Picture update...

If she's driving, i got shotgun!!


True love at it's finest...yes, i am ACTUALLY touching her feet!! (ps i kiss them too, tee hee hee)


Playing in daddy's golf bag box, that we so luckily turned into a tunnel...and she loved it!!

Hey, what's in here guys?! Are you hiding puffies from me?!

Boating on a weekday...

Yesterday we spent a wonderful day out on the boat. It was super warm, which is hasn't been for much of the summer, so it was great to get into the river and float around on the tube. Mady had a great time too. We put up the Bimini top so she wouldn't get too much sun, and she crawled around and had a great time!

Here she was, just playing on the boat

And here she is after a long day of swimming and playing. She was completely tuckered out.

And here were the ducks that were swimming by our boat. They would get close to check us out, and then swim away. Mady loved them...from a distance of course.

Say a little prayer...

MckMamma's Stellan, over at http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ is back in the hospital, and really not doing well. He needs lots of prayers right now. So if you could, if you would, take a minute out of your life to stop and say a little prayer for this little guy. Tell someone you love them. And hold your own children tightly. Life is too short.
We love you all.
The Stiffies, praying for Stellan

Picture update!!

Here is an update from our Saturday picinic...

Enjoy!!!

Show us your life ~ Wedding dress

I love this topic. Why, you may ask?! Well, i love looking back on my wedding, and all the pictures. My wedding was one of the best days of my life. I loved every minute of it, and i wish we could do it every year. As i look back, i tend to think "Would i change anything", you know, like colors or flowers or favors or anything. And all i can think is no, i am very very happy with everything i had. We were lucky enough to share our day with all our friends and family, and people we love and who love us. And now, we are lucky enough to have each other and our beautiful little girl. We may fight and argue, but that's a part of marriage, and at the end of the day, we wouldn't trade each other in for anything in the whole wide world. Despite everything, we really were made for each other.

All of our really good pictures seem to still be in the albums, and not here on the computer...so you will all have to bear with me as i piece my dress together, picture by picture.

Here is the back of my dress. I had it custom made, since i was so picky. They had to take the side in and open the back up more, while still making sure the beading looked good. Thank god they knew what they were doing.

Here, you can see the opening on the front of my dress. There were scallop layers of tulle inside the opening, and each layer had beading along the bottom of it.

Here you can see the back of my dress, after it was pulled up and tied. It layed very nice, and made beautiful layers of bunches. The way it looked at this point, was very important for me.

Here is the back of my dress before it was pulled up. I wanted a longer train, but not too long...i didn't want to gather dust, lol. It was long enough to drape behind me and over my shoulder for pictures, but not long enough to bring woodland creatures with me to the reception.

Here are some pictures of us at the church...just thought i'd throw those in.

Now it's your turn. Show us your wedding dress! I love looking at brides in their dresses.

It's finally back...

Yes, i'm finally back on the internet. My internet was out all morning for some reason, and i don't know why. But i'm back!

My wonderful husband has found a new obsession. Anyone who knows him, knows how he is. He gets interested in something, and he will literally obsess over it for months until he either gets it, i tell him no enough times, or he finds something else to entertain him. We've gone through quite a few phases...there were designer clothes, the new boat, jet skiis, a harley, our soon-to-be new house and the things inside it, and now we're on to golf. He is into golf big time now. He sold his motorcycle, and is using that money to buy new golf clubs. But not just ANY golf clubs, he has to be fitted for them, and buy top of the line. Thats great and all, except that he will golf a few times and then they will sit in the attic forever, collecting dust, until they are so outdated that he needs new ones. But now he thinks he's Tiger Woods in the making. Since he's off work and only doing side jobs, he will go golfing during the week (since it's cheaper, and his friends are off work too and they can go). He's been to the driving range once also. This is just another phase that will be, undoubtedly, a waste of money. But i'll let him spend his money on it now, and then when he doesn't golf forever and ever, i will remind him of this constantly. What is it with men and wasting money on nonesense?! How do you break them of this habit? Any tips would be appreciated.

Mady is becoming more of a daredevil lately. She wants to stand so badly, she will pull herself up onto anything and try to let go and just stand there. She really has no fear. I guess that's a good thing, but it really scares me at the same time. She is taking that new no fear attitude to the steps now. She is really good at climbing the stairs.

Stacey: "Frank, will you watch the baby while i go start supper?"
Frank: "Sure"
Stacey: walks into kitchen and starts supper. Turns around to see what is going on, only to see Frank at the door, staring out into the street.
Stacey: "Baby, where is the baby" stacey rushes to see where the baby is
Frank: "She's right here" as he turns around and doesn't see the baby
Stacey: "FRANK" i yell, as i grab the baby off the 5th step
Frank: "I only turned around for a minute. Man, she's fast"

This is what i deal with on a daily basis.

Picture update...

Sleeping on daddy after a long day out

Look at those lips...hahaha

I just love that face...can't you feel the attitude behind it?!

Girls day out at Knoebels

A night out...

Last night, we went to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. I must say, this was by far the best movie of the series so far. It had great special effects, great acting, and a great story line...thank you again, J.K. Rowling. It did, however, take me about 10 minutes to remember what i was watching. It's been about 2 years since i read this book, so i couldn't exactly remember it all, but once i did i was ok again. Even when i knew what was coming, i was still surprised. Now i'm totally excited for the last 2 movies to come out. I just hope it doesn't take another year or two for each one.

Is my third head showing...

