The Biederman Bunch

Super Soph....

2010-10-06T21:48:00.000-07:00

Sophia is three months!! Crazy how time flies. We are doing well and starting to settle into good sleeping routines and patterns throughout the day AND night!! :)

We love our little Soph sooo much. It's amazing how much capacity for love your heart has...

I'm not sure if it's because I know this season will pass so quickly and feel like it is! OR if Sophia is really just a bit ahead of the curve, or at any rate, at least ahead of her sister...but man...she has certainly earned the nickname of SUPER SOPHIA around our house....

Sophia actually rolled over before she was even 12 weeks old!

I thought maybe it was a fluke, but then she just kept doing it!! She is a strong little lady, and at 2 weeks old, at an ultrasound of her hips, the technician claimed that Sophia was stronger than many 4 month old babies she'd seen!!! YIKES!! Perhaps she'll be the athlete in the family!

Sophia also took to sitting in her bumbo chair very early! I thought it was typically introduced around 3 months...she's been sitting in it for weeks...well sort of!

I feel like Sophia has SO much to say! She is always talking and cooing. It is the sweetest sound for sure. After she's had a good nap and full tummy...she is just the happiest little girl to be around. So sweet!

Goin' for a ride!

and P.S.....I finally know why little baby swings and bouncer seats have 5-point harnesses!! Madelyn was so calm and tiny, that I NEVER used the harness. She was always fine! Oh dear...Soph is still straining forward with the harness tightened right up!!!

Just love this sweet picture. Look at those delicious little chubby cheeks.

YUM!

And a happy picture of Madelyn!

She loves her swing and outdoor playtime! She is doing well, too. She is taking gymnastics classes once a week and we recently started a MOPS program as well. She is our little buddy and we think she's hilarious. Quite the little humorous personality coming out!

And yes...she still loves PINK..........LOVES it......

Sophia Carol Joins our Bunch...

2010-08-26T11:10:00.001-07:00

We welcomed Sophia Carol into our family on July 9, 2010 at 11:18pm. Sophia means "wisdom from God" and Carol was my mom's middle name. I had thought about using Carol as a middle name for Madelyn and decided at the last minute not to. I think my mom would be embarassed to be honest. She never wanted any sort of attention. So I felt that that was the right decision at that time. Though, since then, I have often thought about how it would have been nice. Having a second girl, gave me that opportunity back. It wasn't even a discussion. Carol was the middle name right from the start. I just wish my mom could meet her.

It certainly is an adjustment going from only one child to two! We are back to sleepless nights and familiar crying and poopy diapers. What we aren't familiar with this time around is how to handle having a toddler, a very active toddler who likes to wake up at 6:15am, at the same time!! I think it is safe to say, nearly 7 weeks in, we are much more sleep-deprived this time around! hah. But our love of course is abounding for both of our precious girls.

The story of how Sophia came into the world started back in June....Her due date was June 30th, and for some un-founded reason, Kurt and I were SO SURE that she would be early!! So we sat, fairly immobilized, all of June....waiting........and waiting.........My due date came and went and there really was no progress at all! I had a c-section with Madelyn and hoped to have a v-bac with Sophia, but as time passed we wondered if my body would go into labor naturally or if my doctor would have to perform another c-section, because she didn't want me to go too past my due date. So anyway, we prayed and waited, hoping some 4th of July fireworks might get things going....Nope. On July 6th we went in for a check and were told there was no progress. We were going to have a semi-induction on July 9th. It was a "semi" induction, because my doctor did not want to put me on pitocen with a prior c-section. So she was going to break my water and I was going to walk, walk, walk all around the hospital so as to start up labor! It worked! And long story short....I was in labor for about 12 hours total, but everything progressed well and I had a successful V-Bac! Yay! I felt what it was like to labor. Ouch.

Annnndd....enough about that. We have a beautiful and very big baby to show for it. Here are some photos of our first weeks.....

Welcome to the world...sweet girl!

And ohh, was she healthy...9 lbs 11 oz!!!

Proud big sis meeting Sophia for the first time...

Lots of precious sister moments already....

My dear friend, Lindsey, served as my doula through the entire labor. Having both her and Kurt by my side was a huge blessing! Thank you, Lindsey. Thank you, Kurt.

Pondering what this life is all about!

tiny toes

lots of rolls to love and squeeze!

Proud papa.

Sophia has to wear a Pavlik Harness, like Madelyn, to help one of her hips that is slightly dislocated. Should be just a few weeks...

doesn't seem to bother her much ;)

baby bathtime :)

Madelyn passing on her love of books....

My suddenly very big girl!!

What happened?!

lots of dots

at 5 weeks, Sophia started grinning at us! We haven't been able to catch it on camera yet. Here is a smile in her sleep at 2 weeks! :) :)

Looking up to sister already!

loves...

bonding with Aunt Colleen.

ohh...how I love my girls!

Just this last week, we had a friend's sister take some prof. pictures of our family of four! These are just a few of our favorites....

I sure do love where we live. Seattle is beautiful in the summer!

I think this one was the all-time favorite of the day. Those rolls look so yummy. Those eyes are deep and beautiful. And that grin is priceless.

Welcome to our crazy family, Sophia. We are honored and blessed that the Lord would entrust you to us. We pray for you and your sister, every day.

We love you so much!!

Celebrating 3 years of Madelyn Grace!

2010-06-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

We are just days, even hours away from becoming a family of four! In these last weeks as we wait, not so patiently, for our second little lady, I have found myself very nostalgic, thinking back on the last three wonderful years. Madelyn Grace, forever our first-born child, was welcomed into the world on June 27, 2007. Though our girls won't share a birthday, they sure are close! Being a mother and a parent with Kurt has been the best experience of my life. Those of you that have known me throughout my life, know that motherhood was something that I anticipated with extreme excitement. I loved my teaching job, and I've loved other things in my life, but I truly feel that I was made for motherhood. It is such an indescribable feeling of love that overwhelms you when you hold your first child for the very first time. You really never knew that you could LOVE that deeply. I have learned so much about Christ's love for me and his patient and forgiving nature toward me as I have stumbled along this journey of parenting. Madelyn is a sweet sweet natured little girl. She has a sensitive heart to do what is right and she exudes love, laughter, and excitement wherever she goes. She can be quiet and reserved in some social settings, perhaps a bit introverted, but when she is with her family and her closest friends, she comes alive and simply "loves to talk", as she will tell you herself. She is nurturing beyond anything I could imagine a 3-year-old to be, and takes care of her "baby doe" with crazy love, and tries (unsuccessfully) to love our dog that much as well. As any parent out there, I have found myself trying to not boast so much in my little girl. It is a humbling role, to show love to your child and think that they are the absolute BEST, and yet not become too proud! I can already see what it will feel like the first time some little kid in school tries to bully Madelyn. Oh dear. Hold me back. I could go on and on about my daughter, but I'll stop here. You understand :) But in all the looking back, I looked through hundreds of pictures I've taken and have tried to compile some of my favorites for your viewing! Life for Madelyn will look different when she's not the only little lady in the house, and that will bring many new adventures and lessons for us all!! So, for my girl, one last post, just for her! And stay tuned....in just days we'll have some snapshots of her little sister up here too....

Where it all began! I think I was about 5 months pregnant here!

So excited :)

And we've made it full-term!

First shot of our family of THREE!

First bath!

So tiny when they're born!

Like a little bird

A little more tired than anticipated....

So much sleep in the beginning!

Back in the days of the harness. Madelyn was born with her hips displaced. It seemed so devastating at the time that she would have to wear a harness for 6 weeks. So minor when you look back!! Certainly glad for it though, now she runs around so easily!

Buddies Mia and Kylia, all two months apart...

Back in the days when Griffie thought he ran the show ;)

Such bright little eyes!

Bath-time...always a favorite!

First Halloween with buddy, Mia!

A trip to G and CC's in Florida, trying out the pool...

"Look what I can do!!"

First time at the Atlantic Ocean!

First Thanksgiving!

Celebrating first Christmas in Alaska at Papa and Mimi's house!

First cousin shot with Sierra and Jasmine!

Just being silly...

Back when she thought dirt was weird...

First shots of her standing and taking her first steps!

May 2008

"I'm one-year-old!!!"

Celebrating!!

Fun times at the NJ Shore!

I love this stage of just toddling around....

