Happy Candy and Costume Day

Madeline had not one, but two costumes to wear today, her first Halloween. She wore her little punkin’ outfit all day while we were out running errands. She gathered quite a few “awww how cute” comments while we were at the grocery store and lunch with a friend.

Tonight we dressed her up as Dr. Madeline. She had scrubs, a surgical hat and mask, and even a stethoscope. I tried to keep that out of her mouth, though, since it was made in China….

Rachel is home for the weekend, and she came over tonight to see Madeline all dressed up. After she went to bed we pulled out our video tapes and watched about an hour of footage of our precious girl. As I watched her grow and change before my eyes on the screen, I was reminded how unbelievably fast this thing is happening. I will never have that little two-month-old baby again. Or that four-and-a-half month old. Or, most importantly, the seven-and-a-half-month-old that I have right now. It made me want to go get her out of bed and just rock for a while. Today is the best day of my life. Every day is. May I remember to cherish each one.

Free to Fly

I’ve had this song running through my mind and my heart all evening. Sara Groves is, without question, my favorite singer. She writes all of her own music. She often expresses perfectly what I would like to say, if only I were so talented. Sara has three kids and a couple years ago released a CD called Station Wagon: Songs for Parents. This song is from that CD.

Small Piece Of You
I just want a small piece of you
a token to put in my pocket
and I will own that one thing
and it would make me happy
I just want a small piece of you
somethin’ to put in a locket
and I will look at it daily
and that will make me happy

I guess it's human nature to want to hold you very still
I guess it's in a mother to inject a little guilt
Go on son and see the world; I hope you see it all
But please please, please don't forget to call

Free to fly, free to go, free to not look back
That's how free I want you though it scares me half to death
Free to wander miles and miles and free to come back home
That's how free I want you though it chills me to the bone

...Go on son and spread your wings; I hope that you take flight
But please please, please don't forget to write

I know you're just a baby sleeping in your bed
And you probably have other thoughts drifting through your head
I know this conversation's a little premature
It's just that I've heard eighteen years goes by like a blur

...I know that it's not fair for me to hold you down now is it
But please please, please don't forget to visit

Free to fly free to go free to come back home...

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! No...It's Daddy!

Well, let me start by saying that I am really jealous. I have loved to climb things since I was a little tyke. Having a tree house with a rope ladder has been a lifelong dream for me. I love to be up high and to see things from above. I get a little annoying if I am not sitting at the window seat on airplane trips because I will end up practically in the lap of the person who is. I have such fun trying to figure out where we are and what we are seeing as we take off and land. So yesterday, Daniel got the enviable opportunity to fly over all of downtown and west Nashville hanging out the side of a helicopter. Without me! It was homecoming at Vanderbilt, and his mission was to take overhead shots of the jam-packed football stadium. The pilot seriously did take off the door on the side that he and the videographer were sitting on so that nothing would block their view. Lucky! It was a gorgeous day, and he got some great photos. Here are a couple take from down below of the helicopter.



Daniel is the one in the red jacket.



This is the copter flying by the stadium lights.

Here are a few of the cool shots that he got from up above:



The Vanderbilt stadium



Part of the Vandy campus



Downtown Nashville



The Tennessee capitol building



And here is a pic of Madeline and me cheering Vandy on from home. Love the hoodie!

Here Goes Nothin'

So I’m jumping on the bandwagon. I am officially a blogger. I have long considered starting a blog, but my fears have held me back: what if I can’t figure it out, what if no one is interested in what I have to write, what if I get tired of updating the silly thing… But fear is a poor excuse for not doing something that I want to do. So here we go!

Madeline is seven months old now, still in the 96^th percentile for her size, and becoming more fun every day. She is sitting up now, babbling all the time, and in love with ceiling fans and the cat. She is a great sleeper, gobbles up sweet potatoes and avocado, and fascinated with her little hands. She is a good natured little kid – she rarely cries. She is very quiet and observant of her surroundings when we are in public, and I like to believe that she will be a thinker and a listener as she grows up.

Here are a few recent photos of life at our house:

This was on a hike at Hidden Lake State Park near our house.

M and her daddy. I found this backpack at a consignment store for $10! Love it.

It's never too early to start teaching dental hygiene.

Madeline "helping" me cook dinner.

More household help from Madeline.

Madeline's snazziest fall outfit.