Wedding Weekend in Photos

My beautiful sister got hitched! Such a great time and wonderful seeing so many friends and family while there...here's our trip in pics :0)

Photo Shoot

I asked David a couple of weeks ago to teach me how to use his fancy-shmancy camera...1 year olds sure move fast and our little point and shoots have a hard time keeping up with her! I have a better understanding as to how much work goes into being a photographer and have so much to learn but I am looking forward to many more lessons from my handsome hubby!! For now, here are some photos from my first "shoot" :0)

Daddy's Home!!!

After 8 looooong months, I finally have my handsome husband and Mads has her amazing daddy home!! USS Milius arrived home September 11th and it couldn't have been a more perfect day. We first saw the flag on the tip of the ship coming under the Coronado bridge around 9am. Before we knew it, the ship was pierside and we saw David waving from the side of the ship! Words could not come close to describing how exciting and emotional it was to see him there...one of the best days of my life hands down. Here are some photos from this most incredible day.

 

Anxiously waiting!

The Navy Band

Shamu even came to visit!

There they are!!!!!

Getting closer!

Handsome guy :0)

Coming off the ship!

First smooch!

"Hey, I know you!"

Together once again.

My absolute favorite picture!

11 Months Old Today!

Where is the time going?? Don't get me wrong, we want the time to go fast because that means David is that much closer to being home but at the same time...Mads is growing up too fast! How is it even possible she'll be one year old in a month?!? She is still the happiest little girl and people comment all the time about how much she smiles and of course, those lashes! She loves to eat "real" food favoring kiwi, blueberries, wheat toast, cottage cheese, mango, sweet potato and lots more. She is starting to babble two-syllable "words" and is starting to say "dada" more and more everyday (more than she says "mama" in fact). She isn't walking yet but she pulls herself up on everything and "cruises" along the furniture...guessing it won't be long, although I'd be okay if she decided to wait and walk when daddy got home...I could use the backup :0) She is big into immitating right now and claps, laughs when you laugh, "huffs and puffs" when you "huff and puff," sticks out her tongue when you stick out yours and "dances" when she hears music. She really is tons of fun the older she's getting and I'm really looking forward to having David home to enjoy this part of her growing up! Here are some recent pictures of our little, ornery lovebug - enjoy!

Not sure she's a fan of the message on her top...

Fearless!

o-r-n-e-r-y

Going for a walk!

Practice Saying, "Da Da"

Here's a little video I put together of Madelyn practicing saying, "Da Da."  It's pretty darn cute if I do say so myself :0)

Click this link to view the video (it will automatically load for you in a different window)
http://youtu.be/RJC78Y2nV44

Lisa

Splish, Splash, I'm 10 months old!!

We decided today would be a great day for Madelyn to break in her new pool - what better way to celebrate that you're 10 months old, right?  She is terrified of the "big girl tub" so I was pleasantly surprised that she went right in without a whimper!  I'm pretty sure mommy ended up more drenched that Mads did :0)

Enjoy!

A Special Lil' Outfit

Mads and I did a little photo shoot tonight to showcase the special little outfit she's wearing. You see, this outfit is one her aunt Kimberly used to wear - awesome huh? I think she wears it rather adorably, see what you think :0) 

Happy First Father's Day!

A poem for daddy, from Madelyn...

Daddy’s Day

 

Today is your first Daddy’s Day,

It’s time to celebrate!

So mommy helped me write this poem

That I hope you find really great.

 

You’re the best daddy in this whole wide world,

Guessing you would like to know why?

Because you love me to the moon and back

And that is not a lie.

 

I miss you every single day

And I know you miss me too.

But we don’t have much longer now,

Till you’re home, where there’ll be lots to do!

 

I’ve got my “to do” list ready,

That’s waiting just for you.

Reading, swimming, dancing, fishing,

And can’t forget the zoo!

 

I hope you know just how much I love you

I’m so glad that you’re mine!

Feel free to turn that ship towards home,

That would be just fine!

Know I’m counting down the weeks

And let me make it clear,

That I cannot wait to see you daddy,

Standing on that pier!

 

Love,

Madelyn

Who Doesn't Love a Port Visit?

David recently enjoyed yet another port visit on this cruise - much deserved!  While I can't share specifics, I can share some photos he has sent.  We miss him like crazy and are so thankful to be on the downhill slide of this journey!!

Waiting on the metro.

Spices anyone?

Street vendors.

Mads Turns 9 Months!

Yep, I can hardly believe I'm typing this but our little Mads has turned 9 months old.  Time could slow down anytime now and I'd be okay with that...well, except for the fact that I want the time to go fast so David will be home.  Do babies come with pause buttons?  Anyhow, she officially turned 9 months on the 26th and we had her 9 month well-baby appointment yesterday with Dr. Broudy (who we love!).  She weighed in at 20lbs 9 oz and is 28" long.  Dr. Broudy was very impressed with how she's growing both physically and developmentally.  She got her third round of Hep B and a finger prick to check for an iron deficiency (which she doesn't have, yay!).  She cried initially but as soon as they put a shiny silver band aid on her finger and leg, she was happily distracted :0) 

At this time, Madelyn enjoys bananas, puffs, yogurt, mashed potatoes, bread and all varieties of baby food.  She says, "bababa" and "mamama" fairly regularly and we're working on "dadada."  She watches "dadada" on tv every single night and really lights up when she sees him.  I'm so thankful for the United Through Reading Program for providing him such a great opportunity to record himself reading to Mads and mail them to us, they've been priceless.  Let's see...back to milestones...  She loves to explore and crawls everywhere...super fast, she pulls herself up like a champ (I feel like she stands more than she sits), and she smiles and laughs when we read big, colorful books (cutest thing ever). 

Here are some recent pictures of little miss Mads, is she not the cutest little girl you've ever seen????

Love from San Diego!
Mommy, Mads, Zoey and Daddy (from somewhere at sea)

Madelyn after her shots, such a little champ!

She LOVES eating bananas!

Going for a walk in our new jogging stroller!

Jogging is hard work!