Fun at the Park

On Saturday, we met Ryan's parents in Mankato.  It was so fun to see them and hang out for a few hours.  We went to Famous Dave's for lunch.  Madelyn did great!  This was the 1st time we have ordered off the menu for her.  Usually we either feed her before we go or we give her some of our food.  She loved her macaroni and cheese!  It is her favorite food.  We also ordered apples (warm with cinnamon) but she didn't like those as well.  She entertained everyone at the restaurant.  She is such a happy girl and is always smiling, waving, saying hi.

Then we went to Sibley Park for a little while.  It was a great day.  It was overcast but that was probably ok since we forgot the sunscreen for Madelyn.  She had a blast!  She walked, explored, went down the slide, swung in the swing, looked at the fish in the pod, giggled, talked and played with Grandpa's cell phone.  There is also a petting zoo so we'll have to meet the Bormann's there again this summer when the animals are there.

Then we stopped by the Froehle's on our way home to pick up the harness to the chariot.  Always fun to see them.  Madelyn adores Bishop!  She just watches him, laughs and enjoys following him around.  Nora is already 6 weeks old - so hard to believe.  She is absolutely precious & just adorable!  She is growing up so fast and will be running around with Bishop & Madelyn before you know it!

What a great day!

Going down the slide for the 1st time

Going down the "big" slide - Madelyn's in good hands :)

Wasn't so sure about the swing but then loved it by the end

Sitting & smiling with Grandpa

Waving at all the kids

Loving her time with Grandma

Found a leaf and loved to crunch it

Lucky girl.....she got Grandpa's cell phone!

Loved opening & closing it

Wearing Grandpa's hat

Had a huge smile on her face when she saw Cousin Bishop -
she doesn't usually like to sit still but she just sat there & loved riding with Bishop!

Ear Infection update

We went back to the dr on Monday, 3/12 for a recheck and Madelyn's ears were clear, which was great news.  It only took one round of medicine this time to clear her ears.  Our dr was hoping that since the duration of this ear infection was so short and with the spring weather we could be in the clear with the ear infections.

Unfortunately a week later I knew she was having ear problems again - was hoping it wasn't an infection again but I knew something was going on.  On Monday, 3/19 she fell 2x at daycare......she fell and bumped her head on the mirror and had a big goose egg and in the afternoon she fell and cut her lip.  They said she was off balance and unstable.  On Tuesday she was crawling more, instead of walking.  Then Tuesday night she woke up screaming 2x.  Lately she has been an awesome sleeper so I know when she gets up in the middle of the night mostly likely her ears are hurting.  On Wed, she didn't eat much (totally unlike her) and they said she only wanted to be held.

We took her to the dr on Wed afternoon and yep, another double ear infection.  We got a referral and are going to an ENT this Tuesday, 3/27.  She is on meds again - the meds works very fast as she was back to herself by Thursday/Friday.  We just feel so bad for her as you can tell she is in so much pain when her ears hurt.  We are curious to get another opinion on Tuesday.  It's not that I am pushing for tubes but I just want some type of relief so our baby doesn't have to be on antibiotics or in pain the majority of the time.

Beautiful Spring

It's been a beautiful spring!  We took Madelyn out on our deck and she loved it.  She enjoys being outside.  She walked all over the deck and would smash her face into the glass panels we have on the deck.  She's so fun, no matter what she is doing!  Now that there's some humidity in the air, her curls are starting to come out.  I've been meaning to get a picture because I think they are so cute.....and they remind me of when I look at childhood pictures of myself.

Skiing & trip to visit Nana & Papa

Yesterday Ryan went to Duluth to go skiing with his friends so Madelyn & I went to Owatonna to visit my parents.  We had a fun day.....we always do with Nana & Papa!  It was crazy because it was in the 40's-50's up in Duluth (almost unheard of for this time of year in MN) so skiing conditions weren't the greatest but Ryan still had fun.

Riding the zebra

Look, No Hands!

Fun reading a book with Nana

Papa has an "old fashion" radio to listen to basketball games and Madelyn loved it

Walking!

Wednesday night Madelyn started walking!  She was holding onto a hanger in one hand, so I gave her another hanger for her other hand and I kept holding onto it.  Then I let go as Madelyn kept walking!!  The best part is we even got it on video.  She has continued to walk and gets better every day.  Now she can walk without holding onto anything.  She takes a couple steps, stops, takes a couple more steps until she eventually falls on her bottom.  She can even get up after she falls down.....sticks her bottom in the air and stands up.  Everyday is so fun as she does new things all the time!

Playing with friends

We visited one of my very good high school friends yesterday.  Always so fun to see them.  Her oldest daughter was the flower girl in our wedding and will always have such a special place in my heart.  It's so cute because Madelyn can't really "play" yet but Melissa's girls were so good to Madelyn.  They would bring her toys, help her walk and sit with her on the floor.  It was a fun time.  I wish we lived closer so we could get together more often but I truly cherish the times we do connect.  

We stopped by to see the Froehle's on our way home.  My mom got the best picture (to date) of Bishop & Madelyn.  We always try so hard and one of them is either looking away or they don't want to sit still.  What a great picture - so happy together!

Snuggling with sweet Nora

Bishop pushing Madelyn in the car

Riding together - Madelyn didn't mind at all that Bishop was sitting on her......in fact she loved it!