She LOVES to be outside.
Buttercream Sugar Cookies
6 months ago
One Year Stats
Madeline had her one year check up on Wednesday. She was 24 pounds and 30.5 inches which are both in the 90th percentile. The doctor seemed concerned that she doesn't say 1-3 words. I am not worried though. I think she is just in a house full of adults who talk for her. She does know words. For example, if you ask her to go get her baby, piano, or the ball, she will go get it. She also knows where her nose is and will point to it if asked. I'm sure she will start talking before too much longer. Anyways, as always, here are a few more pictures of her...mostly for her Grandma Payne and Aunt Emily to see.
She LOVES to be outside.
She LOVES to be outside.
ONE YEAR OLD!
Saturday was Madeline's first birthday. I can't believe my baby is already one year old! I took this picture one year ago today.
Now look at her!
We went to California for Jeremy's (Ian's brother) wedding the second weekend of May. It was really fun to be there and see everybody and we are excited to have Cami join the family. We decided to celebrate Madeline's birthday with the Payne family that weekend. Since Ian's sister, Elizabeth, happens to be a professional cake maker, she agreed to help me make a cute birthday cake for Madeline (aka mostly make it herself).
Ian helped too.
Here it is. Isn't it cute?! It was a mini tiered cake. Madeline sized!
Thanks for helping out Liz! (She also made the wedding cake which was AMAZING. It was a busy weekend for her.)
It was a strawberry cake with strawberry buttercream and strawberries between the layers. We tried to make everything pink for the baby girl... The cake tasted really yummy.
After cake Madeline opened her presents. She wouldn't let anyone help her except Cami. She was proud of her books.
We celebrated Madeline's birthday with my family on Saturday. I made another cake, this one FAR less impressive (it still tasted good though).
Madeline kind of figured out how to open her presents, although she struggled a little.
We got her this baby doll which she "gives loves" to a lot. It's cute.
This week, as well as with the Paynes, she was pretty unsure at what was happening when were all singing to her.
She was sure she liked the cake though.
It's been a fast but fun year and I am excited to see how she will continue to grow and learn over the next year!
P.S. Just a family picture from the wedding...
Now look at her!
We went to California for Jeremy's (Ian's brother) wedding the second weekend of May. It was really fun to be there and see everybody and we are excited to have Cami join the family. We decided to celebrate Madeline's birthday with the Payne family that weekend. Since Ian's sister, Elizabeth, happens to be a professional cake maker, she agreed to help me make a cute birthday cake for Madeline (aka mostly make it herself).
Ian helped too.
Here it is. Isn't it cute?! It was a mini tiered cake. Madeline sized!
Thanks for helping out Liz! (She also made the wedding cake which was AMAZING. It was a busy weekend for her.)
It was a strawberry cake with strawberry buttercream and strawberries between the layers. We tried to make everything pink for the baby girl... The cake tasted really yummy.
After cake Madeline opened her presents. She wouldn't let anyone help her except Cami. She was proud of her books.
We celebrated Madeline's birthday with my family on Saturday. I made another cake, this one FAR less impressive (it still tasted good though).
Madeline kind of figured out how to open her presents, although she struggled a little.
We got her this baby doll which she "gives loves" to a lot. It's cute.
This week, as well as with the Paynes, she was pretty unsure at what was happening when were all singing to her.
She was sure she liked the cake though.
It's been a fast but fun year and I am excited to see how she will continue to grow and learn over the next year!P.S. Just a family picture from the wedding...
Tulip Festival
Every April there is a tulip festival in Woodland. I wanted to go see the flowers and take some cute spring pictures of Madeline in the tulips. Plus, I was going to be one of THOSE moms and send a picture we took in to the tulip festival cutest baby contest (despite Ian's protests).
Well, things didn't go quite as planned. I guess Madeline had different ideas. I even went back another day to try again and had worse luck than the first day. This is pretty much what she did both days...
