Our family is going to Bethesda Orphan Village in South Africa to work with the eleven-year-old ministry caring for HIV/AIDS orphans in South Africa.
Our goal is to bring hope through the Gospel to South African orphans and there will be many ways in which we will be assisting at Bethesda toward that end. We will be involved in community outreach with the Hands of Mercy Ministry, working with house parents to help disciple children to be wholehearted followers of Jesus Christ, coordinate and host guest groups, and Kate will be able to use her nursing skills to provide basic medical care to everyone at the ophan village as well as teach in the community and local churches.
You can 'like' us on facebook at www.facebook.com/doddjourney or visit our website www.doddjourney.com you will find pictures and updates at those two locations
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Mackenzie's Two Month Update
Mackenzie turned two months old on July 4th and celebrated the day with her first fireworks show! She wasn't too interested though and slept through the whole thing. Mackenzie has had a busy month with some new firsts. She learned how to smile at 5 weeks old. She is turning into a very smiley girl who will grin for mommy and daddy and sister addy.
Mackenzie went on her first big trip to Detroit for a few days to visit Grandpa and Grandma Schneider. She did really good in the car for the three hour ride. She got to see her GG, cousins Lizzie and Gideon, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Angela, and got to meet Uncle Kyle. She also went to her first Tigers game. We took Andrew to the game to celebrate Father's Day. Addison really enjoyed it, and Kenzie didn't seem to mind going too much. It was a hot sunny day though so we spent a lot of the game trying to keep her from getting sunburned! She also got to meet my friends Cassie and Jessica and Cassie's kids Zeke and Zoe. It was fun to catch up with them and to have all of our kids play together.
Mackenzie is becoming a much better eater and sleeper. She is now sleeping pretty much through the night. She feeds for the last time and lays down around 10 or 11 and sleeps til 4, 5, or 6. This is MUCH better than the many middle of the night feedings that she was having that first month. I am a much happier mama now that I am getting some sleep!! She is becoming less "refluxy" and doesn't spit up as bad after every feed like she was last month. We also gave her a pacifier for the first time this month and WOW she loves it! Addison was not much of a pacifier baby but Kenzie loves the thing, which is helpful when it is not quite time to eat yet. Mackenzie is growing much bigger and is now wearing her cloth diapers. She doesn't seem to mind the switch at all and we are glad to have the money savings of not having to buy disposable diapers.
Mackenzie helped Mommy, Addy, and Kylee pick strawberries on a hot June morning. We got 14 pounds of strawberries that we were able to make into jam!! Yummy! We have spent lots of time outside playing this month, enjoying the summer weather. Addison still loves being a big sister and is so proud to show her off to people. She loves to hold Kenzie and "shake her hand".
Mackenzie went on a second big trip this month out east to NY and PA. She got to meet her great grandpa Galloway, her great grandma Dodd, Aunt Jenn, Uncle Phil, Natalie, Reece, and many of Daddy's cousins from Uncle Tim's family. It was wonderful to spend a few days with all of them and introduce them to Mackenzie while she is still so tiny.
Mackenzie's last two "firsts" of this second month were taking her first bottle at 8 weeks (which was sad for mommy, but I know that this is what she needs so she is ready for me to go back to work in a few weeks). She did not like the bottle or get how to do it at first. But she is practicing each day and now doing a little better with it. Addison likes getting to help feed her!! Mackenzie also slept in her own crib at 8 weeks old. Addison is so excited to have her sister sleep in her room, and Kenzie hasn't changed her sleeping at all since moving which is great!
It was a busy second month for Mackenzie Grace! So many firsts! Looking forward to seeing what she learns this next month!
Mackenzie went on her first big trip to Detroit for a few days to visit Grandpa and Grandma Schneider. She did really good in the car for the three hour ride. She got to see her GG, cousins Lizzie and Gideon, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Angela, and got to meet Uncle Kyle. She also went to her first Tigers game. We took Andrew to the game to celebrate Father's Day. Addison really enjoyed it, and Kenzie didn't seem to mind going too much. It was a hot sunny day though so we spent a lot of the game trying to keep her from getting sunburned! She also got to meet my friends Cassie and Jessica and Cassie's kids Zeke and Zoe. It was fun to catch up with them and to have all of our kids play together.
