Blessed and in Awe

I have not blogged in nearly four years, and I can't believe that it has been that long. But lately I have been following some amazing blogs by some amazing women about their amazing families, and I just can't seem to stay away any longer. The stories I have recently read have changed me. I am in awe at the strength that women, more specifically mothers, have within them. I can only hope and pray that I am as strong for whatever comes my way, whatever my path leads to, whatever is planned for me. I am in awe.

Deep Thoughts about Sesame Street

Steve and I were vegging out in the living room wathcing Sesame Street with Maddy yesterday morning. The skit was another one with Ernie and Bert where Ernie was just being obnoxious and annoying Bert. Here is the conversation that took place between Steve and I:

Me: Do you think if they were real people Ernie would be considered mentally retarded?

Steve: (after some thought) Yeah. Are they brothers or are they gay?

Maddy's Verbage

I was just telling Steve today that Maddy is saying so many things now it's hard to keep track anymore. Here are all the words that Maddy can say now @ 17 1/2 months:
Mama
Dada
Bumpa (grandpa)
Ma (grandma)
Na (Nate)
Jack
Elmo (perfectly!)
dog
hi
bye
up
more
no (all the time!)
do (yes) (I have no idea how this evolved)
mo (motorcycle)
baby
hot
hat
night night
cheese
keys
chirp (the sound a bird makes)
Uh oh!
knee (has fallen down alot this week and hurt her knees!)
eye (identifies these body parts)

Many more to come!

Finally a Bike Trailer

We have finally purchased a bike trailer and after a two year hiatus, Steve and I got back on our bikes this week! Woo Hoo! We didn't really want one last year - Maddy was still so small. I'm just now getting comfortable with having her strapped into a moving vehicle that is made of aluminum and nylon!

Maddy seems to enjoy it. This morning we put her in the trailer, gave her a little baggie of Fruit Loops and her sippy cup of water and off we went. We rode over to my parent's house to see Grandma and Nate. Maddy just sat back and munched on her Fruit Loops. She doesn't make a peep!

Our Only Busy Weekend of the Summer is Done - Yaaaaay!

We just got back from a 2-day trip to Madison. I had to attend a reading research symposium for one of my summer classes. While I sat in a cold air conditioned building for 2 days straight, Steve and Maddy toured UW-Madison and shopped and ate on State Street. It was nice though. When I was done for the day yesterday, we spent the evening on State Street. We had Noodles for dinner and then just walked and people watched. I hate to say it, but that's our only trip for the whole summer. My class in August prevents us from going camping like we usually do.

Next summer I'm wide open!

I told Steve if I ever think about going back for my Ph.D, just hit me, shake me, strap me down - something!

Maddy was really good. Isn't she always? Yes, my baby is a sweetheart. Her new thing is saying "no". She even has the headshake down. What can I say - she's her mother's daughter. She won't take any grief from anyone either. That's my girl.

Summer is Here!

I can't believe I made it. I didn't think I would survive the last two weeks of the school year, but as usual, we came through just fine. I am now blogging from our brand new computer at home. Yes, our Internet access is back! Thank goodness. I need it for school, but it's still nice to be able to mindlessly search the Internet every once in a while (something that I had absolutely no time for during my school days). An added bonus is the screen we bought with our new computer is a 19 inch flat screen. It's huge!
Happy days!

Yay for Me!

Going back to kindergarten next year!

Not Much New

Not a whole lot new to post. Just two more days until my spring break! Can't wait for 10 days off. I need it! I think Steve and I might paint our bedroom over the break since we're both off the whole week. I thought we could get that out of the way before the summer so we wouldn't have to worry about it then.

Maddy is moving around more than ever. She is really enjoying walking now. Just yesterday it seemed like she was really improving. She can also climb onto the IKEA chair now all by herself. It's funny when she does it - she gets so excited for herself like she's just reached the top of a mountain.

First Steps

Yesterday after work I was playing with Maddyson in the living room while Steve was making dinner. We were walking around, hand in hand. Then I stood her up and directed her away from me. She kept her balance and took her first steps! I think it was about three steps. The best part is both Steve and I were there to see it together. We cheered for her. Then of course I had to grab the video camera, but it didn't happen again.

I think we have weaned

This morning after Maddyson's 5 minute feeding I decided that we are probably done with breastfeeding. At 1 year 2 weeks - She will be fine with it. The question is, will I? I had a little cry, and Steve was there to comfort me. I did want that little bit of freedom back (I want to be back on my regular pill) so this will be good. It's a little sad to think that that part of our relationship is closed, but I truly enjoyed it and am so grateful that we stuck with it for so long. It's good to know that I will have the opportunity to breastfeed again with our next child. Our baby girl is growing.

