State Fair

The Mississippi State Fair was in town last week! Katie, Olivia, and Maddox came to pick Stephen and me up from the airport (Hawaii trip- will post about that later) and we headed straight there. Maddox had already gone earlier in the week with Stephen's mom (BB), Suzanne, and her kids. They said he rode a bunch of rides and wasn't scared at all. So... Stephen and I wanted to take Maddox. I guess because he hadn't seen us in a week he wouldn't let us put him down... wouldn't even sit in the seat next to us. The only part he would get down for was the Children's Petting Zoo! All of the pictures above are from that.

GO DAWGS!

Maddox went to his first MSU football game. My sister and her family, my mom, Maddox and I went to Starkville and did the whole tailgating thing with my brother. We really didn't know how Rett and Maddox would do sitting in the heat in the stands for that long, but they did GREAT and had so much fun! As you can see from the pictures below, Maddox's favorite part was all the food. He grazed the entire time! Better yet.... MSU WON! GO DAWGS!

Sick, Sick, Sick!

Three weeks ago Maddox came down with a terrible virus. He woke up in the middle of the night Sunday with 103.5 degrees of fever. He ended up having a double ear infection also. On Thursday he started throwing up and threw up Friday also. By Saturday he was finally fever free and back to his old self. Well... on Wednesday of this same week, Stephen came down with the same virus! By Saturday night he was so dehydrated we ended up in the ER of MCG.

It was crazy... Britt and Brad came and got Maddox and he was at their house all day Saturday and ended up spending the night with them Saturday night. We cannot thank them enough for all they did. They are our family in Augusta so I guess that's what happens during situations like this. We're hoping to return the favor in December when baby Elizabeth decides to make her appearance!

This was Monday evening. He fell asleep in Stephen's arms while eating his graham crackers. PITIFUL!

Even though he felt TERRIBLE, Maddox still seemed to smile through it all!

Happy Birthday Maddie!

I know it's a little late, but our first born celebrated a birthday in September and we forgot to celebrate! Maddie, our teacup Yorkie, turned 7 on September 16th. HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!

Sweet Faces

Oh my goodness! I just looked at the date of my last post and realized how long it has been. So Sorry!

We haven't been up to much since my last post.... we're so boring! Maddox is back in Mother's Day Out two days a week after having off the entire month of August. He's in the Toddler Room and has the same two teachers he had this summer, Ms. Amy & Ms. Sandra. Maddox loves them and they love him just the same. Ms. Amy calls him her "little cowboy" because of his bowlegs!

Stephen is busy, busy, busy at work. He loves what he does and is really excited about getting out and putting all this hard work into practice.

The Bible study that I participate in started back up two weeks ago and is going great! We are continuing our study from the spring... Kay Arthur's Lord, I Want To Know You. It is awesome and I highly suggest doing this study.

We do have some exciting times ahead.... Stephen and I are heading to Hawaii in a couple of weeks for the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons convention!!!!! We are thrilled about a MUCH needed vacation, and my favorite part.... it's a tropical vacation! The convention is in Honolulu, but since we'll be there for so long we decided to island hop for 2 days and 2 nights to Kauai. We'll then go back to Honolulu for 4 days and 3 nights. Since we have been married (5 1/2 years) we've taken a couple of trips to the beach with my family and went to Boston (for this same convention) two years ago and that is it! On the flip side..... we are VERY, VERY sad to leave Maddox. He is going to be in Jackson staying with my mom and Stephen's parents so we know he will be loved on just as much as he is at home. I'll be interested to see what our internal clocks do when we aren't being woken up in the night or starting our day by 7:00 a.m. We will definitely enjoy ourselves because we won't get to go another trip like this for a LONG, LONG time! If any of you have been to Kauai or Honolulu and have any suggestions of great entertainment, dining, etc. please let me know!!!!

And last but not least.... I captured Maddox and many of his sweet faces today! He makes me smile :)!

