Lunch Time

Madeline and I took Grandma and Grandpa out for lunch today so we drove to their offices to pick them up. We went to Grandpa's favorite Italian Restaurant called Michelangelo's. Maddy reviewed the menu and we ordered her the Kids Lasagna but once it arrived at the table she didn't want it. Grandpa had to share his lunch with her and she really liked it. Maddy also loved the bread sticks and cheese sauce. Madeline played with crayons for the first time and kept teasing me with them.

Swimming!

After a long day at work, Grandpa Jeff wanted to cool of in the pool. Madeline took her time getting in and spent some time on the steps getting ready for the plunge. Grandpa and I took some shots on the basketball hoop while Maddy enjoyed splashing grandpa. The water felt great so we stayed in for quite a while. Grandma stayed on the sides and played life guard.

Sleeping on the Job

Madeline was so worn out from playing yesterday theat she didnt eat any dinner and she fell asleep drinking her milk in the highchair. She has been sleeping really well...over 12 hours each night so far.

Grandma and Maddy

Before leaving for our trip to Indy, I showed Maddy pictures of Grandma and Grandpa to see if she remembered them. She did of course! She recognized both of them immediately upon arrival and she has been saying "poppa" and "momma" and pointing to them. Maddy is really enjoying being here with them and it is great to see her so happy with them.

Grandma has been spoiling Maddy with some yummy treats. Yesterday she cooled off with a delicious frozen push pop!

Cicero Fire Station

Monday, Madeline and I spent the whole day outside playing and exploring. We walked about half mile to the Cicero Fire Station where Maddy got to see the big trucks. We took the long way back so she could see the town where mommy grew up.

We Made it!

Madeline and I flew 1500 miles to Indiana this past Sunday to spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa Lingenfelter. We were lucky on the flight because we had the entire row to ourselves. Maddy slept the first hour then was able to sit in her own seat and read and play and look out the window. Her daddy was generous and bought her a portable DVD player for the trip so Maddy enjoyed some cartoons also to help pass the 3 hour trip. She did very well and behaved better then I could have imagined. She is racking up the miles as this was her 7th flight already!

Madeline immediately started playing and exploring at Grandma and Grandpas house. Their new house sits on several acres of property so she will get plenty of time in the grass since we dont have any at home!! They also have a pool and tons and tons of space to run around. The weather is in the 80's ( 30 degrees cooler then at home) so we have spending all our time outside so far. We have lots of fun activities planned as we are here for 11 days. Stay tuned!

Madeline kept playing "Hide and Seek" with her sunglasses yesterday outside in the Garden at the Mall.

Maddy and Daddy had some fun bonding together last night. They watched several short cartoons on the computer such as Mickey and Dora. Maddy was dancing to the music and pointing and smiling. They had so much fun.

Maddy and the Giant Bunny

Madeline had some fun playing and rolling around with her giant bunny. She likes to wrestle with it and drag it around even though it it twice her size. Daddy gave Maddy this bunny last year as a gift when she was really sick with the flu.

Madeline had so much fun today at one of her favorite places to go...Barnes and Noble. She loves going there because of all the books. She would grab onto the books she wanted and we would sit and read together. She pointed out several characters that she recognized such as Dora, Mickey, Elmo, and Olivia. Madeline latched onto a stuffed kitten an drug it a round for a while. Maddy also spend a lot of time dancing and climbing around on the kids stage where they have story time.

Madeline and I spent the morning at Barnes and Noble. She had some fun playing with the toy train set up in the kids area. Maddy would push the train along the tracks and play with the all the pieces.

Madeline and I went to the mall today for a train ride and lunch. We walked around for a bit to escape the excessive heat warning we are under. We had lunch at the food court; Maddy enjoyed some baked Ziti Pasta while I had a piece of pizza. The temperature is supposed to reach 115 degrees again today and stay that way through the end of the week. We cannot wait to get to Indiana on Sunday and get some relief.

Little Wolverine

Madeline and I started picking out outfits for our trip to Indiana next week. I left the room to grab some things and I came back to find Maddy in her suitcase reading a book that I had already packed. She is definitely excited to get to Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Story Time with Dad

Tonight Kevin and Maddy enjoyed some time together. Kevin read Maddy several books and she followed right along by pointing and turning the pages.

14 Months Old

Madeline is 14 Months Old today. She is growing strong and becoming very smart and Independent. Maddy still loves to read books and we read together every night for about an hour. We usually read every book on the shelf and she can point to several pictures and say what they are. She can say cat, dog, Dora (The Explorer), Dad, Maizey, Vicky, and Kitty. It makes Kevin's day each night when he gets home and she runs to the door and says DAD!

I measured Maddy tonight and I believe she is about 29 1/2 Inches tall. She wears size 5 shoes and 24 month clothing. She loves to sing along with her Rock A By Baby Cd's and she still Loves to hear the Mickey Theme Song...Over and Over. Maddy loves all kinds of noodles, especially mac n cheese and she loves milk. Madeline just started sleeping right on top of me again. She is having a very hard time being on her own to sleep. When I put her down she clings on so tight and crawls onto my chest and doesn't let go.

Madeline's new bedtime routine is to have me sing to her until she falls asleep. I have been singing the ABC's to her and Itsy Bitsy Spider and she looks at me with her big blue eyes and looks so Happy and peaceful.

We are getting ready for a big trip to Indian next week to see our family and we are very excited!

Family Fun

Big Girl Bed

We bought Madelina a toddler bed and I put it together this morning. I have been reading a lot about ways to get your toddler to stop co-sleeping and many suggestions were to put her in a toddler bed right next to your bed. Slowly over time and as she gets used to her bed I am supposed to move it further away until eventually the bed is in her room and she is sleeping alone. Snicker tried out the bed first thing and Madeline went right to sleep on it for her nap today. So far SO GOOD!