Just getting in teeth...

What a chubby little grin :) :)

Can't get enough of those eyes!

Fun times at the cabin in Alaska!

Sheer silliness!

Second Christmas, in Florida.

unsuccessful cousin shot with Ben and Nate!

Sunny times in FL

Family shot!

So sleepy! Getting too big for her crib :(

All of a sudden...looking so big!

Mia and Maddie :)

Fun times with buddy Lachlan :)

I miss those chubby little legs already!

Haircut right before her second birthday...

"I'm 2!!"

Happy Birthday to me!

A play-doh party with my pals!

First camping experience (for both of us!!) at Lake Chelan!

Love this shot!

Always toting baby Doe!

Third Christmas, down in FL!

Getting soo big!

With Kylia....

and with Mia....

Loves the park!

Playing dress-up....

Learning to swim....

LOVE baby DOE!!!

Becoming ALL girl!!

Still love them eyes....

Just like Daddy....

Best best friends!!

Starting to get real difficult to get a normal shot of this one!

"I just turned 3!!!"

Wow!!! Can't believe how fast time flies by!! Happy 3 years to our girl, Madelyn Grace! We love you so much!

And the verdict is...

2010-02-13T08:31:00.000-08:00

We are having another sweet baby girl!!! We were very fortunate to have a long ultrasound on Thursday afternoon where we looked at our little girl from head to toe...and everything looks perfect. What an amazing gift from God. Not only that God would entrust us to raise and love a little child, but that she would be formed healthy and perfectly. God is so good. And I must say, Madelyn could NOT be happier about having a little sister!!

I will admit, though, I think in the back of our minds, both Kurt and I were kind of hoping for a boy. Kurt comes from a family of three boys and it was only my brother and I in our family. Boys just seem a little more familiar to us! Having two girls is such a foreign idea to me. And I can't help but think of the drama that will certainly ensue in our household, the competition between sisters, the cost of two weddings, and the list goes on a bit longer....oh my. BUUUTTT, I also know that God has a way of giving us things that challenge us and shape us into the people he desires us to become, and well, that is exciting. And seeing how Madelyn lights up when she talks about her "baby sister" and the way she talks to my tummy already, and is so eager to share her room, and to pick out clothes for her, I can't help but get choked up about the relationship that is already brewing. A relationship that is so unfamiliar to me, but one that seems so absolutely precious...sisters! And not to mention that holding a sweet and delicate little girl was so fun with Madelyn and I really can't wait to hold another....now I'm just going crazy in my mind wondering what she will look like and what she will be like! I will tell you....I do feel this little girl kicking a BIT more than I did Madelyn...uh oh.

We don't have a name picked out for this little one yet, for those of you curious ears! It's hard having another girl when we feel like we already used our favorite girl name....we have a list though and I'm sure we'll figure out a name that will be perfect :) We'll keep you posted....

Maggie and Billy get married!!!

2010-01-02T13:36:00.001-08:00

3 days after Christmas, Maggie and Billy were set to be married!! It was so fun to not only be in Florida for our fun Christmas celebration, but also be involved with all of the festivities leading up to their big day!! It was such a fun time and an absolutely beautiful wedding with a gorgeous bride and dapper groom! Congratulations Billy and Maggie!! We are so thrilled for you!

Here is the beautiful Chapel that Billy and Maggie said their vows in...

Practicing the night before...

Off to the great Rehearsal dinner that Billy's parents hosted!

Almost married!!!

Dad and Cheri

Showing off my little baby bump! I really am starting to grow so much quicker than last time!! Haha...oh man.

My pretty cool date ;)

Stuart and Stacy

(with a running slide show of Maggie and Billy in the background, that Stuart put together for his sister!)

Biederman/Almost Seefried/Parr/Martin ladies (missing Liz!)

After the dinner, we ladies kicked out the men and had ourselves a little party for Maggie and showered her with a few fun little things for her honeymoon ;)

:) :) :)

Morning of...

The bride glowing already!!

Make-up and hair done.

Ready for the dress.

Ready to get married!!

My handsome nephew, Benjamin, was the adorable ring bearer!

Great job, Ben!

Down the aisle...

Bridesmaids!

SOOO thrilled!

Rolls Getaway car!

Gotta have those formal shots!!

Kurt was having fun with my new camera.

I thought this shot was pretty awesome!

Waiting for more pictures to be taken...

Off to the reception!

Billy and Maggie had their reception at The Breakers Hotel, the oldest hotel in the country (I am told) and sitting RIGHT on the ocean! Pretty great location!

A sweetheart table just for the bride and groom!

Pretty awesome centerpieces!

The cake!!!

Bridesmaids bouquets!

Another shot of the cake with the dance floor and live band in the background!

The dance floor was filled all night long!

First dance...

Cheri and my Dad welcoming guests and toasting the bride and groom...

sneaking a picture with the beautiful newlyweds!

Bragging on his beautiful bride.

Very sweet!

To finish the AMAZING dinner...we each were given this huge sundae!! oh my gosh! It was so big and so sweet and so amazing!

What a wonderful evening to celebrate a beautiful couple coming together! Congratulations Maggie and Billy! May you have many blessings throughout your marriage!

Christmas down south!

2010-01-01T11:59:00.000-08:00

We had a very good Christmas this year. With Madelyn getting to the age of really understanding, we spent a lot of time before the holiday talking about Jesus' birthday and I spent a lot of time reflecting and trying to understand myself, the true depth of the love that Christ has for me, a child of God, and how that love is to extend from us to others. It is hard to fathom how high and how deep His love is for us, but his scriptures pour out promises of just that, if we have faith and believe and hope in Christ's love. Pretty amazing! Christmas and New Years this year have been filled with bible reading and meditating on Christ's words. Our home feels rich with the blessings that God has poured on us, even when we don't realize it.

I pray you have also enjoyed the ONLY reason for the season!

Jesus Christ!

We traveled down to FL this year for Christmas to be with my side of the family. Though, this is the second year of a warm and balmy Christmas, I'm not sure I'll ever get used to the palm trees swaying behind the twinkling Christmas lights!! Weird...but definitely fun!

1 of the 2 trees at the house.

This one...the wedding tree!! Hard to see, but all white ribbons and doves!

(for the wedding of Maggie and Billy, 3 days after Christmas!)

The second beautiful tree...where all the goodies resided!

Christmas Eve...getting ready to go the a church service!

And loving the beautiful handmade Christmas dress!

Maddie has fancy curls for Christmas Eve!!

Sweet face!

Had to get a snapshot of the awesome red shoes my dad found for the dress! Madelyn has wanted to wear them every day since!! She LOVED them!!

Fun times with Grandpa G!

Oh how I love that girl!

Maddie's family pose...her and baby doe ;)

Stuart and Stacy (and Scout!)...expecting their first child in March (a boy!!)

Yay!

The "almost newly-weds", Maggie and Billy!

Great shot of my Dad and Cheri!

Candid moments with CC!!

Our little family!

Even the pups are festive!

Scout, Frannie, and Charlotte

"Ohhhh...who could that be at the door!!??"

".....But Santa, to ask one more time, what would you like, little girl??"

(Madelyn was CRAZY for Santa!!! Which is a drastic change from last year. She couldn't stop staring and had no problem sitting on his lap!)

"All I want for Christmas....pink bottles!!!" (for my baby)

Did she get them??..........

"YES!!!! Pink Bottles!!!!!"

Could NOT have been more thrilled!

Easy job for Santa ;)

Sleepy and excited on Christmas morn'

A fun dress-up trunk!

With tutus, tiaras, and a boa...oh my!

A tea set...that Daddy enjoyed with her!!

But the prize gift of the day definitely has to go to the matching monogrammed sleeping bags for Maddie and Baby Doe!!! Madelyn was "taking naps" all day long!!

And can't forget us big kids!! Among other awesome goodies, the boys got remote controlled helicopters that were fun for the front yard!! Of course our matching PJ's added to the fun!!

We hope that you had your family had a very Blessed Christmas this year as well!!

Love from the Biedermans!

Introducing....

2009-12-15T13:47:00.000-08:00

.....Baby Biederman #2!!!!!! We are excited to announce that we are pregnant with baby #2!!

We have been keeping it quiet for over a month now, just so that we could wait until yesterday, when we were able to have our first ultrasound and see the heart beating strongly! 2 arms, 2 legs, and strong beating heart! A blessing from the Lord, for sure.

