Snow...Keep it Coming!

We received several inches of snow early this morning. After breakfast, we went outside to play in the white stuff. Maizie has played in the snow at daycare, but today was our first opportunity to play in it with her. We all had fun and captured some snapshots for the scrapbook.

This afternoon Pat & I also went snowmobiling. It was my first time in two years, as I couldn't get out last year when pregnant and then recovering from my c-section. Our streets hadn't been plowed yet so we got to ride down the middle of them -- reminded me of our sophomore year, Kristi Jo!

Maizlyn Reese catching snowflakes on her tongue.

This picture should get an award for most adorable father/daughter snapshot with the best authentic winter background. Seriously, what a great captured moment!

Here is a clip of Maizie playing in the snow...and daddy throwing the white stuff on her. Enjoy!

Almost a Toddler

I apologize for not updating in awhile. We have had a busy fall. Patrick & I celebrated our 5th Anniversary, Maizie is moving on her own (but we're still waiting for those teeth), and we celebrated Thanksgiving in Arizona with my brother and his fiancee. We truly have so much to be thankful for and neither of us take our lives for granted. We are incredibly grateful for each other, our family & friends, our daughter, our good health and our job status. We're also looking forward to sharing Maizlyn's First Christmas and celebrating her first birthday in a few weeks. We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and please, enjoy the Christmas & holiday season!

Maizie has been falling asleep "folded over" lately. It looks like an uncomfortable sleeping position but she seems to like it. ; )

I absolutely LOVE these two pictures of Pat & Maizie. It could not have been staged any better had we tried. I first captured the two of them being "serious" and then both of them smiling. I think I'm going to frame them together for my office space.

On the move...Maizlyn started crawling after we returned from our trip in October. I was very happy that I didn't miss it! Once she started crawling, she immediately found our movie "collection." She started pulling herself up onto the coffee table, couch, drawers, etc. at the end of last month. Only a matter of time before she's walking. Yikes!

Our smiley little munchkin.

Surprise Anniversary Trip

Patrick & I celebrated our 5th Anniversary 10.18.08. What an incredible 5 years! To celebrate, we decided to go on vacation. Pat took the reins and said the trip was a complete surprise for me (he also did this for our honeymoon -- what a catch!). I only knew that we were flying somewhere. Then Maizlyn was born and I knew it was going to be hard to be away from her and I really just wanted to know a few details. Pat initially told me we would be gone for 5 days. I told him that would be perfect. Enough time to get away, relax & enjoy each other and then return to our sweetheart. Pat realized how much he was going to miss Maizie and his mother told him he had better let me in on part of the truth (thanks Jean!). He admitted that our vacation was not going to be 5 days but 10. He had planned on contacting my boss to get my vacation approved, was going to have my sister pack for me and then whisk me away to destination unknown. Pre-Maizie, that would have been so much fun! Post-Maizie...Thank God he let me in on this "little" bit of information, for I needed to mentally prepare myself to be away from her...my first extended period of time away. The anticipation of being away was worse than actually being gone and we had a wonderful time!
I had figured out we were going to visit our friends Jeremiah & Karla in Washington D.C. and Pat informed me there was a second destination. Once in D.C., I figured out that our friends were coming with us to destination still unknown to me but Pat denied it. We had a 3:30 AM wake-up call to catch a cab for our flight to 2nd destination. When J & Karla didn't join us in the cab, I told Pat they were obviously taking a later flight. He again denied it. Skip to us eating breakfast at the gate and J & Karla came up behind us saying, "Who's ready for a surprise anniversary trip?!" I knew it! But I still didn't know where we were going (which by-the-way, makes it very difficult to pack). We had a connecting flight in Atlanta and after hearing which gate we had to be at next, I stood in front of the monitors and figured it out...we were going to Nassau, Bahamas!! There are so many other details I'm leaving out, but this story is getting too long. It was a great trip and we had so much fun. Thanks again for being part of the surprise, Jeremiah & Karla. We truly had a great time vacationing with you two again!!
While in D.C., we biked from Jeremiah & Karla's to Mount Vernon and back (about 23 miles total). It was a lot of fun -- beautiful scenery, exercise and a history lesson all in 1 day! Above, me and Jeremiah are roasting apples. We then dipped them in honey. It was really good!
Pictured in front of Mount Vernon (George Washington's house) is Jeremiah, Patrick & Mat, another college friend who works in D.C. We also toured Arlington National Cemetery, two of the Smithsonian Museums & the Washington Monument. We walked by the White House and ate at some really great restaurants too.

Me and Karla enjoying some wine in the Bahamas.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Halloween Fun

Our pumpkin at home.

We had some extra special trick-or-treaters on Halloween. My friend Kristi's kids Addison & Will stopped by to visit and grab a treat and I couldn't resist taking a few pictures.

Will is only 3 weeks older than Maizie -- can you say yearbook photo someday?!

Our pumpkin had a busy day and fell asleep in my arms after greeting all of our trick-or-treaters.

Happy Birthday, Great Grandpa Felling!

