5 Months....??

How in the world did my little girl get to be 5 months as of today? Time sure blows by so fast.

Mady is so full of life, she always wants to play. Ray and I can only wish we could keep up with her. A few things that has happened since last month:

Mady spent a whole week at my parent's house while me and Ray went to Lake Powell with his family. It was so hard. I balled every night. I'm so glad that there were some spots that I was able to get service to talk to my mom and Mady. Mady didn't lack for attention at all with all my siblings around. My family wasn't too happy when we came back and took her home. Mady wasn't too happy either with the lack of attention me and Ray gave her. But so is life.

Mady likes her swings now! Thanks goodness. It has been such a help to me, as I'm sure it was with my Mom when she had her, being able to do things while she plays
or sleeps One of my favorite pictures we have of her in the swing is this one I was cleaning up the kitchen and put her in the swing because I knew she was really tired. Mady really likes when her blanket it up against her face, but her blanket had fallen a little bit forward to where she would have to sit up. So when I turned around from doing the dishes, this is how she was. Haha classic. Definietly going on her wedding video.

Mady absolutly loves loves her baths. she could play all day long in her tub if I let her. When she's really orney, I just stick her in the tub with her toys and let her play while I have my lab top on the toilet seat and me sitting on the floor doing homework. It works like a charm. These are my two favorite pictures. Mady won't lay down in the tub longer than 30 seconds. Or well anywhere for that matter. She will now only sit in the tub. She has figured out how to lick the water without face planting. Gross, but its building her immune system right? Haha. She also loves to scoot her self down the tub. Its quite amazing if you watch her. Such a strong girl, I love it!

I think the best part of my day is when its her nap time. Not because I finally get time for myself, but I love the way Mady loves to snuggle with me. Sometimes I fall asleep with her. Thanks to my husband for catching this picture. Mady does really good with her naps. She takes about two naps a day. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. She then will go to bed at 8:00 - 9:00 and sleep until 6:00 or 7:00 in the morning (amazing I know). She will usually go down with her bottle, she will sometimes put her self to sleep haha I love when she looks up at me while feeding. Her eyes are so beautiful, so heavenly and full of light. You know they came from God just by looking in your child's eyes. When she doesn't go down with her bottle, her binky will usually do the trick, as long as I cuddle her while she's asleep. She will only take her binky when she is tired or asleep. Silly girl, hopefully that will change when she gets a little bit older. Now that Mady has mastered her sitting by her self back when she was four months, our next trip is rolling. This has been quite difficult due to the fact she hates her stomach. I hate doing tummy time and seeing her scream. We try to make it fun by playing with her and laying down with her. But so far we haven't had any luck. Any ideas? It'd be much appreciated.

Mady has such a personality, I love it. She is such a smiley little girl. We are so blessed to have her in our lives. She can always brighten up our day with her smiles. We are learning so much from her. She makes us want to better ourselves and center our lives around the gospel and Christ more each day by finding new ways to give service to each other and others. My only hope is to be able to raise her strong in the gospel do fend on her own when the time comes. We love her so very much and are glad to be the parents of such a wonderful little girl.

Dedicated to my most amazing husband

I know this is super late but I only now have found the time to actually sit down and write while my babe is sleeping.

Ray's birthday was last month on the 28th. That following weekend, we had planned a couple's retreat with our friends at my cabin in Sterling. So I decided to plan a surprise birthday party for Ray with all his friends. Due to all the costs that were going towards this surprise party, I couldn't really afford to do anything for him on his real birthday. Our neighbors did get together with us and had some cake. And don't worry I did get him a little present: deodorant haha. I think he felt a little bad that we didn't really do anything, as he knows that I like to go all out for birthdays...but little did he know what I was planning for him.

I decided that it is hard to plan a party when your not there to actually do it. But luckily I have the most amazing mom to help me. I decided to go for a Starcraft game. And yes, I still hate Starcraft, very much. But I have a husband who absolutely loves it. And Starcraft 2 came out the day before his birthday. For the past....oh geeze it feels like forever, but we'll say since the beginning of the year, Ray has been constantly talking about getting the game. Of course, I'd always say no, but he never gave up hope. I don't think it was until the first of June when we made this pact that he could have the game if he beat all our other games we have laying around, that he finally understood that he was not going to get the game.

When I started thinking about what to get him for his birthday, I couldn't find anything else that he really wanted. But there was no way we could afford paying $60 + on a stupid game that I hated. But that all changed when my mom called me up asking what the family could get him. So I went in on it with her. He would be so excited. So that was the start of the theme of the party.

The next on the list was to make a Starcraft cake. I couldn't do it without Ray finding out. So I had my mom call up her friend and have her do it. I was a bit nervous by how it would turn out so I made another cake just in case. It wasn't anything fancy - it was just really yummy.

My mom set up the decorations for me, while I coordinated with our friends. I decided it would be better if we made Ray think no one could come until Saturday morning, so that he would be even more surprised that everyone would be there. Despite the many complications, it turned out great. Here's a few pictures of that night:
This is the amazing Starcraft cake. And here's the other cake. Ray blowing out his candles. Thank you so much, everyone, for coming! You made that night so special for Ray Ray opening presents. This boy loves loves oreo's. So it you ever need a quick gift for him, oreo's will do the trick. Ray with the third love of his life. We got him the strategy manual too, I don't know if they work but he was looking at it in the store so I snuck it into the cart.
The couples Retreat turned out great! It was so fun. We had a great time going to the temple, 4-wheeling, and the lake. I'm so glad we have such wonderful friends. I only wished we lived closer.

Ray was so happy with the weekend and his surprise party. When we went to bed that night, he got teary eyed saying that he had never felt so blessed and loved in his whole life. He's never had a big party like that before, let alone a surprise party. I'm so glad everything worked out like planned.

Ray is such a wonderful husband, friend, and father. He brings out the best in me and is always there to hold me up. I can't imagine a life without him. He is my world, my laughter, my lifeline, and the love of my life. I hope someday I will be able to give back at least half of what Ray has given to me. God sure must love me more than I'll ever know to give me someone so wonderful and amazing as Ray. Happy birthday lover. And here's to many more to come!