More Maddi Walking!

Maddi is walking more and more! She's getting a little better at it but still falls a lot. She is able to go longer stretches without falling. Here's a video of her from this weekend. I am also posting a lot more on our myspace page: www.myspace.com/fennellclan. I have acquired quite a few video clips of her walking trying to get good ones to post. It takes me awhile to load them so it might be a couple days before they are all up. But I'm working on it. And I am aware that my video skills are not up to par. It is very difficult to try to video and look over the camera at the same time to make sure I'm not going to have to save her from smacking into the coffee table or some other object! I do my best though!

Outside Fun

Maddi helped me outside this weekend while I was putting up our fall decorations. She loves being outside! Here are some pics! Enjoy!

Sissi's Birthday

Sunday was my mom's birthday. (We won't mention which one!) We went out to my parents house and then we met up at Buffalo Wild Wings to eat, watch football, and play trivia. I must say that overall I think I won! Ha ha! And for the second year in a row, my brother and I unknowingly picked out the same birthday card for my mom. Great minds think alike!! We had a great time and hope that Sissi did too!

Sissi and Maddi both wearing their Tony Romo jerseys. Go Cowboys!

Hot Air Balloon Festival

We went to the Plano Balloon Festival this weekend and had an...ok time. I knew the balloons lifted off at 7 am and 6pm. But due to Maddi's schedule I also knew we wouldn't be able to make either of those times. However, we got there around 9. Now, seeing as this is a balloon festival, I figured there would still be atleast one or a few balloons on the ground or atleast visible in the sky. Not so. There was not a balloon to be seen for miles. Needless to say, we got in at the discounted rate but I was still kind of disappointed that we didn't even get to see ONE. We walked around for a little while and stopped at a few of the booths. It turned more into a scouting mission for next year where we will definitely try to make lift-off. So, the only pics I have to post are the ones on the bus to and from the "festival." It was kind of weird though. From the time you learn you are having a baby, all you hear about are ways to keep your child safe. The most important one being a car seat. But you get on a public transportation bus and you don't even have a seat belt to hold you or your child! Kind of a scary feeling. But we survived!

She thinks she knows how to drink from a straw.

Finally!

Finally, we got her on video taking a few steps! She is getting better at it. She is now taking a few steps on her own at times to get to a toy and instead of us trying to call her to us. Of course, right now she looks somewhat like Frankenstein when she walks. You will also get to see some of her dancing in this video as well. She LOVES to dance! It's so much fun watching her learn new things!

Ashly's New House

Maddi and I went to see Ashly and Scott's new house today. It is a very pretty house and we enjoyed getting to see it. As well as getting to see Ashly, Kaily, and Sadee! While we were there Maddi decided to do some more walking! Of course I was without the video recorder! I had briefly thought about bringing it but decided not too. Don't know what I was thinking! However, Ashly managed to get it on video with her camera! Yay! Unfortunately, we had difficulty getting it uploaded. Boo again! But hopefully she will either get it uploaded eventually or else I will catch it on our recorder again soon! Here are some pics of us hanging out with all the girls!

Kaily painting.

Kaily took this picture. Not too bad for a four year old.

Maddi wearing Aunt Ashly's hat! Cute!

Maddi and Sadee.

Cute cousins!

Sadee in her exer-saucer!

Kaily entertaining the little girls!

Our visit to Bud and Sissi's schools

We originally had planned on going to Galveston this weekend for a PA conference that was scheduled down there and also a family vacation to the beach. However, as you all know, that idea was kaboshed by ol' Ike! Needless to say I was very disappointed. I was really looking forward to taking Maddi to the beach for the first time. I guess I should be thankful though that Ike came through when he did and not this weekend after we were already down there. That would not have been fun either. We are also thankful that our families made it through without too much damage and no injuries. Both Moss and I have family in the Houston area. Moss' parents who live in The Woodlands didn't get power back until last night. And some of my family who live closer to the coast are still without power. Hopefully, it won't be too much longer though. And I guess we will just have to wait a little longer for our beach vacation!

Since I still had the time off I had to find something to do. So I took Maddi to see my parents in Azle where they work. For those who don't know, my mom is the principal at Hoover Elementary in Azle (5th and 6th graders) and my dad is a teacher/coach at Azle High School where I graduated from. We moved to Azle when I was in 1st grade and I grew up knowing many of the teachers and coaches very well who still work at the schools. So I thought it would be fun to take Maddi up there to show her off. We went to see my dad first. Then we went and met my mom at El Paseo for lunch (my favorite Mexican food restaurant ever!) Then finally we went up to Hoover to hang out with Mom for the rest of the afternoon. Here are some pics from our visit.

P.S. As suspected, after taking her first steps on Saturday, Maddi hasn't done much more trying to walk since then. She finally tried again tonight a little bit. But not much more than 2-3 steps at a time. So she's taking it slow. We'll keep you updated!


I bought this dress for Maddi to take on our Galveston trip. I thought it would look so pretty in pictures with the ocean behind her. Needless to say, although I always think she is pretty, it's just not the same in our backyard as it would have been on the beach. But I was determined that she still wear it!


Maddi with Bud and Sissi at El Paseo.

Sitting in Sissi's chair!

Meeting some of Mom's students.

Chillin' with Sissi!

Maddi making herself at home!

Caught! Attempting to escape down the hall.

Drinking out of her sippy cup like a big girl!

"Helping" Sissi out with her paperwork!