A Taste of Spring!!!

What a beautiful week last week!!! It was so refreshing to have the warm weather so that we could be outside enjoying it!!! I remember last spring and summer. . . . . .Maddie and I were outside as much as we possibly could be! I am so excited to be outside with her again this year! We got tons of walks in and took in the warmth and sunshine! Now that she is facing forward and looking at everything she was pointing at all of the dogs, birds, kids, etc etc etc - so that was fun!

It was Pat's first week at his new job which was an adjustment for everyone! We survived - as we knew we would!! This week is another adjustment for us - his first trip! So, Maddie and I are flying solo this week and have a lot of fun stuff packed into this week!

For awhile now she has been mostly eating table food instead of baby food. Well, she tried a few new things over the weekend. We went out for fish on Friday night and she got her first sampling of fish. . . . .AND LOVED IT!! Pat gave her some and she bit his finger - so funny! She also had some baked potato. . . .and a choc shake! Wow, I have never seen her hold onto a straw for dear life! It was cute!

We do have a few new tricks. . . . .

#1) If you even mention the word DOG. . . .she will start panting like one

#2) She likes to crawl into her wagon and wait for someone to pull her around

#3) Now that she knows where the garbage is in the kitchen, she likes to throw things away when we are not looking . . . .couch covers, magnets, toys, pretty much anything she can get her hands on!

Here is Miss Sassy-Pants herself. . . so glad Pat taught her that one!

Busted for snatching a magnet off the fridge!

Rough housing with Pat - we have a tom boy on our hands!

Learning about life jackets in swim class!

Look mom, I got in all by myself! Gotta love the head tilt. . .

Im sure I will have plenty of great adventures to report this week as dad is in MN for work!

Role Swap!

Wow, it has been 2 weeks since my last post!!! Oops! Well, needless to say, it has been a busy few weeks around here! (I feel like I always say that!) Anyway, last week was a change of pace for both Pat and I. I was the full time worker and he was the stay at home parent!!! Normally I put in about 15-20 hours at the Y a week and last week I was at about 35!!! Pat got the chance to experience the joys and challenges of being at home while I dealt with being at work. Needless to say, we both have a further appreciation of what the other deals with on a daily basis. Why was Pat home all week???? Well, he took a week off before starting his new job this week. He has been busting his tail to find a new opportunity, and he finally found it! I am so proud of his determination and cant wait for him to come home and tell me about his first day!!!






While home with Maddie all week, he got to take her on walks, teach hew new tricks, and soak up all of her precious little noises and faces as his schedule will be different with this new job. We are approaching this the same way we approach everything else. . . .one day at a time - TOGETHER!

As the week came to an end we were getting geared up for a Froh wedding!! Pat and I both had a role in the wedding so our weekend was dedicated to that! Once again. . . .this was a beautiful display of how a family can come together with little notice and make a day wonderful!!!

What will a week with dad teach you??

How to stick your tongue out of course!

Pat and I at the wedding

Happy Birthday Dad (Grandpa)!!!

Well, today is my dad's birthday and there is no way to call him to wish him a happy birthday because he is on a cruise right now!!! So, this is our only attempt to send him our birthday wishes as they have internet on the ship!!! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Maddie's Many Faces!

Hi -

Well, our crazy weekend ended with Maddie's 1yr photo shoot in Hartford with the Spottswoods! It is hard to believe that a year ago she was there as a tiny little newborn peeing and pooping on us during the shoot. This time around she was our sassy and funny little 1 year old! She pulled out all of the stops at this shoot. . . .giggles, big teeth smiles, goofy poses, and the list goes on. Here is a link to a sample of her 1 year photos. . . . .

http://www.spottswoodphotography.com/wordpress/2010/03/02/madeline-4/

I cannot stress enough how wonderful Sarah and Steve are to work with! If you have any special moments in your life that you want captured - they are the ones to do it for you!! We have enjoyed working with them so much that we plan to set up shoots this summer and winter with them!

Enjoy Maddie's photo shoot. . . .

1 Year Old

Maddie had her one year check-up on Friday so we now have "official" measurements for her instead of us doing it here at home!!! Here are her 12 month stats. . . . .

Weight - 19lbs 3oz - (20th percentile)

Height - 29 3/4in - (70th percentile)

Favorite Fruit - Banana

Favorite Veggie - Carrots

Favorite Drink - Sugar Free Crystal Light and Whole Milk

Favorite Meal - Mac & Cheese

Favorite Snack - Gerber Cheese Puffs

New Tricks -

**If you burb. . . .Maddie burps too

**Walking everywhere all by herself

**Bouncing balls and playing catch

**Opening drawers all over the house

Likes at 12 Months -

**Crawling and exploring the BIG playland at the YMCA Kid Care

**Eating. . . .like that would change??

**Watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on Disney

**Swimming Lessons at the Y!

**Dancing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dislikes at 12 months -

**Can you guess #1?? Yep - napping!!!

12 Month Check-Up

Taking a stroll around the house in my wagon


Birthday Party w/ Maddie's Friends Keegan (3/12/09) and Ella (3/13/09)

Yummy!


