How many juices is one juice too many? (and other adventures in Florida)

(I wrote most of this post the last few days of our trip to Florida, but am just getting around to finishing and uploading it today...)

PuddleMama, Lucky, and I are enjoying a few sunny weeks in Florida. We drove down in two long days. Lucky did great for most of the trip. She complained a little about being couped up in the car for so long, but probably less than PuddleMama and I did. PuddleMama had to keep pressing Violet's (her talking/singing/blinking teddy bear) paw (thanks Aunt Trisa!) in order to play a tune and keep her happy. Without Violet the ride would have been a bit whinier, and certainly longer.

We took Lucky to her first Twin's game, let her walk on sand for the first time (after a long time of just standing on sand for the first time), took her swimming for the first time, and witnessed Lucky go from walking everywhere to running everywhere. Like any couple weeks, we saw Lucy do new wonderful things and grow too fast. Only we did it in sunny, 85 degree weather.

We had some good friends down for the first week. We visited a bunch of beaches, drank some beer/wine, and played cards and dominoes while the little ones slept. Suck it PuddleMama and Brian, maybe next vacation you won't lose 4 games to 1 at Buck.


We also had an adventure visiting my aunt, uncle and cousins over on Sanibel Island. We went for a walk on the beach and PuddleMama stepped on a Cuban Sea Conch Crustacean which spewed.... gunk. Everywhere. It was gross. And hil-arious.

Another not-so fun adventure with Lucky happened when PuddleMama went shopping for the afternoon. PuddleDaddy didn't realize Lucky doesn't usually drink a full sippy-cup and a half of undiluted juice for an afternoon snack. A gigantic ass-plosion occurred. Poop everywhere. This did not make for a happy PuddleDaddy.

The ride back from Florida was as unexciting as the ride down, but we made it home safe from Lucy's first full fledged road trip vacation. I am already planning when we can rent the R.V. and head to Mount Rushmore. Now that I know the proper amount of juice is acceptable I am all set.

Partied. Out.

Lucky's one year bash was a roaring success! Cake was eaten (or at least smashed,) presents were unwrapped, and general merriment ensued. The love surrounding Lucky was amazing to say the least. However, there are always a few lessons to be learned:

1. Get more Rolling Rock.
2. Don't forget the (awesome) seven layer salad in the fridge.
3. Invite more kids. The chaos level needs to be kicked up a notch, and keg stands are no longer a viable option.
4. Dress Lucky up in more embarrassing outfits (see below.)
5. Walk/Run away as fast as possible when Papa Willy starts talking about the bottle opener in his pocket.

We didn't dress up Lucy too embarrassingly at her party, as seen here holding two of her favorite things- crackers and a picture of herself:



However, Lucy did get a hula outfit for her birthday direct from Hawaii via Grandma and Papa Duluth. I felt it was only right to share the outfit here:






Oh what (embarrassing outfits) will the next year bring?!

O-N-E.

Lucky is one.

The months have flown by. Lucky changes so much every day I am intimidated by trying to keep up with her on this blog. The biggest physical change is she's walking like a champ now. Actually, more like a linebacker. She doesn't go around anything. She'll walk right over laundry, toys, other kids. If she falls she laughs and gets right back up. She is definitely tough. Her attempts to play tug with Clancy are hilarious. She'll bat the ring at his face until he grabs it and pulls her over. She actually won today because Clancy wasn't used to her hanging on for so long. Even Clancy is amazed by her daily changes.

Lucky's big b-day bash is on Saturday with family and a few close friends. I definitely have a new perspective on birthdays now. It sounds so obvious, but having a child with a birthday gives you a new view. I always remember my mom reminiscing about the day I was born every August 15th, but of course I didn't remember the day, so I thought about cake and presents and the end of summer (my mom would always remind me of that one.)

Now I'm the one reminiscing with PuddleMama about watching Celebrity Apprentice in the hospital when Lucky was negative one days old. I'm the one remembering what PuddleMama's..... face... looked like when Lucky arrived. I'm the one remembering holding Lucky for the first time and wondering when her head wouldn't look like a purple cone-head. Birthday's definitely take on a whole new meaning when I look into Lucy's baby blue eyes.

We gave Lucky a kitchen for her birthday. It comes with pots and pans, a "stainless" steel fridge, and more. Lucky is already whipping up meals and pretending to eat them. She hates eggs and chocolate, loves spicy pickles (but cries after eating them), and loves to sit on daddy's lap while he eats supper. Lucky seems to use her left hand more than her right when eating real or imaginary meals, which I am encouraging if for no other reason to add another nickname beginning with "L" to her aliases.

Oh, and she loves, LOVES, to brush her teeth after said meals. Where did that come from and why isn't my toothpaste so good I cry when someone takes my brush away?

I know everyone says it, but I already think she's growing up too fast.

Happy first birthday Lucky!

