pool time in polka dots

Is it almost July already? I can't believe it. This summer has gone by way too fast! We've been busy, busy, busy. We've been traveling here and there all summer and on the weekends we're home we do our best to get to the pool and enjoy the beautiful weather!

Here are some pics from our pool trip last Sunday (I know... they're a little late).

Don't I look fabulous?

You want me to go in THAT big pool? Seriously?

Daddy... let's not go too far from the edge here...

Ohhh... this is like a big bathtub!

I could do this all day

Showing off her pruny tootsies

Im sure we'll have many more pool adventures to share this summer so stay tuned for that. We're really excited to head to the beach for the 4th and spend a nice long holiday weekend in the sand and pool. Im counting down the days til we leave!

a few videos from this week for you...

Busted!

We got a really great Leapfrog Activity Table from our friends the Carters this week. Maddie absolutely loves it. She loves playing with all of the buttons and things to do. This is the very first time I've seen her "dance." You can't see it well from this video but she bends her knees and kind of bops up and down with the music.

And Daddy always makes her laugh.

sunday best and teasing poor tuck tuck

Maddie looked super duper cute this Sunday for church so we needed a quick photo shoot when we got home (before we promptly ripped the dress off, put on a bathing suit and headed to the pool). Believe it or not, this is a dress I actually bought her. I know she has a HUGE selection of dresses from her Nana and Grandma, and aunts, but you have to give the mommy the enjoyment of dress shopping, right? I really wish my car wasnt in the background... but hey, what can I say. Thats why we're not professional photographers...

Tucker is starting to tolerate Maddie a little more. Now that she has been dropping food off of her tray for him, he's starting to spend a little more time around her. Ive even noticed he's let her grab him a little before he bolts. Before he just moved before she could actually get to him. It might be that she's moving faster... I dont know. Anywhoo... I got to witness Maddie teasing him yesterday. It was a little sad to watch.

Here Tuck... want your bone?

Come on... you can get it..

Psych!

All together now... awwww. Yeah, its sad. Look at the big smile she has on her face too when she takes it away. She eventually gave it to him and let him take it. He ran away with it too fast for me to actually take a picture of it.

Next up - pool pictures. We went to the pool on Sunday and took the other camera. I need to track down the cord for it and upload the pics. I'll get it to it... I promise.

ooops...

So my 9 month stats were WAAAAAY off for Maddie. Can I blame it on mommy brain? I have no clue where I pulled those numbers from but they were way off! Yikes.

Here are her real stats:

• Height : 28.5 inches (90th percentile)
• Weight: 17 lbs 12 oz (25th percentile)

now i've seen it all...

Here's the link if you need to check them out yourselves...

strummin' with daddy

I realized I didnt post any pictures of Maddie with her Daddy for Fathers Day so here are a few in honor of her favorite guy in the whole wide world. He is her very own Guitar Hero.

9 months...

Ok... this is about a week late but better late than never, right?

Maddie had her 9 month appointment last week. There were no shots involved with this visit so Maddie was pretty okay with it. She just got to hang out with her doctor who she loves and show off a few tricks for her.

Here are her stats:

• Height: 23 inches (90th percentile)
• Weight: 18 lbs 5 oz. (25th percentile)

She can:

• Respond to her name
• Feed herself (she actually prefers it)
• Clap!
• Crawl like crazy
• Pull herself up on anything that will stand still
• Go from sitting to crawling and back to sitting
• Turn pages in books
• Put things in out of bowls, cups, toys, etc... over and over and over
• Babble - babababa, mamamama, dadadada... but I dont think she's associated words with anything yet.
• Point at you when she gets excited (its really cute)
• Sleep consistently through the night

She's very flirtatious and social. She's smile at you and then bury her head in my shoulder and then look up and smile again.

She's been eating almost everything we eat... well, any fruits, grains and veggies that is. We've been pretty good about only feeding her fresh and organic food. Her most recent favorite food is blueberries. We had them again tonight and she chowed them down! Yum. She doesnt have any food that she hates yet. She's gone thru phases with bananas but is over it and back on the 'nana.

