Our Weekend: Amanda's Wedding

This weekend we traveled to Louisiana for my cousin Amanda's wedding!  This was Maddy's first wedding to attend and she took it rather seriously. Despite being only 15 months old, she partied like a rock star with the best of them!

We arrived on Friday evening and was greeted by our Houma Homies with a personal crawfish boil. We all had a good time hangin out with the family and Maddy enjoyed running around outside and getting to stay up late. 

The wedding was on Saturday. Maddy and Brandon had to opt for a seat in the back of the church and sacrifice a good view of the ceremony due to Maddy's new gift of gab.  Amanda made an absolutely beautiful bride.  The groom and the wedding party looked pretty good, too. 

The ceremony was followed by the reception... this is the part where Maddy made her debut. The reception included yummy hor d'oeuvres, cocktails, mingling, and of course dancing.

We did not intend for Maddy to be a rock star, but her true personality just came out. She absolutely loved watching the band and once she got warmed up she started dancing and putting on her show. She spent most of her time on the dance floor and probably danced more than anyone else there. To be modest, she received lots of attention and she was not bothered by it one bit. She was just like a little magnet attracting guests to join in her fun.  She made sweet with several of the band members and attempted to climb on the stage several times.  Towards the end during "Tonight's Gonna Be a Good Night," one of the singers reached for her and held Maddy while she sang the song.  Maddy went with it and clapped along. We did not truly capture all of Maddy's glory in pictures, but we did manage to get a few. If you hang on until the end of the blog... you can catch a video of Maddy!

Other guests enjoyed the party too. 

The sisters and Papa

Maddy with her Cuncle Petie

The Haywood's

Celebrating with my lil Rock Star

Gracie and Emily

The Girl Cousins

The Girl Cousins with Maddy

Amanda and Marshall, your wedding was lots of fun and we all enjoyed every minute of it.  Thanks for letting us be a part of it.  Congrats and I hope you will remember all the special little details of your wedding day for many many years to come.

Well, Maddy's first wedding experience was a success!  I'm sure she is looking forward to many more.  As I promised a little video Brandon captured... watch for her little move...

did you catch the bow!

See you soon, 
Sarah 

Great STRIDES

Figuratively and physically, Maddy has taken some big strides.  I was getting a little nervous that she was not going to walk before she was 15 months.  She has been walking along furniture, using a push toy and even holding our hand to walk for a few months now.  It just took her a little longer to get the courage and the balance to just pop up and begin walking. For the past month she would never take more than 3 or 4 steps on her own.
The Saturday before Easter, April 7, she decided she would just get up from crawling and start walking.  We started counting her steps and she was making it to 7 or even 10 steps.  The past week she has continued to walk a lot more.  She isn't walking exclusively yet, but I'm sure its just around the corner. 

Easter

Christ is risen... He is truly risen...
because of Easter we are able to enjoy this life on Earth and are still promised eternal life in Heaven. 

Our Easter celebration was quite simple, but perfect! Maddy woke up to find a little basket filled with a few books and a little toy purse (this was an overdue Christmas present) and a few eggs. 

Then we headed to mass for the True celebration of our Christianity! Maddy was able to join us today, too, instead of going to the nursery.  She did a great job, but we now know why we will continue to bring her there on Sundays. 

After mass we headed to Loli and Pops' for lunch.  Loli had a special basket for Maddy. 

 Maddy had her very own mini Easter egg hunt.  She did well, considering she just began walking like yesterday.  She enjoyed eating a little dirt, too. 

 Hopefully you will be hearing from me again soon!
Sarah