Fun on the Farm

We went to Iowa to see Ryan's parents last weekend.  Eric was home from Chicago so it was fun that everyone was there.  We took Friday off so we headed down in the morning.  Madelyn had a great time!  She loves exploring and she was exploring from the minute we got there.

On Saturday some of their extended family came which was really fun too.  We usually only get together on the holidays so it was nice to do it in the summer when we could be outside.  There were some of Ryan's cousin's kids who are around Madelyn's age so she had a blast chasing after them.  There were also 2 older boys there.....I'm guessing ages 10 & 12??  Anyways, they were hanging out on the couch, playing their DS's and Madelyn walked up to them as if she wanted to say "I want to play with you".  They didn't really acknowledge her (like everyone else usually does) so she got this look on her face like "what's going on here.  you're supposed to want to play with me".  It was pretty cute!  Like I have said so many times, she is a very social little girl and wants to be friends and play with anyone......even 10 & 12 year old boys who she doesn't have a lot in common with.

Her favorite thing to do was to look at the cows.  I tried taking her over there once but the smell was so bad that I couldn't even get close (it probably wasn't even that bad but I'm not a farm girl!).  I had to come back and then one of her uncles or grandpa/grandma would take her back there.  She didn't seem scared at all.  She just looked at the cows.  She would be crying (more like whining) when they would finally come back for a little break.

Grandpa & Grandma wanted to keep Madelyn for a couple extra days so Ryan & I took off for Minneapolis on Sunday morning and then they brought her back on Tuesday night.  They said she loved seeing the cows and she also made a new friend, Milton, their dog.  Milton isn't really a fan of kids and Madelyn wasn't really a fan of Milton on Friday/Saturday but by the end of her stay it sounded like they both had come to like each other.

She started saying "puppy" while we were down there.  I'm not sure where she learned that as we have been practicing "dog" (which she doesn't say) but now she says "puppy" all the time.  Of course we think it's the cutest thing :)

Madelyn loved walking over the bridge and looking in the water

Uncle Chris & Madelyn

Uncle Chris is a saint.
He must have spent at least an hour just looking at the cows.
Madelyn was so content and happy.

Madelyn thought it was so funny to pat Uncle Eric's head!

Fun with Grandma!

I just love this smile!

Looking at the cows with Grandpa

Madelyn and Milton are friends!

All smiles with Nana & Papa

While Ryan & I were in San Francisco, Madelyn stayed with my parents.  I'm not sure who had more fun.....Madelyn or Nana/Papa!  It sounds like they did so many things while she was in Owatonna.  They went on walks, fed the geese, went to the grocery store, bought new shoes and Madelyn liked taking baths!  Might sound funny but lately Madelyn has been kicking and screaming as we lower her into the bathtub.  I'm not sure why she has recently started to hate the bath but my mom got a picture of Madelyn sitting in the tub, smiling!  Never happens at our house!  Thank you Nana & Papa for taking care of me while my parents were away!

Taking baths at Nana & Papa's is so fun

Having a blast at the grocery store

new summer sandals

riding the horsy

hanging out with papa

one of my new favorite things to do:
standing backwards on chairs

swinging is fun

this is a table that mommy used to play on

San Francisco

Ryan and I went to San Jose/San Francisco from Wed June 13th through Saturday June 16th.  Madelyn stayed with my parents.  We all had a great time!

Ryan had a business appointment in San Fran so I decided to tag along so we could take a mini vacation.  We had a lot of fun and packed a lot of things into our few days in California.

When we arrived on Wed we drove to Stanford and walked around the campus.  It is beautiful!  What a picture perfect campus.  Then on Thursday Ryan had his audit so I scheduled a day at the spa.  It was wonderful!  I'm glad I did a little research ahead of time because I learned I could go early and stay after my massage.....just hanging out in the spa.  So awesome to kick back, totally relax and get away from the real world for a few hours.  I met up with Ryan after he was done and we drove to Monterey.  We drove through the Pebble Beach golf course and got some great views & pics of the ocean.  It is simply breathtaking.  We continued to Carmel where we ate dinner and spent the evening.  Another fun place with shops and cool things to see.

