Halloween in the New Neighborhood

Our new neighborhood does a party and Trick-or-Treating for the kids. They decided to do it on October 30th because the 31st was a Monday and it would be hard to get it all in with the bridge closure and all. Unfortunately Brad woke up with a touch of the stomach bug Madeline had and passed to me, and then I passed to him. So we was out of commission for the day. My parents came up during Maddie's nap and I carved the pumpkin. I made dinner and then we headed to one of the neighbor's for dessert before Trick-Treating. Grandpa stayed behind to help pass out candy since Brad was in bed (no fun!). You can tell Maddie still wasn't 100%, just look at her eyes, poor baby. It was fun though, found out that one of our new neighbors actually lived 3 doors down from us at our old house. Too funny!

 Admiring mom's work on the pumpkin.

 Madeline and the pumpkin!

 Ready for Trick-or-Treating, still not walking on her own... so close!

 Holding on to mom

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 Fun with the wagon and Grandma!

 Let's get this show started. 

 Just kind of done with the whole day.

 Aww, poor baby!

Almost done.

Halloween in Sellersburg

Our new city has an annual Trick-or-Treat night at Silver Creek High School. Daddy was working, but we met a bunch of friends there. Thank goodness for friends! Both Amie and I were "husband-less" for the night and were not anticipating the steps, and steps and strollers just don't go well. Luckily Bill and Dave (husbands of Brittney and Jill) were there to help us keep the line moving through the gym. The best part, the girls loved playing on the gym floor once we put a stop to the Trick-or-Treating. After that fun, everyone came back to our house for s'mores and some good old hanging out time.

 

Camryn enjoying some snacks! 

Madeline eating her favorite nuggets from Chick-Fil-A

Camryn and Madeline

Peacock!

Halloween at the Zoo

This year we decided to venture over to the Louisville Zoo for their annual Halloween party. Our little peacock was all about people putting things in her bucket, but that was about it. My parents came with us and I was hoping we would be able to see more of the animals since they have not been there since most of the remodeling, but no such luck. Oh well, just an excuse to go back in the spring!

 Peacock on a Lego

 Grandma and her little peacock

 Hey! Grandpa was there too!

 Daddy, Peacock, and the Giant Pumpkin... it talked, little weird...

You might remember the Pumpkin from her birthday trip to the zoo...

Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken a few weeks ago. We have a GREAT photographer "in house," meaning she is Hillary's sister-in-law and she takes wonderful pictures and has an amazing turn around time. I was bummed that the place I wanted to go had closed the weekend before for the winter, so we ended up at the Falls of the Ohio, it was fine too... we will just have to head out in the spring to get some more shots. Also, it was touch windy, but I think we did OK!

Here are some of my favs:

Hoo Hoo Hoosier!

It is Fall Break! (Thank goodness) I have been battling a sinus infection this week and I really need a break.

We had been planning for awhile to head up to Bloomington on the Thursday of my Fall Break just to walk around, visit some favorite places and just explore the campus with Madeline. Well wouldn't you know today was the first day in WEEKS that it decided to rain?! It ended up being on though, it rained on the way there but stopped while we were exploring, the sun even came out for a bit. It started raining again just as we were getting home, so we timed it just right.

First thing on the agenda, Lunch at Dagwood's. Yum! We then spent the rest of the afternoon walking around and stopping in favorite stores. We didn't actually buy anything this time (shocking), but it was nice to look around. We kept telling Maddie she better pay attention to her surroundings because she will need to know where everything is in a few years. She fell asleep at one point during our stroll, so I am not so sure how enthused she actually was...

One thing we learned, we are old. Sad, I know. Brad so wonderfully pointed out that this year's freshman class was NINE when we were freshman. He also said they all looked like kids when we were walking around. I noticed the new fashion trend... apparently it is the new thing to walk around in knee high boots and spandex pants, like you just left a riding lesson or something... not sure which look I prefer, the sweatpants and Ugg boots from our day or this new trend, how about neither?

Not too many pictures from the day, kinda wet, and I felt under the weather... but here are the required Sample Gate shots.

Of course Madeline was appropriately dressed in IU wear.

Pumpkin Picking

Last weekend (when it was still slightly cool) we headed to Deere Farm in Lanesville to pick our pumpkins, still trying to avoid Huber's but wanted to have more than a place on the side of the road. It was a great place to go! They had hay rides, corn mazes, bouncy houses, slides, and more fun things to do. We took a ride out to the pumpkin patch and picked two pumpkins, one to carve and one just the right size for Madeline. I can definitely say she enjoyed this year's pumpkin trip more than last year!

12 Months - 1 Year

Madeline Claire you are ONE YEAR OLD!

How did we get to this point so quickly? You were just this little thing we could cradle in our arms moments ago, now you are this moving cyclone!

At One Year you...

• Have 4 teeth, 2 more are on the VERGE of coming through on the top. 
• Still wear a size 3 diaper
• Wear 12 months size clothes
• Could walk, if you would stop being so stubborn. You cruise down furniture and walk behind every toy. But the moment you realize you are standing freely, you pop down on to your bottom. 
• Are starting to pop up and stand on your own, freely, in the middle of your room. 
• Are making the switch to whole milk, but you don't like it cold. 
• Are eating more and more "big people" food. Whatever we are eating, you want some of it and you want it now!
• Still sleep like a champ! You lay down between 8 and 8:30 and wake up around 9. You also still take around a 2 hour afternoon nap, most days. 
• Love to climb! Your current obsession is climbing onto the couch. So if you can do that and walk up and down the couch once you are on it, you should be walking young lady!
• You say Mama, Dada, Turer (Turner), Hi, and Bye on your own. You will also try and repeat everything said to you like diaper, ball, drink, etc. 
• Go to the babysitter about 2 times a week now, loving Daddy's new schedule. 
• Love to wave at people. 
• Are the best thing that has ever happened to us, and we thank our lucky stars everyday that you picked us!

Her FIRST Birthday

I saw the idea on Pinterest awhile ago to have balloons on a child's bedroom floor on their birthday morning. So we saved the balloons from her party and the night before her birthday I cut them apart (had strung them together using fishing line, again an idea from Pinterest) and threw them in her room. They didn't exactly cover the entire floor, but I think she liked them!

After she woke up she saw her last birthday present from Mommy and Daddy, her own couch! Again, I think she liked it... look at that grin!

Brad was already off for the day so I took off and we headed to the zoo! They were setting up for Halloween, hence the big pumpkin.

She had more cake that evening after dinner with my parents, my mom said everyone in this family HAS to have a cake from Williams on their birthday... Madeline agrees.

Check out the difference a year makes, although I was insanely happy to finally have her in my arms. I can say I enjoyed this year's September 28th just a smidgen more!

Birthday Party!

The birthday party and moving day were both a success! Even with rain in the morning and moving all day we had a successful birthday party. I owe a major thank you to my Mom who helped us load the U-haul, took Madeline to her house when she woke up, and then prepped for the party while we moved. What a crazy day, but we have some great memories!

The wonderful birthday cake, thank you Sweet Stuff the makers of our wedding cake. 

Her smash cake

Party room!

Waiting on her guests to arrive...

Excited kick!

Delicious food and play time

It's time for cake!

She was timid at first, but I'd say she got into it... not too much of a mess!

 Family picture!