To Miss Maddie on her 1st Birthday

Madeline,

      Happy 1st birthday sweet girl! Here is a recap of your short but exciting life so far...

February 22nd, 2012:

    Showed up at our appointment to be induced only to be turned away after waiting 2 hours because there were no delivery rooms available. Luckily we only lived a 7 min walk away, so we went home to wait. As soon as we got the call, we ran as fast as my 10 month pregnant belly would take us. You were born 10 hours later at 2/22/12 at 10:49pm. 

Brought you home to our studio, and you didn't even complain about the tight quarters. I guess compared to the womb, you considered it quite spacious. 

You spent the first 2 months of your life living in New York. Most of that time was spent helping mom combat cabin fever by taking strolls through Central Park....

1st Cab Ride

1st subway ride 

This is at the sailboat pond on our last day in NY. You were very sad to leave. 

 Made the move to Nashville (flew on an airplane for the first time at 2 months), and got to meet your cousins who couldn't wait to get their hands on you

Spent some time swimming at the pool and the beach

For Halloween, you were the cutest ladybug I've ever seen....

Most of the time you are very happy

 Unless we give you a bath (aka "water board you" as you would most likely call it if you could talk), and then you make this face.

But give you your paci and your lovie, and everything is right again

 Your favorite toy of all time would have to be your activity table. You don't really love it as much now that you're 1, but you spent many hours this past fall standing just like this.

Your two best friends are Kate and Maggie.

You love reading stories with your Daddy

Your dad and I cannot believe a year has gone by since you came into this world. You are such a joy to be around and make us smile whenever we see you. We can't wait to tip toe into your room to wake you up each morning, and we are so sad to put you to bed at the end of the night (unless you're crying, then we're more than happy to do so. :-). We know we will not be perfect parents, but we promise to love you as best we can and pray that you will know how much you are loved by our Heavenly Father. This is our prayer for you....

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to   grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know that this love surpassesknowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19 

Love you Maddie girl!

Twas the night before...

Twas the night before Maddie,
And all through the house.

We were sure stirring, much like a mouse.

Okay, so I'm not the best poet, but I can't help but be nostalgic thinking back to 1 year ago tonight when when we anticipating the arrival of our little "Baby Dubs" into this world. Maddie was a week late, so I was scheduled to be induced on Feb. 22nd. I remember it being such a strange feeling eating dinner and knowing we were going to meet our child the next day. How do you spend your last night of "freedom" so to speak? We went out for Neapolitan pizza with my mom and my friend Allison, so I guess that was our answer to the question. Truth is, nothing can prepare you to become parents, and we realized that. 

Yes, you definitely give up a lot of your freedom and are all of a sudden responsible for a another human being, but I can't imagine my life without Maddie. Not to say that I can't remember my life before her (I always laugh at people who say they can't remember their life before kids, cause I know Stephen and I have no trouble remembering the ease of going out to restaurants sans baby). She is truly a joy, and we feel so blessed that God has given her to us to watch over. Here's to you Maddie May!

Name that Celebrity....

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Just call her Mother Madeline.... If you follow me on instagram, you know Maddie loves this fleece. She can frequently be seen around the house wearing it just like this.

T-Dawg comes to Nashville...

This past weekend was so special because one of my best friends from New York, Tracy, came to visit and finally got to meet Maddie!

It's hard to believe we were only in NYC together for 2 years because we became so close in that small amount of time. I was just glad to find someone as crazy as me...

Maddie was OBSESSED with Tracy. Could have something to do with the fact that we look alike. It wouldn't be a weekend together without multiple people asking if we were sisters.

I could have taken her to all of Nashville's coolest and hip spots, but instead we went to a consignment sale in Hendersonville. Whoop Whoop!  (although we did go to brunch at Marche). 

Miss you already, can you come back now?.....

iPhone Pics...

Maddie's first snow. This was the only patch left by the time we went outside. Kinda sad. 

 This kid hates bath time, but she seems to be warming up to the idea as long as we have fun toys in there.

So this is Maddie's new face. She'll do it on command if we say "Maddie, do you eyebrows". In pictures, it just looks mean, but in person and on video it's hilarious.

This is an old pic, but this is her other expression she'll do on command which we call her "funny face". Sometimes I feel like we spend 99% of our day yelling at Maddie to do her tricks. Just call her Dereck Zoolander

Got a text from our amazing babysitter Lucy that this (see pic below) just happened. The 'lil stinker got stuck in her toy basket. I died laughing.

It's time for....

Name that Celebrity Pose.....

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The always entertaining "Ms. B."

What happens when...

You try to put a bow on Madeline's head...