Pink Eye - Yup Pink Eye!

Well this week was quite eventful and not necessarily in the way you would hope for a week to go!  The week started out ok, but on Tuesday I got the call that Maci was finally taken over by the looming pink eye pandemic in her room at daycare, she was case number 11 - UGH!!!  So per daycare rules, I was off to pick her up, head to an ASAP doctor appointment to get some drops since she couldn't go back to daycare until she was on drops for 24 hours and then home in time for my afternoon conference calls. . . way to make a Tuesday exciting miss Maci!  Ahhh the joys of a working momma!  Fortunately pink eye is gross but doesn't make your poor baby miserable like RSV, coughs/colds, fevers etc.  She would slightly rub her eye and it only got goopy looking once.  Those drops work wonders and so does tea, a co-worker said to put a cotton ball in some warm tea and rub it over the eye and between the two she looked great by end of day Wednesday.  That is after Clint had to move around all of his schedule to be home with her on a Wednesday - like I said, quite the eventful week!

To remember the "The Pink of 2013" I had to take these pics of our cutie on the way to work.  I tell ya, she has a sense of humor that is just starting to come into its own - the 2nd one is her new go to face HA!  Oh and we don't imprison her, this is just how she hangs on her baby gate ;-)

In typical Maci fashion, even though she missed almost 2 full days of daycare this week, she would find a way to make up that missed "social" time the remainder of the week!  I say this a lot but we are so fortunate to send our daughter to a center that truly loves and cares for her the way we do, they all really seemed to miss her!

"Hey friends, do you see that I can walk and turn?"

 Look who is getting ready for Christmas!

Finally the week was over, WHEW!  We couldn't wait to have some R&R around this house.  I have realized Miss Maci has recently gotten way too much hair on top her head but it is in the awkward phase where it is super thick but still short.  I decided to get brave and attempt a ponytail, not only did she allow me to do this but she loved it!  It was like she knew how cute she looked ;-)  Maybe she is becoming a little more cooperative in her old age - 10 Months Today!  I will do some 10 Month Pics hopefully tomorrow.  =)

Well, we could go for a much quieter early part to this coming week - Thanksgiving week!!!  We hope Maci and I get over our lingering coughs before Grandma & Grandpa Gilroy get here because we can't wait for all the fun we have planned!

Until next time -
Lots of Love,
C, K & M

Thankful Time of Year!

This time of year always gets me to stop and realize what all I am thankful for and how much I should realize this all throughout the year, not just now!  I have a great marriage, supportive/humorous spouse, adorable/hilarious baby, wonderful extended family, friends who have become family over the years and new friendships that are growing in the Twin Cities area, beautiful home, challenging career and decent pets ;-)  I helped make Maci's "what I am thankful for box today" and for those that know me I loved this project because I got to color but I also loved it because I am competitive and I want to hear that her box was the best =)  It was so fun covering her box in pictures of family/friends, colors that mean things to us and of course stickers!!!  I just love this time of year and Clint and I say at least once a day how excited we are to celebrate this special time of year with our mobile Maci!!  This great mood I am in was assisted by the Bengals complete domination of Cleveland today.

We are also starting to get fired up for the my parents' visit over Thanksgiving!  They get in Wednesday night and mom is going to help me make a Thanksgiving meal. . . oh who am I kidding, she is going to help Clint, I will supervise!  On Thanksgiving morning we are all doing a 5k together but walking and I hope they are remembering to bundle up =)  Then on Friday I think the girls (mom, Maci and I) are heading out for some crazy day after shopping while Dad and Clint enjoy beers and football.  Saturday is the big OSU vs Michigan game and lots of other fun options that we are debating before they have to head home on Sunday =(  We can't wait to be in Ohio though for a week around Christmas to see all the Ohio family and friends!!  If you are around, you will have to get in touch with us so you can see our walking doll baby.

Ok, about that doll baby - here are some of the best pics from this week!

Well, She LOVES to Eat, no matter where or when!

 Daycare sent this hilarious picture mid week saying "they grow up so fast!"

Thursday we got to have our regular swim lessons, followed by Applebee's dinner with our friends Jaycee, Ryan and Baby Natalie.  I think it is so cute how miss N sucks her thumb =)

Well that is about it folks.  The rest of my day consists of preparing for the week, catching up on some work, folding laundry and all sorts of non exciting activities but again I am getting to do them knowing we had a Bengals W. . . ahhh makes life so grand!!!

Until next time, lots of love from C, K & M

Daddy's in the Big Easy!

This past week Clint was in New Orleans for an ASIS Conference with work.  He left us on Sunday afternoon and returned Thursday night after Maci's bed time.  Mommy loved her 1:1 time with Maci girl but between a crazy busy week at work and Maci having a bit of an icky cold, I was VERY ready for daddy to come home and lighten the load!

