Redbirds, Baseball, Sunny Days

Madison and I enjoyed an afternoon at the ballpark with my co-workers and their families. It was a beautiful day and Madison really enjoyed herself. It was really crowded so she had to stay in her stroller for most of the day (which was not her preferred spot by the end of the day!). We shared a corn dog, french fries, and sprite and that was enough to fill her up. I know she was upset that Poppa A was not there, because she did not get any sweets :(

Here are a few pics from yesterday. Her 2nd Birthday party is a week from Saturday, and I will be updating the blog then.

JA

Madison and I's view from Centerfield

She was not in the sitting still mode at this point!

Spring Time, Polka Dots, Ice Cream Sandwiches

Well we are getting closer and closer to birthday party #2!! Madison can tell you how old she is gonna be, and sometimes will even hold up "2" fingers. She is such a talker these days, and pretty much rambles from the time we leave the house in the morning, until we pull into Mimi's driveway! She knows when we pass Collierville High each morning, because she calls "Davis", and knows that is his school. When we pass by First Baptist Collierville, she calls "Madison" and knows that is her school. Smart, Smart lil' lady :)

The latest obstacle we have came upon is that Cheryl and I are trying to break her of sucking her thumb. This is a pretty big deal for her, because she has turned into quite the thumb sucker. However, I feel it is time to do something about it, when you start to suck the nail off your thumb (yeah, that almost happened!) The current solution is we wrap it up after her bath each night, and put "medicine" on it, and tell her she has a b00-boo! It is causing her to not want to go to bed as easy each night, however, we have to try something.

I had to share these cute pics, as she was modeling the dress Mimi made for her 2nd Birthday. I think it really brings out her red hair :) I also included a pic of her and Papi eating an ice cream sandwich. I will be posting more pics tomorrow from our afternoon Downtown. Madison and I are going to the Redbirds game with my work group and it guarentees to be an afternoon full of activity.

Until then...JA

Madison and Papi enjoying some Ice Cream :)

Love the Polka Dots Mimi!

Such a big girl :)

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