, and made it thru four innings. She was joined by Daddy, Poppa A, Stephen, Sophie, Brad, Katie, and Benji for her debut game. The Bulldogs lost 9-8 in the 10th inning, but for all she knows they won, because she was well asleep by the end of that one.

Enjoy the pics...Jody

Welcome to Autozone Park

Gracie "showing her teeth" in this pic with Daddy

Still unsure about the ballpark :(

Checking out the loud music and all the people

Gracie eating peanuts with Poppa A

Poppa A feeding Madison cracker jacks...thanks for all the sugar Dad!!

The Ole' Ball Coach in his final year

I love the ballpark :)

All this food requires some drink!

Gracie with Uncle Brad

I've had enough of this place!! It's Nite Nite time

Easter Egg Hunts, Easter Dresses, and Yummy Yummies

Easter 2008 was a great experience for Madison. I think when it was all said and done, she attended four Egg hunts (Cameron Brown, Mom's church, Dedo's, and Mrs. Kuhlo's). She had all types of Easter eggs and baskets, and of course the "yummy yummies" that were inside of them. Below are several pictures from the entire Easter weekend, and the final picture is a picture of Madison in one of Scarlet's Easter dresses. It fit her very well, and she ohhhh'd and ahhhh'd over it when I put it on her. I know that made Scarlet proud :)

Hope Everyone had a Happy Easter!

Jody & Madison

Madison enjoying her Jelly Beans

Sitting down like a big girl checking out all her Yummies

Easter Egg hunting @ Dedo's

Sharing her candy with Daddy :)

Wrecking Dedo's living room with all her eggs!

Crazy Girl :)

Checking out her treats from the Easter bunny!

Only my child would want candy at 7:30 am!!

Wagging her big Easter Duck from Poppa A around

Grinning big on Easter Morning :)

She loved her Easter duck from Mimi...literally

Riding her Easter duck?? Is this suppose to happen??

Modeling Scarlet's Easter Dress :) :)

Easter Eggs, Petting Zoo, and Slides

Steve and I took Madison to the Cameron Brown Easter Egg hunt in Germantown on Monday. Madison was equipped with an Easter basket, and was ready to go. However, once we got there we found out that we were a solid 2 hours early, and opted out of the Easter Egg hunt. However, she did enjoy the petting zoo and all the fun slides. I'm not so sure she wouldn't have got trampled by all the kids during the egg hunt. I think every kid in Germantown was present at this party!

Enjoy the pics...JA

Madison equipped with her Easter basket

Madison loved the Rabbits!

These poor ducks got colored

Pappi helping Madison get ready to slide

Please catch me Daddy!!

Dinner time at the Akins house :)

Tree of Life

I just wanted to encourage everyone that could to please get out to the new Cancer Survivor Park at Audobon Park in Memphis. A few months ago, Cheryl, Sandy (My boss, a breast cancer survivor), and I got to take part in designing pieces of art that would be used in the final design of the "Tree of Life". This replica is made up of thousands of hand made pieces of clay that were hand cut, hand painted, and then fired in the oven. Once they were completed they were placed on the "tree of life" by local artist Christi Duckworth.

This park is in honor of all families and friends that were touched by a cancer of somekind. Cheryl did several flowers and leaves for the design, and I designed an angel with "SLA" on her dress. Scarlet would be proud because I included her "boots" on the angel. Please see the below pics, and do try to get by the park if you are in the Poplar/Perkins area. Great job Christi!

"Tree of Life" in the new Cancer Survivor Park in Memphis

Angel designed by Jody in honor of Scarlet

Snow Day, Birthday Party, and alot of Attitude

Well the past few days have been wide open for Miss Madison. Friday she got to experience her first snow, Saturday she spent all day with Poppa A and Stephen, and yesterday we had Ella Catherine Lynch's first birthday party!!

Friday was pretty exciting as Madison would just stand at the window and watch it snow. She would make a blowing noise, when she watched the snow. She never would say snow, but would make the blowing noise, over and over!! Very entertaining to say the least.

Saturday, we woke up and decided it was time to play in the snow (or at least attempt to play in the snow). She was very intriqued with the snow, but wanted no part of it. I got her all dressed up with gloves, scarf, and jacket and off she went. She kept looking to me for approval, and I told her to go for it. She wasn't too fond of it. She took her gloves off and touched it, and instantly wanted me to wipe her hands off. Just like the beach and the sand, she did not like having stuff all over her hands. The playtime finally ended with her falling down off her slide, and started crying. We went and took a long hot bath, and she was back to normal.