Being WILD with Dadeeee!

So innocent!

Hey.. you can't be that sweet all the time!

"Pappy" Free!!!!

I'm proud to announce that Maddox is now pappy (pacifier) free! Saturday night I looked at Stephen and said, "It's time. We're starting tomorrow!". While Maddox was eating breakfast Sunday I took the pacifier and cut a slit down the middle. When he asked for it we acted shocked and told him it was broken. The look of confusion on his face was priceless! He only put it in his mouth about 10 minutes all day but held it in his hand. He took his nap and went slept that night without a fuss, but pappy in hand. When he was eating his breakfast Monday morning, I cut almost the entire nipple off. He didn't really ask for it. He saw it on the counter and once again we told him it was broken. He just looked at it strangely, but didn't want it all. He took his nap and slept last night without it! He did wake up once in the night and Stephen went to check on him. When he came back to bed he said Puppy Dog (Maddox's companion) was soaking wet. So, instead of sucking a pacifier he was sucking on Puppy Dog's ear. YIPPEEEEE!!! As much as I dreaded it, I think this may have been the easiest thing we have done since he was born!

A boy and his dog.....

This is the story (in pictures) of a boy and his dog. Maddox LOVES Lexie! As I've posted before, we are very thankful that Lexie puts up with him. These are some scenes of everyday life for the two of them.

Teeth, Teeth, & More Teeth

Not much has been going on in the Greer household over the last week. Other than.... Maddox cutting 6 (yes- that says 6) teeth all in the same week. We knew that four molars were coming in- two on top- both sides and two on bottom- both sides, but we didn't know he was also getting one more on top and bottom! All 6 broke through the gum last week. He's been his happy little self the entire time.... never seemed to bother him!

My next task: getting rid of the "pappy" (our word for pacifier). I'm really dreading this so much. He still depends on it so much and doesn't adjust to new changes very easily. If anyone has any advice to offer I would greatly appreciate it! I'm still trying to build up my nerve and take it away.

I haven't taken any new pictures, but I'll work on that this week!

Jackson trip + 2 knots

Stephen, Maddox, and I left Augusta late Thursday afternoon and drove to Jackson for the weekend. We had several meetings to go to on Friday for the business. Wow... it was fast and busy, but we had a very successful trip so it was worth it. We also got to slip in some time with our families!

On Friday, Maddox fell into a door facing at Katie's and his head blew up to the size of a golf ball within 10 seconds. Of course my husband, who deals with the face as his specialty, was in a meeting at the time. I knew that if the knot goes out that it's a good sign, but we were concerned at the speed that it grew. So... Katie, Rett, Maddox, and I headed to the doctor's office. Of course everything was fine. Dr. Ellison said that he hit right on an artery which caused the fast rate of swelling. Well.... if that isn't enough head trauma for a week he hit the other side tonight. He was reaching down to pick up a ball and hit it on the arm of an iron bench. Below you can see his matching knots! Needless to say... I have forfeited my Mother of the Year award once again. Maybe I'll try again in 2009!!!!!!!

The night of the "big fall"!

The next day... much better mood!

He just wanted both sides to match!

"The boys"

Rett was feeling the need to rub "Maddis's" head.

FIRST HAIRCUT!

After EVERYONE we've encounter EVERYWHERE we go calling Maddox a girl I decided it was time to get his first haircut. Here are some comments we have heard recently:
1. She is so cute! (wearing a blue and green frog jon jon)
2. Would she like to play with the cars? (wearing a baseball jon jon)
3. Are you trying to get that for her? (wearing a blue and white sear sucker outfit)
4. How old is she? (wearing a blue jon jon with airplanes on it)
5. many, many, many more!

