Maddie has Four Teeth!

I don't remember posting this before, but Maddie officially has four teeth!  Her top left middle tooth popped a while ago and her top right middle tooth cut a few weeks later.

These aren't the most flattering pictures... I used one hand to tickle her while the other hand snapped photos on my phone.

Fun Saturday - Ehrler Park and Baby Pool in the front yard

This past Saturday we took Maddie to a new neighborhood park in Bucktown, it has lots of different things Wicker Park and Dean Park don't have, like a taxi cab, teeter totter, and a sand pit!  Maddie didn't seem too interested in the teeter totter.  She did not enjoy the sand pit at first, but seemed to tolerate it after Joseph showed her how to play with the sand.

Later that day we set up the baby pool in the front yard so Maddie could "swim".  She enjoyed it but enjoyed it even more after Joseph put the water hose in, she loved trying to drink out of the hose.

Look at that sad face!

Visit to Weko Beach, Michigan

On Saturday August 15th, we took a day trip to Weko Beach, Michigan. A few friends were there camping and we decided to take a day trip with Maddie. It's about a 90 minute drive east so not terribly far. It was a very hot day but Maddie did pretty great!

We met Julie, Paul, Lainie and Teena at their campsite and then we walked over to the beach, and laid out our towels and sun tent.  We took Maddie into the lake, and she LOVED it!  The water was cool at first but felt great after a few minutes since the sun was so hot.  She kept lowering her head to try to drink up the water.  While she loved the water, she did not like the sand!  We set her in the sand and she started to cry.  After a much needed nap under the tent (for both Maddie and me) we went back out into the lake one last time in the floaty.  Afterwards, we all went out to dinner and we cut out early as Maddie was nearing her breaking point.

In all it was a great time and it was a much needed day out of the city!  We will definitely be doing this again!

Mid-August Pictures & Videos

Here are some pictures and a couple of videos from the middle of this month.

All smiles at lunch!

Entranced at music class with Mr. Dave.

A visit with Uncle KD and Aunt Tia!

Arjun and Sarah's Wedding!

On Friday August 7th, we attending the wedding of our very good friends Arjun and Sarah!!  Grandma Kathy was nice enough to stay with us for the weekend and help watch Maddie so we could enjoy ourselves and not have to worry about the next morning.

We had a wonderful time, it was a lovely wedding, and we were so happy to celebrate their marriage.

Congratulations Arjun & Sarah!!

With the gorgeous bride!!

Table 13 had a blast!!

Pretty ladies!

August Fun

Here are some pictures and videos from the first part of August.

She pulled herself onto the stairs

4 Generations - Updated

We took another 4 Generation picture with Maddie just shy of 9 months old.  I regret not taking them  more often, and will try to do them monthly from now on.

Here is the first 4 Generations picture we took, it was the first time Bak Bak met Maddie, at 2 weeks old!

That is a green bean from my Aunt's garden in Maddie's hand.

Using a Walking Toy

We discovered a little toy car we had can change into a walking toy!  We let Maddie try it out and she surprised us by walking on it very well. When we thought she would face plant, she balanced herself and took a couple of steps to stand upright again.

More Pool Time

We took Maddie to the pool at our gym again. We bought a baby wet suit (that should hopefully last another year) and a baby floaty. Maddie enjoyed herself the entire time, she loved splashing and playing with Mom and Dad.

Maddie says "Up"!

Maddie said the word "up" on August 1st!!  It was a very clear "uh" and "p" strung together.

Here is a super cute video of her saying it over and over.  We are sure she knows what the word means, but she says it while babbling (like when she says "dada" or "maam") so we don't consider it her first word yet...

Eating Finger Foods

We introduced finger foods to Maddie a little while ago. We have these little puffs that are like cheerios but lighter and not sweet. Maddie's fine motor skills have improved since we introduced them. At first she could only pick up the food and put the food in her mouth with her left hand, and she would hold onto food with a death grip with her right hand. Then she would transfer food from her right hand to her left hand, and put the food in her mouth with her left hand. Now she does really well putting food in her mouth with both hands!

Trying Dad's homemade chicken soup

Pau Pau sneaks her tastes of ice cream when Mom isn't around!

Grandma Kathy's August Visit

Grandma Kathy visited us this past weekend to spend some time with Maddie (and as a favor to us - watch her the next day after our friend's wedding)!

Wow we did so much!  We took lots of trips to the park where Maddie swung in the swing, climbed the playground and played around in the water splashpad.

On Saturday afternoon, we went for a late dim sum lunch with Pau Pau and Uncle Jeff at our new favorite dim sum place.  Maddie tried lots of foods and we kept her busy again with gailan. We also gave her congee (she has had it before), which traditionally is a first food for babies in China since it's very watery rice with meat and veggies mixed in.

Where's my food?

Maddie likes to bend over and stick her butt in Joseph's face and twerk.

After lunch we took a walk through the courtyard and took a picture of Joseph and Maddie by the year of the Horse status since they are both Horses!  Look how well she is standing!  Having actual shoes on helps!

I can't help but post this picture of Maddie sobbing because she fell on her face. Poor girl!

On Sunday, we went for an early dinner (around 4:30pm) at a Columbian restaurant.  Maddie had a delicious chicken soup and the rest of us gorged ourselves on a platter of grilled meats. YUM!

That Monday we took Maddie in for her 9 month appointment and 2 shots. She's so happy here, she has no idea what's going to happen!

A cute video of her standing on her chair. She often bounces her knees and waves her hand up and down, it looks like she's dancing.

Saying Goodbye to Grandma Kathy. Sniff!