She still takes my breath away!

It was June 25th 1994 and I did not want to be pregnant for one more minute. I was two weeks over due and I was dang over it. As Madi entered this world in her sassy fashion, she hung herself on the umbilical cord. "Code Blue" was all I heard and everyone waiting outside. Doctors and nurses ran from everyone, they entered the room and took her away. I could not believe that she could be taken from us so quickly. She had barely been born and I did not even get to see her face. I was so scared that I could hardly breathe. The team worked on her for what seemed like forever, then finally she took her first breathe...and so did I. Since her dramatic entrance in our world, Madi has continually taken my breath away. She turned 14 on June 25th and is one of the reasons I wake each day. She is the most like me. We have the same personality, same build (I mean, when I was her age), we have the same thoughts. She scares me because she is me. We are wired the same way. She hates it when I say that I know what she is thinking because I know her that well. Here is a picture of her at our family reunion and is one of my favorites of her. It is like she is saying" Stop, this is my life". If you knew me at age fourteen, then you will say it too, It is like looking in a mirror.




She has the most amazing heart. She taught a cheerleading camp this summer and the girls loved her. She makes everyone feel special.




She loves the beach and is a sun worshipper. She loves her friends and stays up most nights texting, myspacing and talking to them, encouraging them and loving them.





She is so pretty that it makes me sick. I told Greg that I think we should shave her head so she would not be so dang cute. I think she could probably pull that off too. I don't know where the years have gone. I love you Madi...Happy 14th...You still take my breath away!!!


Love,
Mom.

Remember our vacation last month. Well, Jessica had just begun to drive. I made her take the wheel. She had already had her permit for over a year. I mean a year and 3 months. She was very content never to drive. Then she realized that she would have to have her license in order to get a parking pass at school in August. So, I made her drive everywhere, to the store, to get gas, to get food, to yard sales, to the post office and to the beach and back. She took off and never looked back. She is actually a good driver-knock on wood and say a prayer. After she got her license, then the inevitable came up...I need a car. After much looking and praying, she got this jeep. Thanks PawPaw and Greg!!!. Also, thanks to Gmaw for "primping her ride". It is definitely primped out with tinkerbell stuff. Notice tink on the side window. She loves her car and I love that she now helps me with errands and transporting kids. If you see her go by on the road..please send up a little prayer for her safety.

She is also gainfully employed. She has been taking marketing classes at school for the past two years and her guidance counselor said she should get a job in marketing somewhere. So, I hooked a girl up!! She is one of my marketing assistants at Chick-fil-A. She loves her job and is doing a great job. She has made many CFA friends and hangs out with the crew there often. She also likes having some money. She also has bills now. Can you say car insurance...and gas.

Turning 3 months old

Can you believe that Whit and Parker are already 3 months old. Here they are visiting me for an afternoon around the pool. They are the happiest two boys I have ever seen.

This is Parker

This is Whit

They are ready for a swim. Their bathing suits are too cute. I could not post their swim diapers but they swolled them up.

Here are their 4th of July outfits.
I went and picked them up twise last week and brought them over for a visit. We all enjoyed them so much that we are going to get them once a week so that Chip and Lindsay can chill at the house for a while alone. They are all out of town this week spending some time with Lindsay's family. I can't wait till Friday so that I can see them again.

Chandelier gets painted and room update

I picked up this chandelier at a yard sale at the beach for $10.00. I quick painting with spray paint primer and coat of beige. Whala!!!

I love it in my room. It is beautiful. I am still trying to decide about the shades. What do you think? Red or Black?

Here is a shot of the room. Remember I picked up the Waverly curtains from Goodwill for $1.99 each. The pillows which match perfectly I found on Craigslist in Atlanta for a great price. And the sweet lady was kind enough to ship them to me. The wicker piece was from a yard sale for $5.00. I don't know if you can see if very well, but I got the cutest dresser beside the bed for $2.50 at the Matthews help center. I can't wait to paint it and put new drawer pulls on it.

I found the letter M on the wall at goodwill. So, here is how it looks so far. I love it and it did not cost me very much to do. I am wanting to add a little splash of red in there. I have been looking for a pillow that can go on the bed and maybe those shades. I will keep you posted.

Hello

I have not put one single post on here for about a month. I have been super busy. Over the next few day I will update you on the happenings at the McKinney house. Here are just a few
She gets a job, her license and a car
She graduates and turns 14
She spends 2 weeks with her best friend and 1 week at the farm
He loves his best friend Nicki-where's Wil?
They have turned 3 months old
If they move, then we move!!!
Saying goodbye to an old friend-the beach house-still can't even think it without tears
40 going on 10

Wow, did all this really happen in the past month?

Yep, there they are!! My sweet love muffins...

Would you just look at those sweet boys growing..Whit and Parker are two months old already. They are the sweetest things. I got to spend an entire week with them and I am seriously going through withdraws. They are coming over here Wednesday for Madi's 14 birthday dinner. Can't really believe that either.

It wouldn't be a vacation without smores!

There are always small things that you do each year that make up your memories of a good vacation. These pictures of the entire family sitting outside with tiki torches lit, the firepit flaming and everyone sitting around telling stories, is one of my most favorite things about our family vacations. We roast marshmellows on coathangers and all smell of smoke when we go inside, but I love it.

Lindsay has Whit.

PawPaw is sharing more popcorn from the grill.

Olivia enjoys a smores. Check out our mad pool in the background. It is one of the favorites of coming to the beach. PawPaw blows up the pool and we get in it after a day at the beach. It is so big is takes up most of his driveway. We can all get in it-its that big.






Grandmaw has Parker.