While daddy had some fun along with work in the warm weather.  Maci girl had a busy week at daycare!  They started their "what am I thankful month" and Maci was able to paint with ethnic colored paint.  I laughed really hard though because Maci painted her self portrait with probably the darkest skin paint available.  I told the daycare she doesn't realize that she will never even have a tan =)

 Then on Tuesday Maci got to have a super fun day.  They let her go into the Toddler room and watch Costume Kim.  She is a service that comes out about every other month to the center, wears different costumes and entertains the kids.  Usually this is only for toddlers and up because they have a high enough attention span.  I guess one of the daycare workers thought Maci too could sit through and enjoy the demonstration.  Check out how into it Miss Maci was :)  Costume Kim even asked "is she from the infant room?  I can't believe how attentive she is!"  Our crazy Maci girl!

Midway through the week our work offered the 11th annual Turkey Trek 5k run/walk during the middle of the day.  It was a nice way to break up a stressful week and while I don't run, it was good to get the lungs going on a chilly MN afternoon.

My Turkey Trek Pals : Zach, Lauren, Me, Brenda, Danny

Lastly, Daddy got home on Thursday night, just in time for a relaxing/fun weekend with his family.  Miss Maci does nothing but perfect her walking anymore so she was excited for a weekend of playing/walking too!  Daycare took these pics of our lil bug walking around the center!

Have a good week everyone - can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving!

Lots of Love,
C, K & M

WOW 9 Months!

I am so behind on getting these posted!  I remember counting down to her 2 month or 4 month birthday but now the day almost comes and goes =(  Our little lady is quite a fun and busy girl these days.  Here are a few pictures of her to remember the 9 month milestone!

Maci Currently Loves :
* WALKING - Yep, no more "we think this is walking" the kid can walk from one side of the room to the other without assistance. . . yep we are officially in the walking club and no turning back - AHH
* Swim lessons with Daddy - we are getting ready to sign up for Level 2 for Jan-March
* Anything that would cause fear in other kids : Being Thrown, Falling - NO FEAR!
* Playing or Attempting to Play with Boomer or Milo - either will do
* FOOD - she no longer wants anything that resembles baby food (except her bottle)
* Toys - she loves turning them around, inspecting them, chewing on them etc.

Maci Continues to Love :
* Pacifier at bed or during melt downs
* Blankets, all shapes & sizes - Dragged a Huge One through Mall of America Yesterday :)
* Bath Time!
* All her friends at daycare, friends from Mommy & me and of course her FAMILY =)

Maci Dislikes :
* Being restrained or picked up when she is attempting to walk/play
* People ignoring her or trying to give her a pacifier when she wants to speak/scream!

Enjoy our attempt at capturing some pictures a few weeks late!

Lots of Love,
C, K & M

Maci's First Halloween!!

Sorry it has been so long since the last post!  I have this darn thing called a job and the last week has been nutty, both busy and I was traveling to Miami for a few days.  However, I was still able to take plenty of pictures of our cutie enjoying her first Halloween!

Last Weekend Maci was super excited about a balloon at the grocery and because she is such a Daddy's Girl, he bought it for her!  This is our lil lady turning the dining room chairs into a gymnasium and playing with her balloon!

On Sunday last week we had a Halloween party at the Amma Mamma Center, which is where I took my mom and me classes.  It was great fun seeing all the babies dressed up and to enjoy some sing along playing and visiting with a few of our friends!  Maci of course had to play with her balloon before heading out to the party!

I love this party mom!

While I as in Miami Mon-Wed, Maci was having fun with multiple Halloween activities at daycare.  Here they were working on their countdown to Halloween board.  Yep, Maci is climbing over the other kids to make sure she gets a chance to pull down the pictures!

 I LOVE DAYCARE!

 Costume Party at Daycare!!

On actual Halloween Maci wore her Giraffe costume to daycare, which was a huge hit!  Then at night we put her in the "torn cheerleader" outfit since the Dolphins were playing the Bengals on Halloween night.  It was quite a fun night in the Mondell house, that was until the Bengals lost by a Safety in OT!  However, Maci loved watching the neighbor kids behind us come over for trick or treating and we look forward to taking her around for some trick or treating herself next year.

Since those darn Bengals lost, mommy had to be a good loser and sent Maci to daycare on Friday in her Dolphin's sweatshirt. . . that light orange and teal is not this poor girl's colors =)

Maci loved her first Halloween card from her God Mommy Christie!!

This weekend was a wonderful weekend at the Mondell house.  Friday night Maci and Mommy went to our friends house (Jayce, Ryan & Natalie).  They are the same ones we do swim lessons with on Thursdays.  We went over there for a happy hour with a few other friends while daddy continued to work on our new fence.  Then on Saturday, daddy worked on the rest of the fence while Mommy/Maci ran some errands and worked around the house.  Once Daddy stopped on the fence around 1p we went to Mall of America for some walking, Christmas shopping for Maci's outfits and dinner.  While there, we decided to let Maci also try out her first ride, we went on the Carousel at the Nickelodeon Universe and she LOVED it.  So fun to watch her try new things!  Now I am cleaning up the house, starting on some work I need to get caught up on (YUCK) and sending Clint off.  What a crazy few weeks for us, I was in Miami for work last Mon-Wed and now Clint is in New Orleans this afternoon - Thurs evening.  It will mean a lot of mommy Maci time which is nice but we will miss daddy!

Everyone have a great week!!

Lots of Love,

C, K & M