Here we go. . .

Morning,

Well, this week is it, my first "official" shift at the YMCA is tomorrow. I have quite a few emotions that I am feeling right now. Im sure that this is a tad premature, however, I feel a tad overwhelmed right now and it is only Monday. I'm trying to anticipate this weeks needs now so that we are not rushing around mid week. I keep telling myself that I just need to take a step back and roll with the punches, but this is me we are talking about here! I am excited to head into work tomorrow knowing that Maddie will be in good hands while I am away. Before I made the decision to stay home, I would honestly have a knot in my throat thinking about her going to day care. Im sure it was just a first time mom feeling, but I had a hard time shaking it. Im happy to report that I dont have that knot when thinking about tomorrow. Whenever I work, Maddie will be watched by my mom and Pat's mom which is a HUGE sense of relief! **Thanks in advance moms** The month of September is all over the board with my trainings and such, but I know that my obsession to plan ahead, as well as a good support system, that we will make it through like always.

In anticipation of our busy week this week, we spent the weekend relaxing for the most part. We ran some errands, got caught up on laundry, planned meals for the week, ironed clothing, etc . . . .but most importantly, spent some time kicking back just the 3 of us! It was fantastic!!

Maddie showed us once again how big she is getting! She is sitting up for long periods of time on her own, attempting a sippy cup (crazy, I know!), and spending a good amount of time keeping herself occupied.

Maddie sitting up on her own for a good 5 minutes!

I finally got her to look at me. . .she was busy playing! **Side note, not sure what the heck is on tv, but I swear we were watching TLC**

Maddie attempting water out of her sippy cup! She is starting to get the hang of it!

A cold Sunday. . . .and yes, she is in a sweatshirt on AUGUST 30th! Pat loved the hood up!

More to come later this week. . . .

Maddie's Pictures

Morning -

Maddie's pictures are posted on our photographer's website. . . .check them out!!!

http://www.spottswoodphotography.com/wordpress/?p=1355

We love using this couple, they are so much fun to work with!!!

Enjoy!

Jamie

I'm 6 months old!!

Today my mom took me to the Dr. for my 6 month check-up! I am really starting to like all of the colors and pictures hanging on walls. . . .it gives me a lot to look at! I got on the scale . . .15lbs 7oz! I decided to be nice to the nurse and not wiggle too much when she got my length and head size. I am 25 1/2in long and my head is a solid 42cm - to house my big brain of course! I showed Dr Franck all of my new tricks and she was impressed! Mom and I got a good report and we are good to go until I turn 9 months old. My appointment ended on a sour note as I had to get poked 3 times. . . .I hate that!!!! But I do know that I will get extra snuggles today and tomorrow because of it!

Now that I am 6 months old, there are some new things that I really enjoy doing! I love scooting around the floor on my belly and on my back . . . .some days I can really go, others I dont go very far! I am enjoying this game where my burp cloth is on my head and I get to pull it off. . . . someone yells peek-a-boo . . . . . I laugh! I have been eating in my highchair for about a week now and I love it. I have been eating new foods too! I liked the carrots, but the green beans I didnt care for. (mom says I have to try again though)

I am really enjoying exploring new things lately! Hard to believe I am half way to my first birthday!! Here are some pictures that mom took of me today . . . . . .

Smiles for mom!

Check out my pose!

A mixed weekend. . . .

I always love to report when we have a great weekend. . . .but we all know that cant always be the case!! Our weekend started out on a great note! Friday I headed into the Y to work for a few hours while Pat hung out at home with Maddie! Saturday we headed to Sun Prairie to hit up the corn festival with the Froh family. It was so nice to see our beautiful nieces- Ceanna & Briella!! Ceanna is a ball of energy!! Reminded me of what I have to look forward to with Maddie in a few years!!

Briella catching a few Zzzzzs . . .

Ceanna and I on a rollar coaster, that kid is fearless!!!

We ducked out of the festival a little early because it was a long week for Pat and I with him out traveling. It gave us a chance to re-group and talk about how important team work is going to be over the next few weeks until we get adjusted to me working again. We know everything will work out fine - it always does - but still very important to get everything out in the open so we know how the other one feels!