I have put this off and put this off because I was afraid he would look too much like a "big boy" and not a baby anymore. Someone told us of a haircutting place here in Augusta called YAMS: haircuts for your sweet potatoes. I decided yesterday that we would try it out today. I worried all morning that they were going to mess his beautiful hair up and that he might not sit long enough for them to do a good job. When we got there the seats are airplanes and cars. He immediately wanted to get in the car. They put a Barney movie in for him, another girl blew bubbles at him, and they gave him a sucker. He did GREAT! He LOVED it! The girl that cut his hair did such a good job and I don't think he looks much older. He looks a little like Dennis the Menace (which fits his personality perfectly)! Now that it's cut I realize how much he needed it. Here some pictures of our adventure this morning!

The two top pictures are before and the last one is after. I know you can't tell much by the before picture, but put it this way... he sort of had a mullet!

The Itsy Bitsy Spider

DropShots.com/egreer

YEAH!!! I finally found a site that I can download video. It's not exactly what I want but it will do while I'm still searching. Here is a video of Maddox doing the hand motions to The Itsy Bitsy Spider. You have to click on the link. When you see the video click the play button (arrow) twice.
****DISCLAIMER: I don't know who is singing, but she awful! Please forgive her!****

Video Troubles

I have tried and tried to download a video of Maddox doing the hand motions to The Itsy Bitsy Spider, but have had no luck. If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it! I'm so frustrated!!!!

Maddox has had a little trouble in speech department. He is a little delayed in talking- he babbles continuously having great little conversations with himself that are a bunch of initial consonant and vowel sounds. BUT... in the last month he started saying: Dada, Mama, dog, ball, m (for milk), bu (for bird), and uh-oh (that's my favorite)! We are so excited! He is now going to speech therapy so hopefully before long he will be saying a lot more!

I started introducing Maddox to sign language around 6 months old. He signed back for the first time at 10 months and the only sign he would do was dog. He didn't sign again until 13 months and hasn't stopped since. He can sign the following words: dog, eat, more, daddy, bird, monkey, fish, milk, thank you, please, banana, apple, water, car, baby, book, rabbit, sleep, shoes, and ball. Of course we think he is so smart!

I'M BACK!

After several people making several comments about me not posting in a while I decided I needed to take the time to do so. So.... here's what we've been up to. I basically have a full time job now (besides the one I already have- being a MOM): Business Manager (as Stephen so lovingly refers to me)! I have become a sit at my desk/computer worker. Opening a solo Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery practice is a tough job! To show how little time I have spent with my 17 month old I took a picture of what he did to our den and screened porch the other day:

Yes--- he ROLLED both rooms with a brand new box of tissues!!!! These pictures don't really do it justice because when I turned the overhead light on the fan came and blew the tissues into big piles. The best part is he was tossing them into the air and the dogs were catching them with their mouths and shredding them into small pieces! I decided I better start spending a little more time with him!

We are excited to have met some new friends (Ashley, Grant, & Peyton Lewis) in Augusta. After we met we realized that Peyton and Maddox are in the same MDO room. They are funny together! We went to lunch after church Sunday and Stephen took these precious pictures of them.

Maddox got a new set of golf clubs (plastic, of course) and he carries them everywhere he goes! Even when he's taking a rest on Lexie. And no- this was not staged. This is how he lays on her!

And... last but not least he is still wearing that silly clown hat he got at the circus!

Maddox's Weekend!

I guess you could say this weekend was all about Maddox! We didn't intend for it to be that way... it just happened. It started out Friday night with Alli and Addie Dayne coming over for dinner and playtime. All three of them ended up in playing Maddox's bed! Addie Dayne is learning some great tricks from Alli and Maddox!

Then Saturday began with a several hour trip to the pool. You have all read about our pool trips and it was just as exciting as always! While at the pool Stephen decided he wanted to take Maddox to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner and playtime. Now.. I have taken Maddox to CEC and he had soooo much fun so I was good with this decision. After an afternoon nap we headed over to CEC. When we got there everyone in Augusta had made the same decision we had.... it was a packed house! Even with all the people Maddox was able to climb, dance, take his picture with Chuck, and ride on a few of the rides. He had a blast!

