Happy Birthday, Maddison!

Maddison Sophia Linn

December 1, 2010

7lbs 4oz

21 inches long

6:28pm 

Mani/Pedi for Maddie Girl

Maddie had a blast get pampered by the Spa W ladies today. 

Mommy&Maddie: OOTD

Maddie and I love matching outfits, or even complimentary outfits, as we are wearing today. With only two girls in our house of boys, we capitalize on every opportunity. 

Mommy today: 

American Eagle olive green jacket and destroyed jeans. 

White Mossimo boyfriend tee

Toms

Maddie today:

Old Navy vest

Gap white shirt

Zara jeans, distressed by me

Dolce Vita leopard print sandals

Strong Women

My goal in life is to raise healthy, happy children. I want all of them to flourish and thrive, to enjoy the journey of life, and to be where they want to be.

Of course, life isn't all sunshine and daisies, but I think most mothers want this for their children.

One particular aspect that scares the hell out of me is raising a strong daughter. I want her to be strong, confident, happy, and never let anyone treat her like shit. This resonates with me daily as I remember the struggles I have been through.

Would I consider myself a strong woman? No. But I am stronger than I was. I work on it daily to let go of fears and thoughts that were ingrained in me by someone I thought cared for me, to be happy with myself, to know without a doubt that I am worth it.

I lived life drowning in anxiety, fear, self consciousness, and depression, because I allowed myself to be controlled by someone else and their opinion of what I was worth. I am more than my body, my weight, my looks.

The last several years, I have been working on myself. I want my children to remember me as someone who knew her value and didn't accept less. I want them to remember me as a strong mother, a strong wife, a strong person.

Specifically, my daughter. As growing up gets more difficult with each generation, in this day of facebook, social media, body shaming, and cyber bullying, I want to instill in her the knowledge of her own self worth.

Today, I know I am beautiful, I am talented, I am worth more than my weight in gold. I will not be ashamed or lessen my worth out of someone else's opinion of me, and I am allowed to be proud of who I am.

And I know I am lucky to have someone by my side who knows it too.

Let Them Be Little

Letting kids be kids is a struggle for all mothers, I believe. 

Mommy & Me Matchy Matchy

Due to the popularity of my matchy outfits post, I'm finally putting some updated outfits up! 

CLICK HERE for original post. 

Hope you all like it :)

The Elsa Dress

Introducing the Elsa dress!

I'm having a giveaway over on my Facebook and Instagram right now or you can find it on my Etsy shop (links to all on the sidebar). 

Hope you all love it!

Maddie's Outfit of the Day

Little Maddie is wearing nautical theme today. 

Her entire outfit was a steal:

Chambray shirt from H&M for $3

Striped tank from Oshkosh found at Ross for $2.99

Yellow shorts from Carter's found at Kohl's for $2.60

Blue sandals from Gap for $8

Maddie's Room Inspiration

Since Maddie is getting so big and growing up so fast, I've been thinking of redoing her room. She's had a pink and green theme since she was born, which I love, but who doesn't love a room makeover?
Here's my current inspo! Let me know if you guys see anything gold and pink that would work!

Maddie's Room Inspo by ashleygomes featuring Xhilaration

Mommy & Me Matching Outfits

Check out the updated outfit post! Click Here

I love matching outfits with my daughter, Maddison. She's a little mini me in looks and fashion sense! In a house with four boys and my husband, we need to capitalize on girlyness together.

Here are some examples for you all!

Maddie's outfit: sweater Poof found at Marshalls, white tank by Carters, dark skinnies by Genuine Kids at Target, shoes by Anna at Zulily. 

Mommy's outfit: sweater from Hollister, shirt from American Eagle, skinnies from Old Navy, shoes by Report found at Ross. 

Maddie's outfit: scarf from Amazon, black sweater by Cherokee from Target, white tank by Cherokee from Target, skinnies Genuine Kids at Target, shoes by Anna found on Zulily. 

Mommy's outfit: scarf from Amazon, sweater from Old Navy, white tank from Charlotte Russe, skinnies from Old Navy, shoes by Report found at Ross. 

Maddie's outfit: sweater that I can't remember where I got, jeans from H&M kids, shoes by Anna found on Zulily.

Mommy's outfit: sweater from Old Navy, jeans from American Eagle, shoes from Old Navy. 

Oh Maddie...

You are even cuter than your outfits...

Maddie Style

Maddie Fashion

Shirt from H&M

Jeans from Baby Gap

Boots from Carter's

Scarf from Forever 21

Chambray shirt from H&M

Leggings from Carter's

Boots from UGG

Flower Girl Dress

Here it is! Just finished it this afternoon. 

Maddie loves it, and so do I!

Toddler Girl Fashion

What's Maddie wearing?

Yellow shirt from H&M

Trouser jeans from Gap

Purse from Claire's

Sandals from Born.

Shirt from Gap

Leggings from Carter's

Toddler Girl Fashion

Mommy + Maddie

So I have a strange obsession with matching Maddie whenever I can. 

When Ry and I were walking around the mall, trying to burn some of Maddie's never ending energy, we went into Claire's and Maddie picked this purse out. Which looks exactly like mine, just a different color. 

YAY. Way too excited about this. 

And then she found a pair of those fake glasses that somehow fit her little face...and she wouldn't take them off. 

We spent the next half an hour walking around, with her running up to people pointing out how cute she is. 

She's so modest. lol. 

Mini Me Maddison

Um, look how cute she is. Love my baby girl <3

Maddie's Mini Party

We opted out of the big birthday party this year and instead chose to do a small family birthday at our house.

It was a blast and much less stressful lol.







  Her birthday accessories

Happy Birthday, Mads!

 Getting shy while we're singing Happy Birthday

MMMM yummy cake

And a yummy cupcake...

Maddie Monday

Oh man, we've been busy.
Hopefully this week is semi-calmer..

Maddison Monday

Maddison has been a royal DIVA lately. Demanding her brothers (and us) do everything for her. Today she threw an almighty fit because she wanted to wear different shoes. Goodness gracious!

Buuut...
She's also been saying "I sorry" in the cutest possible little voice ever, giving lots of snuggles, and saying "I love you" much more willingly.

The other day she tried to kidnap a baby.
So I'm picking the kids up from the daycare at the gym when I was done working out the other day...

Maddie's running towards me when all of the sudden she stops, turns around, and goes over to a little baby (probably around 6 months). 

She then proceeds to pick up the baby and heads for the door again. 

Obviously the workers caught her, but as they were taking the baby away she screams "MY BABY! MY BABY!!!!" 

The girl cracks me up!


Here she is in Target the other day. This is the way she likes to sit in baskets...

....because everything has to be "her way." 

And this is Maddie the Angry Bird. Notice Brody attempting to claim the spotlight lol.