Daddy's New Job

Yup, you read that right!

Brad is FINALLY starting his new job Monday morning. He will officially me a member of the...

After about a year and a half it is official. He has taken a written test, done an interview, been placed on a waiting list (#6 out of 30), finally been called up (in April), done more tests (eye, physical, and psych), and finally been approved by the merit board. He begins work at 8am on Monday morning. It feels so unreal because it seems like it has taken forever for this to actually happen. This is also the reason he had to leave vacation early. He needed to train someone at Humana and finish up some things there while doing orientations for the fire department. We were glad that he did get to spend a few days with us at the beach, but sad he had to come home early. He is glad to begin this new phase of his life.

He will be starting out on 40 hour normal work weeks. Once he reads a lot, studies, and passes some tests he will be placed into a crew and start the normal schedule. It goes something like this: 24 hours on, 24 hours off, 24 hours on, 24 hours off, 24 hours on, 4 days off. So that will be QUITE the adjustment.

There have been many changes going on around here lately. I HOPE that I will be able to share more of them soon!

Back from Vacation!

We are back!

We spent a FABULOUS week on the beach. We had a great house, perfect weather, and best of all... Madeline LOVED every aspect of the beach. She tore through the sand, splashed in the waves, and destroyed every sand structure we built for her. I am working on getting all of the pictures organized, we took a ton. But I wanted to share a few of the collages I have made of the trip so far.

Last Saturday we hit the road at 6am in a caravan with my Mom, Dad, and Grandpa. Madeline did wonderful in the car. She slept, we stopped for breakfast, she played and slept some more, we stopped for lunch, she played and slept again, and then we arrived on the Isle of Palms. We hit the beach FIRST thing to get her reaction.

The next morning, we hit the beach again until lunch/nap time. Loved, Loved, Loved it!

That night we had a great dinner and then took a walk along the beach.

 

Monday morning we got up and headed into Charleston to go exploring for the day. Madeline stayed with us for most of it, but did take her nap along the way. The heat and the walking was a lot for my Grandpa so he and my mom sat some of it out. So Madeline, Mom, Dad, and Grandpa Jeff toured the city and saw many sights!

That night Brad and I headed over into Mt. Pleasant to have a date with a putt-putt course. We BOTH got hole-in-one's.

Tuesday morning was Brad's last morning with us (more details on that later). So we got up early to go see the beach when the dogs could roam without being on a leash. Maddie just laughed at all of the silly puppies.

After breakfast we came back for more beach time. Madeline was tired from waking up early and took a nap on the beach while Grandma and Grandpa built her a sand castle entitle "Fort Maddie." When she was finally all rested, she got up and played in her fort and became a sand monster once again.

Wednesday morning was another day at the beach. She had fun in the water and building sand castles with Grandpa, or should I say destroying them... Maddie played and played until she was just worn out. She took a TWO hour nap on the sand and skipped right over lunch. I was shocked but she was having so much fun I can't blame her. We missed Daddy though!

Wednesday night we headed out to eat and stopped at a park on Sullivan's Island to let Madeline play some more. She loved the swings and the slide.

I didn't take any pictures on my camera on Thursday, so I will have to grab them from my Mom's camera.

We decided to leave on Friday, my Grandpa was done, and we missed Brad. So, we got up early Friday morning and headed home. Maddie was once again a rock star in the car. I think she liked having me and Grandma as an audience in the backseat.

When we got home she did this...

I think she is ready to go back!

The Great Steamboat Race

Little known fact: When Brad was younger he LOVED steamboats, he was apparently obsessed.

Knowing this I have wanted to picnic along the river during the steamboat race for a few years, but one thing or another got in the way. 

History: The Great Steamboat Race is a Derby event that is usually held the Wednesday of Derby week. This year the Ohio River was too high for the Cincinnati Belle to make it under the bridges to get down to Louisville for the race so it was postponed, until tonight! Why 8 weeks later I have no clue, but they got a perfect night!

We decided at the last moment to grab KFC and head to the river for a picnic. We made it down just in time to see the Belle of Louisville take the victory. We were able to sit down to eat and watch the Cincinnati Belle finally make her way down the river. She was lagging greatly behind. The Belle of Louisville has been known to cheat, especially back when she raced the Delta Queen. So I am suspecting something of that nature. Madeline enjoyed sitting on the blanket in the shade banging things around.

SCRUNCH!

Brad was trying so hard to get a picture of us as the Cincinnati Belle passed but someone wouldn't look at the camera.

So he settled for the back of her head.

9 Months

Madeline Claire you are one growing girl!

At 9 months you...

•  weigh: 19lbs 9.5oz
• are 27 and a 1/2 inches tall
• Eat three "meals" a day (cereal in the morning, fruit and cereal at lunch, and a vegetable with usually a last serving of cereal for dinner) and have an afternoon and night bottle only.
• Have stopped getting cereal in your bottle (yay! we tried this around Spring Break but you were still spitting up a lot, you seem to have greatly improved).
• Still like sweet potatoes the best.
• Are pulling up on anyone and anything, today Mommy dried her hair with you standing between her legs. 
• Are starting to tell us when you want something. When you want more of something you use your right hand to motion a little wave, almost as if you are saying "bring it." You do this for food mostly, but you also did it for Grandpa to push you more on the swing tonight at the park. 
• Are SO vocal. You might be saying "Hi" but no other real words yet, but you do have PLENTY to tell us. 
• Are still in a size 3 diaper, size 6-9 or 9 month clothes, you are between a size 2 and 3 shoe. Some size 2 shoes fit you perfectly, but some are too small, the 3's are still a little big. 
• Sleep around 11 hours at night and take between a 2 and 3 hour nap in the afternoon. 
• Are starting to get very clingy now that Mommy is off for the summer. If one of us walks out of the room or out of your eye sight you start to cry. 
• Chase after Turner. We laugh, he hates it. 
• Are still crawling everywhere, no steps yet. We practice with you but you aren't really into it at the moment. 
• Have hair! It can get messed up now, so cute!
• Have the best expressions. You love to scrunch up your nose when you smile and show your teeth. You have this Popeye thing going on. 
• Still have just 2 teeth. 

 The famous scrunch face.

 Your either waving Hi or that you want more of something.

 Happy face.

 Scared face, not sure why... but it is still cute!

Father's Day

We started our Father's Day celebrations on Thursday, the assisted living facility my Grandpa is living in had a cookout that we went to for lunch.

 Madeline and Grandpa (she wanted a cup because we were all drinking out of cups, her sippy cup just wouldn't do).

My mom and her dad.

On Sunday we went to lunch with Brad's grandfather and his mom's side of the family. Then we had dinner with my mom, dad, grandpa, his dad, step-mom, sister, and her daughters. I didn't take any pictures while we were eating, but I did get this one of a Daddy and his favorite girl...

Daddy's chair

 Brad doesn't spend as much time in his game chair as he once did, so Madeline thought she would take it for a spin.

This time she got in...

Madeline LOVED the pool the 2nd time around. We went in the evening so she didn't have to get slathered with sunscreen or wear a hat. It was warmer and she had a blast.

 Splashing everyone and everything.

 Saying Hi!

 Just. so. happy.

Check out my teeth!