It feels like a lot has been happening lately. Madison had her first real sickness, which has been sad to see. Our usual bubbly and active baby has been so lethargic and sleepy with high fevers. We didn't want to take her to daycare so Bryan got home in the morning after working all night and not sleeping at all to care for her while I went to school. He is the best and loves his maddles!  I finish nursing school next Friday. Crazy right?  It went by soo fast! We are thinking my next step is to get my RN to BSN out here, so it's all done when we move. Bryan is on the ICU (intensive care unit) and it has been long hours, but is going fast.

 Also Madison is 9 months now!!! She has experienced every month but November and December now, and I think she is going to like them! Here we are on a typical day downtown again. As you may have noticed it is a go to thing we love to do.

 Last weekend it got cold, so Madi got to bundle up all cute in her snugly clothes and hat! This was during conference weekend, which happens to be one of our favorites!

 Every night before Madi goes to bed we like to read her stories. It is such a fun time, because she sits still on my lap for like 2 minutes! a rarity with her.

Madison has had a very busy schedule. On top of growing, learning new things, eating new foods, napping, laughing, and jabbering she has found time to enjoy the National Zoo.

She has also learned how to clap. This is something she likes to do a lot, and takes this skill very seriously.

She is a frequent park visitor, and has a special spot in her heart for the swing, and for those wood chips she is constantly putting in her mouth.

s

What is it about kids in winter clothes? Even though it's like 80 degrees outside I couldn't pass it up!

 She also went to her friends birthday party.  I love how they all gathered around while she got ready to eat her very own cake!

 She has also been having a love for stuffed animals.  She likes to go up to them and tackle them. Its super cute.

Say Cheese!!!

Shenandoah Valley

This weekend we very last minute decided to go to Shenandoah.  It's something we have been told is a must see around here, but just haven't gone. It was really beautiful and fun to get away.  There is the skyline drive which was amazing, but our camera died.

 

 On our family friendly hike

Our friends Mike and Mira were able to come as well. It was fun to have them come along.

Sweet little Madi is growing up on us way too fast!

 

Well, Bryan has started on the ICU for the next 2 months, and my schooling has started so things have gotten a little crazy around here again.  We will be happy to get through this little patch!

Mom comes to town, earthquakes and baseball games

My mom got to come in town last week, which was so fun.  She was in town for about 5 days, and we made those days count.  We went to Old town Alexandria to get some delicious salt water taffy and lunch, we went shopping, we went downtown, we went to Annapolis to go swimming, we played cards, and made dinners and exercised. We went on a fun nature walk type hike also in Virginia.  It was so fun  to have her around for the week!        

 Here they are in Old town

Madison helping Bryan play cards (it worked well, he won!)

We also got to take Madi to her first baseball game.  It was the Nationals vs. the Diamondbacks.  She loved it, we loved it, it was a nice night. 

 After the game Madi crashed!

And lastly, we felt our first EARTHQUAKE yesterday.  It was kind of wild.  For me it sounded like someone was moving a HUGE piece of furniture and I was thinking what is that? Then the whole house started to shake. Then I think I started to shake! It ended up being minor, but it was a weird feeling at the time not knowing how bad it could be, and having no control over it.  Bryan was having a consent signed by a patient during it.  There was a little damage around the area, this is one house we saw.  The temple spears fell off because of it.



This last weekend Brad and Shanna were able to come and visit us, which was a BLAST! We were able to try a bunch of great food, see a lot of great sites, and spend some great time together.

 I think the couple to the left has a great shoot right there

We went to the newsuem, which was a great museum.  Here is Shanna showing off her reporting skills.

 Brad and Maddles bonding

DC summer nights

Sometimes there are nights in DC where it is so HOT that you are drinched in sweat within 30 seconds.  Then there are other nights when everything is just kind of perfect. That was tonight. Tonight we took a nice stroll downtown, listened to jazz in the park, did some people watching and relaxed on the lawn.  Madison took grass picking very seriously. She was pulling it up with both hands as fast as she could (and putting it in her mouth) and you could not get her to look up. It made us laugh!

 Our DC native!

Madison at the Park

Madison likes to go to the park and so we try to take her there.  This park is over by the temple, and is really pretty. 

Just Chillin

                       The wood chips went straight to the mouth (along with EVERYTHING else!) That's what happens when you are growing teeth, her second one just popped up.

 This is her after, I love how proud she gets when she stands herself up.