On Friday we made our way to San Francisco.  We started the day at Muir Forest.  We could have spent the entire day there, hiking and looking at the beautiful Redwoods.  Then we went to Sausalito for lunch.  One of my co-workers recommended a burger joint and we were not disappointed.  We walked along the main street where were tons of shops and places to eat.  It was a gorgeous day so that made it even better!  Then in the afternoon/evening we went to Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and walked along the beach to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Then it was time to come home.  It felt like everything we did we could have spent the day doing but we were glad to be able to experience so many things in the short amount of time.  We had a great trip and it was nice to get away and spend time, just the two of us.  Of course we missed Madelyn and couldn't wait to get home to see her!

Stanford campus

Waves off Pebble Beach

Muir Forest

Just to give you an idea how big these trees are!

 

Golden Gate Bridge

The only picture of the 2 of us!

1st day at Foundation Hill

Madelyn after her 1st day at Foundation Hill
with a cute pigtail they put in at school

Yesterday was Madelyn's first day at her new daycare.  She did great......and so did I! :)  I think it really helped that I took her a two weeks ago for a couple hours to "try it out" and get acquainted with the school.  This meant that Monday wasn't totally new.

We got into the room and Madelyn started walking around playing with some of the toys.  Ryan and I were learning about the new room so we were wandering around as well.  We hung out for a little bit and then I said "Madelyn, we have to go to work".  She instantly started crying.  She ran over and grabbed my leg.  I picked her up, gave her a kiss, then gave her to Ryan for a kiss and then we left.  The teachers took her across the room to distract her with a puzzle.  She was done crying before we walked out of the room.

She had a great day!  They said she got tired around lunch time, which didn't surprise me because she has been taking 2 naps a day consistently and now in the young toddler room they only take one nap......and it's on a cot!  I was so curious how she would do on the cot.  She did fine.  They said she was a little confused at first but then she looked around and saw everyone else laying down so she laid down, they patted her back and she went right to sleep.

When I picked her up she was outside in a swing.  She was basically asleep when I looked at her.  She was so tired!  She had a busy day.  Her sheet said they played outside, marched to songs, practiced counting, colored pictures, sorted farm animals, colored and worked on animals and counting in Spanish.  It wears me out thinking about doing all those things.  I would love to be a fly on the wall to watch these kids march to songs - I'm sure it's mass chaos and hoot to watch!

Her teacher said that Madelyn LOVES cheese!  I said yes, it's her favorite food.  She said they had cheese for snack and Madelyn kept asking for "more please" in sign language.  Her teacher said she it was so cute that she just kept giving her more!  

We are so excited that Madelyn is going to Foundation Hill!  Day 2 went just as well as day 1.  Thank goodness we have a go with the flow, social butterfly for our daughter!  Makes it easier on all of us!

I spoke too soon.......

Yesterday Madelyn woke up with drainage out of her right ear.  She went to daycare and then I called her surgeon to see what we should do.  He prescribed drops and said to follow up in 2 weeks.

Earlier in the day I got a message from daycare that Madelyn had a low grade temp of 100.3.  Not high enough to go home but they just wanted me to be aware as they knew we were leaving for San Francisco the next day.  Isn't this how it always happens?!?!  I didn't hear anything else from daycare so I was relieved that she must not have been any worse.

When I picked Madelyn up from daycare, she walked over to me and she looked awful.  Her eyes were mattery and she looked exhausted.  Everyone in the room said they thought her eye drainage was allergies.  I'm not an expert but it sure looked like pink eye to me.

We said our good-byes as it was Madelyn's last day at this daycare.  We were sad to leave some of the staff as they have been so good to Madelyn and I have become friends with them but we needed to make a change and I knew we would all make new friends at the new daycare.

Instead of going home, we headed to the dr.'s office.  Sure enough, pink eye and an ear infection!  We went 3 weeks and 3 days between ear infections this time but thankfully this time only one ear was infected.  Since she was on drops for her ears they gave her the Augmentin antibiotic for her eyes.  He said eye drops would counteract the ear drops and we definitely did not need that.