Stink Face

Yes, yes, I'm sorry I haven't written for so long. Actually, I probably owe the biggest apology to Lucy- the last three months of your life were wonderful, and I failed to document them properly. Well, I failed to document them on this blog properly. In my head I can still see all of the following very clearly, and I doubt these images will ever fade:

1. Your stink-face when you first tried squash. I would have thought your puckered lips and prune face indicated you'd rather have mashed peas or banana's, but when you immediately opened wide and leaned forward for another mouthful I knew you were in love. You did give another stink-face at the second bite, but leaned in even more quickly for the third bite than you did for the second.

2. Your toothy smile when we first noticed you had two bottom teeth poking through. Five months- just like your pops! Maybe that means you'll need braces someday like your pop too. I just hope you don't need the head gear....

3. Your proud chewing after your little hand with two or three puffs stuck to it finally scooped one successfully into your mouth. Yes, it might have been a fluke, but that puff sure looked like it tasted good. You're now an old pro- you like to to scoop as many cheerios or puffs into your mouth as you can before chewing.

4. Your giggle as you grabbed PuddleDoggy's ear for the first time (yes, you did more than eat the last three months, although you might not know it since you were off the charts in height and weight at your 6-month doctor's appointment.) You do love your puppy, even if he's a little cautious around you still. PuddleDoggy likes to nap next to your crib with you.

5. Your vertical as you jump up and down in your jumper (you're doing it as I write this.) Actually, you prefer side-to-side over up and down, but either way you have more rhythm and dance moves at 6 months than your parents do combined (sorry PuddleMama, it's the truth.) PuddleMama likes to play some good dance music when you're in your jumper.

6. Your babbling. I fell in love with your mama on our first date when she talked for 25 minutes straight uninterrupted after I picked her up. I could listen to your babble and giggles and coo's even longer, and I do.

7. Your love of remote controls. You love them. For awhile you had trouble because your motor skills were limited and you ended up nailing yourself in the head with them. You're much better now, and other than trying to take a bite out of one every now and again, you're pretty adept with them as well.

The fall promises to be as busy as the summer- we're working on a new home for our family, and maybe a new ladybug room for Lucy.....

Roll Over. NOW!

PuddleMama just called me at work and reported that our little Lucky just had a big achievement. She rolled over (from her back to her stomach) three times! She had previously rolled from her stomach to her back, but now she is bi-rollable. Pretty sweet!

And for those of you who were wondering (I should have reported on this a few weeks ago) PuddleMama's first night away from Lucy went very well. PuddleMama did not need too many cocktails, and the only scare was a missed phone call from PuddleGramma who then did not immediately answer her phone. A special thanks to our friend who suggested "Maybe they are on their way to the emergency room!" Apparently, the issue that caused the original phone call had nothing to do with Lucy, but was instead not knowing what to do when the movie she was watching at our house was going to switch off because our DVR insisted two other programs needed to be recorded.

4 Month Monster

Lucy had her four month appointment on Monday and the important stats are:

Weight: 15 lbs. 15 oz. (90+ Percentile)
Height: 26.5" (90+ Percentile)
Head: 16.5" (80+ Percentile)
Cheeks: Chubby (200+ Percentile)

She is doing great! Lucy also received a few more shots which seemed to bother her a little more than last time, but we gave her some baby tylenol and that seemed to help.

PuddleMama and I are staying at a friend's cabin on Saturday- without Lucy. This will mark PuddleMama's first night away from little Lucky. Don't worry, I plan on feeding PuddleMama cocktails at a high rate.

Father's Day/Girls Gone Wild

Father's Day has come and gone. PuddleMama made a great breakfast in bed (although I just can't eat in bed- we had to move out to the loft) and I got to spend the day hanging out with Lucy. My dad asked me on the phone if it felt any different from any other day, and I had to be honest, it didn't really. At first I was sad about that, but then I realized that it didn't feel too different than any other day *with* Lucy. It certainly felt different that the days pre-PuddleBaby. It really does feel like little Lucy has just always been here, and that feels more than good.

We don't think PuddleDoggy feels exactly the same way. PuddleMama remarked that when she arrives home with Lucy in tow PuddleDoggy will run down and meet them at the door. PuddleDoggy will then see Lucy, lower his head a little, and go sulking off to his doggy bed. Poor guy. Add on top of that the fact we're trying to sell our house resulting in a limited supply of doggy toys laying around and the result is a sad puppy. I have been trying to give him some extra belly rubs, and next week he is going to be the happiest dog around when he visits his cousins Brock, Indy, Sophie, and the enigmatic Tommy.

Oh, there was one small event on Father's day that made it feel unusual. I got mooned. I was walking PuddleDoggy by the softball fields and two boys (maybe 12-14 years old) gave me the old Glen Modean. They then yelled "Yeah, you like that a$$!" before riding off on their BMX's. It momentarily made me glad that I had a little girl and not a little boy... But then thoughts of Girls Gone Wild ran through my head and I quickly and forcibly changed my thought pattern to less terrifying things, like picking up PuddleDoggy's poop. And I used to *like* thinking about Girls Gone Wild. Just another unexpected side-effect of having a girl.