She's growing up so quickly and doing more things every day. Its really amazing. All and all what can I say... she's perfect!

it was a very happy fathers day post 2 of 2

We had an action packed Saturday and I forgot my camera... so I had to hijak a few pictures from Kris and Jen's blogs. We started off at Taylors last softball game. She did awesome... hit a triple! She's quite the Little Papi if I do say so myself. After the game, we grabbed some lunch and then went home to meet up with Kristin adn her kids who stopped by Newport on their way home to visit us. Will and Kate are too cute for words and are growing up way too fast.

Baby Maddie

Kate leaving Maddie hangin'

Me, Cousin Tay, Maddie and Aunt Lo

We had a birthday party for Pop Pops Saturday afternoon (since his birthday was technically on Fathers Day and that would have been just TOO exciting for one day) then dropped Maddie off at my parents house to go to bed and Jim and I got to go "out" with the rest of the girls! We drank some great margaritas at a mexican place on the beach and then walked along the beach after dinner and just relaxed. It was so nice to get out and spend some QT with my sisters (and Tay of course).

The next day was Fathers Day and Maddie dressed up in her finest sailor outfit just for Pop Pops. We knew he'd love it.

Pop Pops giving Maddie her mid-morning bottle

Later, whole gang came over to celebrate Fathers Day and of course... visit the babe. The cousins piled over in droves and we had a blast. Somehow we ended up with the guys in the livingroom watching the Sox and the US Open and the women out on the back deck. We didn't mind... and I'm pretty sure the guys didn't either.

Cousin Mere with Baby Maddie

Cutie Cousin Camden

The ladies!

Camden charming the sailor pants off of Maddie

Can't think of a caption cute enough for this picture...

We headed back to the airport on Monday for a long... delayed trip back home. Air travel is becoming less and less enjoyable. Not because of Maddie, but because of the over-crowded and delayed flights. Yuck. Maddie was as trooper and even made a new friend Paulo the Steward on our flight home. He made Maddie smile and laugh and would make funny faces at her when he'd walk by the entire flight... pretty cute.

It was very sad to leave this time... luckily we're headed back up there for a week long vacation on the Cape in August so I'll get to see everyone again then. Love you guys and miss you already!

it was a very happy fathers day post 1 of 2

We just got back from a really great weekend home visiting my parents and family (Kris, you count as family now). Maddie was the center of attention and I dont think she minded too much. The weather was absolutely beautiful on Friday. We spent a lot of time out on the deck and in my parents yard. Here are some pictures below.

Mealtime with Nana!

The whole gang joins in!

Love love love

Crosby

Tootsies

Hi Nana!

Playing the "thank you" game
Ahhh... nice.

And here is Pop Pops helping Maddie walk. Not yet... PLEASE! Im not ready.

just for the record...

Its hotter in Boston right now than it is in Atlanta.

If anyone wants to come down here to escape the heat... come on down!

for Jim...

Cheerwine soda to start appearing on Atlanta shelves

Tar Heels, rejoice! Cheerwine, one of our state's indigenous delicacies, is now available in the ATL.

"Our first ship date to Atlanta was early to mid-May. It's now starting to appear on shelves," said Tom Barbitta, vice president of marketing for the Salisbury, N.C.-based company. "We're thrilled we're going to be moving into Atlanta."

Even though this is Coca-Cola's back yard, the brand's hoping Atlantans will be thrilled right back at welcoming the cherry-flavored soft drink into their midst. Founded in 1917 and still family-owned, the brand has a quirky, devoted following. Nothing bonds two Cackalacky transplants like a cold Cheerwine — especially one cracked open next to a barbecue sandwich with vinegar-based sauce and slaw on top. And road trips north often involve a stop to stock up.

"Cheerwine was always my first beverage of choice, said Steve Dettbarn, who grew up in Boone, N.C. "The excitement of moving to Atlanta was a bit clouded by the fact that I could not find my beloved Cheerwine."

Hope Branicki, originally of Asheville, N.C., received word of Cheerwine's entry into the Atlanta market like manna from heaven.

