One Year Wellness Visit

Maddy had her one year wellness visit and shots yesterday. Dr. Kelly said she looks healthy and advanced. Her ear infection has cleared up, which we were worried it hadn't so that was a great surprise. She weighed in at 23 lb 12 oz, which of course is a lot. It puts her in the 85th percentile for weight, in other words the heavy weight division. She still is off the charts in height, standing 31.5 inches tall and her head remains large. The doctor said at least she is proportional!

I took a few pictures of Maddy with some of her new toys this week.

Maddy mowing the lawn

Maddy's first basketball hoop

Maddy and Kendal in her new sea and sand table

Last night we enjoyed dinner over at the Schmidts. We are still eating left overs from the party so we brought some over to share. After dinner we went for a bike ride down to the city park at Lake Thompson.

Maddy and Kendal at the playground

We didn't get home until after 9, but we thought the girls were tired so we stopped even though we could have kept going. We were surprised to find the girls got their second winds after getting diaper changes.

The girls at the tool bench

It was a tragic evening for us putting Maddy to bed last night. She enjoyed her last bag of frozen breast milk. Its kinda sad thinking she is now moving onto whole milk. We had to get a picture of her with her last bottle of mommy's milk.

Birthday Party

Maddy's birthday was a big event for our family. We had a big party in which we celebrated both her first birthday and Jason's 30th birthday with all our family and friends. Jason's 30th was a surprise, which we managed to pull off. I apologize that is has take me a week to post, but after you read through all that we did last weekend you will see why it has taken me a full week to recuperate.

The backyard during the party. We rented a tent and a ...

...bouncy house. The kids loved it!

It was also the weekend of Howell's big balloonfest (a hot air balloon challenge). Maddy's birthday started with the hot air balloons flying right right over our house at 7 am.

Haunted House Balloon

All the festivities really started on Thursday night with my family arriving in the fifth wheel. We had 11 adults and 7 kids staying at our house for the weekend...it was a blast! Friday the kids enjoyed the beautiful weather outside.

Brooke, Jack, Maddy, and Izzy playing in Maddy's new wagon
(We did end up with a small accident in the wagon. The wagon tipped over at one point when all the kids where in it. Maddy flew out onto the concrete and ended up with a bloody mouth and scratch on the side of her face.)

Jaelyn, Izzy, and Brooke going for a stroller ride

In the afternoon we went to the Hartland Aquatic Center for some swimming.

What a crew!

Maddy, John V, Brooke, Izzy, Jordy, Jack, and Jaelyn

Jordyn and Maddy after swimming in their matching coveralls

Friday evening we enjoyed the balloon launch from our back yard. The balloons where flying south so we didn't see them up close and personal, but it was still awesome seeing all 56 balloons in the air at once.

As I mentioned we were all up early on Saturday (Maddy's birthday). The hot air balloons woke us up as they were flying over our house. You can hear the burst of air. The balloons were so close we were actually talking to the pilots. It was a great way to start the day.

"Today's my birthday!"
(Apparently she thinks she's turning 21, not just 1.)

The kids played on the bouncy house, in the sand box or pools all day, while all the women except Brooke and I went shopping. The rest of us prepped for the party and enjoyed the weather. Izzy, Brooke, Jordyn, and Andrew (a friend)

Here they come!

We had a good turn out for the party. Here are some pictures of our guests....

The DeWittians

The Bailey and Grandpa Kreider

The Marmons

Friends and Neighbors

Maddy's boyfriend Benjamin

The Kriegls

Grandma Nancy and the birthday girl

Maddy clearly has a drinking problem

Take your hand off the beer

Maddy did a great job with her birthday cake. No surprise to us that she would dig right in. Here is a series of pictures capturing the event...

Cake/Cupcake Display

"Is This For Me?" Yeah!

Check out the VIDEO!

"This is Fun!"

More video...YUMMY!

Beating the Drum

Bang BANG!!

"Yeah for Me"

YEAH!

"Forget eating with my hands, when I can just put my face in it!"

"Here Dad I'll Share With You."

"Hey, I Can Pick This Thing Right Up!"

"I'm Getting Full...Here Doggies!"

The Final Product

What a hoot! I've never seen a kid enjoy a birthday cake like that before. I have to say her and Kendal where about as opposite as you can get with their birthday cakes. After cake, Jason and Maddy opened gifts. Maddy received a ton of great gifts and Jason got a lot too. He got a bunch of old man gifts, which will definitely come in handy now that he is almost 30. Thank you to everyone who came to the party and for all the wonderful gifts!