Besides crying, she was only interested in eating the flowers...
and eating the dirt. She WOULD NOT look at the camera.
Obviously, she wasn't thrilled about getting pictures taken.
Here is a cheesy picture Ian got. The thought blurb in my head for this picture is "Mom. I know you want to get a cute, sweet picture of me with the tulips. Here's your one picture. Take it or leave it. Now get me out of here."
We did luck into a few cute pictures. The last one is my favorite but I think I will send in the next picture.
Well, things didn't go quite as planned. I guess Madeline had different ideas. I even went back another day to try again and had worse luck than the first day. This is pretty much what she did both days...
Besides crying, she was only interested in eating the flowers...
and eating the dirt. She WOULD NOT look at the camera.
Obviously, she wasn't thrilled about getting pictures taken.
Here is a cheesy picture Ian got. The thought blurb in my head for this picture is "Mom. I know you want to get a cute, sweet picture of me with the tulips. Here's your one picture. Take it or leave it. Now get me out of here."
We did luck into a few cute pictures. The last one is my favorite but I think I will send in the next picture.
Easter
Yesterday was Madeline's first Easter. We decided to get her a little basket, mostly just for the photo op. We "hid" it in the middle of the room. It took her several minutes before she even noticed it was there. Here are a few pictures in her Easter dress. She got dressed up even though the rest of us lounged around in our pjs all day.
We got Band Hero this weekend. I like it better than Guitar Hero - mostly because I actually know the songs. Madeline was rocking out on the drums.
We also have another BIG announcement. On April fools day Madeline walked for the first time. No joke. I thought maybe she was playing a trick on us and wouldn't walk again for a while but she has been getting better and better. This is the best video we can get. She has done better but every time the camera comes out she poses for pictures and refuses to walk. This is for you Grandma Payne...
We got Band Hero this weekend. I like it better than Guitar Hero - mostly because I actually know the songs. Madeline was rocking out on the drums.
We also have another BIG announcement. On April fools day Madeline walked for the first time. No joke. I thought maybe she was playing a trick on us and wouldn't walk again for a while but she has been getting better and better. This is the best video we can get. She has done better but every time the camera comes out she poses for pictures and refuses to walk. This is for you Grandma Payne...
"Do you like Flock of Seagulls?"
Well, I don't know your answer to this titled question, but Madeline's answer is an emphatic YES! This answer is easily derived from two observations; the first is that she is totally into their music. You should see her get down to two of their 80's classics: I Ran and Space Age Love Song. The more solid evidence, however, would be her taking to the hairstyle that did just as much to make the band famous as their music. We submit for your comparison these two awesome heads of hair.
Head One: Our first hairdo is that belonging to Mike Score, and no, I don't know if that is his real last name; however, for the rest of this post he shall be known simply as "the Score". Returning to the purpose of the post, I think that it is pretty obvious which one he is in the picture (would I be blogging about any of the others' hairstyles?) If you are still not sure for any reason, here is a second hint to his identity: he is the one that used to be a hairstylist. Bonus points, however, if you can tell which one is his brother.
Head Two: Our second hairstyle in this head to head comes from Madeline. First, I would like to take a moment to just say that I personally think she rocks this hairstyle better than "the Score" does, but perhaps that is because she is simply cuter. Second, I would also like to point out that Amy and I don't create this hairstyle on purpose, nor do we let her go out like this. This hairdo is a consequence of Amy insisting on putting Madeline's hair in those vertical ponytails that she loves so much (the she here being Amy), and that can be seen in previous posts. So what do all of you think? Legit? Not legit? Too Legit (2 quit)?
Oh Snap! Bonus Head: To be totally honest, when Amy and I started to discuss Madeline's ridiculously cool new hairstyle, the "the Score" comparison was not the first that came to my mind; it was actually a short scene from the movie Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. By raising this comparison, endorsing this movie as its humor doesn't really strike me the way that it did in junior high. Simply put, I just think that the hairstyle is more similar.