Our due date, which was confirmed yesterday, is June 30, 2010. If you recall, Madelyn's 3rd birthday will be June 27th!! Talk about close birthdays!!

Anyway, here is the best picture of our little one's profile. We love you already, Baby Bied!

We find out if Maddie will have a baby brother or baby sister on February 11.

We'll be excited to pass the news along....

For now, pray things progress smoothly!!

Praise Jesus!

It's official....

2009-11-18T16:39:00.000-08:00

...I think this has been THE longest span of not blogging-over 3 months! But, I'm back. I have a new camera...and a new energy to update you all on our day-to-day living! As usual, our life has been busy! I keep waiting for a season of time where we don't travel or our home isn't filled with visitors! But...truth be told-I kind of like it! I am way too social to say 'no' to anything...and most of the time that is just fine by me. I enjoy our busy life, most of the time, for now at least!!

For starters; we moved houses! We are still renting but we are now in a neighborhood that we've always loved, we live in an old (lots of character) home, with a driveway, and a yard, and a wood-burning fireplace. We LOVE it!!

We've traveled across the country, Maddie and I went to NJ and PA to visit the Martin side, I went to CO for a wedding, Kurt went to FL for a Martin guys golf trip, I went to Hawaii for a Biederman ladies trip. My cousins visited in August, Kurt's parents have been a couple of times, one of Kurt's brothers and his wife have visited and plan to move here in the new year!

Kurt is loving his job! He has been officially working since September 1st as an associate under a man he had already been doing contract work for. They do estate planning and the business is growing already. It's very exciting! A direct answer to prayer!

Madelyn is doing great! She will be 2 1/2 next month and I can't believe it! We have a great time together. We try to get out of the house as much as possible, to different parks, playdates, bible studies, etc. And sometimes we're hermits and love playing around the house, having dance parties, reading, painting, playing with baby dolls. She also loves helping me clean, do laundry, and bake. It's pretty funny! Sometimes I try to hold her like a little baby and rock her, as a joke of course, but I'd be lying if I said I haven't gotten choked up a time or two in the process as my little baby is SO grown up these days!!

I knew the time would fly...but somehow you just can't believe it when it does........

Here are just some of my favorite recent pictures of Madelyn Grace;

Up close and personal with those big brown eyes...

Lots of smiles these days!

She's got this crooked little grin...

With her best bud, Mia, and Mia's new little sister, Clara on Halloween.

Two pink tutus and a pumpkin!

Our fun fam ;)

The new home!

We were so excited to actually have leaves to rake this year!

some recent pics...

2009-08-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy to be able to post a few recent pictures. My friend, Lindsey sent me just a few from the last few weeks. I need to bring a memory stick over to get ALL of the photos...but I couldn't wait to post just a few fun ones...

We have had a full and very fun summer so far! Madelyn is full of energy and we're keeping busy. It has been VERY hot here in Seattle...like record breaking 103 degrees HOT. Crazy, I know. Who would have thought it could get that hot in Seattle!

Here Maddie is gabbing on her cell phone...a true mimic of her mommy...perhaps she's subtly trying to tell me something...oops.

The camping trip that my camera disappeared on :( BOO!

Buds for life!

On the HOT HOT 10o degree days here in Seattle, Lindsey, me, and the girls escaped to her parents house in Bellingham. They live on a lake (house behind me!) and it was wonderful to swim the days away and boat around to stay cool :) Thanks for having us Frank and Sandee! Madelyn has truly become a water baby. Between our camping trip and this lake trip...Maddie has NO fear of the water (a little frightening!) and wants to swim in the deep end with her life vest and "crabby" tube...pretty cute! Being the swimmer that I am...I couldn't be more excited!!

You would think these two were sisters for how often they see each other! They interact like sisters too...love one minute, antagonize the next...two mischievious little girls!

At a nearby park, here in Seattle.

I just LOVE this crooked little smile picture!

Just love them eyes!!

Bummer!

2009-07-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

Soooo....we had an awesome weekend this past week, camping out at Lake Chelan in Central WA. It was beautiful weather, the lake was clear and refreshing, Maddie slept great, we were accompanied by our great friends, the Sharps, all in all it was a great three days...UNFORTUNATELY........my camera was stolen (or fallen out) out of my beach bag at the lake!!! AHHH....I am so frustrated, but I have no one to blame but myself for not keeping it better protected. Sometimes I think I trust TOO much! man oh man. I had taken some great shots so far of the weekend, but now I have nothing to show for it! My friend, Lindsey, will give me all of her pictures from the weekend and hopefully I can post some of those soon....but it may be a bit of a wait for any others...while we figure out what to do about a camera!

You must say...I was doing a little better about updating the blog regularly, and than this has to go and happen!!

Have a great summer! And stay posted.......

We have a two-year-old!!!

2009-06-28T13:49:00.001-07:00

It is so hard to believe that I am now the mother of a two-year-old! Where does the time go!?? Around midnight early Saturday morning (her birthday!), Madelyn woke up with a little start and a cry out. I went into the room, which I'm sure was really more for myself, and I took her out of her crib and sat with her in the rocker. She laid her head on my shoulder, and nestled back to sleep, but her legs were all cramped up and crowded on my lap. She was too big to hold like that...but I sat there and tears rolled down my cheek...both happy and sad. I don't deal well with change, I never have, and my little girl is changing SO fast!! I don't like that. She runs everywhere, walking isn't an option anymore, she wears big girl panties, and she is talking more everyday, putting 2 and 3 word sentences together, her language is changing, "-ai" isn't "yes" anymore, and "be-be" isn't "poo-poo" anymore. She's learning to say things more clearly and Kurt and I are finding ourselves sad to see the silly little things go and change in front of our eyes.

But there are also tears of happiness because she really lights up my life in a way that is difficult to explain to anyone that isn't a parent yet.

On Friday, I planned a fun Play-Doh Birthday Party for Madelyn and her friends. The teacher in me truly came out with the decorating and set-up stations ;) I had so much fun doing it though. Perhaps I miss teaching more than I think I do...

My dad and stepmom, Cheri, came to visit to celebrate Madelyn's birthday as well. It was fun to have the extra hands at the birthday party and just in general have a great weekend with them.

Thanks for coming out :)

Madelyn...lookin' pretty dang cute!!

Maddie, enjoying books with Grandpa G and CC, at her new table and chairs!!

yay!

Morning of the party...

"Is all this for me?!?"

I promise the cans did NOT smell like play-doh anymore!!

dyed daisies...who knew!!??

A kid-friendly spread!

"ready for my guests to arrive..."

"nice to see you, Mia, you look pretty!"

"BALLOONS!!"

A great friend, Anya, and her little Kylia!

"how cool...macaroni and cheese in a play-doh can!"

silly girl :)

Kylia and Lachlan out at the makeshift water table station!

Time for cake...

Experienced two-year-olds, Mia and Kylia, helped Maddie blow out the candles :)

Sweet Jonah enjoying the cake!

Mommies enjoying the couch :)

My friend Michele on the right had her second boy the night of the party!!! Congratulations and welcome to baby Silas!!

I can't really explain to you how much Madelyn LOVES babies!!! This is little Nina and Maddie just loves being able to hold her!!!

Nina's mommy and big sister, Brittany and Lucy!

Maddie loved having her G and CC at the party!

Time for presents!! :)

A true sense of urgency ;)

Many jellybeans were handed out to accomplish this picture!! from left to right, Micah, Mia, Lucy, Maddie, Jonah, Kylia, and Lachlan!

Happy Birthday Madelyn!!

A Full Day of Fun with Friends :)

2009-06-22T15:10:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday Madelyn and I had a busy busy day!! We started out the day with some coffee (of course!!) at Starbucks with our friends, Lindsey and Mia, Steph and Micah, and Justyn and Finley...that was for us mommas...then we went off to the Seattle Gymnastics Academy!

This was the second time that the four of us ventured there with our little ones and this time I remember to bring my camera, but I don't know if it was because they were all moving so fast or if my camera was just not on the right setting, but all of the pictures were a little out of focus! Oh well...fun times anyway...

Stuck in the pit!

Maddie, Micah, and Mia!

buds!

