MADDIE'S FIRST (ROAD) TRIP! =)

For Madeleine's first ever trip, we drove to Lake Tahoe to visit her Auntie Wendy. :)


After hearing horror stories from other Bay Area moms, I was very worried about the altitude change (from 0 - 7000 feet!) on Maddie's little ears. However, she's a great little traveller! She didn't make a peep on the way up, and on the way back, only started a bit of fussing AFTER 45 minutes of winding down the mountains!
Hopefully, our plane ride back east will go as well... ;>

Anyway, Sharkey, Maddie, and I all had a FABULOUS time in Tahoe! =)

Wendy was able to get us the Friends & Family rate at The Resort at Squaw Creek. They had to kick us out; what a luxurious & relaxing place it was, even with a Baby Monster, lol!! (The pina coladas help, too!)


Clever Wendy made sure our room was on the ground floor with a patio, so we could take Little Fussy Face right out if/when she should start... :P
Here is a shot from INSIDE our room: our sliding glass doors to the Great Outdoors. =) ...good thinking, Wendy!

and here I am with Maddie right outside our room!!


While Madeleine napped, Wendy and I enjoyed a Yahtzee Happy Hour. =)
Sharkey read papers, wha, wha, wha :P



We lucked into GORGEOUS weather when we were in Tahoe. The Resort has 3 pools, 3 hot tubs, and a water slide, which we all enjoyed.

...except Fussy Face. She seems to have inherited her daddy's aversion to the sun. :P



...but she will tolerate the shade. :P

barely!


However, Maddie DID enjoy walks around the grounds of the Resort.
She actually LOOKED at the beautiful scenery and DIDN'T CRY!!!

She walked in the morning with her daddy


She walked with Auntie Wendy

(during Happy Hour)

She walked in the evening, too!
We're so her slaves!




(For some reason, to me this looks like a Famous Wendy paparazzi shot.)

Maddie's view! =)



Stephanie didn't tell us she moonlights as a Baby Whisperer! During dinner, nothing would calm the Urchin; it looked like someone would have to miss dinner. As I was cutting straws, Steph took the Baby Monster and I've never seen her happier!

She LOVES Steph!

well her shoulder to be exact. ;>

Maddie's got good taste!

Needless to say, we all REALLY look forward to our next Tahoe visit!





THANK YOU, WENDY! =)

Madeleine is 3 months old!

Wow ~ already moving up on her "growth quilt"! ;>



Here are some shots taken over the past month...

Stretching in the morning on her changing table


Sharkey is teaching her to stick her tongue out!


Big Sister Bobby is still taking good care of her little sister!


Here's my view of her in the Bjorn carrier. :)


Trying to talk!





Sharkey says she looks like the StayPuff Marshmallow Man here. :P



Here's what Maddie thinks of all those Fussy Face Baby comments....
(Hint: look at her finger!)


hehe...


I do love her tiny, adorable feet!


Can never have too many laughing shots! =)



and here's a video of some smiles i was able to get...

I put the camera above the changing table while doing Running Man with her legs, she LOVES it!
I'll have to try to get Sharkey to get the full view sometime ~ it's hilarious with her chubby legs!

Uncle Sean's SURPRISE! visit

My brother, Sean, called the other day asking what we were having for dinner. I said, "Oh! Actually, I made sauerbraten, and we're having spaetzle, and sauerkr.... hey, wait a minute! WHY are you asking???"
Turns out Sean was on an impromptu conference and in town for ~12 hours!
30 minutes later, there he was on our doorstep. =)
Sean took the Sharklette, and gave Sharkey and I the keys to his rental(!) car... :)




Needless to say, we REALLY look forward to Sean's next visit! ;>

Mom & Rich (AKA Mimi & PopPop) Visit! =)

The day doesn't start for my mom (Maddie's Mimi) until she gets her cup of Philz coffee from down the street. :D



We really enjoy bamboozling each other at cutthroat euchre (all over San Francisco!) ~ I can't wait for the day Madeleine can join forces with Mommy! =)



Here Rich shows he can both "bojangle" us at euchre AND care for a fussy baby! :P



...and when Rich's arms get tired, Mom (AKA Mimi to Maddie) is ready to hold her! (They can come back ANY time, hehe!!)


Madeleine went on BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) for the first time.
She loved riding with Mimi and looking all around.



Madeleine went all over town, seeing many sights for the first time with her Mimi & PopPop.
Maddie got to see the Bay Bridge & Treasure Island (where her Mommy & Daddy had their wedding reception)!


...and (John's favorite) Coit Tower ~ from a distance (that's quite a hike, so we'll save up close for another day!) :P


Another one best seen from afar on a cool & windy day: Alcatraz Island! We'll save hat for when Maddie is older (& has been naughty, hehe!)!


How can you do SF without a cable car experience?!?


Of course, Sharkey was very disappointed he missed out on our trip to the Wharf (lol!), but we had to get Maddie to the wharf when she's young before her Daddy can poison her mind against it! :P


Perhaps we can change Sharkey's mind about Fisherman's Wharf; we managed to find a nice, secluded spot to people watch and (surprise!) play games!!!


Madeleine loves showing visitors around her city, but it sure does wear a girl out! ;>



Even after ALL that walking during the day, Mimi and PopPop were still up for taking little Fussy Face for a walk in the evening (to give her parents a little Sweet Peace)! ;>
PIC TO COME OF MOM & RICH WALKING MADDIE

When left alone, the crazy kids (Mimi & PopPop) get a cholesterol craving and head straight for Jelly Donut & Sharkey's favorite, the greasy bacon hotdog street vendor, found only in the Mission and you're never sure exactly where or when! :P


Fortunately Madeleine can't eat solid foods yet, hehe! :P However, it will be interesting to see whose genes "win" out when she can! ;>

THANK YOU FOR A FANTASTIC VISIT, MIMI & POPPOP!
Hope to see you again soon! =)

Madeleine is 2 months old!

Wow, I can’t believe she’s already 2 months!
So many firsts happening, too!
We've got early "talking" ~ the cutest baby coos. I managed to capture a bit of it on this video. =)

I love how much energy she puts into getting those sounds out!
(You can't see here, but Maddie moves her legs like crazy, too!)

Also, Maddie has graced us with the best toothless smiles. :)
Unfortunately, I haven't yet gotten a good one on film... Here's a little smile I did get:

and one with her new-found tongue!

Makes all the missed sleep, sore parts, and fussy times, hehe!! :P

Speaking of which, here's one of her famous "It's Not What I Like" fussy faces!


Maddie is getting to be such a big girl & a good girl at bathtime!

I think sometimes she's trying to tell me what to do!


I'm not sure how to show Madeleine's growth... I'm going to try using this quilt Mom (her Mimi) gave her. The back is white ~ perhaps I'll mark her height there, too.