Maddie at 19 months

Here she is. . .another month older! She is a ball of energy and continues to learn and grow! Here are some of Maddies stats at 19 months . . .

Favorite Foods - Pizza, yogurt, Crackers (imagine that), apple slices, hot dog

Words - My goodness, this flood gate opened this month for sure. Everything you say, she will say. A few of my favorite at the moment would be: chip, yellow, dress, mess, share, hippo

New friends/activities - In LOVE with her doll, Elmo, Big Bird, and an oldie but a goodie - Hippo! She is quite the singer now too! Her and I take a class as the Y and she loves singing the songs!

All along we have known that she was a tomboy, but it is nice to see her soft side as well. She will

take the time to snuggle, hug, and kiss when she can tell you need it!

I love her sense of curiosity and adventure . . .she isnt afraid of anything!

With Pat being gone so much lately, she has become quite a daddy's girl when he is home. He is eating it up every second!

Outside helping daddy!

Goodbye Sept, Hello October!

September has been the busiest month by far for me and I couldnt be happier to see it go! With Pat's massive amount of travel, the wedding, and extra hours for me, I am eager to welcome October with open arms! I am sad that the wedding is done and over with, but now we are able to focus on some personal goals!! Im taking 4 workout classes at the Y right now and I couldnt feel better. It is the hour in my day that is all about me! Plus, Maddie is happy to be running around with other kids and playing with toys. It is a win win for all.

Ryan and Karis wedding was a beautiful day and I am so honored to be apart of it! I could go on and on for pages writing about it, but I will let the pictures tell the story!

Kari and I before the ceremony

Ryan giving Maddie kisses after church

Grandma and Maddie

Kari and I in the limo on our way to the Chula

Cute picture!

A walk with Mama and Auntie!

Dancing with Daddy!

It was a great time had by all! A special thank you to my mother-in-law Cindy for watching her for us, especially with her coming down with the flu - we appreciate it so much. Knowing that she was in good hands allowed us to enjoy the wedding and spend time with family and friends! THANK YOU!

As a reward for all of the madness in Sept, we were able to enjoy ourselves this weekend with tickets to the Badger game with some of our best friends! Maddie got to spend the day with Grandma and Grandpa Tamminga!

2 of my oldest and dearest friends!

Jill and I at the game

Goodbye September. . . .

Dah Dum Da Dum, Dah Dum da Dum..... Wedding Time!

Well this weekend is a big weekend for the Tamminga family! Jamie's little brother Ryan is getting married to his fiance Kari. We have all been waiting for this day for roughly 3 years now!!! It is funny as we have all told Ryan more than once you better not screw this up. We like her a lot. Like her?? Heck we love Kari. It is going to be a great celebration of family and love!

We are so happy for you two! Congratz ahead of time! We love you!
And about time!!!!!!

Hooo Hooo Hoooo Hooo Hooo
(cheer done with the Tammi Tamminga arm punching motion)

Time is running out!

Busy few weeks here as Pat has been traveling, I've been working, and Maddie is running circles around us both! She did have her official 18 month check up and she is measuring up nicely!

Weight - 23.2lbs (30th percentile)

Height - 32.5in (70th percentile)

Her new recent love - Elmo and her "dolly"

The last few weekends have been filled with some family fun! Cookouts, a fish fry, a baptism, and so on and so on. We just continue to pack things up and pop to the next destination!!

And. . .our next destination. . . . . .THE WEDDING!

We are now smack dab in the middle of September and it is hard to believe that in less than a week my brother is going to be a husband to Kari - yikes!! The time leading up to this wedding has gone by so quickly! We have been busy getting our last minute items ready to head to the Dells later this week. There is one thing that I am still trying to finish. . .my speech! I dont mind getting up in front of people and talking, but I am having a hard time coming up with the words I want to say. On one hand I have Ryan. . . .him and I have been in each others lives for 24 years! Where do you even begin to summarize that one up? Im sorting through the millions of stories I have trying to figure out which ones I want to use. Then. . .there is Kari. . . .my sister-in-law to be! Her are I are like twins separated at birth and she means more to me than she will EVER know! Im in a jam. . . .I think I have thrown away about 6 speeches already and time is not slowing down for me to write 6 more! I cannot wait for this weekend to begin, it will be fun bringing family and friends together to celebrate with the bride and groom!

