Trip to Georgia

Last Thursday Maddie and I headed off to visit my family in Georgia. The trip didn't start out on the best note as the night before we left our little munchkin was up screaming several times during the night and wouldn't take a bottle. I was worried she had another ear infection so I took her to the doctor Thursday morning before we left and was told it was just a bad cold. And then we heard about the Similac recall and was worried about it being that since she still wouldn't take a bottle all day Thursday. She unfortunately fussed and cried for most of the flight and this was her first picture at my parents house:

Doesn't she look thrilled to be there?

We had gotten in late so we headed to bed and Maddie quickly warmed up to Ninnie and Buddy as they bribed her with homemade waffles for breakfast. And yes, that's her foot on the table. No idea why she does this but I think it's hilarious!





And she even snuggled up and took a few naps with them before the weekend was over







On Friday we got to visit with my cousin Erica and her family and Maddie was so excited that she was big enough to play some with her cousins Asa and Zoe. Her great grandparents, Friss and Pops also came over for a bit and brought some cheese straws for me to bring back home. (Thanks, Friss - from Alex and a few other people at work who were lucky enough to get a few)





Friday afternoon we were off again to Alabama to see Maddie's other great grandmother Maw Maw. We were later joined by my Uncle Ken and Aunt Bev for a delicious home made dinner.


Then Saturday we hit the road again to head to Birmingham to see my brother Paul and his wife Brittany. Maddie also got to meet her friend Ellie for the first time and discuss there mutual love of Alabama football.





They became fast friends and Maddie even gave her a few kisses and hugs/head buts before we left.


A few friends came over to watch the game.




But the best part of the trip was having the whole family together, sort of. It would have been so much more fun if Alex had been with us but he was busy working one of the last baseball games of the year. (Squuueeee)






We returned to Newnan late Saturday night and spent most of the day Sunday doing a whole lot of nothing. By then Maddie was feeling better and actually slept the whole night on Sunday night. We flew home Monday and couldn't wait to see daddy at the airport but we were EXHAUSTED. Okay, maybe not Mad because she slept the whole plane ride home, but I sure was tired. The trip went by so quick it's hard to believe that we were there for almost four days.

We've already booked our flight home for Thanksgiving (with Alex) and we can't wait to see everybody again then!

And yes, you heard that correctly - baseball season is OVER!!!! We are both back to working much more normal schedules and already have a few family outings planned. I'm seeing something having to do with pumpkins and hay rides . . .

Helping out

We had a fantastic trip to Georgia this last weekend and hopefully I will get a post written about it on Monday. Until then I have eight events at work over the next four days so you will have to settle for this picture of Maddie helping me with laundry last night.



She thought this was so funny!!

Favorite Spot

We recently moved the sofa in our living room away from the front window and Pepper has really missed sitting on the back and watching the birds and squirrels in the yard. This has become her and Maddie's new favorite place:

Chicago Sight Seeing

A few weeks ago my dear friend Lexi and her husband Ryan came to Chicago for a visit. Alex had to work the whole weekend so Maddie and I gave them a mini tour of some of the sights downtown. They were actually here for a wedding so we only had a day and half for sightseeing so we crammed a lot in.

On Saturday we went to a Cubs game and Maddie passed out from the excitement before we even got out the door.


Alex was able to join us for a few minutes during lunch.


After lunch we headed out to our seats where Maddie promptly fell asleep again even with the crowd of 40,000 cheering fans.


It was pretty chilly and windy at our seats so towards the end of the game we headed back up to the club to hang out.


Where Maddie fell asleep again (this was all before 3pm)


After the game (Cubs won, yay!) we headed to Millennium Park where the famous "bean" is.








Then we walked around the rest of the park.










On the way back to the car we saw this and had to get a picture.


Maddie was mesmerized.


But then she was not to happy when we expected her to pay for parking. Luckily, Ryan was a gentleman and offered to take care of it.




Next we headed out towards the planetarium to take advantage of the gorgeous views of the city. The fact that it was around sunset even made it better.






After a looong day we headed home to enjoy some deep dish pizza accompanied by a few cold beers and college football. The perfect Saturday night!

On Sunday we left Maddie with Grandma while we visited the Sears Tower although I wish I had been able to get a picture of her here:


Yes, that is me standing out on glass looking 103 floors down. This is a new attraction since the last time I visited the tower and it was really neat. We will definitely have to go back with the munchkin one day.

We had such a good time with Lexi and Ryan and can't wait for them to come back and visit again! I'm trying to convince them how nice the winter is!

Say what?

Does that little ticker at the top of the blog really say my baby girl is 10 months old?! Double digits? I had to do a double take when i saw it this morning. I can't believe we are only 2 months away from her first birthday and I have nothing in the way of a party planned.

Just a few things that Maddie has been up to lately:

She just this last weekend began clapping (so she could cheer for Alabama and the Bears) and I'm hoping to get a picture to post.


She is still pulling up on everything and walking while holding onto objects. The leather sofa sometimes fails her and led to her first boo-boo.


She is speed crawling these days and even standing on her own for a few seconds at a time. Although, she usually is so excited to get to something that she lunges and falls over.

She also has gotten so much better at playing on her own and right now blocks, boxes and a pen are her favorite toys. Yes, a pen. you can see it in the first picture, but don't worry we removed the ink and she only gets it when we are in the room with her. She just enjoys it so much it's hard for us not to let her play with it.


She still says "mama" and "dada" but we are now starting to think that she is actually saying them to the correct people - us!

This month Maddie conquered the slide at the local park - sort of






We also got to do some Chicago sightseeing this month but I'm going to save that for another post.

And lastly, since I never gave you her 9 month stats here they are:

weight - 18 lbs, 7 ozs (50% percentile)
height - 28 inches (50% percentile)

I don't have her ten months pictures done yet as she has been fighting a runny nose and that makes for not so cute pictures but I hope to have them done for you this week!

We're back!

I know I owe everyone a lot of updates and pictures, but for now you will just have to settle for these few. Last weekend Alex and I both had Sunday off so I decided to celebrate with cooking breakfast and Maddie wanted to help. And when I say help I mean "pull everything I can reach out of the cabinet and give mom a really cute grin when she tries to tell me no."

(look at that little chunk she is getting on the back of her legs - too cute)




I couldn't get a good picture of her eating and she would not stop shoving pancakes into her mouth.




And whatever she missed Pepper was happy to help clean up.


Her ear infection in finally gone, but it took three trips to the doctor and two medications to to so. We also had Madeline's 9 month check up and I know I owe you stats for those as well so I will post them next week.

We have had a lot of excitement here at the Beck household that I need to share with you including some friends from Georgia visiting this last weekend and a baby shower for Maddie's soon to be cousin this coming weekend.

And I know I have said this many time before, but baseball season is only 6 games away from being over and we will finally be able to spend more time together as a family!! (I'm just a tad bit excited about it!)

Also, Alex may make a come back and bless you with a few posts this winter, stay tuned and bear with us for a few more weeks!