Maddie Grace earns her wings!

We went to Michigan to visit with Marty's family this weekend. Maddie Grace earned her wings and a certificate for her first flight. As with many of her other firsts, she slept right through the flight. She gets her love for sleep from mom!

Uncle Doug cracks her up!
Sitting with Papa Andy (Marty's father). He is from Hungary, but he has been in the US for 50 years. However, he still has a very strong accent. He was an executive chef for most of his career, and we were treated to a wonderful dinner he prepared for us on Sunday.


We visited the Henry Ford Museum. Here is Marty and Maddie Grace with Uncle Bob.
Maddie Grace and Marty on tv with Prince. haha
Even in Michigan, you can't get away from Rock City.

Maddie Grace learned all about boilers and pressure vessels at the museum.
Marty sitting in the actual seat that Rosa Parks sat in.

Uncle Bob, Uncle Doug, Cousin Carla and her husband Lance








Marty, Nana Lois, Papa, and Maddie Grace

We woke up Monday to snow!

Weekend Activities

Here is a pic of Maddie and Kelly. Kelly has been my work counterpart for the last 2 years. I am starting a new job in a couple of weeks, and I will miss working with Kelly. Our territories will still be similar, so I hope to see her often. She is a great friend.
Kelly and Dan
Maddie Grace went to Sunday School for the first time today. We usually take her in the church service with us, but she has become to vocal for that. Rebecca St. James led the music today!

A day in the park

We had to take advantage of the beautiful weather yesterday! We had a great time at the park.

Smiling with Melanie

6 month pictures

Maddie Grace's 1st modeling job

Well, unofficially, anyway. Sunny sent some of her cloth diapers to us, and Marty took pictures for Sunny to use on her website and in her advertising. They turned out really cute!

6 month checkup

Look at Maddie Grace sitting up! She had her 6 month check up yesterday, and she weighs 16 pounds, 4 ounces. She is 26 inches long and is on track with all of her milestones.

Oops! She's still working on her balance.

Napping with Mommy

It has been a very long week. We went to Maryville for Papaw's funeral. The services were really a celebration of his life. He was blessed with a great mind and great health, and everyone that knew him loved him. Two doves were released in honor of him and my grandmother. My grandparents were married in a double wedding (with my papaw's brother and his wife) at the Tennessee Theatre in downtown Knoxville in 1936. They won a contest, and it was a huge event for the city. No one had ever been married in the theatre. They received gifts from many local retailers (ie. furniture, major appliances, and carpet), as well as a honey moon. The crowd was lined for miles with people trying to witness the wedding. It is a very special part of our family history, and it looks like we are going to have another double wedding! My sister and Howard are engaged! Also, my Uncle Bud and Barbara are engaged. They are planning to get married in a double wedding this summer at my grandparents house on the lake. My grandparents would have been thrilled! We can't think of a better way to honor them. I have included a picture of the Tennessee Theatre.

Maddie Grace has a tooth!

Bouncin' around
All dolled up for her 1st birthday party

She slept through most of the birthday party!


Holding her bottle

Augh! Maddie Grace's 1st tooth cut through this morning! Other than her hands constantly being in her mouth, she has done very well with teething. I took her for 6 month pictures on Friday, and I will post them as soon as I get them back.

Until we meet again...

Papaw Easterday passed away this morning at 3:30. He was ready to go to Heaven and be with my grandmother. He would have been 95 in May. He was so proud of Maddie Grace, and I'm grateful to have these pictures.

Maddie Grace's 1st Valentine

Maddie Grace and Emerson of Valentine's Day

Runaway Dog

We had an unplanned adventure today. I was supposed to be on the road to go see my grandfather in the hospital, and I let DJ out to potty before we left. In less than 5 minutes, he was gone. He is not a dog that wanders off, and when he didn't come, I knew something was wrong. After 30 minutes of looking, I got my neighbor to help. I then called everyone I know (crying) to come help me look. Marty is in Texas, and I made him get a plane ticket to come home. We had posters up on the telephone poles in no time, and every person we passed got in on the search, including the mailman. We called the pound and every local vet. After 2 hours, I knew he was gone. Then my neighbor drove up beside me, rolled down her back window, and DJ popped his head up. She found him almost 2 miles from our house. I don't know if he ran after something, or if someone picked him up, but I was so relieved to see him. He was equally happy to see me. My friend Christa called her friend Christy to come help me. I don't know her, but she was happy to look for DJ. Just after we found him, she called Christa and said that she found DJ! We almost ended up with 2 dogs. She found a lab mix in the neighborhood. Thankfully, she didn't pick him up. I think DJ is going to be getting a chip put in after this. I don't know what we would have done if we didn't find him. I can't thank everyone enough for helping me. DJ is our baby, too.

Our big girl

How cute is she? Maddie Grace is growing too fast. We put her in the high chair this weekend, and we also tried out the exersaucer. As you can see, DJ was in on the fun. He has to check out all of the new toys. He will be 3 years old on Thursday, but I think he will always be a puppy at heart.

Talking

Maddie Grace has a lot to say after her bath.

Veggies!

Maddie Grace ate green beans for the first time tonight.

5 months old

Maddie Grace is 5 months old and ready for her first Super Bowl! Marty bought her her 1st football last weekend. She weighs 15 pounds and 10 ounces. I think the football is twice her size. He was impressed that she put her fingers on the laces immediately.

Look what our baby can do!

By the time I figured out how to use the video option on my camera, Maddie Grace was ready for a nap. She rarely fusses, so Marty and I thought this was funny.

One year ago...

One year ago today, I called Marty at work to tell him that I was pregnant. We could have never known how much we were going to love our little baby, especially with all of the morning (afternoon and evening) sickness that I had. We are so blessed to have a healthy, happy, beautiful baby girl! This past weekend, Maddie Grace found her voice. She loves to squeal with excitement. It is so cute! Marty and I tried to watch a movie Sunday night, and we could barely hear over her "talking".

Trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house

Maddie Grace met Grandpa Hiltz (Marty's step-father) for the 1st time today. He has been very sick and in the hospital off and on since she was born. He was very proud to see her!


This is one of the few pictures where I think Maddie Grace looks a little more like me than daddy.

With Grandma Hiltz (Marty's mom)


Maddie Grace knows how to pout. It makes Marty and me crack up!

Congratulations!

Congrats to Dwight and Wendy. They just found out they are going to have a girl. Anya and Jennifer are also expecting girls. Heather is expecting boy number 3!