All that being said, in the end, I do have to go with Amy in saying the Flock of Seagulls 'do wins. Reason One: A more consistent style. While "the Score" did not always have his hair styled the same, it lasted more than one music video (approximately equal in screen time of the scene where Ace's hair was in the pictured state). There is something to say for longevity, and the willingness to put in the effort to make your hair continually look like this. My second reason is that, as a father, I would much rather have my daughter listen to Flock music than watch either of the Ace Ventura movies. So there you have it, in terms of hair Madeline most closely resembles an 80's Synth/Pop icon and a Jim Carrey character.
Oh yes, and Bonus points to whoever can figure out where the title phrase comes from. Hmm, there are more bonus points in this post than there probably should be in any one post...my apologies.
Head One: Our first hairdo is that belonging to Mike Score, and no, I don't know if that is his real last name; however, for the rest of this post he shall be known simply as "the Score". Returning to the purpose of the post, I think that it is pretty obvious which one he is in the picture (would I be blogging about any of the others' hairstyles?) If you are still not sure for any reason, here is a second hint to his identity: he is the one that used to be a hairstylist. Bonus points, however, if you can tell which one is his brother.
Head Two: Our second hairstyle in this head to head comes from Madeline. First, I would like to take a moment to just say that I personally think she rocks this hairstyle better than "the Score" does, but perhaps that is because she is simply cuter. Second, I would also like to point out that Amy and I don't create this hairstyle on purpose, nor do we let her go out like this. This hairdo is a consequence of Amy insisting on putting Madeline's hair in those vertical ponytails that she loves so much (the she here being Amy), and that can be seen in previous posts. So what do all of you think? Legit? Not legit? Too Legit (2 quit)?
Oh Snap! Bonus Head: To be totally honest, when Amy and I started to discuss Madeline's ridiculously cool new hairstyle, the "the Score" comparison was not the first that came to my mind; it was actually a short scene from the movie Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. By raising this comparison, endorsing this movie as its humor doesn't really strike me the way that it did in junior high. Simply put, I just think that the hairstyle is more similar.
All that being said, in the end, I do have to go with Amy in saying the Flock of Seagulls 'do wins. Reason One: A more consistent style. While "the Score" did not always have his hair styled the same, it lasted more than one music video (approximately equal in screen time of the scene where Ace's hair was in the pictured state). There is something to say for longevity, and the willingness to put in the effort to make your hair continually look like this. My second reason is that, as a father, I would much rather have my daughter listen to Flock music than watch either of the Ace Ventura movies. So there you have it, in terms of hair Madeline most closely resembles an 80's Synth/Pop icon and a Jim Carrey character.
Oh yes, and Bonus points to whoever can figure out where the title phrase comes from. Hmm, there are more bonus points in this post than there probably should be in any one post...my apologies.
Madeline's Favorite Things
Madeline is going to be ten months old next month. These are a few of her favorite things...
...playing the piano...
...climbing the stairs (NOT one of my favorite things)...
...playing in the dishwasher (another activity that is not one of my favorites)...
...going on walks...
...eating bananas...
...but not eggs...
...pigtails (okay, they are really MY favorite - she cries when I put them in)...
...standing by herself AND chewing on Jenga blocks.
In other news, Ian finally cut his hair. This may not seem blog worthy but his hair has been getting VERY long. The last time he cut it was the beginning of September. Here are some awesome pictures so that we could keep long luscious locks in our memories.
...walking with her new toy...
...playing the piano...
...climbing the stairs (NOT one of my favorite things)...
...playing in the dishwasher (another activity that is not one of my favorites)...
...going on walks...
...eating bananas...
...but not eggs...
...pigtails (okay, they are really MY favorite - she cries when I put them in)...
...standing by herself AND chewing on Jenga blocks.
In other news, Ian finally cut his hair. This may not seem blog worthy but his hair has been getting VERY long. The last time he cut it was the beginning of September. Here are some awesome pictures so that we could keep long luscious locks in our memories.
