Spring FUN in Ohio!

Through the humid summer, rainy fall, and cold winter Ohio natives assured us that the upcoming spring was something to look forward to. They raved about the climate, the scenery, and all the outdoor activities that we had yet to experience since we hadn't settled in until late July of last year.

As promised Spring has turned out to be beautiful- the grass is green, the flowers are in bloom, and the sun has been shining giving us daily temperatures in the comfortable 70's. The birth and renewal of life that Spring symbolizes has made Mom a little sad as it reminds her that Macie is already 8 months old. The mood brought on by reality of how quickly time has gone by is only lightened by the promise of things to come as Macie will soon be moving, interacting, talking, etc.

For the last few months the family has continued to "baby" Macie, but now that she is no longer an infant it is time for her to take on more "responsibility." The first step in helping Macie to move forward was getting rid of her infant bathtub. She got to sit in the big girl bath for the first time and really enjoyed it!

Since Macie's bath time takes place long after I am asleep I had to hear about it rather than witness it and decided I was a little envious that I was left out. The next night I suggested that it was time Macie and I got to take a bath together.

Our sister bath time was a huge success! We had a great time laughing and playing together, and I made sure to be extra careful (I toned down my usual activities and kept my flailing to a minimum.)

Our friends and neighbors were right about all the FUN activities that come along with spring time in Ohio. Aside from the Zoo and parks, there are a LOT of community activities going on in each week. My favorite so far has been our most recent excursion to "touch a truck" with the Grezlaks. It was amazing- there were fire trucks, school buses, cop cars, book mobiles; you name it- if it was mobile it was there. The city puts on this great activity for free, and there are all sorts of food, toys, stickers, and "junk" given away. There was so much to do and see that it could keep a crazy kid like me occupied for hours.

Not only did we get to see the different vehicles, but we got to touch and explore them as well. "Boy" Riley, Ashlyn, Aidan, and I had a great time laughing and chasing one another.

Even Macie enjoyed the exciting surroundings, but her favorite part was all the attention from our friends. Ashlyn made sure Macie was never left out and Mom was really grateful!

Browsing through the fire truck was lots of fun, and since everyone in the crowd was watching I made sure to stop and pose with a picture perfect smile before jumping out (Mom has tried for years to get me to smile like that in front of the camera, but I have made sure to save the good smiles for my future fans in the crowd.)

Our next stop was at the law enforcement vehicles. Seeing me a police car made Mom a little nervous, but I promised her that if I ever rode in a cop car in the future it would only be in the front seat....

One of the coolest things I got to do was sit inside a school bus. For the last year I have begged Mom to let me take a ride on one, but have yet to succeed so this was an amazing experience.

Miss Elizabeth bravely volunteered to take Aidan, "Boy" Riley, Ashlyn, and I on the bus while Mom watched with Macie from the curb. We all waved to them through the bus windows and even posed for a picture.

It was tough to talk me off the bus as I was having SO much fun! I can't wait until I am old enough to ride one to school all by myself (Mom has warned me that riding the bus isn't nearly as adventurous in reality as it is in my head, but I think I will be the judge of that.)

After the school bus we made a pit stop at the big pink limo, and boy was it neat inside. I could get used to riding in style like that.

After stopping by the digger, tractor, ranger mobile and ice cream truck we were all getting a little restless. Miss Elizabeth and Mom decided we would wait in line to sit on the antique fire truck and then would all head out for a special lunch at Mc Donalds!

The line was longer than we would have liked, so we had to find ways to occupy our time. "Boy" Riley and I danced around together

while Ashlyn helped give Macie her bottle.

When we finally made it to the front of the line we all jumped in. I used my strength and will power to push my way to the driver's seat (surprise, surprise.)

Even Macie "sucked it up" and sat in the front seat for a ride. Mom laughs that with her pose she looks a little gangsta.

Before leaving for lunch Miss Elizabeth took a picture of Mom, Macie and I (one of the few pictures we have together.)

We had a great time at lunch with the little Grzelaks: Aidan, Riley, and Ashlyn (Miss Elizabeth and her husband Dave have 2 older sons as well for a total of 5!)

The following morning I woke up to an amazing surprise- Grandpa Jerry and Cindy had driven all the way out from Wisconsin to come visit our family! I ran straight for him and didn't want to leave his side.

It was the first time they had met Macie, and she took to him right away. The look exactly like one another, so in a way it was like Macie was looking at the male version of herself.

We spent the morning catching up with Grandpa and Cindy, and I made sure to put on a show for them!

Since ALL of our toys were strewn throughout the family room I decided to show Macie how to use some of them. One of her favorites were the drums.

After she showed interest, and got everyone's attention, I decided I needed to dominate the crowd once again. I got a little obnoxious, but Macie and I had fun!