Maddie LOVES to swing on just about anything and say "monkey...ohh-ohh-ahh-ahh"

(We bought her Curious George the Movie for her birthday ;) )

Micah, showing off his skills!

The youngest in the crowd, Finley, scaling the foam wall!

Madelyn loved running on this long trampoline!

She couldn't stop smiling!

Sharing snacks outside after lots of activity...

Micah is quite the ladies' man ;)

Mia doesn't look so sure...

cute little friends!

After the Gymnastics Academy, Madelyn napped over at Mia's house and then when the girls woke up, our friends Anya and Kylia were over to play :)

Oh the joy that baby dolls bring!!

We really didn't have the girls watching videos the whole time! We went to the park, but this is the ONLY shot where they are all sitting still and in the same area ;)

After Anya and Kylia left, I stayed over at the Sharps and watched both girls while Lindsey and Trevor went out on a date. After dinner and bathtime...it was book time!

I love this picture!!!

downright HOT!

2009-06-04T13:02:00.000-07:00

We have had an incredibly hot end of May/beginning of June here in Seattle! It has been sunny and hovering around 85 degrees almost every day! Madelyn and I have been taking advantage of the early summer weather by visiting many of the local water parks and even the beach!

It's rare these days that I can even get Maddie to look at the camera...much less capture a gleeful smile like this one!!

I just LOVE this shot :)

I love the chubby little legs knocking at the knees...

Swimming at Suncadia!

2009-05-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

This last weekend we traveled about 80 miles east of Seattle to a beautiful lodge in the mountains called Suncadia, for a church retreat. The lodge is only a couple of years old and it truly is top quality. The sights were breathtaking, the rooms spacious, the amenities abounding! I can't brag enough about it...Kurt and I will definitely be putting it on our list of must-return-to!

What an awesome location to reflect on all of God's beauty...

The lodge was huge!

Taking in the views!

An early dinner on Friday with friends Tim and Brittany!

The weather was almost 80 degrees both days and the lodge actually opened the outdoor swimming pools early for everyone to use!

Madelyn with her buddy, Persis (almost 3).

This is Chloe!

(otherwise known as the "nugget")

Maddie with her snack buddy, Noella...

Pool-time with the dads...our friends Rian and little Lachlan!

Maddie is in a very big "daddy phase" right now and was absolutely loving all the water play!

Instructing Daddy on what she wanted to do...

oh boy!

sweet giggles!

We would put Madelyn on the edge of the pool and encourage her to jump to us...it was a good thing we were there, her jump was more like a nose dive into our arms!

I love her!

Fox Hollow Farm

2009-05-13T20:48:00.000-07:00

Today, Madelyn and I went out to farm country with some friends and visited all the neat animals and decided that perhaps we'd like to live out in the country one day too ;) There really is something about the slow pace of a farm and the smell of the trees and the beautiful and quiet surroundings...I'm glad, even if we don't live there, it takes about 25 minutes to get there :) What a fun morning!

Lachlan and Maddie...

Such a sweet horse!

Madelyn was much more timid than I expected her to be at the farm(considering how comfortable she is with just about any size dog!) and preferred watching the animals to touching them, but if need be...a one-finger touch at the most!

Finding small spaces!

Quite the perplexed look...

"Helloooo?!"

note: 1 finger ;)

Out of all the cute and cuddly animals, Madelyn seemed the most at ease in the chicken coup! I don't know...all these little peckers charging seem a bit frightening to me!

Getting a little more comfortable with Daisy the Pony!

"...I will NOT touch that baby turkey!" (yes, turkey!!)

"But I will watch with envy as my buddy Mia bravely touches..."

This baby goat absolutely loved Lindsey! It was so funny to see it nuzzle with her like it was a little cat!

I don't have the pictures to prove it, but Mia and Lachlan had no fear in catching a bunny and holding onto it proudly!

Maddie was soon done with the animals but behind the farmhouse...a surprise awaited...

ROCKS!! (a new passion!) WATER!!

What beautiful little ladies!

Handsome Lachlan!

Precious Finley!

A Lindsey-bench! Perfect for snacks by the creek!

outdoor spring fun!!

2009-04-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

Spring is certainly here...in Seattle! The flowers are all in bloom and we've had quite a few warm and sunny days so far. I love spring in Seattle...the flowers are so vibrant and plentiful...I'm sure in part due to all the rain and cooler temps ;) A perk...some may say!

Because of all the great weather, Madelyn and I have been able to get out and enjoy some fun things around town.

A trip to the zoo with my friend Michele and her son Lachlan for starters...

Some animal highlights!

I think the animals were really enjoying the sun too! Most of them were out and about soaking in those rays :)

A little fuzzy but you can still see the pure elation on their faces :)

Parks, Running, Balls :) yay!

I think it's safe to say that Maddie is a "shoe girl"! She absolutely loves taking them on and off, walking around in them (all day!), and picking out a particular pair that suit her that day ;) It's pretty funny...and very girly ;)

SO fun!

these two are only about three weeks apart in age and they see quite a bit of each other...

The start of spring wouldn't be the same without a visit to Greenlake!

Loves a good under-dog!

Madelyn and Mia have truly been enjoying each other these days. It is just precious to see their faces when they see each other!! They really do love each other.

Just gabbin' it up on the swings!

OH MY!!! when did our girls get so big???

Watching the ducks at Greenlake and tickling the water with their toes...

"Here duckie duckie..."

Not a big fan of being barefoot...

Nothing better than some chubby toddler toes :)

Climbing....

...is what we do best! We also visited the Seattle Gymnastics Academy recently with a group of friends (unfortunately in all the excitement we didn't get any pictures!!) and Madelyn loved all the climbing, bouncing, jumping, balancing, and running that she got to do there!

An evening home game at the Seattle Mariners is another springtime favorite in our house! Kurt's good friend Landon came to town to visit with his girlfriend, Michelle, and we were sure to enjoy the spring weather as well!!

Easter Weekend!

2009-04-14T14:13:00.000-07:00

Our Easter weekend this year was fairly mellow. On Saturday we went to the Seattle Zoo for a fun egg hunt and other festivities. Maddie is still a bit young to really understand or care about these things, but it was still fun!!

Here's Maddie all ready to go, easter basket in tow ;)

Here's Mia, definitely excited! She is about 4 months older than Madelyn and I think she caught on to the whole idea a little more quickly!

Lindsey trying to show Madelyn what to do...

"OHHH...now I think I get it!!"

Madelyn is so funny about different textures...she has this same face when we put her near a sand pile or a patch of dirt!! Not your typical toddler in that regard, for sure!!!

That face just cracks me up!

And here's the guys...the usual setup~discussing business while the mommies are chasing the girls around :)

comparing stashes....

"Hmmm...it would be pretty easy to just snatch an egg from Maddie's basket!"

"Is there even anything in these eggs???"

And...dumping out to start again!

The toddler egg hunt was REAL difficult...there weren't many eggs and they were hard to find ;)

Madelyn couldn't get enough of this super-soft little bunny!!

"Daddy, can we get a bunny one day???"

Girls with their dads!

Pretty precious!

It has been really neat to see how Madelyn's heart seems to have a real softness to it and we pray toward Jesus as well. We read a lot of books about Easter this year and talked about Jesus quite a bit. Madelyn has now decided it necessary to pray before ANYTHING she eats. Even in the Costco frozen food aisle, she needed to stop and pray for her sample ;) As I put her down to sleep one night recently, we had just finished praying and I was telling Madelyn how she could talk to Jesus after I left the room if she was scared or wanted to talk to someone...her sweet response was wide open eyes and a nod "yes". Kurt and I pray all the time that she come to know Jesus at an early age and it is so fun to see her reaction as we talk more about it. What a wonderful fact to know that Christ died for us and yet still lives today...I can't wait for Madelyn to really know that!!

Maddie exploring her easter basket treats after church...

Happy Easter from our family to yours!!

A little bit of this...A little bit of that...

2009-04-02T16:34:00.000-07:00

Madelyn is really becoming my buddy these days! She makes me laugh and loves to converse with me! Not that I often know what she is saying, but she definitely gets her point across and we have a blast together all day! Kurt and I feel tremendously blessed with having Maddie in our lives! As I sit here and type, I can hear her over the monitor sweetly talking and singing to her babydoll in her crib after her nap. I sure do love her!

