Updates, Some Pics, and a Video

Sorry it has been so long since we last updated, but the Smith family has had a lot going on! Here are some updates:

First of all, following our visit to the zoo on August 17th, Maddie came down with a cold. Of course, I got sick also. Then, Doug started feeling ill. We are all healthy now though.

Maddie has TWO new teeth coming in (one upper and one lower). These two teeth bring the grand total to seven teeth!

Maddie had her one year pictures taken on Friday. Since she is walking now, it was MUCH more difficult this time! She did not want to sit still. Despite this fact, I think she took some cute pictures. We can't wait to get them back! It should be a week to a week and a half. When we get them, we will post them for everyone to see.

Saturday evening we had a TERRIBLE scare! One of our dogs, Presley, escaped from our back yard. We think that a meter man came into the back yard and did not shut the gate all of the way. Anyway, Doug went to let the dogs in, and did not see Presley anywhere. Bailey was still in the back yard (what a good dog!). It was almost dark out, so we were extremely worried. Also, some kids in the neighborhood were shooting off fireworks (fireworks scare Presley to death). We went around to the front and there was no sign of Presley. So, Doug jumped into the SUV and went looking for him. He asked several people if they had seen him and they said they had. With their help, Doug was finally able to find him. He had not gotten too far away - he was just one street over. Presley was scared to death and extremely worn out from all of the running around. Poor guy! His back legs (his bad knees) seem to be very sore and he has been limping a little. After a little rest, he should be back to normal. The rest of his evening was much better, since Doug and I spoiled him rotten. He got a Bimples bone and lots of love and attention. We are very lucky that we found him and he did not get hit by a car! For now on, we are going to be much more careful and check the gate each time they go out.

Here are some pictures of Maddie modeling her fall coat (Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Smith!). She looks really cute in it!

Here is a video of Maddie rocking on her butterfly rocker. She never wants to get on her rocker because she is too busy walking. She seemed to have fun this time though. However, after awhile, she started to look a little sick. I hope she doesn't have problems with motion sickness like her daddy!

Trip to the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

We have been talking about going all summer, and we finally made it to the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. We have not been to the Fort Wayne Zoo since we were kids (Doug was in elementary school and Kris was probably about 3). A large portion of the zoo was closed (the African Safari portion) due to remodeling. The new African Safari exhibit will be 22 acres and cost $10.5 million. So, we did not get to see any giraffes, zebras, etc. (animals you expect to see at the zoo). We were a little disappointed in the rest of the zoo. We saw a lot of cool birds though. Through the rainforest area, there were birds overhead (not in cages - just flying around). We had to keep a lookout to make sure we didn't become a target (It is no fun being pooped on - Is it Meg?). There were a lot of monkeys and small animals too. Kris said "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Isn't that what you are supposed to see at a zoo?" We didn't see a lion, a tiger, or a bear. They do not have lions or bears and "Teddy the Tiger" never made an appearance. We did see cows, chickens, horses, and goats, however (exciting!). Doug took Maddie into the petting area with the goats, but she did not want to touch them. She was not afraid of them, she just would not touch them. She was more interested in the sand she was walking on than the animals. Maddie got a new wooden puzzle and a soft ball at the gift shop. She had fun, but I think we will take her to the Indianapolis Zoo next time.

Goin' for a hike.
Doug and Maddie by Doug's favorite exhibit (The Penguins).
Kris and Maddie posing in front of some monkeys.

This was a pretty pond. There were lots of geese swimming in it.

This is a big bronze tortoise for the kids to play on.

We didn't see what kind of birds these were, but they were really brightly colored and pretty.

Doug and Maddie in the petting zoo with a baby goat.

This is a picture of Kris and her sister Meg feeding the goats at the Fort Wayne Zoo (MANY years ago).

The zoo wore Maddie out. She crashed as soon as we got in the car.

Maddie playing with her new puzzle and ball.

Maddie with alfalfa hair playing with her new ball.

Maddie Playing with Her New Toys

Maddie has been having a good time playing with all of her new toys. We have not moved them to her playroom yet, so for now, they are just cluttering up the living room (as you will see in the videos!). Doug is planning on building Maddie some shelves and a toy box so that we have a place to put them all. Hopefully, we will have her playroom ready soon! Anyway, here are some pictures and videos of Maddie playing with her new toys.

Some More Party Pics

Here are some more pictures from Maddie's birthday party. These pictures were taken by the Scholls (our party photographers - thanks guys!).

Maddie's new riding toy (from the Scholls) was a big hit with all of the kids.

Singing "Happy Birthday" to Maddie.

Maddie starting to dig in.

Doug helping Maddie eat her cake.

Caitlyn wanted a new outfit to match Maddie's for the party. She matches pretty well!

Caitlyn giving Maddie a hug.

Collecting the candy and toys from the pinata.

Maddie yelling and being silly.

Maddie's First Birthday Party!