"Praise the Lord and pass the Cheerwine!" she said. "There was nothing better in the summer in Carolina than going to the local gas station and getting a frosty glass bottle of cheerwine from the soda machine. You just popped the top off on the side of the machine, and heaven! Pair it with some good vinegar-based barbecue — yummy!"

Cheerwiners are something of a fraternity, Barbitta said. The brand has its own Facebook page and its puckish Web site (cheerwine.com) has spoof news reports detailing devotees' efforts at scoring their favorite drink.

"Is a possible Cheerwine shortage being created by Yankees buying large quantities of Cheerwine to bring back North?" screams a farcical "news bulletin" on the site.

Barbitta, who's a New Yorker but sounds pleasant enough nonetheless, says the nectar of the Old North State is being stocked in metro Atlanta Wal-mart, Kroger, Publix, Ingles, and Food Lion stores, with plans to roll out in smaller convenience stores next. Cheerwine is available in 20 states, including California but mostly east of the Mississippi, Barbitta said.

The brand isn't dreaming of conquering Coke's stronghold on its hometown, but does look to please its fan base and add some devotees.

"We are not a ubiquitous cola," Barbitta said. "Everyone knows who Coca-Cola is. Not everyone knows who Cheerwine is."

Not yet, maybe.

hot fun in the summer time

Every girl needs a pool in her backyard... especially when its 90+ degrees! It was a hot one this weekend and mommy and Maddie hit the pool. Im sure we'll be spending lots of time in the baby pool this summer. Maddie seemed to have fun and we stayed in til her toes were pruny!

a taste of whats ahead?

Maddie thinks the word "No" is really funny. Not in a devious way, in a "mommy that joke was so funny!" way.

The more stern I say it to her... the harder she laughs.

Not good.

my lil peach, big girl tubbin' and daddy's bday

Phew... TGI almost F. Its been another long, hectic week and I can't wait for the weekend! Between a long workday (which now includes a long commute because I've moved offices), Miss M crawling and pulling herself up on anything that will stay still long enough for her to do so and a run of birthdays and holidays we just got thru... we havent had much time to relax lately! But... I cant complain too much - Im happy I have a job, Maddie is a complete joy and what would life be without holidays and birthdays, right?

So what have we been up to? Well, first off... Maddie went to her first Lil Peaches Playgroup last Friday and had a really good time. There were only 3 other mothers/babies there - but it was nice to meet some new moms and of course their sweet babies.

Maddie saying hello to baby Hannah. I think she's trying to help her escape.

Maddie and Elijah

And in "whats new with Maddie" news... she's moved to the big girl tub! Yup. No more baby tubs, no more kitchen sinks... she's ready for the real thing. I can't believe it either.

She still chews on anything and everything

She also really likes pulling things down off of shelves. If Maddie is in her room, her bookshelf looks like this. She doesn't allow the books to stay on those two bottom shelves in her waking hours. She does it one by one, very quietly. I know that shelf is going to come down one of these days. We're patiently waiting for Jim to build a real, anchored bookshelf for that corner of the room.

And she's also been sleeping like this lately... legs tucked under and bum way up high. She's going to be really good at yoga.

And today was Daddy's Birthday! He's super old now... 33! We had dinner at one of our favorite seafood places (yes, seafood in Atlanta) down the road from us and then a little celebration just the four of us (dont forget Tuck). I think Jim liked his gifts... he's playing with them now.

Maddie's very first card for her Daddy (this was a LOT harder than it looks to make)

A birthday wouldn't be a birthday in the Herndon House without a Coldstone cake. Yum....

I'll leave you with a few pictures of Maddie and I from this morning. Jim thought we looked cute with our vests/shirts over white short sleeve shirts. I have to admit I think that I subconsciously dress like Maddie sometimes (or vice versa). You know how some days you just feel like wearing certain things? Like bright colors... or pale colors, or something a little more dressy. Well - I think I dress both myself and Maddie in whatever I feel like wearing that day. Is that really weird? I admit it - we've dressed alike more than once. I think we look darn cute. Anyway - for your enjoyment.

Ok- Jims bday is in the books... now its time to get ready for the Pop Pops Birthday and Fathers Day Celebration!!!