CALIFORNIA!!!! Week One

The week preceding our trip to California was crazy. As Mom rushed to pack and prepare for our month long trip Macie and I kept each other occupied. Macie continued perfecting her crawl, and has become so darn fast that I always have a shadow following me through the house. Not only has Macie's speed improved, but her mouth is starting to resemble a shark's more and more everyday; her 2nd tooth came through and it looks as if 5 more aren't far behind. When our departure day finally arrived we were more than prepared for our flight. Dad helped us through security at the airport and once we boarded the plane both Macie and I were on our best behavior, sleeping, eating, and playing on command.

We arrived in California late on a Monday evening and Grandma Judy met us at the airport and was greeted with a loud "yowee-yow-hooee!" We went straight to her house at the beach and despite our excitement were forced to go right to bed. We woke up early in the morning ready to go out and play. While I was running through the sand, making castles, and playing in the water Macie soaked up the California sunshine.

Last time Macie was at the beach she was still too young to enjoy its allure, but this time she was all about it!



Check out how far Macie has come in the last couple weeks. She can hold a sippy cup and drink all by herself, and she can crawl really fast- especially when there is something she wants (in this case it's a bird).

We had such a great time at the beach that it was hard to break away and go inland, but we were eager to see Pa and the rest of the family so we made the sacrifice. Macie and I had a great time at the Umbargers with our family. I spent most of the time chasing the dogs around the house, while Macie spent hers doing what she does best- eating.

We didn't stay in San Diego for long; after two days we packed up the car and headed for Orange County to spend some time with Jeff and Susan and go to Disneyland (something I have been looking forward to for months). I was SO excited as we drove in to Huntington Beach, and shrieked as we pulled into our old neighborhood. It was far past my bedtime and despite my pleading Mom insisted that I contain my excitement for the morning and go straight to bed. Macie and I woke up with the sun, eager to see Jeff, Susan, and Charlie. After a morning full of food, toys, and fun we dressed in our Disney best and took off for the "Happiest Place on Earth" (Mom even made me a special Ariel tutu for the occasion.)


Pa and Debbie met us at Disneyland and we jumped right into the fun! We rode It's a Small World first and I serenaded Macie while she looked in awe at all the moving objects and bright colors around her.

As promised, we went to the Tiki Room with Pa and enjoyed the entertainment as the birds sang and danced to the music. Pa was happy that we went to his favorite attraction in the park.



After riding on Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan, and the River Cruise Debbie treated me to my first Mickey Ice Cream Bar.


Just as I was finishing up my Ice Cream a beautiful princess caught my eye- Mom cleaned up the chocolate all over my face and I ran over to meet Jasmine and Aladdin.



She was even more beautiful in person than in the movies, and was so kind to me. We danced together and talked like old friends. After spending time with her I took some of the dance moves she taught me and showed them off to the crowd.

I had an amazing time at Disneyland with Jeff, Susan, Pa, Debbie, Macie, and Mom. I got to drive a car with Pa, make new friends, put on a show, see a parade; I couldn't imagine anything that would have made it more fun.



We were exhausted after a LONG day at Disneyland and crashed AS SOON as we arrived at home. We slept in late the next morning thanks to the very comfortable accommodations at Jeff and Susan's. After making a quick trip downtown to the pier to say hi to some old friends we loaded up the car and headed back to Disney for some more fun!

We arrived at California Adventure early in the day and were able to tour the attractions in the park without crowds. One of my favorite things was meeting Tow-mater and Lightning McQueen.

After seeing a live show of the Little Einsteins and telling Big Jet to "go home" I got to meet Pluto!!!

Because Macie can't walk yet she was sort of confined to a stroller or any set of arms that could tolerate holding her for long periods of time (she can get heavy). Lucky for her Jeff and Susan helped Mom out a lot, and Macie was in heaven with all the attention. I have to admit, that Macie was quite a trooper as she didn't fuss over my dictating the events of our entire day.



Though the morning was filled with fun, inside I was bursting with anticipation for my upcoming lunch with the princesses. It seemed like the afternoon was NEVER going to come...

When 3:30 FINALLY rolled around it was time to eat with the princesses!!!!!!!!!!! I ran down the stairs of the restaurant as fast as possible and as I turned the corner there she was, sitting there waiting to meet me: ARIEL!!! I jumped on her lap and began talking to her.



I got so caught up in the moment that I forgot all about everyone around me. Mom helped as I introduced Macie to Ariel- she wasn't nearly as enthusiastic as I was, in fact, I think she was more bewildered than anything.


The hostess had to drag me away from Ariel to take me to our table. After helping the duke make announcements (a special honor bestowed upon me), the princesses came out one by one to greet me. Cinderella, Belle, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White, were all as amazing as I had imagined they would be.



When it finally came time to eat I was too excited to focus on food- Macie didn't have that problem...


When our main course was done I got a special surprise- everyone came to my table with a birthday cake and sang me the happy birthday song (a couple weeks early, but much appreciated.)

I dove straight into my desert and boy was it good!!!