One of my favorite places in Seattle is University Village, which houses most of my favorite stores ;) It is quickly becoming Madelyn's favorite too :) Not because of the stores, but the wonderful little play area right in the middle of it all!! What a pair we are!

Not very often do we find Madelyn without a snack in tow! For such a tiny little peanut, she sure does have an appetite!

Maddie's sweet little friend Finley!

Kurt's parents came to town this past weekend and were able to spend some great quality time with Madelyn...

Papa reading to Maddie...

It was Kurt's 27th birthday last week and his parents treated us to a wonderful dinner at the beautiful Salish Lodge! Thanks so much!

us :)

And....drumroll please..................................................................................................................................

Madelyn got a potty!! I realize it is a bit early to really start training her, but a friend has a little potty and every time we visit, Madelyn just loves sitting on it. Very fascinated with it! So, I wanted to get one just to introduce her to it...

Imagine this face with lots of squeals of excitement...I think she liked it :)

"Let me just see here..."

Note the tongue out of her mouth....concentrating very hard!

"Mom...I don't feel it right that you are snapping away!!"

What a big girl! And...I'm happy to report that she actually has gone pee-pee in the potty twice since first getting it!! Now I won't keep you abreast of all of Madelyn's potty-training stories, but I was just so proud, I had to mention the first time ;)

I know I know...

2009-03-19T20:12:00.001-07:00

I realize that I may have lost many followers of my blog due to my inconsistent posts...buut, if you stick with me, I promise you'll still see pictures of Madelyn and our life in Seattle, you'll just have to be patient, because, try as I may, I just can't do it! I can't post really really frequently. Life just gets too busy! Soo...that said, I thought I would post one picture as a summary of what life has been here for the Biedermans. Pretty Crazy!

Madelyn is very busy these days, both inside and out. We try to go out on sunny days and make the best of rainy days. We've been to Florida once, Alaska twice, and had a visitor for a week (loved having you Katelyn!), celebrated Madelyn's dear friend, Mia's 2nd birthday, we are contemplating moving out of our place, Kurt may start his own business, I'm starting training for a half marathon, and Madelyn is starting to show signs of the infamous 2's!! God is great. We are feeling His mercies new everyday!

A New Year...

2009-01-08T15:26:00.000-08:00

It has been quite a while to say the least since I have logged on and put any time into our blog! As it goes for most households, November and December can be busy months with all the hustle and bustle of the holidays. I, unfortunately, am one of those crazy nuts who leaves ALL of the shopping until the last possible minute, sends out a spattering of Christmas Cards AFTER the holiday, and decorates burnt cookies until midnight! I certainly made an effort this year though to stop and have fun with Madelyn. Seeing excitement through a childs' eye certainly helps slow down life and make you enjoy the small things. We had plenty of time singing and dancing to wonderfully cheesy Christmas music, walking through the snow, pointing out all the pretty "ights", and talking about Jesus and the real reason for the season. The Biederman house had a wonderful Christmas season! And we hope you and your family did as well!

Now that it is January and a New Year has begun, I have a long list of lofty ideals for myself in the coming months...you know to do better and be better :) No really, I do have more specific goals than that...but among some of the more lighthearted ones is a goal to be more consistent about this blog!! We'll see how it goes...

Now, not the bore you with any more talk...here are some snapshots from the past couple of months...

Early in November Kurt and I were fortunate enough to go on our first "kid-less" vacation to Vail, CO. Thanks so much to my dad and Cheri for their generosity with our accommodations, and also to Kurt's mom and dad for coming down and staying with Madelyn!!

It was a great trip :)

We were thrilled to be able to spend this trip with our closest friends and Kurt's cousin, Trevor and Lindsey (their first "kid-less" trip too!!)

We love you guys!

Thanksgiving was spent in Alaska with Kurt's family. We had lots of quality time with everyone!! We are very thankful for both of our families and of course our pride and joy, Maddie!!

Jasmine and Sierra are getting so big! (5 and 3!!)

So happy for the newly engaged couple Kevin and Colleen!!

Can't wait for their February wedding!!

A Christmas celebration with good friends in Seattle.

Dinner and Handel's Messiah...so sophisticated ;)

An unusually snowy December allowed us to play in the snow with Madelyn for the first time!

I don't she was too thrilled with it...

Enough with the snow!

We were lucky to get out of Seattle on time and down to Florida to be with my family for our very first warm and sunny Christmas!

Cute Christmas outfit.

Good thing the air conditioning was turned up, otherwise, tights and a corduroy jumper might have seemed out of place...

Just hangin' with her buddy, Charlotte!

Family shot!

My brother's family!

Failed attempt at a cousin shot...

Dad being goofy :)

A throw back to one of my favorite Christmas shots last year...

A baby in a box!

Our sweet little girl.

May many blessings abound in your life this year!

Happy New Year from our family to yours!!

My little B...

2008-10-31T13:16:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, we went on a short ferry ride to a nearby island called, Whidbey Island, with our friends, Adam and Kyla. Of course I don't have ANY pictures of the adults!! But here are some classics of Madelyn :)

I love this profile shot of Maddie as she looks out the window of the ferry for the birds following close by... (She loves birds these days!!)

The beautiful view...
My little sweets...

Here are just some random shots of Maddie showing off her pumpkin sweater from G and CC as she wanders around...

Big cheese!
:)
A recent favorite of Madelyn's is being lifted onto the big couch to enjoy her afternoon snack :)

Apparently, sooo exciting!!
This morning, I put on Madelyn's costume and went nowhere. Unfortunately, it is a very rainy day here in Seattle and most festivities are outside. So we opted for a photo shoot in the house...of course it doesn't matter to Madelyn...she just couldn't wait to get her hood off!

Hello my little B!

(I choose to have Maddie be a Bee in honor of my teaching days...as Mrs. B-with my room decorated with buzzing bees!)
I think she kind of looks like a chub-chub ;)

(a chub-chub is something I used to do as a kid with Doug and Katelyn...oh the memories!)
Maddie's friend Lachlan stopped by to say hello...
....and the photo-op is done!
sweet little buzzer...

Fun at Parks and Patchs...

2008-10-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

I really do love fall in Seattle. The weather stays mild typically through mid November, leaves change, and the air is crisp. This fall is especially fun with Madelyn as she is so much more aware of her surroundings than last year. Going to the park, watching birds, dogs, and buses, Admiring trees and collecting leaves, and playing with friends are all some of Madelyn's favorite things to do right now. I cannot even begin to express how much fun we are having together. She is the light of my day...and she makes me laugh so much.

Here are some of my recent favorite photos of Madelyn...like I really have "not" favorite ones :)

I love getting photos of Maddie right when she wakes up from a nap.

I have no idea where the curly hair comes from, but it's just great in this shot!!

Such a silly girl...

Another 'after-nap' shot...

what a cheerful face to greet me :)

"Enough pictures mommy, I want out!!"

She looks like she's posing for something...

I think she looks so old in this picture!

There really are no words for this one...

hello sweet girl!

Maddie and her daddy talking about their days events ;)

Kurt's parents were in town at the end of September to visit and celebrate my 26th birthday!

Madelyn, getting ready to have a fit because mommy won't lift her up to the 'oh so mesmerizing' water fountain...

I think she realized she wasn't going to win...and decided to find something else at the park...

Just recently we visited a Pumpkin Patch with the Sharps. Madelyn really wasn't too sure what all the hype was about! She sat in this wagon with this look on her face pretty much the entire time!

The girls in the wagon!

"Now what am I supposed to do here??!!"

Mia...doing what she does best, digging in the dirt!

Lindsey and I with our girls...

Family shot...with Mia there in the background!

I feel like she knows she's livin' the high life...getting pulled all around, sitting in blankets, munching on goldfish....oh boy!

Sweet little Mia just loves to explore!

This is a random shot from just a couple days ago...

Mia and Maddie looking as mischievous as ever!

Summer in Review(cont.)...

2008-09-04T21:57:00.000-07:00

Alaska in August

We were excited about our trip to Alaska this year to see family and also help out with the first annual Crystal Lake Triathlon. Kevin, Kurt's brother put together a 'sprint triathlon' to help raise money for his non-profit dental ministry. It was also just a great social event for lots of people to get together!

The race happened near the family cabin, so much of our time was spent up their...

Kurt and I were introduced to the game of Corn Row (?) (a beanbag tossing game) and Kurt, his dad, and brothers loved playing...

