Trick or Treat!

Only one week left until Halloween!

God Bless America

Madelyn and Camden spiritedly waving their American flags.

Stay tuned for more pictures from our trip to San Diego.  We had a great time with Aunt Sandi, Uncle Jerky, Emery, Camden, and Honey and Poppie.  We saw Uncle Jerky's squadron fly in and got to run laps and laps around the hangar, ate In N Out for lunch, went to Sea World and saw Shamu, and played with our cousins.  What a great trip!

Our California relatives (the Kerkhove branch) along with Auntie Kate and Trish will be in Colorado for Thanksgiving.  So, we'll get to continue the good times then.

Westerly Creek

We've lived in Stapleton for three-and-a-half years now and have had a child for almost two of those years.  Somehow, we've overlooked possibly the best playground in our neighborhood until last night.

After it being too hot to go to the swings on Sunday and only going for a walk on Monday, I promised Madelyn we'd go to the swings after dinner last night.

Of course, the sun was too low and too bright for us to walk to the swings close to our house.  So, we headed in a different direction.  After discovering that Puddle Jumper has a small playground but no swings, we decided to try the school.  Jackpot!

They have three different play areas and a half dozen slides.  It's a safer version of the old school playgrounds and all three of us had a blast.  When it was time to go home, Madelyn said, "Bye slide!" and "Bye swings!"  And, yes, we will see you tomorrow.



Nose Frida

http://www.nosefrida.com/

Dr Brandon recommended this a few weeks ago so I ordered one.  We had yet to use our Nose Frida until yesterday.  Unlike the baby in the video, Madelyn is not passive.  Rather, she screams bloody murder.  It does, however, really clean her sinuses out.

So, if you're looking for a new and improved way to torture your toddler, you might consider the Nose Frida.

Oh, and the screaming stops the minute we are done.

Petting zoo

Several weeks ago, Griff went to Mexico for Uncle Gabe's bachelor party.  Madelyn and I had our own fun-filled weekend.  Grammy, Madelyn, and I went to the petting zoo.

We saw a calf, sheep, goats, a pig, ducks, chickens, and a turkey.  Our favorites were the sheep and the ducks.  There was also a train for us to ride but we passed this time.  When we take Daddy back, we'll ride the train as well.

Mmm...corn

Madelyn enjoys corn on the cob.  Surprisingly, she ate an entire ear last night!  I guess if she fills up on vegetables with dinner, that's not the worst thing in the world, right?  The best part is that after she was all done, she wouldn't relinquish the ear as it had become a trophy of her accomplishment.

Hair

Madelyn has a lot of hair.  (That's no surprise to anyone.)  But, it's now getting pretty long.  The back curls and the front is starting to hang in her eyes.  Griff asked the other day if she needed a haircut to help keep the front out of her eyes.  I immediately answered "No."  We just need to start pulling her hair back.

The trouble with that theory is that takes a wrestling match to get it done.  And, when I'm able to get her hair up, half of the time she'll reach up and pull it out.  Ugh.

So yesterday when I picked her up at daycare, she had this beautiful french braid.  What?!  How is that I cannot get her to sit still for a pony tail but she's more than happy to sit for a french braid.  I tried to take a picture of it for the blog but, go figure, she wouldn't sit still.

Sunday at the zoo

Here we are checking out the lions.  Of course, they're sleeping.

We saw a giraffe birthing.  Yes, those are feet you're seeing!

We saw a spotted leopard...

...sleeping.  It reminded us of someone at home.

Madelyn insisted on walking.

And lots of walking she did.

Westward bound

Honey and Poppie are coming!

They've sold their house in Illinois and are under contract on a house in Colorado.  We're looking forward to having another set of grandparents (and babysitters) close.

See you soon, Honey and Poppie!


Illinois house -

Colorado house -

18 Months...What?!

18-months old and I can...

• Feed myself with a spoon and a fork.
• Walk, run, climb, and jump. (It's my favorite!)
• Pet Sadie and Felix, sometimes more gently than others.
• Take my shoes off.
• Point to a picture of my family or something in a book when you ask me, "Where's _____?"  The other night she found all her relatives in pictures on the refrigerator when Daddy asked her!
• Talk.  I have so many words that when Dr Brandon asked Mommy how many words I have, Mommy had a hard time pinning down a number.

My favorite new foods are...

• Corn on the cob, peas, and baked beans.
• Turkey tenderloin and couscous.
• Great Grandma Gilbert's strawberry shortcake.

Happy 18-month birthday, Madelyn.  I don't know how or when it happened but you've turned from a baby into a little girl!