I am the winner!

Last week had me nervous, it really did!! With Pat heading out, a super sick kid, and a lot to do for the upcoming weekend, I had my doubts. However, I am happy to report that this mom was able to come out victorious! Even though my little monkey was a snotty mess, we still managed to have a great week together. Pat decided to hop a red-eye Thursday night from Seattle so that he could be home on Friday to help me with things. That back-fired on us. . . somewhat! He managed to get home. . . .after a 2-3hr delay! I woke up Friday morning to find an email from him letting me know that he was delayed and would be pulling in right before I had to be to work!! WHAT!?!?! Throw another curve ball at me why don't ya!?!? He pulled in. . . .I pulled out. . . .and as soon as I was done with work, we began the race to put the final touches on Kari's bridal shower. It's done. . . .it's over. . . .and it doesn't seem possible one bit.

Ryan proposed over a year ago and I cant believe that we are a month away until they get married. I sit here saying to myself. . .

"He isn't old enough to be getting married!?!?"

"Mom, Ryan stole my Easter candy!"

"Dad, tell him to stop hitting me!"

It seems like yesterday that we were that brother and sister duo that had the love/hate relationships that siblings have. 1 minute you love me because I got you out of trouble. . . .the next minute I hate you because I want to get on ICQ and chat with my friends and you wont get off. Those memories seem so close but so far away at the same time. Each wedding event checked off the to-do list gets us closer to my little brother walking down the isle - WOW!!

Maddie talking to her dad on speaker while he was in Seattle. . . .one of the cutest things I have seen in a long time!

Bridal Shower Dessert Bar stocked with Kari's favorites!

Move over Martha. . . .

She is going to hate me for this. . .

A perfect end to the weekend. . . .state fair fun!

Operation Kick It . . .

That is the theme this week. . . .we don't have a choice! After an adult night with Pat on Saturday, Pat picked up our little girl Sunday to see that she was sick! We assume she picked something up on Friday and it slowly got to her over the weekend.



Snot, swollen throat, barking cough, throwing up, unhappy lil' one, and the list goes on and on and on. . . . That is a summary of our life since Sunday. After a restless Sunday night, I took her to the Dr first thing on Monday to hear that she has a double ear infection and a viral infection - AWESOME! Not like she has any control over this but I think to myself, why this week, why!?!?!?!? We said adios to daddy this morning so the mucus queen and I are fighting the virus together this week! I'm always up for a challenge, but a sick baby, a part-time job, and the final prep for a bridal shower are on the list of to-dos for the week. . . .yikes! However, I'm focusing on the positive today, we get to see the beautiful bride in her gown tonight as she has a fitting for the big day. Any suggestions how to keep an eager toddler away from her in an effort not to get vomit or snot on the dress?? That is #1 on the to-do list today!





Maddie has not had a good meal since Sunday morning, however, during a FAST (record timing) trip to Target for Motrin, a box of whale crackers made her glossy eyes light up! How do you say no to that? She insisted on holding them on the ride home. . . . .and opened them.

I say to myself, "knock yourself out kid, if this is the one thing that makes you happy today, who am I to take that away from you!"

Operation kick the damn virus is underway! We are armed with antibiotics, booger suckers, humidifiers, and one determined mom! I will have this little monkey giving knuckle sandwiches and running circles around everything this weekend - mark my word!

17 Months Old

We are almost there. . . .1 month away. . . . . .can it really be true? Now when people ask me how old Maddie is I will have to say, "A year and a half!?!?!?" We are almost to the halfway point to 2! Wow!!! This crazy girl has been learning and changing so much (like all of my posts say) but I feel like she is this sassy little adult right now.

Stats at 17 months. . . .

Weight - Still about 22ish pounds

Height - Approx 35in - seems more like 4ft somedays!

Favorite foods -

*Pea pods - thanks to Great Uncle Jeff and Great Aunt Terri

*Pizza is asked for constantly!

*Bananas - she would eat them all day

*Yogurt is an every day thing right now

*Hot Dogs. . . .another thing she would eat all day

*Granola bars

Favorite things to do -

*Build a really tall tower, then destroy it

*Watch Sesame Street

*Play with KIDS . . . .she loves being around other kids right now, it is so cute

*Coloring

*Swimming/Splash Pad fun

*Wrestling under the blankets

Not so favorite things -

*Taking medicine - this is new and quite the challenge

We are really encouraging Maddie to use her words now and it shows. She can say so many words now! We really need to watch the things that we say because she repeats absolutely everything!! I will ask her what she prefers to do, prefers to eat, etc and I am getting answers out of her. Our "baby" isnt such a baby anymore and that is mind blowing for me!

I was nervous going to work and taking her because she wasnt 100% sure of the kidcare there. Now, she gets so excited to go and will spend 3 hours in there!! I will sit outside the glass and watch her with the other kids and it is so funny. I am thankful that she can go in there and have a good time. Today, however, wasnt the best day for her! An older girl. . . .5yrs old. . . .was a bully and pushed Maddie down and chomped on 3 of her fingers! Needless to say I wasnt happy when I got a visit from one of the girls in there. I went to see Maddie, and she was of course upset. I enjoyed being able to snuggle and comfort her, but I thought for sure that I would be packing up my stuff and heading for home. I handed Maddie back to the workers to see if I could finish out my shift, and to my amazement, she was a tropper and pulled through! Maybe I was making more out of it than I should, but that is the first time someone walked up to me and told me my child was hurt. I handled it better than Papa Bear did. . . . .he was ready to elbow drop the 5yr old!! (Wait till she is 13 Pat!) These things are going to happen, and I realize that. I can just count my blessings that I was right down the hall and had the opportunity to give her a hug and a kiss, and go back to work!

