Surprise!

There have been many things in the last two weeks here. The most important one is that on Friday, November 20, Matt took me out for a "pre-birthday date." I know I should have been suspicious but I just went along with it and did whatever. We went to Chick-fil-A (YUM!) and once we ordered our food, we went to get a seat and low and behold!!! My parents were sitting in the booth!!!!! They drove down from Grand Rapids to surprise me for my birthday! I was so excited I started crying. I had seen my mom a couple weeks before but I hadn't seen Dad since we moved here two months ago. He immediately took Madelyn out of her car seat and played with her throughout dinner. Saturday, the five of us went to the Georgia aquarium and then walked around downtown for a little bit. (notice we're all wearing "Michigan" stuff - that was the day of the Michigan vs Ohio State game. Matt was recording it so we could go the aquarium. Even Madelyn had on her cute Michigan onsie!)


Dad playing with his granddaughter while waiting to get into the aquarium. He was so excited to see Madelyn!


Sunday we went to church and then out to dinner for my birthday (this was my actual birthday). We had dinner at Sweet tomatoes, a salad, pasta and soup buffet. My parents went, along with Matt's dad, step mom, siblings and our good friend, Joel. We went back to the house for cake and ice cream and sat around and played games for a little bit. Unfortunately they had to leave the next morning since dad had to work on Tuesday.

Thursday was Thanksgiving, Madelyn's first. We had a delicious dinner, followed by lots of yummy desserts and turkey induced comas. My inlaws and Matt and I decided we wanted to go shopping today, Black Friday. We went to one store at Midnight (After being up all day) and it sucked!!! I felt like I was with a herd of cattle being shoved in to the stalls. Anyway, we got home around 1:30 am and then I went to bed with Mady. Matt stayed up all night and went to Target at 4, ready for the doors to open at 5am. We really wanted to get a digital camera, since ours got broken at my cousin Racheal's house when I was up north for her wedding. We succeded! He got the camera and then went to Home Depot to get a pre-lit Christmas tree. Now, if you know me at all, I am NOT a fan of having a fake tree. As a kid, my mom would put up her fake tree in the living room and I would make them go get a real one and put it in the basement to put my ornaments on it. So for me to get a fake tree was a huge deal. Matt and I thought that since we would be in Michigan for a week over Christmas, it would be better to get a fake tree this year and plus we don't know where we will be for next year (a new house, new apartment?). So, today we put the tree up and tomorrow I will finish decorating the tree and puttin gup other decorations to get our "apartment" to look like home and cozy and ready for Christmas!
The next two pictures were taken at my cousin's wedding while I was up from Georgia.



Mom, Madelyn and I waiting in the nursery for the ceremony to startMom put Mady in the leaves in her back yard for some cute pictures. I did not add the fake leaves so she wouldn't eat the dirty ones.... they were just for added color :)

What a cutie!!!!! I'm not biased at all :)

new milestones

It's been an interesting few days for us, that's for sure. Last Wednesday, Madelyn and I flew to Grand Rapids so I could be in a wedding that Saturday. She did great on the plane! Everyone thought she was so cute and loved to talk to people. She slept for a good portion of the first flight, from Atlanta to Milwaukee, then slept the entire way from Milwaukee to Grand Rapids, even if it is only a 20 minute flight :) Wednesday evening we had dinner with Matt's family and then I saw some friends from church. Thursday was another travel day, going to Indiana for the wedding, but not before stopping at the outlet mall! Mom bought a cute dress for Mady to wear to the wedding that actually matched us! We arrived at my aunt's house and just relaxed for a little bit before I headed out with Racheal and the girls for the "bachelorette party" dinner. Unfortunately, Mady wouldn't take a bottle from my mom so she battled with her until I got home. Friday consisted of decorating the church and Mady not sleeping ALL day!!!! She got up at 7 am and didn't go to bed until about 10 pm! Only a 1 hour nap in between, when we went back to the house to get ready for the rehearsal! Poor kid! Poor mom for having to watch her again and she still wouldn't take a bottle! Anyway, the wedding was Saturday and I must say, I'm glad it's all over! No more drama! We headed home and noticed..... Mady got her first tooth!!!!!! One broke through on the bottom and a second one is well on it's way! She did great traveling back to Georgia yesterday! She went in her exersaucer last night too and loved it. The downside is that she's too short and can't touch the bottom! Oh well....

Well, I guess that's it. I will have to post pics later since my camera broke and I have to wait for my mom to email them!