Adventures with Grandma!

This time spent with my mom has been incredible! Although the first couple weeks were pretty laid back while we were getting Madelyn into a routine, recently we've been doing lots!
Here are just a few photos of all the cool things we've been doing lately :)

 The girls down at Waikiki beach

 Grandma and Madelyn at the International Marketplace

Love!

My princess

Hiking the Mokapu'u Lighthouse trail

There are going to be a lot of tears when Grandma leaves....

More pictures to come soon!

With love,

~Joey, Amanda and Madelyn

Two beautiful, blissful years.

While I was growing up I always had visions of where I would be at this point in my life. There were many different versions but it's easy to say that when I was five years old I most definitely never pictured myself married with a baby at 21! But the Lord works in mysterious ways and I can't explain how thankful I am for that.
Today I get to celebrate two wonderful years of being married to my best friend. He has given me countless laughs, some incredible memories and something that I will never be able to thank him enough for; our little girl Madelyn Grace.
So this post is for you Joey. Thank you for loving me the way you do, for smiling with me even when it's hard, for providing so well for our family, for making me laugh when all I want to do is cry, and for always believing in us. Thank you for pushing me when I want to give up, for doing all those household chores that I know you really never wanted to do, thank you for talking to me when I need it and sitting with me when you know I don't. Most of all, thank you for being you. Words could never express how thankful I am for everything that you are. I love you, forever and ever. I promise!

Here's a flashback! Summer of 2009. The beginning of us :)

One Month of Memories

Our little girl is ONE MONTH OLD!!!!! I can't believe how fast time has gone but I can tell you that the last month has been the best of my life :) I sure am one lucky momma!

Here are just a couple pictures of miss Madelyn Grace:

Mommy and Maddy getting ready for our daily walks.

Loving bath time!

And cuddling with Momma.

This little girl is the most amazing blessing we could have asked for by far!

Until next time, all our love!

~Joey, Amanda and Madelyn

A one, a three, and two fives!

ONE: Well little miss Maddy was able to enjoy her very FIRST fourth of July this week. Although we didn't do much, we did get to enjoy the company of some great friends and spend time with our beautiful little girl.

THREE: Madelyn Grace turned three weeks old on this last Wednesday. I can't believe how fast the time is flying. This momma is already getting sad about how fast my baby girl is growing up.

FIVES: The fifth of July was Madelyn's official due date. Although she was early she is as healthy as can be and growing like a weed!
And speaking of growing! Today we had a check up with the pediatrician to see how Maddy has progressed in her weight gain. We left the office with the most amazing news. Our baby girl has finally hit FIVE POUNDS! This may not seem like much but seeing as how the little one was 4 pounds 2 ounces when we left the hospital, this is a very big accomplishment.

Peak a' boo!

There are no words to explain how blessed I feel each day to have this little angel in my life. Just two and a half months until Daddy will be home with his girls and life will be perfect again.

We'll be keeping you all updated as always.
With all our love,
Joey, Amanda and Madelyn

Nearly finished!

Well here is an update on the nursery... we're almost done! Just needing the crib skirt and curtains when Grandma gets here this week and little miss Madelyn's room will be all finished up! Enjoy the pictures :)

Maddy's dresser and photos of four generations.

Here's the crib, still needing a lamp for the far corner.

Glider, beautiful quilt from Mary Hernandez and our shelving.

A view of most of it put together :)

We hope you all enjoy the photos!

With love,

~Joey, Amanda and Madelyn

Two Weeks of Precious Moments

My mother always told me that there was no love more true than that between a mother and her child. I always knew that there was truth to the statement but I never realized the severity of it until I held my own little girl in my arms for the first time. At that very moment I realized that nothing in the world mattered more than my little Maddy Grace; and that I would in fact do ANYTHING to keep her safe and sound. The feeling really is inexplainable... but then again all of you mothers out there know exactly what I'm talking about. :)

These last two weeks have been filled with so many firsts, so many memories and SO many emotions. Although I wish Joe could be here to experience every single second with Madelyn and me I will say that I am enjoying my one on one time with my baby girl.

Madelyn Grace: 1 week old

Sometimes I catch myself just sitting and staring at all of the amazing things our daughter does on a daily basis.

Madelyn's first bath experience!

We've had an umbilical cord fall off, a first night in the pack n' play, a first bedtime story and most recently a first real bath! The time is already going by too quickly for my liking but I can't wait to experience many more firsts together with our little princess.

Showing Momma her moose antlers :)

I'll be the first to admit it: Being a mommy is the BEST job in the whole wide world.
I am feeling more blessed than I can ever express, we'll be keeping you up to date on Miss Madelyn's growing world!

With all our love,
Joey, Amanda and Madelyn

We'll be taking pictures with Mr. Teddy Bear to see how much Maddy is growing :)

A Very Pleasant Suprise!

So I would have to say that my last post about having 23 days left was quite inaccurate! So here is the story:
Wednesday the 13th of June seemed like an ordinary day. My friend Rashelle and I had everything planned out; head to my doctors appointment (just a routine growth scan to make sure baby was growing well), head to Target to pick up my glider, and then on to Babies R Us to get everything else that we needed for the baby. Ironically enough while gassing up that morning, this momma made a comment about how ready she was to have this little girl in my arms. My wish was unexpectedly granted!
During the growth scan it was discovered that our little angel wasn't quite as big as she needed to be. Even if my due date was off by a few weeks she was still only in the first percentile of growth for a baby of her age. After a little contemplation the ultrasound tech decided to call in a doctor. Unfortunatly for me this doctor happened to be someone I had never met and was extremely forward. Within five minutes of meeting he informed me that they were going to induce labor that day, then of course asked to take my blood pressure! Quite a change of plans if I do say so myself!
The next few hours were spent between crying in fear, contacting family and debating whether or not I was willing to allow an induction; something that was NOT a part of my birth plan. These hours were also a time to realize the drastic difference between the practices of my midwife team and the OB team at the hospital. By the end of a very stressful and emotional few hours it was decided that it was in the best intrest of myself and the baby to have her that night!

Just about 4cm dilated!

We got the ball rolling around 5pm and luckily I was already 3cm dilated naturally! We were able to avoid using any medication (pitocin: something I was very against doing) and by 9:30pm I was 6cm dilated and the contractions were getting stronger and stronger. Within a half hour I dilated from 6-10cm and was ready to have this little girl! A very, very fast labor.
At 11:18pm on June 13, 2012 a little angel came into my life. Madelyn Grace Marshall was born at 4lb.  7oz. and 17in long. She is tiny but absolutely perfect! I feel unbelievably blessed for my incredible friends that stood by my side during my labor and delivery, my amazing midwife team and nurses who helped me have the natural birth experience I was wanting and for everyone that sent up prayers for our little family. She arrived just in time for Joe's birthday and Father's day!

Our beautiful girl :)

For Joe's first Father's day

Now just 8 days later I am feeling the abundant joy that is motherhood. Joe was able to talk to us just hours after she was born and saw photos just a few days ago. He is one very proud Daddy! Little miss Maddy is a healthy, happy baby and making life incredibly easy on me (knock on wood!)

All smiles!

There are no words to express how amazingly grateful I feel for the blessing God has given us. This little girl has changed our lives in the best way possible.

Continued prayer is greatly appreciated. Maddy is still pretty tiny so we're hoping for some weight gain here soon!

Until next time! This momma and her baby girl are headin' to bed.
With all our love and some cute little baby smiles :)

~Joey, Amanda and Madelyn Marshall