Maddie really loved getting dirty at the lake and her cousins Jasmine and Sierra really enjoyed showing her the ropes...

Story-time with Kevin's girlfriend, Colleen.

Love that face!!

Let the races begin!

(For those of you wondering...neither Kurt or I participated in the race-our excuse was that we didn't have time to train! Next year...next year ;))

Unfortunately, it did rain the entire race!! Bummer for the racers, but everyone still finished great!

Ummm....brrrr...

Not exactly good motivation to get ready for next year!!

Colleen finished in 2nd place for the girls! Way to go!

A little chilled but happy to be done.

Maddie was pretty excited about the race!

She was so happy in the dirt!!?

Back in Anchorage, we hung out a lot with the family, and one afternoon visited a nearby park.

Sierra and Madelyn

Sweet, almost 5, Jasmine!!

The double slide thing was great for Maddie

Summer in Review(cont.)...

2008-09-03T15:26:00.000-07:00

Lake Whatcom

After our travels east, Kurt, Madelyn, and I drove up north to a lake in Bellingham, WA with our good friends, the Sharps. Lindsey grew up on the lake, and her parents were gracious enough to have us for a weekend of sun, boating, and good fun :)

Lindsey and I have very similar taste in clothing, so with two little girls, it's hard not to want to buy the same adorable outfits all the time...

so we indulged and tried for a photoshoot...

So the girls look adorable...but the photoshoot didn't work out quite like we were hoping!!

Trevor and Kurt promised to take Lindsey and I on a leisurely trip on the tube...

we should not have trusted those faces!

time for payback boys!

The weather was beautiful the weekend that we were at the lake and the girls loved the little sandy beach right in the back yard...

What a fun weekend!!

Summer in Review...

2008-09-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

Well, I realize it has been a very long time since our last post, and I apologize to all our avid blog viewers, but now that the summer is coming to a close, I find I have a little bit more time to settle in and post some pictures. Our summer has been a busy one, starting with Madelyn's first birthday back in June, a trip out east for 2 weeks in July, a drive up north here in WA with great friends to a lake house, a week long trip to Alaska in August, and a family getaway to the WA coast to finish it all off, and of course, multiple visits to local parks and wading pools here in Seattle when we were in town.

So now to the pictures...I will try not to post too many, but here is a spattering of our summer adventures!

New Jersey Shore

The NJ shore was a big part of my childhood, whether it was down to Wildwood with family friends or just to Brick to be at our shore house, I don't remember a summer that I wasn't at the jersey shore. Now, not everyone can appreciate the crammed in houses, the overcrowded beaches, and the somewhat sketchy boardwalks, when you grow up with it though, somehow you just don't think about it. It was exciting to bring Madelyn here for the first time, with hopes that one day she can come to appreciate this area even half as much as I do :)

Celebrating the 4th of July...

Grandpa G and little Nate

What a happy little family.

Maggie, her boyfriend Billy, and Frannie (I swear that dog is smiling in this pictures!)

A full house for the fourth with lots of family and friends

Katelyn Brown with Maddie

My 'full of energy' 2-year old nephew

I love you Ben!!

The kids donning their matching 4th PJ's (thanks to G and CC) the morning after.

I love sharing parenthood with my brother...how special :)

This looks like trouble...

Ahh...this is what older cousins are for...teaching the young...

"Here Madelyn, this is how we get into the water..."

"Now you try Maddie"

More celebrating!!

Because Madelyn's birthday was only the week before we were out east, Cheri and my Dad hosted a second birthday party for little miss Maddie for all the family in town!

"Thanks, G and CC!!"

Maddie checkin' out all the goods...

I think she looks a little stunned in this picture...

Maddie...you can eat the cake and make a mess...go ahead and go for it!!

Party-goers Aunt Loretta and Andrew

Even the girls (ie-Charlotte and Frannie) were dressed for the party

While at the shore, we had to make a visit to the boardwalk.

Madelyn had no fear of the rides, the classic carousel was her favorite!

Time with the family included lots of "Kan Jam"....

some ice cream...

an attempt at exercise...

lots of Mario Kart on the Wii....

and of course...lounging!

Onto the boating...

"Do I really want to do this?...."

"Something about that grin makes me nervous..."

"Ok...I'm excited!"

"really excited!!!"

Captain Kurt tryin' out the wheel...

I like my family :)

Apparently, the really bumpy rides my dad is known for giving on the boat were perfect for kiddie naps...

Loving the wind on our faces...

"I think I'll even get in. Mom, just give me a little push...thanks!"

A visit from my great friend, Karen, was a special part of my trip out east!

Done with boating...

Back to the house we go...

"For a photo shoot of me...of course..."

So precious!

Birthday Barbeque

2008-07-17T20:47:00.000-07:00

Madelyn's birthday weekend (way back at the end of June!!) was a beautiful, hot, and sunny weekend...Perfect for a cookout! We ate hotdogs, hamburgers, mac'n'cheese, baked beans, fruit, and of course birthday cake!

Maddie...waiting for all the guests to arrive....

"Do I really have to wear this silly hat the whole time?!"

Madelyn's party guests:

It was so great to have Kurt's parents for the fun birthday celebration! (with Trevor)

Maddie's friend, Kylia, with her daddy, JohnE.

New friend, 18-month old Gabe

almost 2 year-old buddy, Micah, loving his hot dog!!

our good friends, Adam and Kyla

Oh, how I love little Mia!!

(Yes, she has spoons in her hand from eating sand! at least she's using utensils, right?!!)

Lachlan lounging on the lawn!

Persis, with her dad Wes

"What are you looking at? It's my party..."

I don't think she could look more bored and disgusted with this whole fuss about the cake!!

"I suppose I could try it..."

"And I'm done..."

Happy Birthday to my Madelyn Grace!! I love you so much!!

Maddie turns 1!!

2008-06-27T22:42:00.000-07:00

So our little girl is now 1!! I can hardly believe it. She's walking all the time, getting quicker every day, babbling more "words", and showing her awesome personality all the time! In some ways, it's hard to believe that I am the mother of a 1-year old, but I really can't imagine life without her. In a lot of ways, it feels like she has been here for a lot longer than just a year. I have learned so much and have loved so hard. It brings me to tears to think of this little girl and the incredible joy that she has brought to my life in just this one quick year.

I can't wait for all the memories that we will make together, all the laughs we'll share, and the special bond that will be created. I pray that the Lord will equip me with the skills and knowledge I will need for the years to come. My deepest prayer for Madelyn is that she have a soft and tender heart that would desire a relationship with Jesus Christ.

What a bundle of giggles this girl is becoming! She loves to wear her sunglasses, look at Kurt and I, and just start laughing...what a ham!

Here Maddie is at our picnic Birthday dinner, just the fam, on her actual birthdate, June 27.

No Birthday would be complete without a cupcake!

Here's Maddie all dressed and ready for her guests to arrive for a big Birthday Barbeque.

I just love her little sturdy legs in this picture :) :)

I know this is a tease of pictures. I have so many birthday pictures I want to post, but our computer is acting slow and we leave for 2 weeks, tomorrow....sooo I thought I'd post just a couple and when I get back, I promise I'll post tons!!

Memorial Day

2008-06-25T20:49:00.000-07:00

On Memorial Day, Andrew, Liz, and I took the kids to the NJ shore to visit the Browns' shore house. It was great weather and a fun visit.

Here are the three little ones before our mini road-trip with their adorable coordinating outfits from Grandpa G and CC.

Poor Nate is the only one ready for the shot!

.....and Maddie's done.

"Are you awake?"

"Hellooo?"

Katelyn meeting Nate for the first time

A very mischievous look I'd say!!

Some action shots of Madelyn and Ben playing with a tiny beach ball...

I'm so glad they are so close in age :)

Down by the Bay :)

I don't think it will be any problem for Maddie to love the shore as much as her mommy does!!

Kate's Wedding Reception

2008-06-21T15:57:00.001-07:00

While I was over in PA visiting Andrew and Liz, my cousin, Katie, had a wedding reception down in VA. Sooo, we thought it would be a fun idea to rent a van and drive 6 hours with three little ones and three adults to see some family. You might think we were crazy, but it actually went great! One stop and minor whining issues. The trip was well worth it! We were able to see some of my mom's family that I haven't seen since my wedding, over 3 years ago!!

