7 Days

7 Days
One Week
168 hours
10,080 minutes

That is hopefully how much longer of this INSANITY we have left. In one week it will all be over and we will hopefully be sitting in the new house ready to unpack and get back to normal.

Our final walk thru on the new home is scheduled for Monday at 4. Let's hope it stays that way and let's hope they have it completely ready by then. Almost everything is done, just some little things here and there and the sod in the front yard. Luckily the seed is starting to take in the back.

Also in that same amount of time I have to finish getting this house ready to move, we are mostly there. Lots of boxes sitting around already packed. Now I just have to do the less obvious things.

And did I mention getting ready for the party that is also in ONE WEEK?! I can't believe we are about to have her first birthday party. Where did the time go? How is she one?

I would also like to get her 12 month pictures taken, possibly Wednesday. I am operating under the "Everything is so crazy, what's one more thing?" theory.

Also, did I mention Brad is working his 3 24hour shifts between now and then as well? I mean really...

It will all get done, and I know this because of all of the wonderful friends and family that have offered to assist us in any way, shape, or form. And for that I will be eternally thankful.

First glance - The New House

 I finally took some pictures of the new house. I was holding off because I didn't want to *jinx* anything. Since we closed on our current house last week and are about 2 weeks from closing on the new one and moving in, I figured it was OK to officially document this move! Luckily Sabrina has kept track of things for me as they progressed, so I didn't miss out on early shots.

Warning: Picture Overload!

Kitchen and eat-in area... cabinets had just been installed... not complete.

 Kitchen and island area.

 Maddie's room.

 Another view of her room.

 Her view out of her window, the backyard and covered deck.

 Hallway bath.

 Front bedroom.

 Living room and stairs.

 Laundry room.

 Small hallway, laundry to the left, our room to the right.The kitchen, living room, and 2 other bedrooms are straight ahead.

 Our room.

Our tub and shower area.

 Vanity

 View from the door, the other door leads to the closet :-)

 View of the basement coming down the steps.

 Looking back up the stairs.

 Stairs and another portion of the basement.

 Basement bedroom.

 Basement bath.

 Unfinished portion 1.

 View from the back of the basement.

 Unfinished portion 2.

 Utility garage.

 Back patio and deck.

 Utility garage.

 The fire pit and backyard.

And last, but not least... the FRONT!

I ran out there today after work. They had put stone on the column on the front porch, installed the door handles, toilets, and sink fixtures. It is coming together!

And did I mention we are moving AND having a birthday party all on the same weekend?! Yeah... I am about to lose my mind. Thank goodness for grandparents' houses! :-)

Happy Birthday Camryn

Madeline's BFF turned one on August 24th. We celebrated Camryn last Saturday with a Hot Pink and Zebra themed party. Maddie had a blast. I loved watching her watch Cammie. She watched her attack, and I mean ATTACK the cake, and open presents. Hopefully she learned what she needs to do here in a few weeks!

 Camryn LOVED the cake.

 Ellie requested a picture with Maddie girl in Cammie's chair.

 Ashtyn wanted a picture too, and Miss Kaidyn snuck in.

 Maddie and Ash.

 Maddie and all the Big girls.

 The Yanez girls, sisterly love.

 Weebles! She screamed when this was handed off, and at that point she lost interest in opening presents.

 So Amie did the rest, with lots of help of course!

So excited!

11 Months

Madeline Claire you are ALMOST one year old! Where has the time gone? I feel like I remember exactly how it felt to be *patiently* awaiting your arrival this time last year. And oh how you made us wait. You have become such a wonderful little person. Every day with you is a new adventure and we are loving every moment!

At 11 months you...

• Wear a size 3 diaper
• Wear 9-12 months clothes
• Eat a breakfast of cereal, a snack of a banana shortly after, for lunch you will have a fruit and cereal plus whatever else we are eating, and for dinner you have a vegetable, cereal, and yogurt 
• Are known to eat off of our plates. You like spaghetti and quesadillas. 
• Walk behind all of your toys, you even push those that don't roll across the room, you will cruise down the furniture, but you have no interest in walking on your own. 
• Have 4 teeth now, your top 2 FINALLY came through
• Say Mama, Dada, and the beginning of Dog, you sign for more, and are starting to sign for milk and water
• Really like to point at everything, it is this cute point where your thumb sticks out... you look kind of ghetto!
• Dance along to music, you bounce up and down and shake your head left to right
• Sleep 12 hours still, with an afternoon nap thrown in as well
• Love to watch and laugh at bigger dogs, I think you think they are a super sized version of Turner
• Chase Turner and grab him now, luckily he just lets you
• Are now home with Daddy more, yay for new schedules!
• Do NOT like it if someone leaves the room, you just cry and cry
• Also don't like for us to get out of the car, even though we are coming around to get you out of your seat, it is not like you have ever been left in there so I don't really understand that one...
• Are SUCH a big girl now, but I love it when you will still snuggle in close to me and hold on tight... melts my heart every time

Maddie says, "I am super cool."

Meeting Friends, Old and New

When I went to Indiana University I made some wonderful friends! Unfortunately they all live a little too far away to see all the time. My friend Katie, also a teacher, lives in Columbus, OH, and had a daughter in February. My friend Holly, a nurse, lives in Indianapolis and is about to leave to become a travel nurse. Her first location looks to be Wyoming.

In December Madeline and I headed up to Columbus to go to Katie's baby shower and for them to be able to meet little miss. Now that Holly is leaving we all wanted to get together so she could meet the girls and I really wanted to meet Paige. We decided to meet in Cincinnati last Friday because it was about a 2 hour drive for everyone.

We originally planned to go to the Newport Aquarium, but they have a stupid stroller schedule and we weren't allowed to bring strollers in that day until after 4pm. So we decided to visit the Cincinnati Children's Museum first, and then head over to Newport for lunch. The museum was ok, it would definitely be better for big kids. Madeline had a place to crawl around and push things so she was happy. But we were inside in the air conditioning on a hot day so that was good.

A Surprise for Daddy!

On Saturday, July 30th I decided to have a surprise party for Brad honoring his accomplishment of making the Jeffersonville Fire Department. Luckily it was a success! He was surprised. I arranged with the guys he usually goes golfing with for an afternoon of golf and an arrival time back at our house sometime around 6:15. I alerted out family and friends and had everyone here around 6. Around 6:30 the boys arrived back and his words to me were "You did something." Yes, he was right, I sure did! We had about 50+ people stuffed into our house and backyard, it was packed! My Dad cooked out on the grill and we enjoyed cake and corn hole to round out the evening.

 Maddie has a special outfit just for the day!

 Cake table (the cake had an edible picture of a true Jeffersonville Fire Truck on it)!

 Surprise!

Good luck Daddy!