Mackenzie is becoming a much better eater and sleeper. She is now sleeping pretty much through the night. She feeds for the last time and lays down around 10 or 11 and sleeps til 4, 5, or 6. This is MUCH better than the many middle of the night feedings that she was having that first month. I am a much happier mama now that I am getting some sleep!! She is becoming less "refluxy" and doesn't spit up as bad after every feed like she was last month. We also gave her a pacifier for the first time this month and WOW she loves it! Addison was not much of a pacifier baby but Kenzie loves the thing, which is helpful when it is not quite time to eat yet. Mackenzie is growing much bigger and is now wearing her cloth diapers. She doesn't seem to mind the switch at all and we are glad to have the money savings of not having to buy disposable diapers.
Mackenzie helped Mommy, Addy, and Kylee pick strawberries on a hot June morning. We got 14 pounds of strawberries that we were able to make into jam!! Yummy! We have spent lots of time outside playing this month, enjoying the summer weather. Addison still loves being a big sister and is so proud to show her off to people. She loves to hold Kenzie and "shake her hand".
Mackenzie went on a second big trip this month out east to NY and PA. She got to meet her great grandpa Galloway, her great grandma Dodd, Aunt Jenn, Uncle Phil, Natalie, Reece, and many of Daddy's cousins from Uncle Tim's family. It was wonderful to spend a few days with all of them and introduce them to Mackenzie while she is still so tiny.
Mackenzie's last two "firsts" of this second month were taking her first bottle at 8 weeks (which was sad for mommy, but I know that this is what she needs so she is ready for me to go back to work in a few weeks). She did not like the bottle or get how to do it at first. But she is practicing each day and now doing a little better with it. Addison likes getting to help feed her!! Mackenzie also slept in her own crib at 8 weeks old. Addison is so excited to have her sister sleep in her room, and Kenzie hasn't changed her sleeping at all since moving which is great!
It was a busy second month for Mackenzie Grace! So many firsts! Looking forward to seeing what she learns this next month!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Mackenzie's One month Update
Mackenzie turned one month old on June 4. What a fast month it was! She is a great little baby in her first month. She is getting used to her new life "on the outside". She loves to eat and eats every 2 to 3 hours and screams very loud if we make her stretch the time in between :) She has reflux so we are careful to keep her her upright and burp her really good after each feed, or else everything comes out! Even with these precautions she still is spitting and gets a lot of "tummy pain" after eating. Just part of being a newborn, and hopefully she will grow out of it quickly! Mackenzie loves tummy time and will stop crying and often fall asleep once on her tummy, which is very different than Addison (who screamed like we were torturing her when placed on her stomach). Addison absolutely loves her little sister, she is constantly wanting to give "Kenza" (as she calls her) a kiss or to hold her or to "shake her hand". It is so fun to watch her love her little sister. Mackenzie has had many visitors this month including both sets of grandparents, GG, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Angela, Gideon, Elizabeth, Uncle Rob, Aunt Stephanie, and Caleb. Grandma Schneider even came and stayed with us for a few days to help us out. We have felt so blessed by our church family at Chapel Pointe. They have been a huge encouragement to us during this transition time with bring meals and helping out with Addison. We are so thankful that God has given us an amazing church.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
It's been a long time...
Wow! It has been over a year since we posted on this blog! Well you can
keep more current with the Dodd family at our website
www.doddjourney.com Lots of changes in the past year for our family,
the biggest being the addition of Mackenzie Grace on May 4, 2012.