Here are a few shots over the past 2 weekends!

Doesnt she look like a nerd! This has Pat written all over it!

She thinks her daddy is pretty cool


Cookout with grandma and grandpa!

A day at the park enjoying the swing!

Down the slide all by herself!

Oh Miss Maddie. . .

Did we miss Maddie while we were gone? Absolutely

Did she miss us? She did, but she had a great time with the grandparents and her great aunt Terri

Here are a few fun shots from before we left!

She let me do this. Once it was done, she looked at me and said, "ow" Honestly Maddie??

I decided to send her nice and clean to grandma and grandpas house!

I going to say that this shot is her trying to UNPACK me because she didnt want me to leave. Do you believe me?????

Eating at home with mom and dad. . . .giving Pat quite the look for taking this picture. Thats our Maddie!!

When we got back from vacation and took one look at her we thought she grew 3 inches, sprouted a ton more hair, was saying so many more words, got a tattoo, etc etc etc. . .she seemed so different. Now I understand how Pat feels when he leaves for work. She does change so fast. After getting things unpacked and back to normal (as normal as our life is) we learned something new about our little girl. . . .she was ready to become a big girl. . . .Here is how it went down on Tuesday night.

Maddie: "Mama. . . .pooooo. . . . .pooooo"

Me: "You have to go poop?"

Maddie: "Uh huh" (she then runs the opposite direction)

Me: (chasing after her) "Maddie lets go potty hun!" **meanwhile Pat is on the phone**

I rip the diaper off, place her on the toilet and she instantly needs toilet paper. Really Maddie? You didnt do anything yet!?!? Whatever, if that makes you go poop then take an entire roll for all I care!

Pat: (still on the phone) "Push it out Maddie"

Maddie: **Grunts like an old man. . . . .** and there it comes flying out!

The look on her face was priceless!! She was so proud of herself that she starting clapping - so damn funny! Then she turns to me and says, "all done mama!"

When your newborn smiles. . . .you take a picture, when your infant rolls over. . . .you take a picture, when your baby walks. . . you take a picture . . . .when your toddler takes a poop on the toilet for the first time. . . .you take a picture!?!?!?!?! What the heck am I going to do with a picture of poop???? It was habit. . .or insanity - one or the other. But either way, operation potty training is under way!

5 Years - Where has the time gone???

It is hard to believe that Pat and I have been married now for 5 years! I can honestly remember that day like it happened yesterday. We were going back and forth on if we wanted to do anything or not and decided that we deserved a get-away, just the two of us! With Pat being in San Fran for work, it worked out perfectly for me to come along to celebrate! With a GIANT lump in my throat, I put Maddie in my parents car and drove off with an empty car seat. I will admit, the lump did turn to tears. But, as soon as I thought of the fun I was going to have (and she was going to have) I was ready to get this trip started!

Day 1 - San Jose, CA - Temp 90

While Pat did a few things for work, I decided to relax poolside. . .it was QUIET! That is something I am not used to!

Shopping and a pint at a local pub - doesn't get much better than that!

Dinner in downtown San Jose


Day 2 - San Fransisco - Temp - Not sure, but COLD

We leave sunny San Jose to see the Golden Gate and I am shocked by the temps when I get out of the car! What idiot wears a sundress - this mid western gal does! Everyone else was in winter coats!

Lombard St - crazy to drive down that thing! I thought I was going to fall out the window!

Anniversary surprise in our room!

Us in our room with an amazing view!! Notice the outfit change on my part!