Packed in and ready to go!

At the hotel, before the reception.

Those eyes are so darn round!!

My favorite picture of Maddie at the moment!

The little man, Nate, all dressed in his wedding attire (who knew you could find a tie and loafers that tiny!)...and yes he slept through the entire event!

Maddie was horribly fussy before the wedding, due to NO nap!! She found much solace in Aunt Diane when we arrived at the reception...

Some of the family in attendance~ Aunt Judy, Aunt Darlene, Uncle Ron, Ian, Aunt Diane, and Uncle Jim. I wish more of my pictures had turned out...it was darker in the room than I thought.

Mother-of-the-bride, Aunt Cinty and David.

Ummm...what are you doing to poor Madelyn :)

Sister-of-the-bride and close cousin, Kim

Uncle Ron snapping a shot~ he was Ben's hero for the weekend, after Ben found out that Uncle Ron drives a car carrier...Ben's very favorite thing! All we heard from Ben was, "Ron.....car carrier......whoa!"

Lovin' on my nephew

Ben's other hero of the weekend, our cousin Nathan.

Andrew and Liz getting in a slow dance at the reception

Aunt Diane and Ian

And finally, the bride and groom, Kate and Ricky, as Kim gives a toast

happy happy!

Congratulation!

Cousin fun :)

2008-06-16T10:45:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know it's been well over a month since I posted last...and I apologize! I have excuses, but I'll spare you ;) I didn't know quite where to start because I have SO many pictures I want to post, I've just put up my favorites.

Last month, Madelyn and I traveled east, to PA, to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and two nephews. Maddie met her older cousin Ben when she was just over 2 months old and on this visit we got to meet Maddie's newest cousin, Nate, at just over 2 months old.

Nathaniel Joseph, born March 11, 2008

Mr. Nate!

I think Nate favors his mommy in looks more than big brother, Ben (Andrew's clone!)

I wish we could have playdates like this more often! Booo for distance!

Madelyn, loving all the new toys to explore

Maddie just adored Andrew and Liz's big yellow lab, Barney

Gettin' to know her little cousin.

"Finally, someone smaller than me!!"

Everything is more fun when you get to do it with your cousin!

What a big girl!

Cleaning up after dinner

Just hangin' out at the house

Madelyn thought this tiny chair was pretty cool!

Warm outside fun!

"hmm...what do I choose?"

"I think I'll ride the bike"

"oh wait..."

Ben's mowing the long grass...

Checking the oil...

"If we both mow, we'll be done much faster!"

This 90 pound lovable dog really does think he's a lap dog!!

Oh Barno!

I just laugh when I see all the size differences!!

First Mother's Day!

2008-05-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I celebrated my first Mother's Day. What an incredible honor and privilege to be Madelyn's Mommy. I feel so blessed by the Lord to have Maddie as my daughter. Though she didn't know what day it was, I am very aware of this new role that I have taken on. There are challenges, frustrations, steep learning curves, and even anger...but when Madelyn looks at me with those big round eyes and her mouth curves into a wide smile, everything melts and I can't believe how much I can completely LOVE this little girl to pieces.

My mother and I always had a very special and close bond. I miss her dearly and wish that I could celebrate her today as my mother, but I see another way that God is so good. He has given me a daughter of my own to create that close and special bond that is so awesome between a mother and a daughter. Happy Mother's Day to my mother who loved me with an unconditional love for over 20 years. I love you. I now understand that unconditional love as I look at my precious little girl.

I love you Madelyn Grace!

Look at those upper teeth coming in!!

Papa and Mimi came down for a special visit...

What a wonderful way to remember my first Mother's Day; we dedicated Madelyn at our church on Sunday. Dedicating her to the Lord with friends and family surrounding us, it was very important for us to declare this publicly, we need all the prayer and support we can get as we go through life's challenges of raising a little girl :)

A little washed out, but happy about the day after church and a great brunch, our little fam :)

FriDAy FUn!!!

2008-04-16T21:17:00.000-07:00

Over the last few months, Madelyn and I have been going to a Friday morning play-group. My friend Lindsey invited some young mothers over with their little ones and it has been great fun talking with other new moms about the different excitements and challenges we are all facing.

It has been a huge blessing for me to be able to turn to Godly women who are learning what it truly means to die to yourself everyday and surrender to the Lord, having a little one brings you a little closer to understanding the love that our Father has for us!

The little kiddos range from 3-months to 3-years old. With the weather getting nicer here in Seattle, we walked to a nearby park this past Friday morning.

I love the Cherry Blossoms all over Seattle in the spring!

(that's one good thing about all the rain, right?!!)

Moms ~ Melissa, Justyn, Steph, Me (missing-Lindsey, Ashley, Gretchen)

Kiddies ~ Logan, Finley, Mia, Micah (missing-Ella, Camden, Olive, and Madelyn)

Justyn with her little Finley (3 months-the youngest of the group!)

Logan (14 months) enjoying the slide!!

Mia (14 months) with her bucket! (she loves the dirt :))

Micah (20 months) loving that ball!

Who's missing out on all this fun??

Maddie snoozing away!!

And...she's awake!

What a cool swing!!

I don't know if I've ever seen a little one so disgusted with sand! Don't all kids love to eat it??? Hah...not our little girl :)

pigtails!!

2008-04-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

Madelyn's hair is getting longer and more crazy every day. I recently tried pigtails in her hair and couldn't resist posting a few shots ~ what a big girl she looks like!

"Yaaay for me!"

"Ummm, who put me in this stuff...gross!"

"I love pulling everything out of my drawers... and then not putting anything back :) "

Off to the park...

2008-03-25T10:41:00.003-07:00

Spring in Seattle can be hit or miss with weather. Some days dreary and cool and other days beautiful and sunny. Because of all of the rain, the flowers start blooming early in March, and Madelyn and I have enjoyed many walks already this month! Living in the city is nice because there are little parks on virtually every block.

Here are some of Madelyn's first experiences at the park!

ummm, that's pretty cute!

("thanks G and CC for this silly coat!!!")

Looking like a big girl, on our way to the park yet again...

Mesmerizing eyes!

Maddie really loves the swing!

So FUN!

"Ok, I'm done now..."

"I don't want to get my hands dirty"

"hmmm, what is this?"

Just checkin' things out...

On to the slide!

"Was that supposed to be thrilling?"

Egg-citing times :)

2008-03-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been exciting around the Biederman house. Kurt started a new job with a law firm. He has been given a lot of responsibility already and sees a lot of potential and room for growth within the firm. Though, now that Kurt has a serious job, our days of hanging out all day, going on long trips to visit family, and staying up late watching movies, are sadly over! We feel extremely blessed though that God has provided this great fitting job for Kurt!

On March 12th, Kurt and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary! We've been through so much already in these quick 3 years, we can't wait to see what's in store for our family in the years to come. Some friends of ours watched Madelyn for an evening and allowed Kurt and I to go out

for a nice elegant dinner to celebrate :) I think it was the first really nice dinner we have had, just the two of us, since before Madelyn was born. What a treat!

This last Sunday, we celebrated Easter as well as Kurt's birthday up with some friends of ours at their family's home. Madelyn wasn't too bothered by the holiday this year, but I look forward to next year, when she'll be toddling around and we can have a little egg hunt for her!! Unfortunately, I didn't get many good pictures of the holiday, here are just a couple;

2008-03-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

Madelyn minus the clothes equals immediate fun. You want good times? Strip the clothes off Maddie and attack her belly with a stubbly chin or make noise with your mouth. It's a hoot. Check out Exhibit A above.

Fun with friends :)

2008-03-11T14:28:00.001-07:00

We've had a great month or so. Madelyn is on the move, she is crawling and pulling up on things faster than I can keep track of. She seems to be in good spirits frequently and giggles and smiles all the time, she is also making all sorts of sounds. We think she has said "mama", but doesn't quite associate me with the word yet. "Dada" is starting to come out as well! Madelyn is on a fairly good schedule and seems to be sleeping through most nights, which after 8 months is really very refreshing! Through the rainy winter months here in Seattle, Madelyn and I have kept things fun by visiting with lots of friends!

Here's Madelyn with her good buddy Mia, they see each other so often that Mia actually says "MaaeMay" (Maddie May-for some reason we call her that sometimes, it just seems to flow!) whenever we come over. It is so sweet!

