Happy Easter!

We had a happy Easter, with Melanie in a great mood all weekend and eating well. Saturday we went to the Zionsville egg hunt. We knew Melanie wasn't old enough to participate in the egg hunt, but we wanted the chance to get outdoors, and to expose her to some of the characters. As you can see from the photos, she wasn't a big fan just yet.

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Sunday, we all went to church (usually nap time interferes with church, and so I typically go on my own). Melanie did great in the nursery, and then went home for a nap before Easter celebrations in Frankfort. She had an egg hunt in Grandma & Grandpa's kitchen/dining room, entertained us all with her antics, and got a new baby doll that she is currently sleeping with as I type. Between that, her new vacuum cleaner from Gma & Gpa Worzala, and all of her other great gifts, I think she was well-treated for Easter!

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We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter and remembered the 'reason for the season' :)

Melanie's antics

What is Melanie up to?
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Well...... today, as I was talking to Aunt Cory and had my back turned, I suddenly heard the sounds of a 13-month-old clapping. Upon turning around, I found Melanie sitting ON TOP OF her play kitchen, applauding herself. The fun didn't stop there. She then figured out how to STAND on said kitchen. No pictures yet, because if I had left to get the camera, I can only guess what would have happened.
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Melanie climbs on our bed, loves to sit on pillows or the couch, can turn the TV on/off (on the actual set), talks "on the phone," loooooves her rocking horse (loves it more every day, it's crazy), lights from within when she sees her kitty, is obsessed with her or others' knees, throws herself on the floor crying when upset (VERY dramatic), has a new thing of laughing with her mouth wide-open and her nose crinkled for basically no reason, gives open-mouthed kisses when in the mood (usually to books or stuffed animals, but many times to Mommy too!) - sucks her thumb 80% of the day, loves to have her legs rubbed, hates to have her clothes changed, is going through a clingy stage with Mommy & Daddy, can recognize her grandparents from across a room and go crazy until she's picked up by them, colors, loves cheese, is doing great in daycare, and is generally making our world go round.
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Mel is wearing 12 month clothes, for the most part (smaller pants usually, because of the waist, and larger tops or pajamas since they have no waist)..... size three diapers still, size four shoes, has eight teeth (and gets them brushed "fairly regularly....") She typically goes to bed between 7 and 8pm - we had some growing pains with the time change - although I still LOVE EST, Super Ron. She's still on formula from a bottle under her GI's request, we go back to him on 4/17. She loves to drink water or "juice" from her sippy cup, though.
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She loves to do the "itsy bitsy spider" - and especially loves the "DOWN CAME THE RAIN....." part. She requests both very frequently. She loves to read her books, especially ones with furry parts or "peek a boo" parts - and loves to play peek-a-boo. She hears the words, and immediately covers her eyes with her hands. She loves animal crackers - she knows where they're kept, and walks over to the counter and just reaches until she's given one. She talks a LOT, but doesn't have too many words. Uh-oh, dada, mama (kind of), kitty, puppy and fish were said once, .....
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I wish I could bottle all of this up; instead, I'll keep blogging for my own (and her) benefit... and treasure the fact that you're reading this and love Melanie.

I Hate Fluids

Melanie was rejecting formula during the whole trip to St. Louis. It of course became a catchphrase.....anytime her thumb went in her mouth, her Daddy said "Okay, let's try some formula!" A lot of time was spent warming formula up, trying to feed formula..... Alas, barely no formula was consumed. By Sunday night, I could tell something was wrong with her stomach, and administered gas drops. Ah, but I had no idea what was to come.
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Monday on the way home (remember, this is a 5-hour car ride) - Mel got sick. Six times. Three outfits later, we finally made it home, and the car was a disaster. Melanie herself felt much better, I'm happy to report. However, over the course of the next few days, she was still rejecting fluids. Eating great as far as table & baby foods, but not much liking formula, Pedialyte, etc. Wednesday I left work and brought her home to monitor the situation. While she took her first afternoon nap in two weeks, I have to admit that the daycare was doing better with fluids than I did! Today - Friday - she had 20 ounces of formula. So we're back on track!! Next project- obtaining an engineering degree to figure out how to unhinge the stupid straps on the car seat so I can wash the cover! (The car itself, and all accompanying parts - have been detailed).

Trip to the Lou

We headed to St. Louis on Saturday morning - 4/4. We timed the trip fairly perfectly, as Melanie slept the first half of the trip. When she woke up, we stopped and ate (Steak & Shake is a great place for kids - especially on weekends - they eat for free!) Then, the second half of the trip, she did great, just entertaining herself and me as I sat in the back.

Toward the end of the trip, she got a little cranky, and of course RIGHT at the end, she fell asleep - just in time to get out of the car!

Saturday was spent getting re-acquainted with Janie (4 in May) and Elise (2 in July). The dads went to the golf course both days, and the moms cracked open the wine. Good times were had by all. Sunday, my friends Amanda & Chris came over and brought their two daughters - Megan and Adeline. Addie was just born on 3/17! For some reason, I did not get photos of the Campbells :(


While we were there, Kate's best friend CARMEN got engaged! Yippee! Carmen is such a good friend, not only to Kate, but to Kate's crazy friends. I'm so happy for her & Tom!

Monkey Fun

On Sunday, we enjoyed the first use of our new zoo membership by taking the girls to see the animals! This was their second trip there, the first being last September when they didn't really know what was up. This time they seemed to enjoy it, although Molly was more interested in the people than the animals! Grandma went with us too.

Nutty Fun

Saturday night we hung out with our friends Rick, Shelly, and their two daughters Natalie (four years old) and Abby (2.5 years old). We had a great time cheering the Boilermakers into the Sweet 16 and watching the girls play. Shelly and I have been friends since we met at a bus stop on our way to a party our freshman year in college, and we're both happy to be back in Indiana
with our families! Melanie had a great time playing with her friends; unfortunately for the photo opp she had changed from her Purdue gear into her pajamas :)

Swimming - part two!

Melanie and I went to the Monon Center after work & school on Thursday. They have a zero-depth entry pool, where she can walk around, sit down, play with fountains, etc.... the deepest that the pool goes is just over 3 feet. After some initial hesitation, Melanie was walking all over the pool, playing with the fountains, and was calm when I would walk with her on my hip to the "deep" end. This outing went much smoother than swim lessons last week, and I'm hoping to continue her "conditioning" by having her play at this pool to get comfortable.