We stayed until the wait staff gave us the polite nudge out the door. Jeff, Susan, Macie and I rode a few more rides before we decided it was time to call it a day.




On the way out of the park we walked by a water area where a bunch of kids were playing. I looked at Mom with a pleading look and after I got the approving nod ran straight for the fountains.



It didn't take long for me to get soaking wet. I continued to play in the water while Jeff, Susan, Mom, and Macie watched with smiles from the benches.

As the sun was setting I got cold and the water lost its allure. Mom wrapped me in a warm sweatshirt and a dry pair of shorts and we made our way to the car with no more interruptions, as I was too tired and worn out to protest.


We spent the following day in Huntington Beach catching up with some buddies of mine. At the park I played with Logan and had a great time!

I LOVED being back in my old neighborhood with my friends, and couldn't have been happier.

Later that afternoon Mom and I walked though our old house, cleaning up the last of our items before its sale the following week. I enjoyed running through the house, remembering all the fun times we had.

Before leaving I said good bye to my old room and took one last look at my first home.

Mom and I were both sad as we locked up the house, but we know that we always have a place to stay with our family right next door.

That night Mom made lasagna for the Jacklin's and we got to spend a relaxing night with people very special to us. In the morning we had to pack up the car and head back to San Diego. Before leaving the house I said my goodbyes to Charlie whom I was going to miss like CRAZY!!!




Jeff and Susan took us to lunch at Mc Donalds before we drove back to San Diego and while I was eating Jenny and Logan showed up to play!!!



It was hard to say goodbye to everyone, but I know that it won't be long till I come back for more fun!




On the way back to San Diego Macie and I fell asleep, exhausted from all the excitement of the last couple of days. Little did I know that tons more excitement lay ahead...

Check back soon for details about week 2!!!

Grandma Joanie and a Bunch of FIRSTS for Macie!!!

I have been having an incredible time with my Grandma Joanie; since she flew in it has been non-stop FUN!

Mom has been busy sewing tutu's to get ready for a party, so Grandma and I have had lots of time to play around the house together and catch up on the last 6 months. I showed her how well I can pump on the swings and made sure that she watched all my seat-to-doggie-to-tummy drops on the trampoline. One afternoon Mom actually took us on a trip across town to Target for some tutu material and I got to sit on the big read Target ball for a picture (it is sort of a tradition to sit on the ball every time we go- I have been fascinated by them since I was a baby.)


I was really excited that Grandma Joanie got to watch me at gymnastics. Not only did she get to sit in for my weekly class, but she got to go to Open Gym to watch me perform my gymnast skills all over the studio.

While Grandma and I were keeping each other occupied Macie and Dad spent some quality time together.

After watching in Dad's arms she got antsy and he let her sit down and join in the fun!

Since we were sort of confined to the house this week (aside from our trips to gymnastics) Macie, Grandma, and I had to find ways to be creative. We took some boxes left over from our last trip to Costco and made forts out of them. The fort was nothing compared to the one Mom made me back in Huntington Beach, but it was still a lot more fun than it looks.





Macie is becoming more and more involved in our daily tasks, and even helps out with our household chores. In the garage one afternoon after she tired of watching Mom clean, she entertained herself by playing her own version of Peek-a-boo. She can't quite figure out how to cover her eyes, yet the allure of the game is not lost in her version (she covers her ears).

Grandma is amazed by how far Macie and I have come over the last 6 months. Macie is doing new things everyday, and I am becoming more and more self sufficient. One morning Grandma Joanie and I played beauty shop and I made her hair look really pretty. I am getting really good with curlers and Mom is wondering if it could be my calling (I think that she is secretly hoping I will become a hair stylist so that she saves the money on coloring...)



When the weather was nice, and Mom's tutu party was over, we took Grandma Joanie on a trip to the Zoo. Macie was awake the whole time and really enjoyed seeing the animals in the aquarium.




The Columbus Zoo recently added a polar bear exhibit and it is really neat. After seeing the animals and playing in the new play place we posed for a photo op next to the new polar bear statues.




Macie has been really working hard on moving across the room. At the beginning of this week she could only roll, pivot, flip, and turn her way to her destination, but now she has developed a new determination to move towards crawling. Listen to her grunt as she struggles to pull her body across the floor.

Mom and Grandma are really trying to help encourage Macie to move (Mom wants Macie to crawl before Grandma goes back to Wisconsin), but I keep trying to tell them that Macie will move once the "carrot" they use to entice her is good enough. For now, I am happy having her rather sedentary since it allows for me to have more control.

Speaking of control- I loved having Grandma Joanie around to play with me since she is very patient and willing to play ANYTHING I want- she lets me be the boss and I LOVE it!!!

Macie has begun to get interested in playing with toys, especially the ones with buttons and sound. She loves pounding on the piano keys and making LOTS of noise.

Outside in the sun Grandma and I made use of our big back yard. We played on the swings, jumped on the trampoline, and road my school bus to and from the sandbox. Every now and again the crazy driver (me) took a turn a little too sharply and we would crash...