View from our room. . . .beautiful ocean view to wake up to every day!

Day 3 - San Fransisco - Temp 60

We hopped the cable car first thing that morning and headed down to the Wharf!

Beautiful views down there. Notice the coffee in Pats hand - it was a must to stay warm. I think I was peeing straight starbucks some days!

FRESH crabs - look at how big they are! YUMMY!

Hanging out at Ghiradelli Square - shopping, wine and chocolates! Awesome!

After a bread bowl of soup to warm us up, we were on our way to Alcatraz! After arriving I brushed through my hair and managed to lose half of it due to snarls. . . .oh well, totally worth it!

Inside Alcatraz

I'm sure all of the inmates had a huge smile on their face like me!

View of downtown San Fran from Alcatraz.

Our last dinner in San Fran

5 years, it may not seem like a lot, but it has meant a lot. These past 5 years have had their ups and downs, but at the end of the day I can proudly say that I married my best friend. We lead a crazy life and at times barely get to see one another, but we are a team, and we make it through anything together. This trip couldn't have come at a better time for us. It was the re-fuel that I know we both needed leading into September. Pat will be gone over 85% of this month, and on top of that, we have my brothers wedding. We both know that it will be nuts, and that we will both be tired, but we will make it through. I am so happy that we decided to get away when we did. It gave us the chance to leave the stress behind and enjoy one another.

A HUGE thank you to our family for keeping Maddie safe and happy while we were gone. We would not have been able to do this without you. We love you so much!

Here's to 5 more . . . .

It's the little things. . .Maddie @ 18 Months

With how hectic life is, I do everything I can to bottle up the little things that Maddie does to put a smile on my face. Her excitement when I pick her up from kid care melts my heart, her love for food cracks me up, her desire to run all day long keeps me active, her love of the outdoors keeps us on endless adventures. Taking the time to see the world through her eyes is such a gift. I am stressed with the constant activity in our life, but watching her shred the newspaper, build a castle out of blocks, or slide down her slide with the biggest smile on her face takes my stress away. The littlest things make this kid happy!! On Friday I got the BEST greeting from her when I was done with work. She screamed so loud and came running towards me. I got one of those hugs from her that says “Mom, I missed you!” We spent the rest of the day glued to one another and having a blast. In the afternoon we were outside watching the rain clouds roll in when all of a sudden we got soaking wet from a down pour! I grabbed Maddie and we ran in the house giggling like little girls. It’s the little things like that I can’t replace or forget. . . .they bring a smile to my face.

Maddie’s 18 Month Stats . . . .

Weight – Approx 23 ½ lbs

Height – Approx 36in

Favorite Foods – APPLESAUCE (its out of control), Yogurt, Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Cheese, Chicken, and last but certainly not least – CRACKERS!

New Tricks –

*She has managed to figure out a way to climb up every piece of furniture and bed in the house
*Counting to 3 – it’s so darn cute
*Pointing out colors. . . .hearing her say purple is priceless
*Learning new words every day. This kid is constantly talking
*Picking out her outfits for the day

Our little Miss Independent is such a joy to be around. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t lay on the floor laughing and thank God for such a wonderful gift. As Pat and I approach our Anniversary get away, I am emotionally torn about leaving her for such a long period of time. I know that she will be in wonderful hands, but 5 days is a long time for me to be away from her. I know that I will drive away on Wednesday and shed a few tears, but then I will be looking forward to the giggles, hugs, and all of her other “little things” on Sunday. . . .Happy 18months babygirl, I love you so much!!

This is what she picked out to wear. . .her bath towel! She had it on for hours!

Hit up zoo ala cart with the grandparents! She polished off mac and cheese, friend rice, italian nachos, friend ravioli, ice cream (see below), and the list goes on and on. Eats like her daddy!


All that food, sunshine, and outdoor air got the best of her when we ran to Target! She doesnt snuggle very often so Pat was loving this!