The Great Pumpkin (Patch Visit)

First of all, let me apologize for the title. I don't know how many of you are familiar with the Charlie Brown Halloween special I'm referring to, but I thought it was clever. On further consideration, it's probably not that funny, but I'm too lazy to think of a new one. Instead, I will spend the time I could have used to think of a better title explaining the lameness of my first one...

Yesterday, we joined Chris, Meghan, and Oliver and took Maddie for her first visit to the pumpkin patch, which only seemed fitting in light of her current love affair with all things round and orange. (Um, just realized basketball season is right around the corner...) It was pretty windy, but we think she really enjoyed herself. She probably would have enjoyed herself more if her Mommy and Daddy weren't such sticks in the mud and would have allowed her to touch, taste, or throw every. single. pumpkin. she. saw. No, really. She still thinks they're balls, so she tries to throw them, and the fact that they don't bounce does not deter her in the least.

In the end, both she and Daddy each chose one pumpkin--Daddy chose a large one with a "nice, flat front" for carving and Maddie chose a small little guy we've nicknamed Arnie. (It helps to nickname anything she's knows by name; otherwise, as soon as you say "pumpkin" she's all "ba-ba? ba-ba?")

Below are some pictures of our visit to Schaake's Pumpkin Patch, located between Eudora and Lawrence. For anyone in the area that's wondering about the experience as a whole, it's not bad. It was really crowded, being the first non-rainy weekend in all of October, and it was a long walk from the parking area to the patch and back. They did have tractor-pulled flatbeds that transported people back and forth, but they were also crowded and hard to come by. Maddie did have a really good time, just seeing that many pumpkins was super-exciting for her, but I think it'll be something that gets better as she gets older. Anyway, the pictures:

Party Like a Rockstar: A Photo Essay

What's all this? A party? Just for me?*


Oh, you guys! You really shouldn't have. I'm so happy I could squat!


And look at everyone who's here. It's my lovely and talented aunts!


Mommy, what is that? Why is there fire on it? Why is everyone singing? Why am I half-naked? Never mind, I don't care if I'm naked. Can I touch that?


Hmmm, I find this green and brown circle intriguing. It smells delightful...


Birthday cake rocks!


Step away from my cake. I am NOT sharing.


Everyone else seems to be enjoying their cake, too.


And then, like most good parties, there was an awkward and inappropriate make-out session in front of everyone. The whole school is going to be talking about this on Monday...


Then there were wagon rides!


I'm not sure what it says about our daughter, kissing one man at the party, and then catching a ride with someone completely different.


Oh, tissue paper! How rapturous!


I love football (and my new Reesing jersey from my uncle)!


#5, small but mighty


Oh, my head feels so much better without my pig-tails. I'm not sure why everyone's laughing, but I'm just going to go along with it. It can't be at me. I look fabulous!


Fabulous, indeed.

*(All photos by Larry Stoppel and Marc Webster.)

Jon and I would just like to take a moment to thank everyone who came to her party and most of all, our parents for all their help in getting ready, setting up, getting food, and cleaning. Maddie had a great time, and so did we. You guys are also rockstars! Thanks a million!

Columbia, District of: Day 3

Jon had classes again Saturday morning, so as on Friday, Maddie and I were up bright and early, wandering the streets in search of food. (I like melodrama. I think it adds a certain, special something to my posts.) Having slept until a normal waking hour and also having just mastered waving, Maddie proceeded to greet each. and. every. single. person. we. met. In fact, in the coffee shop, there were too many people to wave at, so she sat in her stroller with both arms stretched over her head, smiling like a maniac. It was seriously adorable and probably number one on my Top 5 list for D.C. We took our breakfast to the pier again, shared the muffin, played in the sand for the first time (and with a sculpture for the first time, for that matter), and headed back to the hotel for a little pool time before her morning nap.

Following her nap and the return of Daddy, the three of us took a water taxi over to Alexandria, VA where we were supposed to catch a 2:30 p.m. river tour to Georgetown. While Maddie and I played in a square, Jon went in search of lunch, which we ate while waiting at what we thought was our dock. It was not. So, we missed the boat we were scheduled to be on and had to take the 3:30 tour.

