Madisons Baptism

Although I have been planning this baptism for about a year in a half now, since Mike and I missed our friend Luke's Baptism due to scheduling conflicts (we had something planed for several weeks and it was sprung on us about the baptism) and since I missed our friend Kyle's baptism (due to me being extremely and untimely sick) I told our friend Maria that the baptism would be on 11/8/08 back in May of 07. Everything was planned. Perfect dress bought. Most amazing photos were taken. Email invitations sent (although some say they did not get it). Perfect invitations made and sent. Songs were picked, people were asked to play music, speak, lead music. Special thanks to Nathan Richardson, Maria Simons, Peggy McClanahan, and a very special thank you to Denise Lake (she did the awesome talk, I gave the other one and not as good!) So as most of you know, I have done some pretty amazing baptism videos. I really like them, I take pride in such work. I struggled with Madison's, I had no vision. It was easy to ask someone what songs they wanted, get me there favorite photos and the creative juices just started flowing. But with Madison's I could not even pick one song I really loved. And I had spent weeks and hours and money getting every photo onto CD to be prepared for this spectacular video event. So for weeks I worked on it here and there. The day of the baptism I still was not satisfied. I was late to my own daughters baptism because I was still burning the CD of a very imperfect video. I was not there to take photos before hand of her with her Uncle Jeff in there baptism clothing. Or to properly dress her. When I got there her outfit was on backwards had to have her change that. Oh yea, and I forgot an extra pair of underwear! Good Mom moment! So the actual baptism was great everything went smoothly. Madi was so giddy it was very funny and touching to see her so excited. When Jeff was telling her how to go down in the water before the doors were open she was so excited, her face was like yea, right, whatever, OK let me in! It was cool.

After the baptism was wonderful. My mom had come and helped. We made hot chicken for sandwiches, had apple trays, cheese trays, crackers and yummy desserts. Again special thanks to My friends, Denise, Kim H. and Melissa D. for your help and yummy desserts! Oh and an awesome punch. It was really great and so, so easy. Take White Grape Peach juice and a 2 litter of Sprite Mix and that is it! It tastes oh so good! So everything was great and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Then it was over and what do I notice in the kitchen, my camera (I know what some of you are thinking! and no) I did not get one photo of people who came to the event! Can you believe it. I missed the decorations, the food spread, Oh and the cake, which I did not make Sharon bought at Kroger but it still looked awesome! So i hurried and found a few people still lingering around. And got these shots:

Madi and her Grandma Richter


Madison and her second cousin Katie. They had a lot of fun together.
This is my cousin Neil and his family. Wife Leesa, sons Logan and Trevor and daughter Katie. They were leaving to go back to my house when I caught them to get this shot!


Madi with Brother Richardson. He played the piano for us.

Madi and Grandma Richter and Her dad. He is trying to hide his crutches.

This was taken the next day. Madi with Grandma Swift. This was the goofy picture (love it)

So these are some of the fake photos we got a week later of the people who attended the baptism. And if you are not hear we need to get together and get the shot:
Madi with the McClanahan's. He is the Bishop and she is a really great friend! They are moving to Utah and we will miss them dearly.

Deanna and two of her girls. She is a great friend and Emily the one in the middle is one of Madi's dearest friends.

Kayla and Kristen. Two of the youth in our ward.

Laura and Brittan. Brit was Baptised a week before Madi. They are only 6 days apart!

Madi and Sister Mathis. She is the Primary Pres. in our ward.

This is the Sayer family. They are awesome. Great Neighbors and due to Kirsty's blog, I'm a little famous!
This is Rachel and her newest baby. She was young women when I served and was Pregnant with Madi. Now she just had her fourth! Rach is a great friend and an awesome mom.

This is Mary Shurts and her Daughter Renee. Mary and I worked together in Primary a few years back. Renee is one of my good friends!

This is the Cady Family. Their daughter Linda next to Madi is great she always is saying hi in the hall and asking wheres Madi! They also have another daughter Laura who was pictured earlier. They are a great Family.

Chizmo Happy Birthday Dad

Since I missed my Dad's Birthday and I missed November Chizmo so I am combining them. I was going to do the 61 things I love about my dad but I thought 14 things would be better!

