Maci Rocks the Dr + Dentist & Clint Enjoys Sunny Florida

We had a little nutty week at the Mondell house.  Clint had a work trip to Florida for the annual shareholders meeting which meant mom was single parenting it with not only Maci but also a 1 month old.  I am happy to say we survived but I am even more thankful for having a partner to share the parenting responsibilities with on a daily basis :)  Now to attempt to catch up on sleep this week!

Pre-Clint Leaving (Mon-Tues)
On Monday afternoon we had Maci's 3 year check up.  She passed through the appointment with flying colors and is 33lbs (75%) and 3ft 1in tall (60%).  She is doing great on all developmental scales.  The Dr believes my issue with her being constantly LOUD comes from her lovely personality so at least we know her hearing is ok too :)  We also had the Dr take a quick peak at Connor's dry pealing skin.  The Dr earlier told us lots of newborns peal and we don't need to do anything but this looked intense.  This Dr said to use Aquaphor on his skin and then to pour olive oil on his head since the poor scalp was pealing too - check out our little olive oiled buddy HAHA so cute!

Single Parenting (Wed-Sat)
Clint left Wednesday morning but fortunately he was able to take M to school for me.  I was also able to have an awesome lunch with my work pal Lisa, so good to catch up!  Mr Connor continues to be a great baby and sleeps through our lunch outings.  The night went ok but Maci continued to fight me over bedtime each night.  I would show up to daycare in the mornings with pajamas and some shoes so that Connor and I could get back home and grab a few more hours of sleep.  Fortunately Wednesday and Thursday went pretty quick and then it was Friday!  I was still excited for Friday even though we switched up our usual family pizza/movie night and went over to the Cassem's so Maci could play with Natalie and I could have adult conversation - wahoo!

Hi Dad

 And then a few moments later. . . Blow Out

Drunk on Milk

 Family Selfie for Daddy

Maci was getting so mad at Connor for "NOT LOOKING"

Saturday was a busy day sans daddy and Friday night was a HORRIBLE night with the kiddos.  Maci didn't go to bed until about 10p, Connor and I got done with the last feeding and to bed around midnight, Connor was up around 2a with some irritating gas, Maci woke up and came into my room/bed at 230a, Connor woke to eat at 4a, Maci woke at 6a wanting cartoons, we got up for good at 730a to feed Connor/eat breakfast/prep for gym.  Needless to say I was a bit of a zombie at times through the day.  We made it to gym only 10 mins late (yep it look longer than 1.5 hours to get 3 people out the door) and the girls kept an eye on sleeping Connor while M and I had some fun.  The gym got my blood pumping and helped me wake up.  We then headed home to brush teeth and get ready or M's first dentist appointment.  I was an idiot for scheduling this when Clint was out of town but thankfully she did awesome!  She listened to the hygienist so well and even made it through x rays and a fluoride paint on thing.  Maci had no cavities and they confirmed her mouth is crowded even with baby teeth and she has a slight cross bite - all fun things that Clint and I both dealt with too in that awkward junior high age :)  We then struggled through the rest of the afternoon since M wouldn't nap for me and finally come 10p daddy arrived!!  Maci stayed up and was so excited to see her dad, hell we all were!!!  Clint was awesome and took care of Connor's last feeding and put me to bed.  Glad to see we can survive but not wanting to have dad leave for some time again!

Photo Opportunity w. my Buddy

Sunday - The family was all up and at 'em around 730a today.  Clint and I were asked to be Rowan's sponsors for his baptism along with our friends the Cassem's.  The Zehr's (Rowan's family) now live in Stillwater which is about a 40 minute drive and with the service starting at 1030a, this family had to get out the door by about 915a.  We did pretty well getting all four of us dressed, bags packed for church etc.  We only got out the door 10 mins later than planned.  The 3 year olds were typically 3 year olds during the mass and we all agree that it felt like it took forever!  Afterward we headed to the Zehr's house for brunch and much needed adult beverages (mimosas and bloody Marys).  The kids had a blast tearing up the house and chasing each other.  Maci finally took a nap even if it was only a 40 min one in the car on the way home - UGH girl needs to nap for us!  We wrapped up our evening together watching Grease Live and I was so happy that Maci seemed to love the singing as much as I did growing up.  Also, Clint admitted he had never seen Grease, how are these things possible??!!

3rd Wheel Maci

 Stella Joining the Crew

 So Unorganized

Thank goodness we are all in town this week and in addition we are excited to welcome Nanny & Grandpa Mondell for a long weekend visit!

Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C

Little Man is 1 Month & Maci Lou is 3 Years Old!!!

What a FUN week our family had!  The week started off nice and slow with Mr Connor and I just hanging out at home.  We had some fun taking pictures of his various wardrobe changes and the cutie peanut phase :)

Tuesday's Outfit - Says "I Look Up to My Dad"

On Tuesday, my boss gave Clint a bag of Frozen Dress Up Clothes her daughters had outgrown.  Needless to say Maci was quite excited and had to put them on right away after dinner.

That Wig - LOL

Wednesday - I had some fun lunch plan's with Anand, a co-worker from tax.  In honor of the occasion, Connor got all dressed up, even if he sat in his carseat the entire meal.  That evening I had a little too much fun with the shawl collar on his outfit.  If you roll it upward it looks like he has no neck and well I thought this was hilarious - Connor doesn't look too amused!

Hey Buddy!

