Maddy is 19 months old

Maddy is holding steady at 23 lbs and 32 inches tall this month. She has been either sleeping or moving. It's so hard to get a good picture of a moving object! Maddy also cut 3 out of 4 eye teeth this month. The 4th tooth may be arriving soon due to the puffy, red gums in the last empty spot. She took her first swim of the season. Now all she wants to do is get into the water. The waves in the lake make foam along the shoreline. She shouts out, "Bubbles!!!" everytime she sees them. We also had enough wind and time to fly a kite. It was her first time seeing a kite fly and she REALLY loved it. Another first this month was making Monster Cookies. Needless to say, they were a hit. Maddy is a major M&M thief. She kept trying to steal the M&Ms out of the raw cookie dough. It was surprising to see how much she enjoyed all the steps from measuring and mixed to baking and of course, eating. Look out Cookie Monster- You've got competition!

Poor Maddy was ill this month. She had Roseola. It is a virus that affects most children under the age of three. Most older kids and adults have already had it so it doesn't affect them. She had a high temperature for a few days and then a rash. No doctor visit required. It just had to run its course.

We will be at the campground for 4th of July. Please stop by and see us if you're "out and about". We hope you have a safe and happy 4th of July. God bless America!

Maddy aka the store clerk. Quilt dress in motion.

Pretty little petunia.

Peek a boo! Making Monster Cookies.

So tired she fell asleep on the floor. Denim vest.

Flower Power.

Madeline is 18 months old! A year and a half already!

The campground is open for business and Maddy has done well with all the changes. She is so active that she actually lost weight this month. At her 15-18 month wellness appointment her official weight was 23 lbs and her height has steadily increased to 32 inches. She took one more shot and is done with shots until just before kindergarten. Whoo Hoo!

Debbie's mom, Debbie, and Maddy went to Bottineau, ND to see Maddy's cousin, BlakeLynn, confirmed early in the month. We couldn't stay very long, but it was so nice to see everyone. Grandpa suggested a personal DVD player for the trip so we bought one. It was a lifesaver! Maddy loved watching her movies.

The day before the campground opened, we celebrated Grandma Escherich's birthday. Maddy enjoyed the cake and even attempted to blow out the candles. Once the campground opened, she started daycare. She seems very happy with daycare and her friends there, but still fusses when Debbie tries to leave. Her canine teeth are trying to make an appearance, but haven't popped through just yet. She now has a cute little double swing that was a donation to us. She sings while she swings or just enjoys the breeze. She enjoys helping with everyday chores, but especially likes to garden. She smells each and every flower. Thankfully, the bees have been kind so far. One of her greatest accomplishments this month has been learning to climb up the steps and go down the slide of the Rainbow playset by herself. We are still right by her side in case she falls, but watching her establish her independence is both exciting and a little frightening. Getting Maddy to go inside is a challenge. She LOVES playing outside whether in the sand on the beach or simply walking to the mailbox.

Maddy is saying a few words like mama, dada, ball, uh-oh, ta da, woof, moo, knee, elbow, and many others that she uses the same sound for, but not the complete word. She uses Mo for Elmo and the L sound for light. Her speech is coming slowly, but we know she'll make up for it later. ;-)

Hopefully, life will slow down a bit and we can make a video of her for the next blog entry. Until then we'll be enjoying life on Leaf Lake. Take care!


Climbing the steps on the Rainbow playset and going down the slide.

Smelling the flowers. Mmmmmm.

Relaxing on the swing. Maddy & Cousin BlakeLynn.

Eating cake at Grandma Escherich's birthday. Maddy & Daddy.

Working at the campground store. How do I get into the candy case?

Summer weather calls for shades and a good chair.

Can we go outside yet?

Bathtime is still a favorite. Bubbles!