Here are a some pictures of Miss Maddie at 17 months. . . .

Lunch date with Breonna

The girls blowing each other kisses

At the park loving the swings

As you can see on her face, she was going nuts on this thing!

Ella and Maddie on the swings

Hard to keep her hand still, but you can see the red marks/teeth marks on her fingers

After it is all said and done, she managed to bring home a work of art!

Another busy weekend. . . . .until next time!

When Mom is Away...

Well I thought I was going to be stuck in California last week. While traveling for work Milwaukee gets pounded with rain and storms. Delays and airport closures I thought were for sure going to affect my flight home. Thankfully it didn't!

Jamie had a bachelorette party to attend on Saturday and I had a date with Maddie. Maddie, Uncle Eric, and I all went to the zoo Saturday morning. We walked around and saw all her favorite animals. I practiced some more animal calls with her too!



We were fortunate enough to see the tiger up close this time. He came up and was sniffing the glass. I asked Maddie was does the tiger say... "ROAR" she says... Makes me so proud when she does her animal noises... :)



Later on Saturday it was so nice out that Maddie and I went to the splash pad at Kinderburg Park in Germantown. Such a great place. Huge playground and athletic field along with a splash area for kids to run through and play with. Maddie tried on her hoodie towel. She finally fits into it.



We finally got back home went for a walk and had some dinner. So much time outside we crashed hard when it was time to go to bed. Sunday we got up and started playing again. We were excited to see Mom when she got home.

Below is Maddie playing with Mom's clothes on our bed. One of her favorite things is to play on our bed and wrestle with the pillows. She also stands up and hangs on the head board and jumps up and down then lets go and falls onto her butt and giggles. She is crazy!



More exciting times ahead! She is learning so much and everyday more words come out of her mouth. She is amazing! Thank God she takes after her Mom!!!!!!!

Until Next Time,
Pat

A HOT weekend!

Wow, another warm weekend! What did we do to cool off and have fun - quite a bit!! This weekend was a nice balance of fun with friends, a little work, and family time!!! Friday I got to go out for dinner and drinks with the girls . . .it was LONG over due! Saturday I did have to work, but we spent the afternoon at a park staying cool! The day couldnt have ended more perfect that a nice steak dinner with my hubby!! We got to communicate face to face for once! Usually it is an email, note, or a text. . . so it was awesome to get to spend some time together ALONE! Sunday I worked for awhile and then we made a last minute decision to hit up the Italian Festival down at the summerfest grounds. It was rather warm so we didnt stay long, but we still got to enjoy rides, great food, and a lot of fun music! This week will be spent in Horicon as Pat is in Cali once again!

Staying cool at the splash pad

This kid and her knuckle sandwich. . .makes me laugh!

Maddie wanted to go swimming in Lake Michigan

She loved the rides!

Enjoying ourselves at Festa!

Staying cool at Festa!

Milwaukee Summers!

Summer is by far my favorite time of the year, and living in Milwaukee makes it even better!! There are so many things to do here every weekend! Our busy schedules limit us to what we can do, but lately we have been doing everything that we can to make the most of our days off together! This past weekend we decide to cook out with friends, be pool rats, and hit up Bastille Days in downtown Milwaukee!

Miss Maddie's signature facial expression!

Splashing around with dad

This is the life. . . now if only she had an umbrella drink in hand!

Closest thing we will get to the real thing!

The swing music came on and Maddie went nuts! Here she is clapping when the song was over!

Having a great time!

It makes me sad to think that we are half way through July already! But, all I can continue to do is enjoy it! More fun to report this weekend as well!

Summer Time/16 months old!!!

Summer to me is a double edged sword . . . .SUPER busy, but SUPER fun! We have been enjoying the zoo, our pool, our backyard jungle gym, and multiple walks!! Both Maddie and I are sporting a nice tan this summer due to our time spent outdoors!

Our monkey at 16 months. . . .

Height - about 32in

Weight - 22lbs

Likes:

*her wagon - will spend hours in it!

*picking grass and pretending to eat it

*chasing yogi - the neighbors puppy

*eating ice cream!

*getting scared by someone

Dislikes:

*having her nails cut - you would think we were chopping her arm off!

*sitting on her butt - needs to crawl up everything

New Tricks:

*"Maddie, where is daddy this week?" her reply is making an airplane noise and stretching out her arms

*I will say to her. . . "Maddie, I'm going to give you a knuckle sandwich!" She turns to me with her fists ready to go! Rather funny. . . .hope she doesn't take that one to kidcare!

*she now says thank you for everything - so sweet!

Maddie and 2 of her favorite things - 1) snack 2) her wagon

Nothing says summer like the Brewers!

Zoo w/ Aunt Kari and Uncle Ryan . .and that darn goat that kicked me!

I dont know what to say to this. . . . .scares me!

This weekend was another zoo trip with Sophia and Grant!