Summer Trips

On June 25th Madelyn and I left to fly to Iowa. I had flown with Madelyn before but she was only 5 months old. This round with a walking toddler was a whole new game. To make it more stressful  we missed our first flight from Charlotte and then our flight from Chicago to Moline was cancelled. Thanks to my great friend Kara, who lives in Chicago, she picked us up and drove us home. Though we had a rough trip home, Madelyn was so well behaved on the whole trip. Since I am on summer break we were able spend 12 days home and Derek flew in a week later to spend the end of the trip with us. We were very busy while home; going to the zoo, shopping, swimming in Aunt Sue's pool,  spending time at the park and lots of good quality time with family and friends. The end of the trip we were able to be a part of Dad and Dorice's wedding. We were very excited to celebrate this day with them. It was very hard to leave and even though it was a longer time home it never seems long enough!
When we left Iowa  (a much easier flight with Derek with us this round) we landed in Charlotte at 5:30pm and by 8:00pm that night we were back off to drive to Holden Beach to meet Derek's family. It was wonderful to spend time at the beach and relax with family. It was so fun to see how much Madelyn loved the ocean. We took a blow up pool to put on the beach for her to play in which worked great but her favorite was when we would walk her down to the water. Only Madelyn would put a big gulp of saltwater in her mouth and say "Mmmm"!

Though we are so sad our trips are over it was definitely a little to long for Madelyn to be away from home. By the end she was very clingy, wasn't sleeping through the night and ready to get home. The day we got back home she walked around from room to room and squealed. She was so happy to be back to her house. Derek and I of course were the opposite and miss spending the time with family!

Madelyn has become a talking machine and some of her newer words are; ball, B (for cousin Beckett, which she calls any little blonde hair boy), up, dog (finally saying dog instead of calling all dogs Bo), and woof. Her favorites are still saying hi and hello! She is continuing to be a great eater but we have noticed her taste buds are starting to change and she is getting a little more picky. We also think she is getting her 1 year molars. She constantly has her hands in her mouth and even has had a low fever. Hopefully they cut through soon, nothing worse than knowing your baby is in pain:(

Here are LOTS of pictures from our trips!

Iowa Pictures:

Shopping and Lunch with Kara

Fun day at the zoo with Aunt Natalia, Beckett, Nana, Aunt Sue and Aunt Elly

Feeding the Giraffe's, someone isn't so sure of them:)

Yummy cupcakes in the park with Aunt Sue, Aunt Katty and Nana after feeding the duck's

With Nana and Papa at Aunt Sue's 4th of July party

4th of July

B and Mads in their 4th of July swim suits!

This girl loves the pool like her Mama!

Dad and Dorice's wedding :)

At the reception for Dad and Dorice

Beach Pictures:

Loved going to the water with Daddy!

 =

Family picture on the beach!

Loved wearing Nanny's beach hat :) 

With Aunt Gracie, two beach beauties!

Tate and Madelyn, such cuties!

Great picture with Uncle Bimi and Tate :)

Birthday Parties!

Sorry in the delay on posts. Last weekend we got back after spending almost 2 weeks in Iowa and a week at the Beach! Therefore, we took a break from the blog! It also means we have lots we wanted to post about so I decided to take it one at a time. This post I wanted to show pictures from Madelyn's birthday parties. That is right we all know how much of a diva Madelyn is so the girl didn't have just one but TWO birthday parties:) We had one in Charlotte with family and friends and then thanks to her Nana she had another one in Iowa with friends and family there.

On June 23rd we had a cookout at our house and are so thankful to our friends and family who came to celebrate with us! It was a long day for Madelyn between playing, opening presents and cake she was exhausted by the end of the party!

Here are some pictures from her Charlotte party: As you can see we had a few outfit changes due to lots of spilling :) Luckily Madelyn had a few options!

Party girl all ready!

Hard to believe our baby girl is 1!!

Sure we can get a picture with all 5 kids, we have bubbles and balloons to distract, HAHAHA

With Nanny and Poppy at my party!

Exhausted and not wanting this cake and song, lol! 

Hmm, maybe this isn't so bad

Wow, this is tasty!

You mean this is all for me???

For a rough start someone ended up really enjoying their cake!

Opening gifts from Ashley and Phil,  one of many favorites

The next week we flew out to Iowa and Madelyn had another birthday party on June 28th at her Nana's house! Just as the first one it was perfect, filled with friends and family. We again were so thankful to have everyone there to celebrate with us and Madelyn was beyond spoiled!! 

Nana did such a good job getting everything beautiful!

Aunt Natalia and Elly before the party!

The AWESOME cakes!

Madelyn's favorite part of the whole party, playing with balloons with Beckett!

Eating my cake with Nana

Getting pretty good at this smashing cake thing!

Opening all my gifts!!

With Grandpa at the party!

Happy Birthday :)

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY MADELYN!!!

Just over a year ago we started keeping up with the blog with the intnetion of creating a way to allow all our family and friends, far and near, to keep up with Madelyn. We are so thankful to everyone who loves Madelyn so much and follows her journey through life. However, today as I write this post I have a different intention. Today, I am writing this post for Madelyn for the day she will be able to read back through this blog and memories of  her first year.

Madelyn, we want you to know that one year ago you made us the happiest parents on earth! We couldn't have asked for a more amazing baby girl. You have taught us so much in one short year. We never knew we could love so much, or how the sound of a little giggle can melt away any stress or bad day. You taught us what life is about and we love you more than you will ever know. We can't wait to continue to watch you grow and learn!!! (maybe you could slow down a little, this year went WAY to fast!!!)

How can it already be June! This time last year every extra cramp or feeling Derek and I were anxiously hoping it was time to meet Madelyn! Now here we are almost a year later. I know she won't remember this first birthday coming up however, I see why it is easy to go overboard.  It is such a big milestone and hard not to get emotional when reflecting back on the year that has flown by!

I'm going to keep this post short with a few updates and new pictures! With tomorrow (at 10:45 exact) being the start of summer vacation and Derek having summer camps at the Y starting Monday it is a little hectic around here.

Madelyn now is a full time walker. She walks everywhere and isn't falling much anymore. She even is starting to try and speed walk/run (which never works out for her).  The past two weeks she loved when we would pretend to chase her but starting this week she now likes to be the chaser and come after you!

Last week she got a bad stomach bug that lasted about a week. It is so hard to watch your child go through something like that because everytime she threw up she looked so scared and you knew she had know idea what was going on. Unfortunately as expected she passed the nice bug to me of course all while Derek is gone! Isn't that how it always works out:) Luckily everyone is back to normal in the house!

Madelyn's new words are baby and cheese. She has a baby doll we always say baby and hand her. Now she loves seeing pictures of other babies or even herself and saying baby. She also loves to say "night-night" and lay down and pretend sleep.

Eating a popsicle while sick (one the only things she could keep down to get fluids in her:( )

Sleeping Beauty

 Uncle Carter with the babies after his graduation ceremony from VT. We are so proud of him!

How can you not love this diva! 

Here are a few from a few weekends when we took some at the park for her birthday invitations!