Oh Tennessee!!

Madeline had just turned 11 months on our first family vacation. We flew into Nashville, TN, and drove to Fall Creek Falls National Park. It was the perfect first vacation for our little family. We stayed in a sweet little cabin in the woods with one of our favorite families! We took turns cooking each night and the guys enjoyed a couple of rounds of golf.

 

 

We explored a local cavern with the girls…and the leaky sippy cup. This thing was a thorn in our side the whole trip. We couldn’t let it get sideways, so Jeff was stuck holding it for the entire tour…which was a couple of hours. Madeline did great, as long as I was holding her. Thank goodness for baby carriers!

 

A water feature park and aquarium was next on the list. We had a blast watching Dillan play! She has such a fun and sweet personality. To see the world through a child’s eyes. Madeline had fun sticking her feet in the water, but wasn’t big enough to play along beside D yet. My mind couldn’t help but wonder to the future and think about all the vacations ahead of us and how much I look forward to showing our babies the world. What a precious gift God has entrusted to us. Madeline is a hater of naps and fought like a champ that day. She FINALLY fell asleep in the darkness of the aquarium….10 minutes before it was over. Story.Of.Our.Life. Jeff found an amazing little pizza place…and if there is anything that the Goodmans love, it’s pizza. We got a little lost trying to find it, but luckily our travel partners are a cool bunch and didn’t mind the detour. I told Jeff, you know…it’s moments like these that you look back and laugh at. The (wretched) sippy cup…getting lost. When I keep that in mind, it doesn’t bother me so much when things don’t go exactly as planned.

 

 We were so worried about traveling with an 11 month old, but I have to say, Madeline was SUCH a trooper! She slept most of the plane ride and played peek a boo with surrounding passengers when she was awake. That girl can charm pretty much anyone. And if she sees that her inital attempts of attention-getting isn't working on someone, she feels the need to kick up the cuteness to dangerous levels. Strangers don't have a chance. :)

 

Happy Birthday Madeline Rose!

Happy Birthday Madeline Rose!! 

You have become so much more interested in books and pretend that you are reading them!

I love, love how you “chatter” in the back seat when we are driving. I can’t help but smile.

You are finally sleeping through the night! Praise the Lord! I was beginning to wonder if you ever would. If only we had known that a box fan was the key!

You nap 2 times a day.

You have begun to point at things and to communicate in different ways. When you are unhappy, you will sometimes grunt or growl (so it seems).

You weaned from nursing 2 days after your birthday and have done AMAZING with it!

You have started to push things around and walk behind them! I couldn’t believe it when I saw you moving across the floor with the laundry basket. It won’t be long now!

You love to hold our hands and walk and are pretty insistent on doing this a LOT.

We celebrated your first birthday with a Winnie the Pooh theme, since you have become our “Pooh Bear”. I wanted it to be more girly and unique, so I went for a vintage style. I decorated with pink ribbon, yellow polka dots, and burlap. It turned out perfect! You wore the prettiest antique yellow dress with a matching hair bow. I had your cake made by Catering 4 You, the same place that made our wedding cake. I had tried to make it myself, but it didn't turn out at all! I called everywhere trying to find a place to air up your balloons. I finally found someone that would do it, but they could only do a few since they were almost out of helium. Your Pawpaw and I made a wooden sign for the front entry that was theme oriented. I know you won’t remember this party, but your Daddy and I considered it to be VERY special and wanted to celebrate you in a big way! 

Daddy spent MONTHS putting together this very sweet and amazing video of your first year of life.

 

 

A few pictures from your party!

 

 

 

Happy Birthday sweet Madeline Rose. You are the love of our lives!