1. He married my mom.
2. He left the hospital before I was born to change his shoes.
3. He puts up with me.
4. He tolerates my husband.
5. He loves Madi.
6. I am pretty sure he loves Will.
7. He used to be a clown
8. He used to eat fire. Really fire!
9. He let me use his car. and He didn't get to mad at me for leaving the car in drive when I got out of the car before swim practice one morning.
10. He tolerates my friends, namely Jenn.
11. He gives me Christmas Eve gifts every year. They are very special to me.
12. He gives the Christmas Eve gifts to the kids now too.
13. He used to read Twas the Night Before Christmas to me.
14. He told me I could not pierce my ears before I was 16 and when my mom took me to have it done at 11 he did not get mad. And later when I was 19 when he told me in front of my boyfriend at the time if I came home with another hole in my ear he was going to kick me out of the house. So after piercing my ears two more times while living across county he did not get mad. (See he puts up with me!)

Really Dad, I love you. I know no matter what I do you will be there for me. You always have great words of advice and you always know when I need to hear them! Thanks for being my dad!

Four Generations

This is a four generation photo taken the day of Madison's blessing.

This is a Four generation photo taken the day after Madison's Baptism about 8 years later!

More of Madisons Birthday

First we had Sunday dinner with the Lakes and Simons families. This was her Birthday cake.
These were posters her friends Sammy and Carly made for her. We had soups that night. Madison's favorite soup is Cheesy Potato and her Aunt Denise made that and Aunt Maria made French Onion. They were both very good. I forgot candles for the cake and all that Denise had were these cool candles from the 60's that changed colors as they melted. Can't wait to see them again to find out how many colors they have in them. Then on Monday we went to RED ROBIN for birthday dinner with Grandma Richter.Things she got for her birthday: Samantha American Girl doll, book set and brush;

i-dog and i-dog carrier purse in pink;

Two littlest pet shop pets from her very loving brother;

a guitar, because she really does want to be a rock star!


Then we headed home for the night because Mommy for got one bag at home. A how to play guitar box and dvd, girly guitar pics, an all about me book and I think that is about it!

Happy Birthday Madison

We tried for a long time to have a child. I had two miscarriages and a surgery to correct problems before conceiving Madison. We were so excited to learn we were pregnant again. Shortly after finding out we were pregnant we got news that I was miscarrying again. I was devastated. We opted not to undergo surgery do to the recent procedure I had. This was such a blessing. Within a week I was feeling horrible. Sick all the time and soooo tired. I called the doctor to let them know how I was feeling and let them know that I had not started to miscarry yet. They sent me to the lab again and to their surprise my numbers were up and healthy. Apparently someone at the lab had miscalculated the numbers and that is why they thought I was going to miscarry. So happy news all was well.

During my pregnancy everything was fine. Although my mother in law tried to poison me with her meatloaf. (I got a mysterious rash after eating at her house one night). I had my worst day ever. (Mikes car broke down, hamster stitches, friend tell me he was gay, visit friend in psych ward, find out I had a girl cousin older than me, all in one day) Although the girl cousin thing was cool! Shout out to Christy, she is awesome!

At the end things were still good. The baby was very big so they decided to induce. I wanted her on November 1 because that was my grandmothers birthday but they could do it on the 3rd. So early that Friday morning we headed up to St. V's hospital and got all settled. I was given pitosen around 8 things were looking good around 12:30. The Dr. came in and broke my water. I started to really contract around 3. But at this time the Dr. had three emergencies so I missed my window for an epidural. So she was born at 5:33 Weighed 9 lbs. and 21 inches. We had a great couple of days in the hospital. We headed home and I just remember how scared I was. The whole way home I was worried that she would stop breathing in the car. I thought we were going to get into an accident. By the time we got home I was so exhausted from the worrying.

I nursed her for two weeks but she was always hungry. I started supplementing with Soy formula. At first she did not spit that up. But then she did. She spit up any time she ate. I found out later that due to my PCOS I can not nurse. I just don't have the milk production. I tried with her for four months. Feeding for hours sometimes but then having to supplement on top of that.

She was a fussy baby but not to bad. She smiled and giggled a lot. She was afraid of our house. Any time I would leave the living room she would crawl to the arch way and cry. She could see me through the whole house but she would not pass the living room. It was funny, but once she was about two that stopped.

I love Madison very much. She is such a sweet spirit. She gets along with anybody she meets. She is kind and caring. Sometimes her feelings are a bit tender but that just makes her who she is. She is bright and willing to learn. She loves school and her teachers. She has many, many friends. I can't wait to see what the future has for her.

Madison Smilebox

Make a Smilebox scrapbook