daddy's girl

It is so fun watching Paul as a dad. He is just so great at it and I can just see how much that he enjoys it. I couldn't ask for a better husband/father to Madilyn. They have such a cute relationship and I have really seen just how much dad's mean to their children. It is the best :)
He always thinks of fun stuff that I would never think of and Madilyn has such a great time with him.



They just melt my heart when I see them together. Last Saturday, Paul took Madilyn on a hike up by Alta ski resort. He gave me a whole Saturday to myself and it was awesome. I got to shop and just hang around the house (decorating, etc...things I love to do) while they spent some time together.
They hiked 6 miles and even got to put their feet in the cold lake that they hiked too. This was Madilyn's reaction. She was squealing in delight.
Daddy let her share his apple :)

Nap time in the hammock.
What a pair. There is just something so special about a dad and his daughter :) I am so fortunate to have these two in my life.

Sunday morning at the pool

She looks like she is a pro at this and it was her first time swimming! She absolutely loved swimming and we had a great time playing with her in the water.
She is trying to figure out the green floaty! She loved the way it would squeak when she rubbed her hands on it :)
Our little water baby!
having fun with dad in the pool.

Carrying things around....

Madilyn loves to carry things around with her as she crawls. They are always just random things that she finds and then decides to keep them with her most of the day. On this particular day a week and a 1/2 ago it was hilarious. Can you see what she decided to carry around all day? Priceless.

Tennis!

We have been having so much fun playing tennis this summer. On the nights that we aren't out hiking, we are usually playing tennis with Paul's parents and have even gotten my parents into it! It is so great to get together and play! Madilyn has fun watching and playing at the park too.
It is a fun way to spend time together and to get a great workout!

She is growing up so fast!

It really is true, that the baby stage is over way to fast and all the sudden you have a toddler! Madilyn is really turning into a little lady. She is standing up on her own now, all she wants to do is practice walking (this always involves the stairs..ahhh!) and she doesn't want to be held/cuddle anymore...she prefers crawling and just being down on the floor. Where has our baby gone?

Toddling along with her dad. I can't get over those cute baby legs and the diaper booty.
Little lady.
One of her favorite things to do is play in the grass. She loves to walk in it, crawl in it, and explore everything in it.

We are so lucky....

To be living where we live! Such wonderful hiking trails are only minutes away. We had forgotten how much we enjoy being able to take evening hikes in the summer. We are so happy to be near the canyons and trails that we love so much. We have definitely taken advantage so far. We are averaging about 3 hikes each week.
What a beautiful trail, beautiful evening, and a wonderful time we had. I can't think of a better way to spend time as a family. Isn't this beautiful? The flowers smelled so good and the temperature was perfect.
But this was my favorite view! (not Paul's butt!) just the two most important people to me hiking along :)
We are so lucky that she LOVES to hike (well ride around) in the outdoors with us. She "talks" the whole time and giggles and smiles. It's the best.

I just love her cute, chubbers legs dangling as we hike along...so cute.

The Many Faces of Madilyn.....

Content and sleepy with her favorite bear at my parent's house. She always finds this bear when she is there...they are best friends :)
"Get that camera out of my face!"
Determined mixed with a little anger and frustration (she was working on crawling).
"No way, are you serious?"
Bored/tired.
Disgusted maybe?
A little sad/concerned.
surprised!
Just plain beautiful.
Happy/content. She loves to stick her tongue out when she is happy. I love this shot of her.
Her famous "frog face" upside down.
A little angry/over-tired.
Her arms are blurry because she flails them up and down when she is not happy. (hmmm..a little hint of what is to come in her toddlerhood...tantrums).
"you don't say...."
Happy girl!
Silly/Proud Madilyn
More silly Madilyn
Determined
Pouty/adorable/maybe a little too much sun in her eyes?
Silly! This is the way that she is most of the time...playful and silly. She loves to laugh and play and do silly things to make me laugh.
Forward thinking....

Just plain mischievous! She gets this look a lot too. She has so many cute expressions... these are just a selection of some of my favorites that I have been lucky enough to catch in pictures. It is so great to see such an awesome little personality emerging in her. What a joy she is to us! (well most of the time :)