Still eating. . . .


After we hosed the kids down we all got to open presents!

Look what my mom made me!!!!

"Whose is the cutest?" Well me of course. . . .

Another busy day ahead of us today. . . .we have our 12 month pictures with our favorite photographers and then we are off to Shrimp class!!!!! Happy Sunday!

Has it Really Been a Year?

So I find myself thinking back about it all. It just doesn't seem possible. Did a year really pass us by? Did I wake up and realize that my daughter is now a very active, energetic, excited individual? It is hard to fathom that this last year has gone by this quick. I sat down with Jamie and asked her when did "years" become so short. I remember thinking back on my life and when I was in grade school to middle school summers used to feel like years. Even in college semesters used to feel like years. So the question remains, when did years become months, when did months become minutes, and when did minutes become seconds in the life that I lead.

My daughter has blessed my life and my livelihood ever since she came into this world. She has created a new escape for me to go to when I have had a bad day. She has become my little friend that I play with at the end of the day. She has become my confidant when I have had a bad day, and Mom is at work. She has become my whole life outside of my beautiful wife.

Madeline Elizabeth Froh
Born 2-25-09

~In one year you have changed my life. I hope I have changed yours for the better as you have mine.

~In one year you have made me happier than I have ever been. I hope that your life has seen its beginnings of happy times and continues to be that way.

~In one year you have blessed me with humility. I hope that you always understand where you came from and know your beginnings.

~In one year you have loved your family with no limitations. I hope that I can learn from you to be as open and forgiving as you are.

~In one year you have been the constant positive note when it seems that my song has gone flat. I dream that I can contain the excitement that you contain for life.

~In one year you have made me realize that my life has just started. I hope that some day you feel as I do. So you can realize the impact that your own child has.

I used to talk about how the other day was my wedding. Now I talk about how yesterday was when my daughter was born. My days have become seconds. My months have become minutes. My years have become months. Time is flying so fast. I hope that I can be all that my wife and my daughter want and truly need me to be.

To my daughter: I love you with all of my life. If you need anything at all, please ask as I am willing to sacrifice for you.

To my wife: I love you with all of my life. Thank you so much for the wonderful gift you have given me. Our daughter is perfect and I owe the majority of that to you!

Love,
Dad

Has it really been a year???

Good Morning . . .

I have started most of my monthly milestone posts in shock that Maddie was getting so close to her magical first birthday. Well, yesterday she turned 1 officially. Wow. . . .it doesn't seem possible one bit. This week I have spent a lot of time reflecting on the past year and what we have gone through as a family of 3. By far this year has been the hardest year that I have ever gone through, but at the end of the day - it has all been worth it by far. Our lives have taken a turn down a different path filled with early bedtimes, outings to the zoo, and play dates. Do we miss the last minute decision to hit up a restaurant, happy hour, and endless Brewer games? Sure we do - we would be kidding ourselves to think that we didn't miss those days. However, the decision we made to start a family is the best decision we ever made. Relationships we have with our family and friends have changed, but those changes make you grow as a person and learn new life lessons.

The last year has not been sunshines and rainbows by any means. Learning the needs of a little person who cannot communicate with words was a difficult tast. But, we survived and that is all that matters. Sleepless nights, Pat on the road for work, rashes, breathing problems, and teething are all masked by giggles, hugs, first steps, and smiles. I know that I have grown a lot as an individual over the past year. I know that I have had an influence in Maddie over the past year, but she has had an equal influence over me.

Maddie. . . .

There are so many things that I want to say to you that I don't know where to begin! Your smile and laughter is all I need to get me through a day.

**I love the fact that you have such an active personality . . . . . .

**I love the fact that as soon as I say the words lunch, food, hungry, or snacks you start to smack your lips

**I love the fact that you have such a sense of humor with all of your silly faces

**I love the fact that 20 minutes of rolling around in our bed takes away all of the stresses of the day

**I love the fact that you have such a sense of adventure and curiosity

**I love the fact that your face lights up when I enter a room

**I love the fact that I made the decision to put my career on hold so that I could have this precious time with you

I could go on and on little girl. Please know that you have added such meaning to my life and that I don't know what I would ever do without you. This past year has been such a blessing and I can only anticipate the joy that the future holds.

Happy 1st Birthday Maddie, I love you with all of my heart!

Mom