Jason and Maddy opening gifts

Maddy showing off her new sunglasses

Us with Brooke, Brad, and Baby Spins
(Probably our last picture before we meet Baby Spins)

Saturday night we had a nice camp fire. We enjoyed hanging out with our family and friends playing camp fire games. Mike especially loved all the games! The night ended good too because Brad finally said we could all come to his picnic, even Mike. (Sorry its an inside joke for all of us who where there.)

The guys composed a special birthday song for Mads that night too. ENJOY!!!

Sunday morning was kind of a downer now that the party was all over and we had to clean up. Some of our family stayed for the day though so we still had a fun filled day. Jordyn and Brooke started the morning by making Brad a mask out of stickers. They just loved Brad and Brooke and didn't want them to leave.


Some of the other kids played with Grandpa on the floor.

Grandpa Jack, Izzy, and Maddy

After lunch, we took the kids down to the balloon fest. We enjoyed a kite show, dog show, and shaved ice. It was a nice walk down to the carnival and the weather was hot, so when we got home we all went swimming in the pool.

Jordyn, Izzy, Maddy, Brooke, Jaelyn, and John V

Sunday night we enjoyed another amazing balloon launch right over our house. All the balloons flew right through our subdivision at an elevation just high enough to miss the roofs of the houses.

Here's two video's of them flying towards us.....
A couple flying our way!
One block over!

They apparently had a touch down spot just north of the sub before they elevated high into the sky. It was awesome. Soon after we all crashed from 3 days of fun. We truly had just a perfect weekend. I couldn't have imagined a better time. All the kids we great, the weather was beautiful, and the company was priceless. Thanks again to everybody that joined us for Maddy and Jason's party. We are truly blessed with some of the best family and friends.

Happy First Birthday Maddy!

Today was Maddy's first birthday. I just can't believe that a year has gone by already. Time sure flies when you are enjoying and trying to keep up with an infant/toddler. I've had so much fun this past year watching Maddy grow and develop. She is an active little girl and can do a lot of things a kid her age shouldn't do. We are still waiting for her first official word, although she is starting to communicate with us through sign language, she is especially good at "more". I found another tooth this week (bottom right premolar), which puts her at 11 teeth on her one year birthday.

Happy Fathers Day

Jason came home Friday evening from a long week in Canada. Maddy and I did surprisingly well while he was gone. She was happy to see her dad though. We walked down town Friday night for dinner and stopped to play on the slides on the way home. It was a lot of fun. We then went over to the Schmidts house for a campfire and Maddy stayed up to enjoy it. I don't know if she was so excited her dad was home or what but we didn't finally get her down until 11. Saturday morning the guys went golfing as part of their father's day gifts. Their tee time was at 7 am so it was an early morning for them and unfortunately for me as well since Maddy decided to wake up at 6 am. After golfing we all met for an early father's day lunch. The kids all wore their new Salty Dog tees from the Abbotts so we had to get some pictures.

Maddy, Ben, and Kendal

This was actually the first time all nine of us have been out together since Ben was born. The kids where all great. Maddy was a mess...she had spaghetti sauce all over her face and in her hair.


Kendal, on the other hand, was clean and as cute as can be as usual. She is just so much more delicate and girly compare to Maddy. Maddy is definitely going to be a tom boy.


Saturday night we figured it was time to start brushing Maddy's teeth. She has 10 teeth now and is eating all sorts of things so the time has come. I tried using the finger brush, but let me just say I will never do that again. She bit my finger so many times that it still hurts. We are going to have to get her a tooth brush instead.


Yesterday was father's day so we of course went out to eat again to celebrate. Jason wore his new t-shirt that Maddy made him. It says, "Best Dad Hands Down" with her hand prints on it. (Super cute)


After lunch we went grocery shopping for Maddy's big party coming up this weekend. On the way home she was so exhausted she fell asleep in the car drinking her juice.


Once awake from her nap, Maddy felt rejuvenated and ready to help me vacuum and steam clean the carpet.


Well the big anticipated weekend has almost arrived...Maddy's First Birthday Party. We are really looking forward to the celebration with lots of family and friends. It should be a lot of fun and we have a lot planned. Stay tuned ...