Saturday was Maddie's first birthday party! We celebrated with Doug's Mom and Grandma (Doug's Dad wasn't feeling well and wasn't able to come), Doug's Brother Joey and his family, Kris's sister Meg and her family (the Scholls), and Kris's friend Angela and her family (the Vivos). There were 9 kids all together. Fortunately, the Scholls brought Caitlyn's bouncer for the kids to play with in in the back yard. They had a ball playing in it all day. They also had a good time playing in Maddie's play room.

Doug and Kris were up late and up early Friday and Saturday baking Maddie's cake. We think it turned out pretty well. We made everything on the cake including the butterflies and flowers which was VERY time consuming, but worth the effort.

The party was a butterfly theme. The kids all got treat bags (the sticky hands were really popular) and we also had a butterfly pinata which was a big hit. Maddie's butterfly dress (which we had made) turned out very well too. Maddie got lots of presents and really enjoyed herself. She is at the point now where she actually tries to play with toys and make them work (she doesn't just chew on them). It is exciting to watch. She got a Disney Princess bat and ball that she would not put down. Most of our pictures of Maddie during the present opening have her holding the bat and ball.

We want to thank everyone who came to the party and thank you for celebrating Maddie's first birthday with us. The party was a lot of fun and we think (and hope) everyone enjoyed themselves. We think everyone (kids, dogs, and adults) will sleep well tonight!

Maddie's Birthday Cake which Doug and Kris made. We made the butterflies and flowers out of fondant icing.

Great-Grandma Betty and cousin Allison helping Maddie down the slide.

Maddie holding her baseball bat and playing with a puzzle from cousins Allison and Alex.

What'd I get Mommy?

Maddie playing with some cars from the Scholls.

Maddie loved the Winnie the Pooh paper.

Sitting on the Butterfly rocker Grandma and Grandpa Smith got for her. They also got the Elmo and Cookie monster.

Maddie was playing with some of the goodies from the treat bags.

The kids loved the pinata. Maddie pulled the first string.


Fun with the pinata

Here is the butterfly pinata.
Receiving her own special cake.

Picking at the icing.

Holding her baseball bat and ball while being helped along by friend Nina.

Maddie's First Build-A-Bear

Tonight we took Maddie to Build-A-Bear for the first time. She is not old enough to thoroughly enjoy the experience, but she did seem to have a good time. Maddie got a pink and white bear that she named Molly (well, daddy chose the name). Maddie got to kiss the heart that went inside Molly (She mainly just slobbered on the heart though!). Daddy pushed the pedal of the "stuffer" and washed Molly for Maddie. Picking an outfit took some time because the outfits with sequins and jewels (which is most of them) are choking hazards for infants. She settled on a pink unicorn t-shirt with an embroidered denim skirt. Molly also has Hello Kitty panties. Here are some pictures of our experience.

Kris and Maddie when we arrived

Maddie showing so much interest in picking out her animal

Doug and Maddie before stuffing her bear

Kris and Maddie with "Molly", the finished bear

Maddie sharing her stroller with her new friend Molly

Maddie's Almost 1!

This is a busy week for the Smith family as we get ready for Maddie's 1st birthday on Saturday. Everything has been going smoothly with the exception of Maddie's birthday dress. I had to find yet another lady to make her dress. The last lady bought fabric for the reverse side of the dress (it was going to be reversible so she could wear it after her b-day too) without even checking to see if I liked the print. She had not even started sewing the dress yet, but she gave me an ultimatum: either I buy the dress with the fabric SHE picked out for the reverse side or I look elsewhere for a dress. Needless to say, I will NOT be having her make an outfit for Maddie ever again! Anyway, I found an extremely nice lady here in Fort Wayne to make Maddie's dress. So, I think everything is going to turn out fine (I hope so!). I will keep you posted.

I took some cute pictures of Maddie in her high chair yesterday. As you can tell, she is very limber! Also, I videotaped Maddie walking (she is really walking a lot now). Enjoy!

Caitlyn's Birthday Party Weekend!

This past weekend, the Smith family traveled to Farmington Hills, MI to visit with the Scholls (Kris's sister Meg and her family). We were celebrating our niece Caitlyn's 3rd birthday. We cannot believe that she is 3 already. When we first arrived, Caitlyn immediately started searching for Maddie. She said, "Maddie is my favorite!" Caitlyn and Maddie played all weekend together. They did a little swimming (splashing) in the pool too. Maddie knew she was in a different house with LOTS of new toys. She would not stop getting into stuff and did not even want to stop playing to eat! Aiden has grown a lot more since we last saw him. He is a little cutie.

Caitlyn had a Dora the Explorer themed birthday with a cool Dora cake (sorry no picture). The cake had some purple icing as you can tell in the photograph below. We had a really good time and look forward to seeing the Scholls again next weekend for Maddie's 1st birthday party.

Caitlyn eating the purple icing on the Dora cake.

Caitlyn showing Maddie how to play the Dora memory game.

Aiden looking cute chewing on his bristle buddy.

Maddie de-linting her cover-up before swimming

Catilyn and her cousin Logan playing in the Bouncer Caitlyn got from her Grandma Scholl. Maddie got in it later and crawled around a little. She loved it. This gift was definitely a big hit!