Intensity

Madeline likes to play in her Exersaucer... the first few times we showed her how to spin the wheels she was still taking it all in, but by the third time she'd become pretty intense about it to the exclusion of all else. Here she is focusing in to spin the heck out of these wheels.

Football Pal

Madeline loves to put her arm around us to hold on or just to say, "hey, you're my buddy." Here she is enjoying some Army football with Dave last weekend.

Posed Girls

Of course we had to take some posed shots in matching dresses. Thanks, Aunt Toni and Uncle Mark!

With Cousin Colette

Madeline loved meeting her company, but definitely spent some time sizing up the whole situation.

Here Colette tries to share her sippy cup with Madeline.

Aunt Toni and Uncle Mark

This weekend, Aunt Toni, Uncle Mark and of course darling Colette came to meet Madeline and spend some time in warm San Antonio.

Colette loved her tag ball when she was Madeline's age too.

Bell Family

This was taken in our backyard on Friday... thanks so much Jules!! It's not often we get good pictures with all 3 of us at once.

Tennis

My last tennis match of the season was yesterday, and Madeline wore a new tennis outfit to see me off... note the little bear holding a tennis racket - thanks grandma!

At Artisans Alley

We took Madeline to nearby Artisans Alley this weekend, where they hosted a holiday cooking smackdown featuring several of our favorite restaurants. It was the first time she got out and about in her baby Bjorn and she loved getting a close look at all the action.

Looking very interested in Jason Dady's tres leches cheesecake. She's already got good taste - it was delicious!! Notice how she's got both hands on top of Dave's ... she's been doing this more lately, and it's really darling. She'll put her hands on ours while we're doing something she'd like to learn more about.

Getting prepped in the Bjorn before we headed out.

Exersaucer at last!

For weeks, Madeline has looked longingly at her exersaucer, but wasn't big enough to really enjoy it until this weekend. All that time considering the bright colors and the fun she'd have proved rewarding in the end; as you can see she loves it. She was very proud.

First Wurstfest

Today we ventured to New Braunfels for the famous "10-day salute to sausage" known also as the Wurstfest. It was an absolutely gorgeous sunny day and Madeline wore a colorful sunhat (thanks Aunt Cathy!) The pictures are from inside the "Wursthalle" where oompah bands play all day long and Madeline got to try her first Chicken Dance (see video below).

Madeline might not be the biggest fan of polka... she tugged her hat down to try to get a little quiet in her stroller. It was very cute- she's preserving her nap time.