Addison is now 2 years old and such a great little girl with a sweet
heart that loves people. She is quite the talker, speaking in full
sentences and she loves to play kitchen and plat dolls. Hoping to do
monthly updates again on this blog for Mackenzie but not making promises
;) Life is busy with 2 little girls, both of us working full time and
raising support to go to Bethesda.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
June Update
June Update
Addison has 7 teeth now. Loves to stack things up and carry them around. She’s our little organizer. Can climb up on to the couch and loves to get up on her tippy toes to reach as much as she can. Her hair easily goes into two piggie tails and even goes up into one high pony tail. She can snap and clap and loves to dance whenver she hears music. She just started to imitate Mommy and Daddy when they do things. She loves to snuggle and will give you a big hug and kiss if you ask Please Hug or Kiss. She loves to eat and will eat anything other than broccoli and potato salad. She loves ice cream just like her Mommy. Loves to play outside, although she didn’t like the pool too much…she doesn’t like to be splashed in the face.
Her words include (but aren’t limited to)
Da, Ma, No, Yes, Ball, Peek (peekaboo), Uhoh, Baby, Beep Beep, Please, Duck, Quack, Moo, Baa, Piggie, WeeWeeWee, Woof, Dog, OooEeEe (Monkey Noise), Bye, Hi, Up, Night night, Book, Shoes
We are looking forward to a summer full of fun memories made together as a family of three.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Addison's Eleven Month Update (Feb 25)
Can hardly believe that our baby is already 11 months old! Though at times it was a hard month, it was still filled with many fun times and memories. Addison loves to talk and now when you ask her she will tell you what a doggie says: woof....woof. She also has become a much better eater this past month and wants to try everything that Mommy and Daddy are eating. Addison is able to stand without support for much longer now and we are looking forward to her first steps which will probably be soon. She loves to climb up the stairs. Constantly. Up the stairs! Not necessarily sure what she wants to do when she gets up to the top, but just loves the thrill of climbing stairs. She loves climbing all over mom and dad as well and often uses us as leverage to climb up onto the couch. We got the biggest snow storm of the winter this month, at least 18 inches over night. We took Addy out to play in it and although she did better than last time, she is still not a big fan of the snow. She is learning how to roll a ball back and forth. One really fun thing she has learned is how to blow raspberries on any exposed skin of mom and dad that she can find. She thinks it is hilarious to "tickle" us and make us laugh!
Addy had her first over night trip and it was actually 5 nights! We went to a counseling conference in Indiana, and Addison stayed at Grandma and Papa Schneider's house for the week. She did really good but really missed her momma and daddy. She loved playing with family and especially loved Buddy. Just before her trip to the grandparents, she had her first ER visit. Addy had a fever for 3 days of 102-103 and it would not go down with tylenol and she started to vomit. This was all the night before we were to leave for our trip and we could not take her to the doctor's office. So we brought her into Mommy's work to make sure she was okay. She was fighting a virus, they took good care of her there and we were confident to leave her at grandma and grandpa's the next day. She ended up having a fever for a total of six days with a very bad cough and congestion. It was so hard to be away from our little girl while she was sick. And at the same time, Addy was teething! It took another two weeks but just before her 11 month birthday one of her top front teeth came through! Now we are just waiting for the second top front one to come in.
Looking forward to Addison's first birthday in just one month!!
Addy had her first over night trip and it was actually 5 nights! We went to a counseling conference in Indiana, and Addison stayed at Grandma and Papa Schneider's house for the week. She did really good but really missed her momma and daddy. She loved playing with family and especially loved Buddy. Just before her trip to the grandparents, she had her first ER visit. Addy had a fever for 3 days of 102-103 and it would not go down with tylenol and she started to vomit. This was all the night before we were to leave for our trip and we could not take her to the doctor's office. So we brought her into Mommy's work to make sure she was okay. She was fighting a virus, they took good care of her there and we were confident to leave her at grandma and grandpa's the next day. She ended up having a fever for a total of six days with a very bad cough and congestion. It was so hard to be away from our little girl while she was sick. And at the same time, Addy was teething! It took another two weeks but just before her 11 month birthday one of her top front teeth came through! Now we are just waiting for the second top front one to come in.
Looking forward to Addison's first birthday in just one month!!
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