After our much needed naps the whole family was rejuvenated and ready for some more fun. We met up with Grandpa Jerry and Cindy, and everyone (even Aunt Hayley) went out for dinner at Texas Roadhouse (Mom's favorite thanks to the extremely healthy white bread rolls with honey butter.) This was Macie's first time in a high chair at a restaurant and she did exceptionally well!!!

Throughout the whole dinner both Macie and I were on our best behavior. I ate until my little tummy ached, and Macie surveyed the new surroundings and was fascinated by all the people and action around her. Although I did flash my smile to a few people in the crowd and kept most of my attention focused on Grandpa Jerry.

After dinner the family "rolled" home and slept off our food comas. We woke early in the morning eager to wish Mom a Happy Mother's Day. I made sure to give her lots of extra love. We helped Aunt Hayley pack her car with luggage and animals (yes, Holly, Kahlua, and Jack all went with her), and we waved at her as we watched her drive away to Wisconsin (Mom says she will be gone for 2 weeks on an externship for school). The rest of the day was spent lounging with Grandpa Jerry and Cindy, and both Macie and I made sure to pullout all the stops. The family enjoyed an afternoon BBQ and time around the house together, and we were sad when Grandpa Jerry and Cindy had to leave to drive back home.

After our busy weekend Mom had lots of errand to run, and a messy house to clean so we spent a lot of time at home. We played a lot of dress up, and Mom even did her very first french braid ever on my hair- I think she did pretty well for her first time.

Macie and I made the most of our time indoors by playing with one another- I have realized that having a sister is lots of fun and we feed off of each others energy. I feel sorry for Mom once Macie can really move because we will be a force to reckon with...

The week was rather uneventful; Dad was working in Indianapolis and with Hayley and all the animals gone as well the house felt empty. Mom took advantage of the empty seats at the kitchen table so our meals consisted of re-heated leftovers or packaged dinners.

By the weekend Dad was back home and we were ready to make up for the previous week's lack of excitement. To do this we went BIG and went to the circus with the whole Grezlak family! It was awesome being together with everyone and I was exploding with anticipation. Once we got inside the arena my attitude took a drastic turn for the worse- the lack of lighting paired with the loud and creepy noises coming from the ring master out me in a state of panic. I begged Dad to take me back home. It took lots of coercing from Dad, but before long he managed to calm me down and re-focus my attention on the beautiful girls dressed like princesses. At that moment my fears subsided (or were forgotten) and I stared at awe as the danced across the stage. The acrobatics and antics of the performers did little to pique my attention, but the animals and dancing girls kept me wanting more. When us younger kids got antsy Dad and Dave went to the concession stand and returned as heroes (they brought back cotton candy)! We immediately settled back down in our seats with our treats and it bought another half an hour of contentment.
I had never eaten cotton candy before and was appalled at Mom for not exposing me to this palate pleasing cuisine sooner.

Macie was the antsiest of all, but thanks to Dad's magic touch she turned out to have an amazing time!

By the second half he had managed to cradle her in her arms, forcing her to relax. He must have done an exceptional job because she didn't last long before she fell into a deep sleep.

Our first family trip to the circus was a BIG success and we had an incredible time with the Grezlak family.

The following week had its up and downs; fevers, colds, coughs- you name the illness and it's likely to have passed through one of our family members. Macie was the only one who had to see a doctor (where we discovered that she weighed 17.5lbs and measured 27.25 inches long) and take medication- I was sure relieved to have been spared from the debilitating act of taking medication (yes, I am a drama queen.) Our ailing health and the torrential downpours lasting throughout the week kept us confined to the house. Mom used the time rather wisely and worked on developing Macie's hand to mouth skills, which by the end of the week would finally pass for sufficient.

Along with learning to feed herself Macie has also added some new words to her repitiore: Up-down (which sounds like one word) and Momma! Coupled with her use of dada and uh-oh she is up to 4 words!!!! Looking back at the past week indoors it is obvious that Macie benefited from time at home. Check out this video of her trying to crawl:

Now that we discovered Macie is old enough, big enough, and capable enough, she gets to sit in her high chair at the dinner table and eat with the family. So far broccoli is her favorite "big people" food, but she has also shown some interest in cous cous and salmon. I think her food preferences are a little odd considering she prefers veggies and proteins over bananas and strawberries.

Macie is loving this new ability of hers, and Mom and Dad are both loving the fact that it buys them some extra needed time to finish tasks around the house.

With Macie at the table I have to work a little harder for attention; sometimes, when I'm super cute, it works in my favor:

The week came to an end on a good note as Miss Elizabeth, "boy" Riley, and Ashlyn came over to play. Not only did we get to romp around the house, but they brought special cupcakes for our family. After I had eaten my dinner that night I sat down and dove face first into my very own princess cupcake and didn't take a breath until it was finished.

