Mondays with Mommy :: 2nd Edition

I know this is way late! Okay now an entire week LATE! It's been a busy week for mommy, but Monday (now last Monday) was still a day for Maddy!

The day began early, but there was no time for a special breakfast or a lot of laying around.  We had to get ready and out the door at 8:30.  We were headed to The Little Gym of Sugarland for a Houston Moms Blog play date. (Keep reading to hear more about HMB below.)  We invited our little friend and neighbor Riley.  Maddy LOVES Riley and talks about her A LOT!  She was super pumped to get to sit next to Riley in the car for our trip out to Sugarland.  (If you're not familiar with Houston, Sugarland is about an hour away from us.)  On our way out we had to stop for a doughnut, since technically Maddy woke up with the sun in her own bed.
The Little Gym
We arrived to The Little Gym shortly before 10.  The girls were immediately greeted by friendly staff and taken to the back party room.  Before I could even make my way back there (after signing a release form of course) the girls were already set up at the table working on a craft. Chick-Fil-A was there with a table of their yummies! Maddy and Riley had fun making a cute apple craft with one of the sweet staff and then enjoyed some Chick-Fil-A.  They were completely entertained before it was even their turn to go into the gym for the real fun.  Then for an entire hour they had gym time.  The girls had a blast doing all of the skills and playing on the equipment. Some of the time was structured and some of it was just time for them to run around a play or practice what was modeled.  They both absolutely loved it all!

Dance
After the morning play date we made our way back home.  Maddy invited Riley to come in and play.  (Maddy has a hard time ending the "party.")  The girls played, watch Disney junior, and ate a little lunch.  Then we were out the door again to make it to week 2 of dance.  Maddy is really starting to get into it.  She looked like she was having so much fun, despite the fact that her moves looked a little different then the others or the teacher's.  Her teacher is excellent though!  She gives the girls the individual attention they need. She worked with Maddy when she showed difficulties.  Maddy also got to partner up with her buddy Braelyn to practice one of the moves. They are so cute and I am really excited to see them both grow this year in dance.

This is not a great picture, but you can see Maddy & Brae!

Well, now that I'm finishing this up on the following Monday I guess I ought to get started on our day so edition 3 has some meat!


BIG FAN of Houston Moms Blog
Aka... HMB.  My dear friend Kelly is the founder and owner of Houston Moms Blog. If you look at anything I do on Facebook you probably already know I'm a big fan.  If you've birthed, adopted, care for or having anything to do with children you should check it out.  Reasons why:
1.  Excellent resource for moms. 2. Builds community. 3. Events. 4. GIVEAWAYS all the TIME.
Like them on Facebook so you can be update with the latest and greatest they have to offer.

Mondays with Mommy - 1st edition

This year Maddy is going to preschool (Blessed Beginnings) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays.  That leaves Mondays open for an entire day with Maddy.  This is a great day to put aside any projects, major house work, and tedious errands I have to do for another day.  My goal is to use Mondays to take Maddy on special trips, do projects with her at home, and/or just play with her.  Mondays are for Maddy!  

Sunday evening I thought I had our Monday planned out, for the most part.  We were going to go to Little Beakers (a kids' science lab) with our friends, eat lunch at home, and then our first dance class in the afternoon.  This is really what happened...

Quick Shopping Trip
On our way to Little Beakers we got the call that they were not open.  We rerouted our trip to the park.  We stopped for a quick swing and then decided there were too many mosquitoes.  Our friends were going grocery shopping. Well, once Maddy hears that she is all in.  Maddy LOVES her HEB and really any grocery store for that matter.  We decided to join our friends at the store for a quick trip to pick up a few things I had forgotten on my trip.  We went to Kroger, where they have little carts for kids.  Good thing its something new and novel for Maddy, because her HEB doesn't have these. Maddy insisted on putting everything we got in her cart!

In the Kitchen
Maddy really enjoys helping in the kitchen, especially if it includes pouring and tasting. I have really been wanting to make her healthy snacks that are appealing to her.  The problem is if I don't plan it I'm usually missing an ingredient or I just make the excuse that I don't have time.  Really, it doesn't take that much more time.  Changing the way you eat is a life style change and just about creating new habits.  I have been following Super Healthy Kids on Facebook and noticed these easy Flourless Chocolate Chip Almond Butter muffins.  They are from Running with Spoons.  They were easy to make, easy to eat, easy to clean up, and easy to take on the go. Great healthy snack for kiddos or adults. 

First DANCE class
Eeekk! It has begun!  Maddy started her first ballet and tap class.  She will take dance every Monday afternoon.  A perfect addition to Maddy's Mondays.  Though, it has been my dream for my little girls to take dance, Maddy has been requesting it most of the summer. Her girlie side is slowly coming out.  My favorite part, as of now, is getting to put her hair up.  If you know Maddy she only likes to wear it two ways... down in her face or a little bitty pony right now top.  I'm so excited I get to put it up in a pony tail or bun.  OH MY!!! Isn't she so stickin CUTE! in her leotard and tights.  I'll have to get a picture next week of her participating in class. 

This will be an excellent way to document Maddy's toddler days with me... since she has now exceeded the baby book age limit. I look forwarded to coming back next week for a second edition of Mondays with Mommy! 

