Birthday Time

It's hard to believe that our little girl will be 1 in a couple of days. As you can tell we had birthday pictures taken. I think these are my favorite so far. Enjoy!!!

Birthday Hat

Maddie in her 1st birthday hat. She loves it...she starts smiling every time I put it on her.

My precious bithday girl
Birthday outfit

Birthday Cake

We also took pictures of Maddie's first taste of birthday cake. She was so fun to watch...I think I have over 100 pictures of her with the cake. She as hesitant at tearing the cake apart, she never really destroyed the whole cake. I know she ate way more frosting than cake...nothing like a little sugar overload.

Merry Christmas!!!

We hope everyone had a merry Christmas...we did. Maddie was a little overwhelmed. She enjoyed playing with all the wrapping paper. Overall it was a great day, one we won't soon forget.

Maddie's 1st Christmas stocking
Trying out the tricycle from Grammy & Grampy

Maddie first thing on Christmas morning...she loves the ball pit that Santa brought. She has been climbing in and out of it all day long.

Ducky rocker from Santa

In our new wagon from Grandma and Grandpa will all the great gifts Maddie received from family and friends. Thanks everyone, we appreciate the thoughtfulness.

Lil' Chef

Great Aunt Linda sent Maddie this lil' chef outfit to wear while helping with the Christmas cooking. We wore it today. It is too cute...thanks Great Aunt Linda!!!

Cookies for Santa

Maddie and Mommy baked cookies for Santa tonight.

Maddie with the plate of cookies. We also included some brownie bites in case Santa is really hungry. We left Santa a bottle of beer since our milk is out of date...hope he doesn't mind.
Maddie checking out Santa's treats.

Can't resist the urge to touch the treats...

Or taste Santa's treats!! Gotta make sure they are Santa worthy.

Nothing like cookies and milk before bed.

Penguin Party Hop

I bought this from Hallmark last year during the after Christmas sales thinking our child would really enjoy it. I think it was a great buy...Maddie gets so excited when you push to button and it starts singing. So enjoy Maddie's rendition of "Penguin Party Hop"....Merry Christmas!!!

Santa Hat

Maddie in her 1st Christmas santa hat

Christmas Pictures

I thought I would post some pictures from our visit to the portrait studio last week. Maddie was great. Now that she is walking everywhere, Maddie wouldn't stand still for pictures. Good thing the lady was fast with her camera. Birthday pictures coming in the next couple of weeks...

On the Go

I tried really hard yesterday to get a picture of Maddie in her cute little Christmas outfit. As you can tell she wanted nothing to do with Mommy taking pictures. She is walking about 80% of the time. If she wants to get somewhere in a hurry she still crawls. She is so much fun at this stage and we are enjoying every minute of it.

The best picture I could get.
Walking off while I'm trying to get a picture.

11 months old

Maddie is 11 months old today. Just a short month until she turns the big "1" year old. I still can't believe that it has been 11 months since she entered our world and stole our hearts.
We have our tree up...minus some ornaments on the lower branches. Definitely doesn't feel like December/winter, it was in the mid 80's here today.

Cowboy Kringle

Only in Texas...

We went to Gruene yesterday to see Cowboy Kringle. I figured since we live in Texas, Maddie's first visit with Santa should be with Cowboy Kringle. When I told Maddie to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas...Santa said anything that she could put in her mouth. Just proves that Santa is watching...he knows Maddie "tastes" everything.

Stairs

Maddie has learned to go up the stairs. I really don't know where she learned it except she tries to climb on everything. In the last couple of days we have had to watch her closely...she just goes over and starts climbing. John and I had bought a baby gate last week-it's up now. It just amazes me all the things she tries and figures out. She definitely will try everything at least once.

Brrrr...it's cold outside

It's cold, windy, and wet here today. It has been in the low 40s all day today. I know everyone in Michigan doesn't think that 40 is really cold when you probably have snow but it's cold for us in San Antonio. Grammy bought Maddie a hat yesterday when they went shopping...good thing as we needed it all day today.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a good Thanksgiving with the Steakley's and both Grandmas. John fried a turkey and everyone else helped with the sides. I worked most of the day...it was nice to come home to a great meal.

Everyone left to go back to Michigan today. We enjoyed their visit. We just wished we all lived closer as it will be summer before we all get together again.

Maddie ready for dinner. She tried everything that we had to eat.
Thanksgiving outfit.

Maddie with cousin Jimmy. Maddie loved to touch Jimmy's head...he didn't always appreciate it but was a good sport.

Maddie and cousin Shelby. They had fun playing together. Maddie was definitely interested in what Shelby was doing.

Sea World...again

We took Grandma, Aunt Stacey, Shelby, & Jimmy to Sea World today. We saw the Shamu show and the dolphin show. Shelby got to ride some fun rides. It was a nice day out as it is supposed to get colder later this week.

Now that Maddie is on the move we were able to play in the little kids part of the park. Maddie loved it. I can't wait til next year when she is bigger and we can explore more.

Excitement after seeing all the fun blocks to play on.

Pictures with the Steakley's

Grandma Bernal, Aunt Stacey, Shelby and Jimmy are here visiting us. I decided that we should get one more cousin picture taken since it will be next summer before we all get together again. So Friday we took the kids for pictures...they did great and we got some fun pictures.

Maddie standing...I think her record is 7 or 8 steps in a row now!!

As you can tell from the pictures, she loves to clap her hands. So in all of her pictures she is playing with her hands.

Baby Steps

Just yesterday Maddie started taking little steps all by herself!!! John had been working with her before he left Saturday for the latest road trip. All of a sudden yesterday morning she took 3 steps on her own in the kitchen. The video is from this morning...the most steps we have taken.

Maroon and Gold

Central Michigan University outfit for Daddy (and Gary & Ron)

Go Chippewas!!!
You can't tell but the bear has a Ferris State T-shirt...for Mommy and Kim.


Kinda weird but the colleges John and I graduated from both have maroon and gold as their school colors. Uncle Gary, Aunt Kim, and Makenzie sent Maddie the Central shirt and socks (and even included a matching bow!!!) along with the Ferris bear. Thanks guys...Maddie plays with the bear daily. We appreciate the fun stuff since we can't really go visit the universities.

The One Time You Forget to Close the Door

Swinging

Maddie went swinging at the park for the first time--she loved it.

10 Months Old

Maddie turned 10 months old yesterday. It's hard to believe we are in double digits. In just 2 short months it will be birthday time. Still no walking...she can stand up and bounce on her toes but won't take a step.
She has started discovering her bows much to my dismay. But how can I say no to that cute face? She definitely knows when to turn on the charm.

One last action shot. Maddie is looking more like a toddler every day. She is liking regular food more than baby food and wants to taste what you are eating.

Our Little Tinker Bell

Our first Halloween costume...
The cutest Tinker Bell

Fascinated by the shoes...typical girl.

Today is Maddie's first Halloween. We wore our costume for a little while this morning. The shoes by far are her favorite part of the costume. No trick or treating for us tonight...instead we are going to the hockey game to see the Rampage play.

Happy Halloween!!!

Playing Outside

Maddie and I played outside this morning and enjoyed the beautiful weather. She has a little cold right now so we are dealing with that. Hockey season is in full swing and Daddy is home for a couple of days before he leaves for the next road trip. It is hard to believe October is almost over...soon Grandma and the Steakley's will be coming to visit.