Once on the boat, we thought Maddie might enjoy sitting in the bow where she could see the water, feel the wind, etc. There was a voice in the background going on about splashing or something, but we were sure it would just be minor spray. (Also, we had elected to play Russian Roulette with Maddie's nap that afternoon. We thought she might nap in her stroller, but we also knew that without a quiet room and a crib, there was a very good chance she might not take her nap.) A note to fellow travelers: Always listen to the voice in the background talking about "splashing", do not interpret "splashing" as "spray", and remove your already tired and cranky baby from a splash zone that would make Sea World jealous. About 15 minutes into the trip, a HUGE wave washed over the bow (okay, it was probably just a large-ish splash, but again, I love melodrama), soaking both Maddie and me. Being covered in dirty, smelly Potomac water, she, of course, began to wail, which is exactly what I wanted to do, but sadly, we were in public, and I had to act like an adult. (Acting like an adult means complaining about it to Jon for the remainder of the boat ride.) We took her back into the covered, dry portion of the boat, and Jon and I proceeded to play another grueling round of Pass-the-Baby. This was the intermediate level in which the baby is wet and angry and the parents are hot and frustrated. (To be completely honest, I was also pretty wet and angry having taken the time to straighten my hair which now had to be pulled back into a less than attractive knot after being combed with a baby comb...) Finally, on the trip back, Maddie nursed and then fell asleep for about 30 minutes.

Thank God for that because at 5 p.m., we were supposed to meet Larry, Nancy, and Chris at the Chart House for dinner. As we staggered in late (because our return boat didn't leave on time), bedraggled, and tired, I think all three of us were in less than pleasant moods, but Maddie cheered everyone up by being completely silly through most of the meal, and dinner ended up being fine.

After dinner, Maddie went back to the hotel with Nana and Pa, and Jon, Chris and I walked around oldtown Alexandria in search of a few souvenirs and a good beer. We ended up at Murphy's, an Irish pub complete with a man performing traditional Irish drinking songs. (He was wearing a tropical print shirt, but we decided to ignore that little atmospheric faux-pas.) After a few rounds of the previously sought after libation, Jon and I headed back to Maryland to sleep for a few hours before waking up to pack, pick up our daughter, and get ready for the trip home.

Here are a few pictures from Day 3. For the complete pictures from our trip, check out the link at the bottom of Columbia, District of: Day 1.

Maddie, playing in the sand and with a sculpture titled "The Awakening"

Maddie in a square in oldtown Alexandria

Wet, cranky Maddie on the boat, post Potomac baptism

Columbia, District of: Day 1

Last week, the three of us joined Jon's parents and brother in Washington, D.C. for an optometry conference and a little sightseeing. There's a lot to share, so we've decided to blog it day by day, starting with Thursday, day one.

Jon flew out to D.C. on Wednesday to take some continuing education courses, so Maddie and I flew out Thursday morning with Jon's brother, Chris. It was her first flight, and all things considered, it didn't go too badly. I nursed her during take-off to help her pop her ears, and she slept for 45 minutes. After that, Chris and I played a rousing game of "Pass the Baby" and tried to keep her occupied for the other 2.25 hours of the flight. We tried watching some DVDs, but she didn't like the headphones, and she wasn't that interested in Looney Tunes or Elmo anyway, so we read books, played with toys, and waved and smiled at other passengers.

When we finally reached our hotel (The convention and hotel were in a new tourist development called National Harbor. It's in Maryland, and its location makes it difficult to get to D.C., Georgetown, or Alexandria, but the hotel was nice.), we took Maddie down for her first swim in a pool. She really enjoyed the water and seemed pretty comfortable in her inflatable seat. Shortly after her first chlorine bath, it was time for a real bath, dinner, and bed. She cried for a little while after being put in the strange hotel crib, but she finally settled down and slept through the night. (This is the first time she's slept through the night on her first night in a strange place, so we were understandably excited and impressed.) After she fell asleep, Jon came back with burgers and fries, and we settled down to watch Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire with two sets of headphones and some wine. When there's a baby sleeping three feet away from you, your entertainment options are limited...

Here are some pictures from our first day in the D.C. area. For a full set of trip pictures, check out this link.

Maddie and Uncle Chris on her first plane ride

Watching Looney Tunes, briefly

Taking a short nap