Sunday, we had Ella Catherine Lynch's first birthday party. She was decked out in her St. Patty's day Green, and even has matching sunglasses :) She had fun playing with Ella Catherine, Grace, and Beckham. Ella Catherine was the star of the show, and we were just happy to be invited to the big bash!!

On a sidenote, Miss Madison is into anything and everything. She is quite the smart lil' girl, and can now almost repeat anything that you say (which is scary!!). She now screams real quitely, and really is starting to develop the sassy attitude.

Hope all is well for everyone, and that everyone has a great Spring Break!! It's March Madness time, so go Bulldogs!!

Jody and Madison

Madison unsure about the snow!

Attempting to build a snowman

Daddy, Please get this off my hands!!!

OK!! I've had enough!!!

Cool Breeze.......With her green glasses on going to the party

Miss Ella Catherine Lynch....1st Birthday

Ella Catherine and Amy opening up all the gifts

Madison felt that she needed to help Ella Catherine

Madison and Beckham playing in the floor

Bronchitas, Breathing Treatments, and Weddings

Well this past week has been an exciting one at the Akins Household. Madison came down with bronchitas on Wednesday, and we have been in and out of Dr. office's all week!! They have put her on a breathing treatment machine folks (every 6 hours), and let me just tell you, that is absolutely NO fun to give to a 20 mth old. Can you imagine the first few times we tried to do this to her, she fought us like we were injecting her with needles! It was definately a 2 person job. She has now gotten use to the machine, and as long as I give myself some of the treatment and swap it up with her, she is good to go. But an adventure it was at the beginning!!

We went back to the doctor today at lunch, and they are going to continue the treatments until the end of the week, and hopefully by then she will be completely better and back to her normal chipper self.

On a happier note, Saturday came and we were hoping she would be feeling better and walk down the aisle with Ellen for Carrie's wedding. It didn't quite go as planned. She did good getting ready, and was all prettied up, but come game time, she was having no part of it. She did not want to be away from Mimi, and they made the judgement call to cancel that part, and I think that was probably the smartest decision. She did relativly well during the wedding (no major outbursts), but I was getting nervous towards the end, as she was getting restless.

The wedding and reception was great and Carrie was a beautiful bride. I wish them both the best and hope they have a lifetime of happiness together. I am especially thankful to Carrie and Chris for remembering Scarlet on her wedding day. Carrie had a pink candle at the front of the church to remember Scarlet and also included Madison on her special day.

That's about all I got from this weekend. Enjoy the pics, and here's rooting for MSU to take down the Reb's on Wednesday night, and Also for the Vols to put an end to Memphis's pipedream.

JA

Congrats to Carrie & Chris Dawkins!!

Madison and Mimi getting ready for wedding

Princess Gracie!!

Ellen coaching MGA pre-wedding

Madison loved her pretty flowers

The family with a pic by Scarlet's "rememberance candle"

Jody and Bride 08'

Carrie and her Bridesmaids

Ear Infections, Cow Sounds, & Smiles

Well January has came and gone, and it was an interesting one. Madison battled multiple ear infections for most of the month, so we were in and out of the doctor office alot. I would think it was getting better, only to find out it had moved to the other ear! Then of course the antibiotic tore her butt up, and she could hardly sit in her high chair or take a bath without hurting. The joys of having a toddler!!

She's all smiles now and back to her normal cheerful self. That girl just amazes me day in and day out. She is really starting to talk alot more now. She is learning new words, and epecially one that is gonna get her in trouble here pretty soon.....NO! It is helpful sometimes, like when you ask her if she wants something else to eat or something to drink. However, I feel the time is approaching when she starts saying NO, to things she is not suppose to. The Terrible 2's are coming before I know it.

I'm convinced that she is gonna be a professional cook when she grows up. She has 3 kitchen playsets among our house and all the grandparents. She knows how to use the oven, microwave, and wash the dishes (she even makes the water sound!!).

She knows how the cow goes, and also what the duck does! It is pretty hilarious. She goes Mooooooooooo!! Gets me everytime :)

That's about it, just wanted to post this morning and let everyone know that all is well in the Akins House. Until next time.....

Jody & Madison

Cooking at Steve and Vic's

She loves her hoodie...

All Smiles :)