Double Wide

After a couple of unsuccessful trials of the new stroller, Michaela finally accepted and now likes the new comfortable double ride stroller. Christine and the girls went to the Olbrich Gardens on Tuesday to enjoy the record 54 degrees, and Michaela enjoyed the darkness the stroller shade provided.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Christine in the News

Christine was at the zoo today with Michaela and Danielle and ended up on the CBS 6 o'clock news.

http://www.channel3000.com/news/18713036/detail.html

http://www.c3ktogo.com/?mgid=21011

http://www.channel3000.com/index.html

A warmer weekend

The warmer weather was very nice change this weekend. Like many, the cold of the past month kept us inside on most days. We tried to get out for a walk each day this weekend. On Saturday we decided to use the new double stroller and stay on roads, but Michaela did not like it for whatever reason. As a result we were only outside for a short 6 block walk.

Today we went for a walk at the UW Arboretum on snow covered trails and stayed off of the roads. Michaela struggled with walking on the trails, which helped convince her that we should carry her. Instead of the stroller we dug out the backpack carrier. After a short outburst when we put Michaela in the carrier for the first time this year, she settled in for a nice walk and returned to form by looking for birds and phishing them when we stopped to look. It was nice to look at the birds, get some exercise, be together as a family, and perhaps most importantly enjoy the sun and letting it brighten up our day.

In order to get Michaela to look at Christine and the camera I pretended there was a bunny sitting behind Christine. Otherwise Michaela has been camera shy lately.

A week in review

A week in review...time to purge my thoughts and share with others.

Saturday - Sunday: My parents made a mad dash to Madison for Michaela's birthday. The time together was brief but nice. Michaela enjoys the new presents and toys immensely. She got sick however, we think from the spinach tortellini, throwing up on Saturday night. She felt better on Sunday but remained clingy and obviously tired throughout the day.

Monday: Michaela's two year check-up went well. The clinic was temporarily out of the scheduled vaccine, so no shots during the appointment. Michaela was still sick, so she did not like letting Doctor Deb check her out...but all was fine. Christine dropped me off at school after the doctor's appointment and I spent the rest of the day searching job postings and submitting more applications.

Tuesday: Michaela was still sick, so we skipped her swim lesson that night. She will be able to make it up anytime during the remainder of the session when there is a open slot.

Wednesday: I received a call letting me know the decision from my first flyback. They made an offer to someone else. My mind went into overdrive and I can honestly say it did not include the best of thoughts. Christine is a great wife, as I do not know how she is able to put up with me always.

Thursday: I spent the day at school thinking about job outlooks and the overall process rather than actually getting any research done. As a labor economist I realize there are only good/bad employer/employee fits and not good/bad jobs. I feel that I would be a very good fit at this specific flyback, but if my employment there is to happen it will hinge first on another job candidates rejection of their initial offer. I cannot dwell in the past, as I need to get prepared for a different upcoming flyback.

Friday: I was not able to sleep, so I watched a couple of movies and woke up early. Rather than go to school I spent the day trying to reset my mind. I stayed home this morning making blueberry pancakes for my women, and then I went birding during the middle of the day. Would anyone like to speculate whether this bird is a female lesser scaup or female greater scaup, or if this bird is a common or hoary redpoll? These were the questions on my mind today, a much needed relief from other topics. The weather finally warmed up, so it was a great to be outside.

Christine bought a double stroller today, and we all went for a walk late this afternoon. We picked up a complementary smoothie from Smoothie King and Michaela's birthday ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery. We stopped to get groceries also, and made it home in time for a spaghetti supper prior to Michaela's bed time.

Birthday Girl! 'The Big 2 Years'

Well, the day has finally come and already gone before I knew it. My little girl is TWO, yeah two! years old. This past year has had its trials but Michaela has changed so much from last year. She is running, jumping, singing and having conversations with me. When grandma and grandpa call, she actually tells them what is going on with her day, granted she is still very hard to understand and I have to be there to interpret; but to her she is talking clear. She started swim lessons and she is by herself, mom and dad watched from the bleachers as she would wait patiently on the pool steps to be called. How much different our lives our from last. Now we have two beautiful girls and our lives are so much more full then they were before Michaela and Danielle.



Grandpa & Grandma came to visit for the short weekend and are helping us celebrate Michaela's birthday and Michaela has been having so much fun, despite the fact that she got sick tonight and threw up. Poor girl, we think she ate too much...but for those of you who were thinking it, no, she did not have any cake.



This year I tried my hand again and decorating my own cake and though I think I improved on last years, unfortunately I have a long ways to go. Maybe I will take a cake decorating class someday, I have a LOT to learn! Anyway, this year Michaela's favorite kitty was my inspiration and below he is posing as the 'model'.

Happy Birthday Michaela! We love you.

Updates

A list of things that have happened in the past week.

1) Another schedule fly back and potential job for Malcolm, in central Wisconsin.
2) Malcolm has sent out more applications in case neither of the fly backs work out.
3) The last of the pictures from our Thanksgiving trip to MN are edited, now on to the Christmas batch.
4) Michaela started swim lessons today and absolutely loved them.
5) Danielle ate solids again, but we are worried that she is having indigestion problems causing her to sleep poorly.
6) Christine has come to the conclusion there is no double stroller which will fit in the trunk of our car besides a double umbrella.
7) We are trying a trial membership at the YMCA, which includes childcare :-)
8) We chased after a greater white fronted goose.
9) Michaela will turn 2 at the end of the week.
10) "But it still could be better. Suppose that I add...No time for more, I'm almost home.", well not actually not home but at least time for bed.

By the way, does anyone know the source for #10? If you don't you should look into it, it is a nice quick read and is one that Michaela would recommend.

5 Months

So, a couple days late, but Danielle is 5 months old and such a wonderful baby. She continues to practice sitting up and tolerates me taking pictures of it. She is growing up already too fast!

Today, we tried our first solid food, runny rice cereal and she was a champ. I think she probably had 8 small spoons of food, though sometimes it took a few times to get in actually down :) So, anyway here are a couple of photos that were taken a couple days ago and then a couple commemorating her first solid food.