First Event of the Summer: Kristen's Wedding

The first weekend of summer we traveled back to Louisiana for my cousin Kristen's wedding.  This was Maddy's second wedding to attend.  Kristen and her now husband Jamie got married at the St.Francis de Sales Cathedral in Houma.  The ceremony was beautiful!  The reception was held at the same venue as Amanda's wedding in April.  The yummy food was the same, but the reception was different and had its own unique feel.  Maddy enjoyed the band, the dance floor, and the food just as much! She was even reacquainted with a friend in the band that happened to also be in the band from the last wedding. Though, this time she did not put on as quite the show as she did at Amanda's wedding. I think it was all due to her lack of napping! Maddy still managed to spend most of her time on the dance floor.  If I wasn't holding her and walking around outside she was on the dance floor dancing or strutting her stuff.  
Towards the end of the wedding the band played Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."  (Side Note... Maddy has listened to Journey since she came home from the hospital.) The siblings of the bride and groom made their way on stage to help the band out with the song.  The rest of the guests gathered around the stage to dance and sing along.  I happened to be standing right next the speaker holding Maddy.  In the middle of the song Brandon looks at her and she was passed out.  That was my cue to leave the dance floor.  Maddy spent the remainder of the wedding sleeping on my shoulder. 

Haywood Family

Family Pic take II

Loli and Maddy

Sisters looking good!

Brandon did manage to catch a pic of my dad dancing with mom!

I failed to capture as many memories with my camera. We actually only got one candid shot, but we did manage to get a few good poised pictures.  This does not reflect the amount of fun we all had at Kristen and Jamie's wedding! 

Ms.Reasa Appreciation Week: Day5

We have been so blessed that the Briggs family has shared their mom with Maddy since she was 3 months old.  Maddy also has a special bond with all four of Reasa's kiddos. First, there is Reagan the oldest, who will be a freshman in high school next year. Maddy loves Reagan and is always interested in what she is doing.  Then there is Belle, who will be in fifth grade next year.  Belle loves babies and especially her baby sister and Maddy of course.  Every time I see Belle I am guaranteed a hug and Maddy gets lots of special attention from her, too!  Then there is Quin, the only boy who is three.  Quin has welcomed Maddy to his family and is very protective of his "Baby Daddy!" The youngest of the bunch is Rilyn, who is only about 3 weeks older than Maddy.  This is Maddy's BFF!  They have played so well together since day one and are both very amused by the other.  Many times Reasa has been asked if they are twins. (I must find pictures of them together.) 
Anyways... She has also been a great resource to me as a new mom.  Having 4 beautiful children of her own, she has had lots of experience. Anytime I had a question or worry Reasa has always been there to give me advice or calm my fears.  So today we thanked Ms.Reasa for helping Maddy GROW by giving her a little plant.  Unfortunately, we missed the picture!

Ms.Reasa Appreciation Week: Day 4

Ms. Reasa has been so sweet to Maddy over the past 16 months!  She has always done extra sweet things for her. She always gives Maddy lots of extra TLC when she needs it, feeds Maddy her favorite foods, plays her favorite games with her, and even keeps her when Maddy is feeling a little under the weather. We thanked Reasa by giving her something SWEET... M&Ms in a personalized jar. (I tried etching glass for the first time and etched a B on the jar... initial of her last name.  You can't see the B... I had to rely on Brandon to take the pics for me.)

 

Ms. Reasa Appreciation Week: Day3

There is no question that Maddy loves her Reasa!  Maddy has fussed like a total of 3 times when we have dropped her off at Reasa's.  Maddy fits right in at the Briggs and I'm sure it feels like home to her. Maddy receives lots of attention from her Ms.Reasa!  Reasa takes time to play with Maddy and they usually have some quality time together everyday while the other babies are sleeping. Since Maddy has learned to hug I'm sure Ms.Reasa gets lots of those during the day.  Maddy loves her Ms. Reasa HANDS down...so we got her a big bottle of pretty smelling hand sanitizer... because with four kiddos you can always use it!

Ms. Reasa Appreciation Week

The Haywoods declare this week Babysitter Appreciation Week or how we like to call it Ms.Reasa Appreciation Week! Thanks to the National Teacher Appreciation week for giving me this glorious idea.  I must also thank my good friend Kelly for blogging  http://obabydavis.blogspot.com daily about Teacher Appreciation Week with her cute ideas she did for Hayes' teachers. I only stole a few. Anyways... the real reason for this post.  Brandon and I are so blessed to have such amazing child care for Maddy.  This was one of my biggest stresses before Maddy was born.  I added it to my "to pray about" list.  Then shortly after, prayers were answered.  Within a day Reasa messaged me on facebook inquiring about possibly watching Maddy when I returned to work.  She also had a baby girl arriving a few weeks before Maddy.  After a few conversations we knew it was a perfect fit. La la la... here we are.  Maddy has been welcomed in the Briggs home everyday since, while I am at work.  Maddy absolutely loves her friends (Reasa's son Quin and baby girl Rilyn) there.  Reasa cares for Maddy as her own.  This is such a blessing... there isn't one day that I am ever worried about Maddy or wonder if she is okay. This week we will honor Ms.Reasa and all the wonderful things she does for our Maddy Muffin.
We had to wait till today to kick off  Ms. Reasa Appreciation Week!
We combined Day 1 and Day 2 today.
For Day 1 we made muffins to thank Reasa for taking care of our little Muffin.

On Day 2 we let Ms. Reasa know how much she has MINT to Maddy (and to us of course!)

Stayed tuned for more cute stuff and fun stories about Ms. Reasa and Maddy!