This little guys sings the alphabet and Madelyn thinks it is just great!!

Why do all babies love the dishwasher?

Madelyn ready for combat with her weapon...

and helmet!

Mia is entering the whole wide world of toddlerhood at the age of 1!! Oh boy!

"Oops! Did I do something?"

"How many marshmallows can I stuff in my mouth before mom gets to them!!"

This is Madelyn's sleeping buddy, Julien. He stays in the crib and almost everytime I go into Madelyn's room after a nap or in the morning, Maddie is clutching onto Julien's ear. He is definitely a comfort to Madelyn, seeing that when I have tried to take him, she just holds on all the tighter!

mommy-hugs after the bath

Maddie loves playing in her room with all her books and toys.

On the morning of Valentines Day, Madelyn and I went over to our friends, Anya and her little girl Kylia's home along with Lindsey and Mia....Here the girls are dressed in pink and red :) Its amazing to think how fast these girls are growing. Anya, Lindsey, and I were all pregnant at the same time and now Mia is one year old already!! So fun to watch these girls grow up together.

"Um, Kylia...I'm going to have to ask you to stay back as I munch on this bow here..."

"Isn't this fun, you can play with this blue circle instead of my bow."

Ahhh, nice to see sharing at an early age! haha :)

Anya and Madelyn hanging out!

Kylia sure is enjoying Maddie's favorite giraffe toy, most babies seem to love it for some reason

Madelyn and 'older man' Micah seemed to hit it off at our weekly playdate group!

Maddie seems a little concerned in this photo, but she really was interested in watching Micah all morning... do I smell boy trouble down the road!

Madelyn seems happier to be feeding herself these days. She isn't limited to rice cereal anymore either. Following after her mom and dad, Madelyn has quite the healthy appetite. She eats all kinds of vegetables and fruit and even loves her meat, turkey meatballs are her favorite right now!

A guilty look..."nope, I'm not getting into your bag, Mom..."

Look at those teeth! Just those two for now.

Not so sure where the curls came from...but quite adorable!

Finding ways to make rainy Seattle days exciting...

"I want to touch the bubbles..."

Madelyn's scrunchy bunny face; she even makes a little snort noise! :)

Visiting Grandpa and CC...

2008-01-31T19:35:00.000-08:00

My dad and Cheri invited us down to Florida in January (what a great month to leave Seattle!) for a Charity Ball that they were involved with. 'Place of Hope' is a ministry tied to both a church and the Foster system down in Florida. My dad and Cheri are mentors to a brother and sister who live at Place of Hope and are involved in various activities that are offered. Each year a ball is thrown to raise money and involvement in this awesome charity. We had such a wonderful time visiting the village and learning how my Dad and Cheri are involved. If you are interested, you can visit the website.

Here Kurt and I are getting ready to leave for the ball; I insisted on taking the classic "prom" photo first since we never did go to the Prom together.

So cheesy!

Cheri's Dad and Stepmom came down for the ball as well. Here Cheri is with her Dad. He was so fun to get to know and visit with over the weekend!!

What a fun night!

So silly!

(check out those thighs!!)

"I am so cool! Why is everything so dark?"

It's very humid down in Florida and Maddie's hair seemed to curl right up. It will be neat to see if the curls stick around as she gets older!

"Watch out Mom, I can almost crawl!"

Lots of love and kisses!!

"I love coming to visit G and CC...I get spoiled!!"

(yikes, yes this is her first taste of ice cream!)

"ummm...Daddy, what have you done with my hair??"

Madelyn did great out for dinner while we were down in Florida, we laugh though because we had to go to dinner for the early bird special to make sure we were back in time for her bedtime. Needless to say, it was nice to be able to leave her with a sitter for another night and the four adults were able to enjoy a great Italian dinner at a normal hour :)

Madelyn's First Christmas!

2008-01-03T23:06:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2007 was spent up in Alaska with Kurt's family. We had a great time visiting with everyone and celebrating Christ's birth and Maddie's first Christmas!

What a wonderful Christmas gift...a baby in a box!!

What a face :)

Kurt and his brother, Kevin, went for hike one afternoon...yes it was this cold when we were there...have to enjoy the Alaskan winter! Having a white Christmas was not a problem, it was beautiful!

Just hanging out at Papa and Mimi's with the fam...

Yay for cousins!!

"must put things in mouth, must put things in mouth..."

Biederman tradition is that on Christmas Eve we go to the Christmas Eve service at church and then to Grandma's place for dinner, which of course includes her amazing deviled eggs!! We then exchange our gifts with her.

Maddie and Daddy hangin' after dinner...

"So many things to suck on...maybe I'll get some teeth soon!!"

Kyle's wife, Susanna, and their youngest girl Sierra

Kurt, with his brothers Kevin and Kyle

Picture time with a 4 year old, 2 year old, and 6 month old doesn't exactly go "1, 2, 3, say cheese..." haha, maybe in a few more years!

Maddie wasn't exactly thrilled with pictures due to her sniffly nose and tired eyes :(

"Presents for me??" :)

Snuggletime with Mimi...

Thanksgiving in Florida

2008-01-03T22:05:00.001-08:00

For Thanksgiving this year, our family traveled to sunny Florida!! Here are some highlights of the trip.

The traditional carving of the turkey...

Someone's excited about turkey...

Our first Thanksgiving!! We are so blessed and thankful to have a beautiful and healthy baby girl!

Madelyn was very happy to be visiting her grandpa and cc!

We went to the beach one afternoon so that Maddie could have her first Atlantic Ocean experience!

"I'm done with this now..."

While down in Florida, Madelyn seemed like she was ready for more than just her rice cereal she'd been eating for the last couple of weeks. Sweet Potatoes seem to be a popular first food and I think it's safe to say that Madelyn loved them!

"mmmmm!"

our 'lil punkin!

2007-11-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

Quite literally...our pumpkin! Madelyn's first Halloween was a fairly quiet one, with two good naps...we were both doing great. Lindsey and her daughter Mia stopped over for a quick walk and a photo shoot with two little babies that could care less about their adorable and ridiculous outfits us moms had fun picking out :)

I can't seem to get Maddie to smile these days without having her tongue out there too!

"This is just silly, Mom!"

A little less than thrilled with those 'oh so cool' costume hats!!!

Fall Fun for Madelyn!

2007-10-23T20:07:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've written on here, beautiful fall weather and lots of fun guests. We've enjoyed visitors like Kurt's brother, Kevin and his girlfriend, Colleen, Kurt's parents, and my dear childhood friend, Dana.

I've heard that between 3 and 6 months, babies can experience a lot of growth, I have certainly seen this with Madelyn. The past month has been incredible and I've enjoyed every day more than the last! Maddie smiles frequently, giggles occasionally, babbles and coos, loves putting her hands and feet in her mouth, enjoys standing on her little feet while Kurt or I hold her up, kicks and splashes mommy in the bathtub, and looks at anything and everything that moves!

Madelyn had her 4-month checkup today and she is doing great. She is in the 50th percentile for height and weight, at 12 lbs. 13 oz. and 24 1/2 inches long. I feel like she is growing leaps and bounds, but compared to some other babies, she still seems so tiny.

Still my sleeping beauty...

Maddie loves her Papa and Mimi!

"I like my bumbo chair!"

Maddie-Daddy time :)

"I'm such a big girl!"

Visiting Jubilee Farms with Dana..

We even picked a pumpkin from the patch!

Snuggle-time with Dana

"Mornings are my favorite!"

Crazy girl

3 months old!

2007-09-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that my little girl will be three months tomorrow!! Every day gets better and better. Madelyn is sleeping fairly well during the night, smiling on cue, talking (cooing), and even grasping her little toys. Though her nighttime sleep is good, we are still working on a nap schedule...she can get pretty cranky if she doesn't get her naps in.

An exciting update about Maddie's hip! We visited the doctor last week for a follow-up ultrasound on her hip and everything looks good. Madelyn doesn't have to wear the harness anymore. I think she is much happier and I am loving playing dress-up with all of her cute clothes now that she can wear them more easily.

Trying to get a seven, five, and three month old to look at the camera isn't too easy...

Chillin' with one of her favorite toys...a stuffed lion that is just about as big as her!

This picture just cracks me up!

Madelyn is so happy in the mornings!

Acting silly with Grif...

I am definitely in love!! :)