Sunday we had MADDIES 6 MONTH PICTURES! Yes, you are reading that correctly, 6 months old. It was a bitter sweet photo shoot as we just heard that Pat's cousin in TX was shot. Pat got the news about an hour before the pictures, and did all he could to forget about it while we were taking our pictures. Thank God everything appears to be looking good for Ryan! Please say a prayer for him though, he needs our love and strength right now.

Even through the toughest times it is important to try to think of something positive. Well, once again the Froh family amazes me. I come from a very small family . . .and Pat. . . .well, his is MUCH larger! I have seen time and time again this family come together on the drop of a dime. Within hours of the news of Ryan, the family was all on the phone talking to one another. It really makes you take a step back to remember the importance of family. I know that I couldnt manage to have 12 like Grandma Froh did. . . .but reminds me that I want Maddie to grow up surrounded by family and friends! So, no matter how crazy this week will get. . .or the next . . .or the next. . .I need to take a step back and remember that it will work out. I am surrounded by a multitude of support!

And to end this post on an even happier note. . . . .Maddie was introduced to two new things yesterday. 1 she found on her own. . . . .

Her toes. . . in her mouth! Yum!

And the other. . . .carrots! Yum!

Happy Monday!

Green Beans!!!

I finally got around to getting the videos uploaded from Maddie's green bean experience. As you will be able to tell from the first video she initially seemed to like the new food. Either that or she is like me and just woofs down her food so fast she didn't taste it the first time. Take a look...

Then after a few more spoonfuls Maddie realized that she isn't sure about the taste of green beans and may not even like them at all. This 2nd video makes me laugh so hard, I love it.

~Dad

A week in Horicon. . . .

Morning,

With Pat out of town again this week, Maddie and I packed up the car and headed to Horicon to spend some time with family!! Im glad that we did it because the next few weeks will be busy at our house with me getting certified and trained for my new job at the YMCA. Not much to write this week really. . . .Maddie got a chance to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa Tamminga at the zoo, play with Nana and Papa Froh at their house, as well as visit with Great-Grandpa Tamminga. We pulled back into Tosa Thursday afternoon just in time to get unpacked, settled, and ready for Pat's arrival home from MN! Maddie had yet another first last night. . . .first time eating green beans!!!

Maddie by the goats! Next year she will get to feed them!

Her first time feeding the ducks with grandma!


She liked the ducks!

Playing at Great-Grandpa's house!


She gave him a good once over. . . .she yanked on his neck and nose!


Big smile!

I took Maddie outside when Pat pulled in. . . she was SO excited to see him! He was so excited to see her too! They both game me big smiles when they got in the house!


Maddie, meet Mr. Green Bean . . . .

I take that you dont like it???

What were you guys thinking feeding me that?

Pat and I were laughing so hard last night while she was eating. We have a few videos that we will get uploaded later today. Maddie sure cracks us up!!! Another great weekend planned this weekend . . .more pictures and updates to come!

Change . . .

Morning!!

Like usual, we were busy the past few days! There has been a lot going on lately, but we hope that things will start to slow down a bit in the upcoming weeks. It is hard to believe that the summer is coming to an end already. Pat ran into a store yesterday and came out to tell me that there were Christmas decorations up. . . .really, is that necessary? At the start of summer I was faced with a difficult decision regarding my career. Do I keep my job and continue to travel? Do I find a new job? Do I stay home and raise Maddie? Well, Pat and I made the decision for me to stay home and enjoy the summer with her. As I look back on that, that was the best decision I have ever made. It was definitely a change for me. . . .but a change for the better. Now that the summer is wrapping up, we have decided to make yet another change. . . .I will be heading back to work - part-time. Why? There are a lot of reasons for it. I accepted a part-time sales position with the YMCA. By taking on this role, this will open up a lot of opportunities for all 3 of us. 1) Maddie is allowed to come to work with me and play in the kids center. It will be nice for her to hang out with other kids for a few hours. 2) The grandma's are chomping at the bit to babysit her when I work longer shifts 3) It will allow me to get some adult interaction and work in an environment that I am very passionate about. 4) Pat will get the chance to enjoy more one on one time with his favorite little lady. This is a win-win situation for all involved! The next few weeks will be nutty as I need to get re-certified in CPR/First-Aid, etc, but we will make it through like we always do! I officially accepted the position last week, so the weekend was spent celebrating and relaxing!