Is It June Yet?

I am so ready to be done with this school year. I'm ready to go back to kindergarten. My 2nd and 3rd graders this year are pretty good kids, but teaching two grade levels is just way too much work. I think I truly was meant to teach the peanuts. Hopefully next year I'll be back where I want to be.

Maddyson is 1 Year Old!

Maddy is now one. We celebrated her birthday by taking her to JC Penneys to have her 1 year portrait taken. She wore a red outfit that we bought in Chinatown in Chicago last summer. It fit pretty well considering that we had to predict what size she would be in 5 months before we wanted her to wear it.

That afternoon we took her to see all the grandparents so that they could see her in her outfit and wish her a Happy Birthday. We actually almost forgot to give her a card and gift, but we made time for it before we put her to bed. She got a big box of Legos of course (my favorite). Every toddler/child needs Legos.

We can't believe how fast her first year has gone. We are so fortunate to have our Maddyson.

1st Birthday Party

Today we celebrated Maddy's 1st birthday with family and friends. Gold Rush chicken, cake and gifts. Maddy enjoyed herself and was in bed by 6:50 without a peep, which is quite early for her. She loved her piece of birthday cake. I made a white cake with pink vanilla frosting. I gave Maddy her piece on her tray, and she just dug right in. It was all over her face, clothes and hair. But it was fun to watch.

I can't believe that she is already one year old. And what a year it's been. We are so blessed to have her.

Whining

Maddy spent a good part of the weekend whining. I think her teeth might be bothering her. I don't know what else it could be. She is completely content when she's eating. She's been a bottomless pit lately.

On Saturday we went to Mayfair to buy Maddy her first pair of good shoes from Strite Rite. They're cruisers since she's not quite walking yet. $40 but well worth it for her ankles and feet. They said we'd be back in 2 to 4 months for her next pair.

Afterwards, we went to Boston Market for dinner. It's been a while since we've eaten there. Maddy enjoyed the mashed potatoes, chicken and green beans. She's such a good girl when we're out and about.

The End of 2004 is Already Here.

So we finally made plans for New Year's Eve - yesterday. We're going to dinner with friends, Liz and Abdul which is nice because we don't get to see them as often as we'd like to. My parents are watching both Maddy and Nate. Last year for New Year's (and 8 months pregnant) we went to my parents to snack on foods and play board games. The year before we celebrated on a Miami beach, sipping beer under fireworks. At least we're mixing it up!

Maddy is Officially Bigger Than Jackson

Now I think I've got the hang of it! This pic. was too cute. Maddy and Jack looking out the window together at Steve. She's already wearing 18 month clothes! This outift was given to her by her cousin Zachary. It has hearts on the front of it. Too cute.

Posting a Picture for the First Time!

Maddyson on her first Christmas Eve.

Once Again, Christmas Has Come and Gone

But I'm o.k. with it. We had a nice time with both sides of the family. Maddyson was great, going for three days straight and barely skipping a beat. Now I'm just trying to enjoy my week off. Lunch with Tracy yesterday, lunch with Steve's family today, movie with Rebecca tomorrow and then Wave game and dinner on New Year's Eve. I haven't stressed myself with housework or schoolwork. Not going to. Nope. Well, I might just make sure the bathroom, Maddy's room and our room are cleaned before I go back to work on Monday. But that's it!

Christmas cards - not what they used to be

My Christmas cards are not what they used to be. A few years ago when I first had my own address and decided to send out a stack of cards to my beloved family and friends, I took the time to write a quick note to each person. Then last year we decided to take the photo card route and had a picture of Jackson with reindeer antlers. I simply signed them. This year we have a new model to photograph and a much easier *lazier* (more expensive) way to show we are thinking of the aforementioned beloved. A pic. of Maddy and a preprinted message that includes our names. All I had to do was lick the envelopes. I call this the working mom Christmas card.

Hi

Maddy is just too cute. Lately whenever I pick up the phone, she says hi, hi, hi, hi over and over again. Tonight when I was on the phone with my parents, Maddy wanted to say hi so I put the phone up to her ear. She is still confused about why she can hear grandma and grandpa's voices coming from that little gray thing that she likes to chew on, but on cue she said hi. Then I noticed (while I was still on the phone with my mom) that Maddy was putting her hand up to her ear and saying hi so I pulled out her little red phone rattle that she's had since she was a newborn. Now we can play telephone with that. Can't believe she's already participating in symbolic play with her hand and an imaginary telephone!