The 4th (or 3rd) of July!

Our neighborhood goes all out for the 4th! We had a pitch-in cook out, and then a parade of kids, we did it this year on the 3rd since most people would be off the next day/have other plans on the actual day. For the parade, all the kids decorate the bikes or other vehicles in patriotic gear... Madeline participated on her decked out power wheels! She loved every minute!!

 All the kids are lined up to go!


Here is our little star!
 

Stitches

Well she finally did it! Maddie is our fearless child, always going, going, going. I have been holding my breath waiting for a time that she just wouldn't bounce up with a smile on her face.

Last night she was in the pool at my parents playing with Grandpa. As she was climbing to the top step she slipped and fell. Her chin met the edge of the pool in a quick motion. I had her out of the pool in no time and every one kept saying she is bleeding! I expected it to be from her mouth, but no... It was under her chin. My mom took one look at her and said stitches. Before I could even think she had Brad's phone and was calling Kosair Children's Hospital(the hospital where she is a nurse). She called the ER and spoke to the charge nurse and told him she was bringing her granddaughter in. We got there pretty smoothly, right as it was starting to storm. Thankfully my Mom's phone call worked as soon as we signed it, we were called back. We broke some rules about the number of people who went back with us, but as my mom said, she's worked there for 30 years, she dared someone to say something to her!

Maddie was a trooper for most of it. She lets the nurses and doctors look at it and listen to her, and even took the numbing medicine with just a little fight. We were super impressed. She was hilarious once the meds kicked in, so loopy and silly. But the worst part was actually getting the stitches. My poor girl! They had to cover her whole face with the sterile draping, and you can imagine how well that went over with an almost 2 year old, even with the calming medicine. I think the initial setup took way too long, so by the time we got started she was freaking out. Luckily the Child Life representative stopped by and suggested I sing to her. Brad had her feet and I had her arms and abdomen so I was right there where she could hear me. Singing was the trick! I used all her favorite songs multiple times and it helped us get through 2 and 1/2 stitches pretty easily. In all, she ended up with 4 stitches. She was pitching the biggest fit in the end, and I can't blame her. Since she was all covered up she was sweating like crazy, and overheating. She screamed like nothing I have ever heard. They brought her a cup with ice water and a new baby doll and that helped calm her down. We finally got home and her in bed around 11:45. As I type this she is still out!

This is her right as the medicine was kicking in, silly girl!

Mother Goose on the Loose!

Madeline and I have been attending a class at the New Albany/Floyd County library on Tuesday mornings with Anna and Emery. It's called Mother Goose on the Loose and it is free to any child 0-24 months. We sing, read books, and interact with nursery rhymes. Maddie is warming up to each part, and she definitely participated more the second week!

Resourceful?

Someone needed a little help climbing up on our bed, so she used what she could find! Glad the body pillow is still useful to someone...

Gymnastics

I enrolled Madeline in a parent and tot gymnastics class at SIGS. Her friends Cammie and Luciana are in the class as well, they were also previously enrolled in the last session. The class is for kids 18 months - 3 years.

The first night... was awful! She refused to do anything and basically cried and wanted me to hold her the entire time. Seriously questioned my judgment on that decision...

The second, third, and fourth nights have been easier. I think she was just nervous and overwhelmed. She participates, follows directions, and actually has fun! Her favorite parts are climbing the ladder, front rolls, jumping on the trampoline, and walking the balance beams. Her favorite thing is when I toss her in to the cheese pit at the end during free time! She is warming up to the bars, she will actually grab on to them on her own and then let me hold her hands while I touch her toes to the bar. The only weird thing is she does great with me, but if the teacher comes close she gets nervous and won't do anything anymore! Guess we are still warming up to Miss Jen.

Summer Evenings

This is how we are spending our summer... Outside with friends, driving Power Wheels, and pushing baby strollers! We are loving every minute!!

Shopping!

New words are added to Madeline's vocabulary every day! Recently we have added the word hat. While Father's Day shopping for Grandpa Dan she saw this hat on the rack and was asking me for it. I got it down for her and she proceeded to wear it around the store. She won't wear any of her own hats... But this one she liked!

The Potty!

Somebody just went pee pee on the potty for the first time! It was right before her bath, we have made a habit out of sitting on the potty before bath, but she hadn't actually gone on it until tonight. So proud of my big girl!

Ouch!

Maddie gave herself a black eye today at grandma and grandpa's house. I never knew how evil toy boxes can be, but when you spin around, lose your balance, and tumble into a corner... You come out the loser! Poor baby, it swelled immediately and turned purple. Plus, she has a little scrape where the direct impact was... We spent the next half an hour curled up in the chair together with an ice pack, and then she was right back up and playing! You can't see it in this picture because of the rag, but it's her right eye. She snuggled up to me with her blanket and Harrison the monkey. Although I hated the circumstances, I loved the extra snuggles.

Evil Madeline

Maddie will make this face where she puts her head down and then looks up at you with just her eyes. Brad caught it on camera while at lunch on Friday.

An Early Easter on Meadow Lane

We were invited to an Easter Egg hunt by the lovely Anna (the maker of the personalized shirts you see the kiddos wearing in most holiday related pictures). This was the first real egg hunt for Madeline and she did pretty well. I would spy and egg and call out to her, she would come running and put it in her basket. Other things also went into the basket... like dandelion blooms and empty candy wrappers... we'll have to work on those later.

 Anxiously waiting for the hunt to begin. 

She only wore the ears for about 2 seconds. 

Our hunting partners, Ellie and Ashtyn. 

On your mark, Get set, GO! 

 She's on the move!

 Found one!

 Checking in to see what Lucy found. 

 Examining her loot. 

She was excited for some Skittles!

Ready to roll!

Last night I told Madeline, "Let's go to Lowe's." I needed to get some flowers and some weed spray. Without missing a beat she ran into the playroom and grabbed HER keys and phone. This kid...

OCD Much?

Madeline loves to have things lined up just so!

Visiting friends!

The boys went golfing and Chrissie G and Ezra were headed down to visit Amie and Camryn so Madeline and I joined in on the fun!

 Maddie and Ezra

 Madeline, Ezra, and Camryn... it is INSANE trying to get all three of them in a picture!

 Loved this one of Ezra!

Maddie enjoying a cookie. 

Mommy note: Both Ezra and Camryn were great walkers at this point, little miss M still needed assistance from push toys. After this day someone started being more adventurous on her own. By Wednesday she was taking steps on her own across the living room!

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...

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!