Towards the end of Grandma Joanie's trip the temperature outdoors was SO warm that Mom thought it was time to break out the swimsuits for some backyard fun. Macie had a problem with her bikini top as her chest hasn't quite filled out, so Mom helped her take care of the problem. As you can imagine Dad was a little mortified when he came around the corner...

One of the best things about hot, humid weather is eating all the yummy summer time fruit. Mom and I shared some watermelon together,



while Grandma Joanie helped Macie try some for the first time.



As you can tell by the look on Macie's face she sure enjoyed it, although that isn't saying much considering we haven't found much aside from bananas that Macie doesn't enjoy eating.



Grandma and I sure enjoyed spending time together; swinging on the swings, playing games, being neighbors, etc. I am sure lucky to have such an amazing family!!



The night before she left we sat out on the back porch with Grant and Reed and relaxed in the new chairs Mom and Dad had brought home for us.

Grandma left early on Sunday morning, and I spent the day missing my neighbor. Mom tried to entice me with the promise of a parade and a barbecue at my friends the next day, but it didn't seem to make me any happier. When we woke up the morning of Memorial Day it was raining so bad that going to a parade did not seem likely to happen. When arrived at the Grzelaks at 930 the rain was still coming down so only the big boys went to the parade. Ashyln, Macie, and I spent the time playing indoors until, to our surprise, the sun came out!!! By then the boys had come back from the parade and all of us were ready for some outdoor fun in the sun!!!

Dave threw some meat on the barbecue and we all loaded our plates for an outdoor picnic.



Macie ate bits of "big people food" and then watched



as the big kids tore off running threw the sprinklers in the backyard.




I had so much fun getting wet that before long I was soaked and had to downsize my wardrobe.



We had a TON of fun on Memorial Day with our friends, and the whole family crashed out early that evening tuckered out from the LONG day full of eating and relaxing.

By the middle of the week Dad had left for Indianapolis to work and Aunt Hayley was working at an out-of-town Vet Hospital so Mom, Macie, and I were alone at home. After I had gone to bed one night Macie decided it was time to move like a big girl...

Mom couldn't believe her eyes as Macie pulled herself across the room military style right to a plate of food Mom had sitting on the floor. I guess I was right about finding the right "carrot"- apparently, and quite fitting, for Macie it turned out to be food. After the "big move" mom used other items to entice Macie...




Mom was so excited that she called everyone she knew and bragged about Macie's big accomplishment.

The following night she was even more surprised when Macie crawled on her hands and knees across the deck...

Macie may have been slow to get moving, but once she started it was full speed ahead. In only two days she managed to go from sitting to crawling quickly and efficiently throughout the house.

By the weekend she was working on pulling herself up on her knees- Mom can't believe how quickly she has progressed, and is now wondering why she wanted Macie to start moving. Now we have to watch everything she does!!!

To celebrate Macie's new accomplishments we went to the pool at the Country Club with the Grzelaks the following day. Macie looked SO cute in her bathing suit, but DID NOT like to sit in the cold water.




I didn't have that problem-Riley Thomas (formerly known as "boy Riley") and I ran in and out of the water as we couldn't get enough!



I even used a BIG GIRL inner tube for the first time,



and swam across the pool without hesitation! Mom was so inspired that she promised to buy me my very own if it helped me get over my fear of the cold water.



The pool left both Macie and I exhausted, but after a very long nap we had energy for more fun and went to the Big Red Barn.

I showed off by going on all the climbers and slides without any help at all.



Mom wasn't awed by my independence on the climbers as much as she was by the bravery I exhibited on the roller coaster. Watch as I blast off all by myself...





After our outing at the Big Red Barn we stopped to say Hi to Bugs, but Macie had fallen asleep in the car, so Mom let me stay a little longer and play with the barn cats whom are in dire need of some attention (most cats run from me, so this was AWESOME).


When the weekend rolled around again it was time for swim lessons, so Mom dressed me in my tutu bathing suit and let me bring Ariel for moral support.

Thanks to Ariel I swam 10 minutes longer than the previous week and even went under the water without too much shrieking. To celebrate my under water accomplishment we had a princess party that night, and I was the guest of honor.

Macie enjoyed the party, but enjoyed the food much more.

The family jokes that Macie eats like a line backer, but she really, really, really, does enjoy eating food. At her 9 month doctor appt. her affinity for food showed on her growth chart as she is now 27.5 inches long, and weighs 17 lbs 7 oz. The doctor is thrilled by her development, and can't wait to hear about all the new things she will begin to do.

Right now Macie is working through some tooth pain as her top right tooth is threatening to break through the gum, so sleep is hard to come by. I am lucky that I have the ability to sleep through an atomic bomb cause Mom and Dad are up all hours of the night trying to comfort her- it doesn't help that Mom and Dad have stopped swaddling her and she is still getting used to sleeping on her tummy.

Mom says that we are taking it easy for the next couple of weeks to get ready for our big trip to California. She promises that we will be ready ON TIME (and on the right day) for our scheduled departure. We will see...