Thursday - Connor is 1 month old!  Clint and I had lunch together after his training in St Paul at Granite City - Yum!  Afterward, we picked up Maci and took her to her first eye doctor appointment.  We had no concerns but the eye doctor encouraged us to bring her around that age just to get a base line for her eyes and ensure there aren't any fundamental issues with the eyes.  Fortunately, as we expected, her eyes are exactly as they should be at this age and she even tolerated dilation of her eyes like a champion.  We also had a photo shoot with our cutie and chunky 1 month old :)  The home bathroom scale said albs 8oz in the buff but I swear he is bigger and the bathroom scale is probably a rough judge for a baby!

Happy as can be with his Raccoon 1 Month Sticker

 Balled his eyes out as soon as I put up the Bengal 1 Month Sticker

I know Buddy, Rough January!

Friday - Kickoff to our fun filled weekend!  Once Clint got home, Maci and I ran out for a few quick errands which included picking up her Ariel birthday cake/getting a balloon, getting stamps for Connor's birth announcements and finally Clint's dry cleaning.  While we were off running errands, Clint ordered the regular Friday night Pizza Dinner.  This was the 2nd Friday night Pizza/Movie attempt and Maci loved it yet again.  This time we checked out Shrek 2 and Clint made a wood burning fire.  I love when we have these cuddly family nights together.

She is Almost 3 - So Big!

After Maci went to bed, Clint got right to work on Maci's birthday present from mom/dad, a kitchen!!  It took Clint about 2 hours but for an Ikea product it resulted in no cursing, just a little time consuming.  The finished product is Awesome!

 Perfect Fit in the Playroom

Saturday - Happy 3rd Birthday Maci Louise!!!  We woke up around 730a for our birthday girl.  She was ready to open presents right away.  She loved her loot and after we opened presents, we headed to the playroom to check out the surprise gift from mom and dad.  She is really enjoying the kitchen and all her birthday presents - yay!

Presents with her School Birthday Crown

 Thanks Aunt Molly for my Barbie

 Thanks Great Aunt Marilyn & Uncle Ken for my Book

It was Saturday's bed time book

 Thanks Grandma & Grandpa for my hair stuff

She has done everyone's hair many times, including Boomer :)

 And for my play food that I can cut

 Thanks God Mommy Christie for my Rapunzel Dress

After opening gifts, we had to get ready for gym class.  How fun to have gym class on your actual birthday?!  The whole family of 4 went to gym for the first time but of course poor Connor stayed in the carseat and covered to avoid any germs from other kiddos.  With all the birthday fun, we all skipped brunch this week.  Instead we ran through McDonald's for breakfast (Maci's pancake request) and then headed home for Connor's feeding.  I then rested a bit with the kiddos while Clint ran out to get a new suitcase and some gas for the car.  M was a good girl and played with birthday toys while I caught a few zzzz's.  Once Clint was home it was time to get ready for Harper's 3rd birthday party at the eagles nest indoor playground.  The Zehr's were so sweet that they even brought Maci her own cupcake with a candle on it since it was her actual birthday during his party - Fun!

Catching Strawberry Shortcake on the Drive to Gym

So Big! :-(

 Ball Pit at Indoor Playground

My kid came out and said "I want out, too many people in there" HAHA

 Listening to her rendition of Happy Birthday

 Natalie, Hank & Charlotte had already left 

Check out these newly named 3 year olds (Harper & Maci)

 Best of Buds

We wrapped up the evening with Ariel Birthday Cake and singing at home followed by FaceTime with Nanny & Grandpa Mondell.  We are getting excited for their trip to visit us in a few weeks. Maci had her nails painted and did my hair during the conversation, I think they are getting excited for what they can expect during this trip :) HA

 Cake!

Sunday - Sleep was a little rough in our house and since Clint was sweet and got up with Maci (nightmare) and Connor (feeding) - I took the 7a feeding and let him sleep until 9a.  We had good intentions of going to 10a mass but after being utterly exhausted, needing to feed Connor/pump and get 4 people dressed/out the door within 45 mins, well it wasn't happening today.  Instead we started to get dressed and ready to enjoy a family fun day honoring Maci.  She was able to choose from Children's Museum, Zoo and Riding Rides at Mall of America.  Maci wanted to do all 3 (not an option) but ultimately chose Riding Rides.  We do the zoo quite a bit thanks to our passes and we will do Children's Museum when Mondell's are here in a few weeks.  So off to MOA we went and Maci was such a good girl today.  She helped clean up before we went, said please all through the day, agreed to go eat when it was time to do so and didn't flip at all when we left for home.  We simply said we could come again another time and she held my hand the whole way out.  Connor was awesome in the stroller/carseat.  He and I found a mothers room for a pump/feeding session mid way through the day and other than that he slept in his carseat - again covered up :)  Clint was the main rider with M but after lunch she asked if I could ride rides - so sweet.  I went on the Carosel and a fun car ride where Maci looked at me and said "You so funny mommy - I love you!"  I melted :)

Rides with Dad

 The Beloved Bubble Guppy Ride

One of her Favorite Shows!

 It was like she saw a celebrity haha - This is Molly 

This is Dema (Spelling?) 

 This is Nonny (spelling?)

 We also let her get her face painted

She Chose Snow White

 I mean how stinking cute is she?  

I want to always remember her this size

 While Waiting for Johnny Rockets & Clint, Maci says "Mom want to take Selfies" SURE

Normal Smiles

 Funny Face!

 Stink Eye

 Connor's Cry

 Football Faces

 Princess Pose

 Oh Connor's Cry Again - That was her favorite!

What a wonderful day of celebrating our favorite preschooler.  She is such a funny, independent, sassy, stubborn and goofy gal! We just love her to pieces and hope she has a great year ahead!  Now I am off to the grocery (yuck!) because it is funny how that and laundry falls to Sunday night when you have such better things to be doing with your family throughout the weekend.

We hope everyone had an awesome fun weekend and has a great week ahead!

Lots of Love, 

C, K, M & C