The good news is that at least we were able to get Madelyn on meds and on her way to feeling 100% before she took off for Owatonna.  She is staying at my parents until Sat while Ryan & I head to San Fran.

Sweet Nora's Baptism

On Saturday we celebrated with Nora as she was baptized into the Lord's family!  What a special day and such a special ceremony.  Nora was baptized at the Froehle's house by Father Albrect who also baptized Luke and Bishop.

On a side note, we were unable to be at Bishop's baptism as I ended up getting sick.  We were very sad we couldn't celebrate that day (especially as we are Bishop's godparents) but it was so fun to be there yesterday to celebrate and be part of such a meaningful ceremony!

It was a little crazy with the kiddos (Bishop & Madelyn) running around but it was also nice that they could go into the other room and release some of their energy.  We didn't get a ton of pictures as Ryan left with Madelyn when she got squirmy but we did get a few good ones!

Just before we left for the baptism

Bishop loves Nora so much.  He is so sweet to her (and to Madelyn)!

Sweet Nora, we are so blessed to be your Auntie, Uncle & Cousin and share in your special day!  We love you so much and we are always here for you!

Great Day!!

Today was a great day!  So many positive and fun things happened.

Madelyn had her follow up appointment with the surgeon who put in her tubes.  Both ears were clear!  Yippee!!!!  This is the longest that Madelyn has gone without an ear infection since early December.  So far it's 3 weeks and counting.  Hoping the tubes continue to do the trick.  Madelyn also had her hearing retested today.  She was improved from the first test which was great to hear too.  We don't have to follow up with the surgeon for another 6 months.

Then I took Madelyn to her new daycare for a couple hours.  We decided to make a change and switch daycares.  We weren't happy with some of things going on at her current daycare.  We know it's the right decision, it's just made me sad lately to think about everything being new for Madelyn.  She has friends at her current daycare and loves the teachers.  I keep telling myself this is just the first of many changes in her lifetime.  We loved the teachers at her daycare and we will miss them......although she was going to be moving rooms soon so we would miss them anyways.  The new daycare is more on our way to work so that will work out better as well.

Madelyn did awesome!!!  When we got there, the room was getting ready to go outside for water day.  It was perfect timing as Madelyn just walked along with all the kids and went outside.  She found a truck and started playing.  They said she got a little sad when I left - which I expected and don't blame her as she didn't know/recognize anyone.  That didn't last long and then she was off to the water and making new friends.  Madelyn is very social so I knew she would transition well.  She ate lunch with the class and then I picked her up.  She was all smiles when I got there and looked like she was having a blast.  She hugged one of the other girls and waved good bye to the teachers.  I really like the lead teacher in her room and felt so comfortable there.  Huge weight off my shoulders and hopefully Madelyn likes it too!

Tonight we celebrated our great day by going out for burgers & fries.  We stopped and got Madelyn some mozzarella sticks for her treat but she wasn't as into them as the last time.  She always seems more fascinated by people watching.

After we got home she played outside.  We have so many toys but tonight her favorite was daddy's pop glass.  Gotta love the simple things in life!  It was truly a great day all around!  Here are a few pictures from tonight.  Love my happy baby girl!

Climbing

This is what Madelyn learned how to do today!  Before today she needed help getting onto the chair.  Now she can get into the chair and she thinks it's pretty fun to stand up on it too! :)

Swimming!!

We took Madelyn swimming at the Maple Grove Community Center last Monday.  The last time she went swimming she was only 5 months old.  At first she was very cautious and wasn't very comfortable at all.  She held onto mommy & daddy for dear life!

We started in the zero depth part of the pool and later moved to the deeper part.  She did better & better the longer we were in the water.  She even started splashing a little bit.  She saw another baby, around her age/size, walking in the water so I think that made Madelyn feel like she could try it.

There was a kids slide in the pool and by the end Madelyn was brave enough to walk in the zero depth part of the pool and wanted to go down the slide!  She started walking over to the slide and climbing up the steps.  She had a blast and we can't wait to go back!  

 

All ready to go swimming

Walking in the water by myself is so fun

Now I'm ready to tackle the slide

Here I go!

Such a big girl!