Sometimes i wonder if i have another head or something. Why, you may ask?! Well, it all comes back to my running. Now, i'm used to people staring at me. You have to be, when you run 8+ miles along highways and what-not, sometimes running in just a sports bra and shorts...when the heat is up enough. But now that i have Mady, i get all new looks. You would think i was running with an alien, or trying to push the stroller out into traffic or something. I usually run around town, or out the highway where the side of the road is practically a whole lane big. I, of course, take Mady in the jogger stroller with me. That's what it's made for. If God didn't intend for me to be able to run with my child, he wouldn't have had someone invent the jogger stroller. She is very comfortable, as it has shock absorbers, a padded seat, a moveable sun shade, speakers for her to listen to music, a sippy cup holder, and padded shoulder straps. But as i go by people, they tend to stare like i'm nuts. Ok, so maybe i'm a bit nuts, pushing a 17lb baby in a stroller 6+ miles, but i enjoy it and so does she, so who are you people to judge me!! Other people give me the "you must have a lot of energy" or "now THERE'S a work out" or "exercise mamma". Thanks, i would have never guessed...and stop staring at my @ss as i run by please. You would honestly think i was the first person EVER to run with a child, the looks i get. How else am i supposed to get my exercise in? I can't just leave Mady at home alone!
Here is the stroller i have. It's the best thing ever, and it was worth every single penny spent on it. I use it every single day, sometimes multiple times a day.

A downward spiral...

After a wonderful and eventful friday, our weekend took a downward turn for the worse. It was very uneventful, and somewhat boring. We didn't do much of anything, as the sky looked menacing all day Saturday and we were scared when the rain would hit. Then it finally did, and we were glad we were home and safe, cuz it was a bad one. Sunday came and went, and all we really accomplished was going to church. Sundays especially, i don't know where the time goes so fast! Before i know it, it's already 3pm, and all we've done was eat breakfast, go to church, come home, and change. Weird. But you all know what spending time, bored, at home means, don't you?! Pictures!!

This is her new thing...the "i don't know" hand. I said to her, "What are you doing, silly"...and she proceeded to give me the hand, lol

She really loved helping with the laundry...or should i say, playing in the laundry basket

Mady's 9 month birthday

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Floating...

Yesterday, we spent the day on the boat. It didn't seem that warm when we were getting ready to leave, but we went anyway, determined to have a good time. When we got there, it was actually pretty warm...mid 80s. So we set off on the boat, bound for fun. We drove around for a while, then we anchored and got in the water. And it wasn't freezing like i thought it would be, it was actually pretty nice. So the 3 of us floated around for a few hours, then we drove some more, then we came home. It was actually a really nice day out.

Mady wanted to drive the boat...she took the keys and wouldn't give them back

Mady was off balance and top heavy, thanks to the lifevest, so she fell over and laughed.

Mady and Frank, hanging out

Swimming with mommy

A tribute...

Today, i watched the Michael Jackson memorial on the internet. It might have been on tv, but i don't know for sure because Frank refused to watch it, no matter what. So to the internet i went. I think whether you liked him or not, watching it was like watching history. Everyone will be able to connect on some level, regardless of how you feel about him. It was very moving, listening to the wonderful things that everyone had to say about him, the wonderful memories that everyone had of him, and the great performances. I was especially moved when his 11 year old daughter Paris spoke at the end. She called him "the best daddy ever". I bawled my eyes out. I don't know if it was the mother in me or what, but it was so touching. No matter what you think of him, what he did or did not do, what he looked like, or how he acted, we should all take a moment to reflect on life. On our own lives and that of those we love. Life is too short.

Our weekend in review...

This past weekend turned out to be a really nice one. Mady saw her first fireworks on friday night, which went over really well. I thought for sure she'd be upset, cry, cover her ears, something...but no, she was great! She layed on my lap and stared into the sky at the exploding colors over her head. After a while she got bored, but once they started the grand finale, she was good to go again.

Saturday we went to Frank's mom's for a picinic and more fireworks. Mady had a great time there as well. All the cousins and kids were there, so she had little ones her own age to play with, which was great for her.

And the new phrase in our house: "Mady, don't play with the dog food!"

Another holiday...

You guessed it, another holiday is coming up. And what does that mean at the Stiffie household?! More pictures of Mady that she will hate me for in the future! It's ok though, because i love them now, and i can't get enough. She's probably going to hate me in the future anyways, so at least i'll be having my fun now and i'll have something to look back on.
Now, for all you EXTREME Americans out there, you may not want to look at these pictures. I'm not doing anything wrong though, i read it in the little booklet that came with my flag. It says i can do this and not have to burn my flag afterwards. I'm not 100% sure it said i could let Mady chew on the flag during the photoshoot, but that just seemed to happen anyway. So if you're going to get mad, just don't look. Otherwise, feel free to enjoy the show! I present, my patriotic baby!

Playdates...

So yesterday, i went to Knoebels with my friend Maria and her daughter Octavia (Tavy). We also met our friends Mary, Megan and Megan's son Keegan there. It was such a nice day out, even though it sprinkled a few times. There wasn't a lot of people (thanks to the rain), and i couldn't ask for better company. The kids had a blast together. Don't ask me how, i know they're only young yet and don't understand the concept of playdates, but i know they had fun.

And the cutest little thing, which i swear, made Frank happier than anything when i told him about it...Mady and Keegan were together on the gazeebo (we were holding them, of course), and Keegan is a month older and understands the concept of a kiss (sort of). Well, we were saying "Give Mady a kiss", and he would lean in to kiss her...and she would put her hand on his chest and push him away! It was too funny! Daddy would be so proud of his little girl, lol. Here are Mady and Tavy together

Here are Mady in Tavy again