Then came today... Maddox's first trip to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus! Unfortunately, this wasn't the "big" circus so the only animals were horses and dogs. It didn't bother Maddox at all.... he was mesmerized!

Later on Stephen and I heard this giggling coming from the den. When we got in there Maddox was putting his new clown hat on Lexie and was laughing so hard at her! Sweet Lexie lets him do almost anything to her! I taped this not only to show how sweet she is, but to listen to that precious laughter coming out of Maddox's mouth! (Push the play button to begin the video!)

It didn't matter how many people were at CEC or that there were no elephants, lions, or tigers at the circus! As long as Maddox is having fun and learning new things that is what counts. We are blessed that God trusts us to raise His sweet son! Oh... how we love this little boy!

My Dad

I begin my day with a saddened heart. One year ago today my dad passed away. I am experiencing so many emotions and thoughts so I thought I would just put it simply.

Dear Dad,

I have missed you terribly in the last year. Although I wish you could be here I thank God each day that you haven't had to be in pain anymore. I know that you are watching over us and are so very proud of your wife, your children, and grandchildren. I look forward to the day when I can see you again in Heaven.

All my love,

Emily

Shortly after he passed away I ran across this little paragraph and I thought it was so powerful.

God saw you getting tired, a cure was not meant to be. So He put His arms around you and He whispered, "come to me." With tearful eyes we watched, as you passed away and although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands now rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

Augusta Friends

Well.... Maddox and I are finally in Augusta and glad to be back with Stephen and all of our friends here! We have had a busy week! Britt and I hosted a Brinkley's Berries children's clothes show for two days and two nights. It was so much fun and we think we did really good as far as sales go for our first time! If you have never heard of Brinkley's Berries check it out: www.brinkleysberries.com!

While in Augusta Stephen and I have developed some great friendships- as a couple and as individuals. Life for us in the past 4 years has been pretty "simple" and this time next year we will have stepped into the "real world" and things won't be so simple. These friends that we have made along the way have all been in our same situations... resident salaries, raising young children, being away from family, etc. I guess you could say that reality has finally set in this week that this is our last year here. I got so sad and told my friends that they had to do something with me as much as they can for the next year (I know that is a lot of being around me, but oh well.)! So.... we had some friends over last night for dinner. Below are some pictures from our evening. I put which department their husbands are in so you can see how we are all spread out in the hospital...

(l to r): Kelly Carr (psych), Me (OMFS), Elizabeth Gregg (orthopedic surgery), & Britt Buckler (pediactric residency/ NICU fellow)

Alli Buckler & Maddox

These two are like brother and sister. They are 1 month & 1 day shy of being exactly 1 year apart. Maddox is going to miss Alli so much when we leave!

HAPPY (Early) 40th BIRTHDAY TO BRAD!

My brother-in-law Brad will be 40 on Monday so tonight Katie threw a surprise for him. He graduated from Prep in 1985 so it was an 80's theme. She had an Atari hooked up in the den and Ms. Pacman hooked up in the kitchen. They were REAL hits!!! As you can see we all dressed for the occasion and had fun doing it! I miss the 80's!

UGH! Blogger won't let me put in a title!

Maddox and I had lunch with our friends Bryant, Mary Grace, and Stacy Seago on Thursday. It was great to see them! David Seago and Stephen have been friends for many, many years (backyard neighbors growing up) which led to a great new friendship for me! Here are the kiddos- can you tell who has the shy child? I'll give you a clue: it isn't Stacy!

Happy 4th of July!

Fun times in the baby pool!

Brady and Maddox enjoying some yummy sherbet.

Maddox wearing my Daddy's golf hat.

I hope you all had wonderful 4th! We went to River Hills and ate lunch with Katie and her family and that is about it! It was a rainy & lazy day- my favorite kind!