Life is great, and I am more than thankful for my family and friends.

My Grandma Joanie flies in from Wisconsin this Saturday and I can't wait to see her!!! I plan on showing her all the new things I am able to do, so this upcoming weeks promises to be full of fun and excitement!!

More fun with Grandma Judy

By the second week of Grandma Judy's stay we had developed a daily routine. First thing in the morning we would wake up, open the curtains, and say good morning to the world. Once Grandma had her coffee we would snuggle under her warm covers and read stories- it was my favorite time of day!!! After half a dozen stories and breakfast we would sit on my bedroom floor and put on our makeup.


Despite my extra love and attention poor Grandma's leg was still hurting after her first week in Ohio so we left her at home for some peace and quiet while we went to the Zoo with our friends Ashlyn and "boy" Riley. I was SO excited- it was my first time going to the Zoo with friends my age!!!

The weather was sunny and warm, so even Macie enjoyed the surroundings.

After stopping by my favorite animals and having a fun picnic with my friends we packed up and went home to check on Grandma. While we were gone she got some rest and was ready for an outing so we took her to the grocery store. Upon Mommy's request Grandma got a motorized cart, and I was lucky enough to call shotgun before anyone else.

We had a blast cruisin' through the grocery store but don't think the world is ready for Grandma Judy to be driving one permanently...

Back at home the family relaxed in the family room and tried to help Macie learn to feed herself. It was a frustrating experience as you will see in the video- instead of reaching out and grabbing her snacks she leans forward and bites them out of your hand. Mom doesn't know what to do next...

Macie has grown quite fond of Grandma's crutches over the past week. Every time she walks by Macie makes a grab for them-for some odd reason they absolutely fascinate her...

With Grandma's trip quickly coming to an end I decided we needed to get in as much reading as possible- good thing Grandma enjoys books because we probably read over 100 throughout the duration of her trip. On sunny days we would spend time out on the porch.










It felt good sitting outside in the warm sun and now that Macie is old enough, and able to sit on her own, she is able to join us outside for playtime.







It was a perfect time for Grandma to come visit us because Macie is developing each and every day. She is right on the verge of crawling, but seems to find less strenuous ways to move about the house. We joke that she is lazy, but maybe she is just conserving energy for other things. Her babbling is beginning to sound less and less like gibberish and starting to resemble English.



Grandma has been working on helping her talk but so far the only thing that Macie has repeated is "uh oh." It sounds pretty funny as she repeats it over and over throughout the day.

I have heard it said that you become like those around you- after hearing Macie's new laugh I don't think anyone can argue with that school of thought.

As much as Grandma didn't like being immobile I took full advantage of her predicament. We played play doh, princesses, blocks, and all sorts of fun games that I usually have to beg Mom to play.

By the end of Grandma's stay her leg was feeling much better thanks to love and attention, and I had become quite good on crutches. Check me out as I walk through the house on my own:

Before Grandma Judy had to head back to California on the airplane she mustered up enough strength to push crutch through the grass and push me on the swings.

We dropped Grandma off at the airport and they house suddenly felt empty. My playmate was gone and I was back to pestering Mom and Macie 24/7.

Aunt Hayley came home early from school the following day and sensed the tension around the house. She suggested that we all get out and go on an outing to the mall. It was lots of fun and Macie sat in the sit-n-stand for the first time in the sit n stand without an infant seat!

It seems like yesterday that Mom and Dad brought Macie home from the hospital. The family can't believe how quickly time has flown by- soon she will be chasing me around the house and calling me by name.

This coming weekend we have lots of fun things planned; we are going to "touch a truck" with my friends and then Grandpa Jerry and Cindy are coming to town!!! Check back for an update on the fun we are going to have...

A birthday, a broken leg, and a whole lot of crazy...

After Easter our activities around the house substantially decreased. We spent most of our time hanging out with Macie, working on her skills.

As you can see she has NO problem sitting on her own now and has developed great balance (I should know, I am always trying to find sneaky ways to knock her down-fortunately for her large size and strength I rarely succeed).

She is a lot more fun now that she sits up all the time. She has become more of a playmate than a spectator.

Last weekend I went to the Big Red Barn with Dad while Mom, Macie and Aunt Hayley went to Costco. When they picked us up we had purchased a new addition to my already large repertoire of outdoor transportation; a scooter!

The scooter Dad bought me was awesome! I have to wear a helmet to be safe, its one of my new big kid rules, but I have already taken a few spills and am sure glad I had it on!

Since Macie is getting so big Mom decided she REALLY needs to learn to eat like a big girl! We placed her in my high chair and the outlook was promising...