Almost 6 months old already - wow!

Lunch with the girls. . . .Dawn and Jill!


Pat was happy to come home and see us after being in MN!

Second Brewer Game for us this year! A chance to kick back and relax! Thanks for babysitting Nana and Papa!

Ryan and I in Miller Park

What a group!! We had a great time!

FUN WEEKEND!!

Hi,

Well, the Froh's had one fun weekend! I have so many pictures to share so I will allow those to tell the majority of the details!!

Saturday, Pat, Kari, and I took Maddie to the state fair after the rain cleared out! We enjoyed eating all of the food and Maddie loved to people watch. She even met her first celebrity!!

Deep fried smores on a stick! YUM!

Maddie enjoying the ride!



Maddie and Windell - the Miller High Life guy!

She even got a kiss!

Kari and I posing for a lovely picture!

We decided to spend this chilly Sunday poolside. . . .Maddie has such a great time! Her legs were going crazy and she was all over the pool!

And then, she proved to us again that she is getting to be such a big girl! We got the highchair out and she loved it! Our little baby is growing so fast!!!

We have a BUSY week ahead of us, so it was nice to relax and hang out together this weekend!!

My newest thing. . . .my highchair!

Pat put Maddie's highchair together this morning and she used it for the first time. . .she is getting to be such a big girl!!

Daddy Time!

With Pat being gone last week for work, he has been spending a lot of quality time the past few days with Maddie before he heads out again next week! Here are some shots of Daddy and Maddie!

Here is Maddie after Pat got home from MN last week!



Weekend daddy time!



Her new thing - looking up at you when you hold her!



It's a busy week for us, but I will have more to write about in a few days. . .hopefully some good news to report as well . . .we will see!!

Have a great week!

A Day in the Life. . . .

Morning,

I have been asked by many people this question . . ."What do you do all day at home? Don't you get bored?" HA! I don't fault anyone for asking that question, because I to have wondered the same thing of stay at home moms before Maddie came along. Each day is unique and filled with many surprises, but there are a few key things that make up our day.

6:30am - Maddie awakes and eats **But recently it has been 4:30 or 5:30 due to teething!**

7am-8:30am - Maddie plays and tells us lots of stories

8:30-10:30am - Maddie naps (sometimes only for an hour though), and while that takes place I get lunch and dinner ready, laudry, clean the house, etc

10:30am - Maddie eats

11am-1pm - Maddie plays - we work on tons of stuff! Sitting up. . .rolling over. . . .etc

1pm-2pm - Maddie naps - if I am SUPER lucky! But normally this doesnt happen

2pm - Maddie eats

2:30pm-3:30pm - We go on a 3 mile walk which she is wide awake for - she doesnt want to miss anything!

3:30pm-5pm - Maddie plays some more

5pm - Maddie eats

5:30pm-6:30pm - Another 3 mile walk . . .Pat joins us!

6:30pm-7:30pm - MORE playtime!!

7:30pm - Bottle and bed!!! Now it is time for Pat and I to have dinner!

As you can see, that doesnt leave much time to sit around and get bored! I can honestly say that I feel as if I have always given 110% at every job that I have had. BUT, by far, this is the hardest I have ever worked in my life. This is not a post about me complaining by any means, because at the end of the day, this is the best job I have ever had! Knowing that I have a direct impact on another individual does scare me at times, but also rewards me on a daily basis watching my litle girl grow. Not every day is a perfect day . . . I have my fair share of days that I am dragging my feet and wonder how I might get through without a 30 minute nap, but that is a day in the life of a mom!