I ate my own banana while watching her try and pick up the banana slices we had placed in front of her. She couldn't seem to understand how to get the food from her hand to her mouth, but did a great job of making a big mess everywhere.

After many attempts at teaching her to use her hands and failing we tried a fork- unfortunately that was unsuccessful as well. At least she enjoyed banging the fork on the tray, it provided some much needed entertainment to lighten the mood.

A warm front moved into town towards the middle of the month giving us no excuses to be cooped up indoors. I took advantage of the weather by riding my scooter around and around the front yard. My neighbor Caroline leaned how to ride a big girl bike and I was envious of her. My scooter no longer seemed like the cool thing to be doing, so I informed the family that I was ready to ride my bike.

Mom pulled my bike down from the garage and let me give it a try. Here I am on my VERY FIRST big girl bike ride (with training wheels).

Mom and Dad were super proud of me and genuinely impressed that I did so well my first time out. They are now determined to get rid of my training wheels by the end of summer...

Although the weather remained nice and warm Mom had some sewing to do, so I tore up the backyard on my own while Macie sat inside watching mom make tutu's. She loved playing with the tulle, and was quite the helper.

When the weekend came John flew in from Wisconsin to visit Aunt Hayley. It was fun having a buddy in the house and we all took a walk around our neighborhood to enjoy the beautiful sun.

That Monday we celebrated Aunt Hayley's 28th birthday! The whole family took her out to our favorite Sushi place, Edamame, and we all ate like pigs until we were too full to move. Back home I had to go straight to bed, but Macie tells me that Mom, Dad, and Jack all sang Happy Birthday to Aunt Hayley.

I don't mind missing the birthday song, but after seeing this picture I am bummed that they left me out of the cake festivities. Come one guys- that's just NOT FAIR!

A couple nights later Mom got a phone call from her Aunt Pam and we learned that Grandma Judy had a skiing accident and broke her leg. At that moment our extended plans were up in the air. Mom toyed with the idea of taking us out to California to help Grandma Judy recover, but knew that our crew taking over her house may be more intrusive and overwhelming than helpful. After lots of coercing on Mom's part it was settled, Grandma Judy was going to to come visit us in Ohio!

I was SUPER excited at the prospect of helping Grandma heal her leg and promised to be a great nurse. While Mom got the house ready for Grandma Macie and I played with my kitchen. The fruits and veggies turned out to be perfect for improving her hand and eye coordination, and before long she was picking everything up.

Practice in my kitchen has given e confidence to work in the big kitchen with Mom. I have to follow some basic rules, but am allowed to be on my own. Sometimes I make a bit of a mess, but I always have a good time...

A few days later Grandma Judy flew into town and I couldn't have been more excited to see her. The whole family woke up bright and early and went outdoors to enjoy the beautiful weather.

We soaked up the warm sun and helped Grandma relax in the front yard. Grandma did some reading while I showed off the Grandma by riding ALL of my toys from the garage- the cozy coupe, both tricycles, my scooter, and my big kid bike. Grandma was sure impressed.

Once I became bored with my toys I tried out her crutches- they weren't nearly as fun as they looked and I have decided that I will not be using them anytime soon (Mom is grateful that I have made that decision).

Being injured allowed Grandma to spend a lot of quality time with Macie as she was forced to stay seated (something new for Grandma). She used some of the time to begin teaching Macie "so big". Macie kept laughing and laughing as she raised her arms to the sky,

Over the next couple of days I took care of Grandma Judy and the family spent a lot of time catching up. Thanks to help from Grandma Macie learned how to do "so big" all by herself:

I made sure to take full advantage of Grandma being here to play in the back yard. Together we built castles in the sand, and believe it or not, Grandma Judy was even able to push me on the swing!




When the weekend came around again it was time to go to the pool! Grandma's leg was still sore and unable to be submerged in the water, so Dad and I went solo. Check out my new bathing suit with a tutu (apparently a tutu is my signature piece of apparel as I am called "Tutu Riley" around town- Mom rarely lets me leave home without one).

Macie and I are having tons of fun with Grandma Judy. We get to spend lots of quality time with her, and aren't rushing around having to do things. She sits and reads me all my princess books and even supervises as Macie and I while we play with our toys.

Mom said that Grandma's injury came at a good time because she is able to see Macie at a special time in her life when she is growing leaps and bounds.

She is currently working on making all sorts of noises, and as of recent has begun making noises that sound disgustingly similar to that of a fart:

Grandma is going to be staying with us for another whole week and we are looking forward to all sorts of fun activities. Macie is getting closer and closer to crawling with everyday and may even learn before Grandma leaves. Check out her current way of moving around (continuous rolls), personally I think it takes WAY more effort to roll around as Macie does, but you can be the judge..

Mom and Dad better watch out because as soon as Macie becomes mobile I will have a partner in crime...