My grandpa Felling turned 87 September 18 and we celebrated with dinner at my parents' house. I just love these pictures of my grandpa with Maizie. She was quite content with him and I love how she studied him.

Happy Halloween!

The local photograpy studio offered a free Halloween picture in exchange for a food shelf donation; we took advantage of the promotion. This picture will be great for Maizlyn's scrapbook!

Twin Cities Races

Our family had quite the weekend...

Here is Patrick posing with his "babies" before running his first 10-Mile race Sunday morning. Check out Pat's sexy shorts. ; )

Here is Ryan with Beth, Jacob & John before running his FIRST MARATHON! CONGRATULATIONS RYAN! We are sooo proud of and happy for you!!

Harold, Jolaine & Brenda ran the TC 5K Saturday morning. However, we failed to get a picture of the three of us. That was unintelligent. Props to us all for completing the race and CONGRATS Jo on your first 5K!!

September Snapshots

Look at those baby blues...

Playing on the floor while mommy gets ready for work.

Sleeping Beauty. Look at those lips! I wonder if she'll get the nickname "big lips" like I did in elementary school from one kid. At the time I hated it, now I wouldn't mind. ; )

Pretty in Fuschia!

Special Request from Jacob & John

Jacob & John requested more video clips of Miss Maizie. Here you go, boys!

A Visit from Grandpa

Grandpa Jennissen stopped by for a visit on his way home from a meeting a couple weeks ago. Maizie was excited to see him and will spend her first Oktoberfest at his & grandma's house this weekend.

Auditioning for a Commercial

Grandpa Felling holding his granddaughter.

Check out her bib. One of Pat's vendors gave this to us after Maizie was born.

Bath Time Fun

Pat & I gave Maizlyn a bath Monday night. It was the first time she tried to eat/drink the bubbles. Pat managed to catch a short clip of it -- just click on the play button. Enjoy!

Little Blue Eyes

Content after bath time. Pat has become quite the photographer and captured this smile she had for me while lying on our bed. Look at her blonde hair finally coming in. Very exciting! We went to Madison for a long weekend and she was very good for both the drive there and back. Pat & I took in a Dave Matthews Band concert Saturday so Ryan, Beth, Jacob & John watched Maizie for us -- thanks again you guys! Maizlyn is so lucky to have such great cousins. She loved playing with the boys & Jacob slept next to Maizie's pack-n-play to make sure she would be alright until Pat & I returned. We are so happy she has such caring older male cousins who will look out for our little girl!

Maizlyn has been able to sit up all on her own for a couple of weeks now. Here she is sitting on my stomach while playing together a few weeks ago.

Maizie fell asleep while I went for a run last month. I love this stroller! It was my first "baby" purchase after we found out we were pregnant. I can connect my ipod to it and it plays through a couple of small speakers.

Patrick & I took Maizie on her first ride on the swing in the park behind our house. She absolutely loved it! This is the only picture we got -- good thing as the camera batteries died immediately after Pat took it.

Summer Filled of Firsts

Our 6-month blue-eyed girl.

Maizlyn's first time chilling underneath a shade tree at the cabin. She loved watching the leaves move in the breeze. While at daycare last month, she bugged out after noticing the clouds. I must say it's really fun rediscovering the world with Maizie!

Maizlyn having fun playing with her future aunt Kathy on the Fourth of July!

Maizlyn's first boat ride. She was really calm, acted like she had done it before and fell asleep shortly into our cruise.

Last month Maizie took a sudden interest in everything I was eating and/or drinking. She skipped over sippy cups and went straight to "lapping" water out of my glass. I love this picture!

Here I am eating my first vegetable -- sweet potatoes. 2 1/2 weeks later, I am much better at getting the food in my mouth rather than all over my face! I love all of the food mommy & daddy feed me. So far, I've also had pears, peaches, bananas, green peas & green beans. Tomorrow I get to try applesauce!

5 Months & Counting

Sleeping baby. Look at that cute little buddha belly! We love her to pieces!!

Such a happy baby!

We introduced Maizie to the lake over Memorial weekend. Unfortunately, it was too cold to dip her feet in it.

No question about it -- Maizlyn was frank breech (she was like this in my womb thus requiring a c-section). She constantly puts her feet in her mouth.

Daddy holding his little girl while she feeds herself her bottle at a restaurant with friends. She's such a big girl; she holds it on her own!

Heather holding Miss Maizie. Again, congratulations on your engagement John & Heather!!

Maizlyn's First 5K

We participated in our first 5K as a family today! The Old Glory Run in Cold Spring honored our military and proceeds will benefit disabled vets. We really enjoyed the race and its purpose and plan to do it again next year. We were also pretty happy with our finish of around 27 minutes. The last time I ran, it was two miles two months ago. The last time Pat ran was last fall when I was pregnant. The weather is finally cooperating again! Pictured is Pat and Maizie right before the start of the race.

Pat & Maizie crossing the finish line. Yes, I get bragging rights for finishing before my husband. ; ) I am excited to use our jogging stroller with Maizie during our next race but we have to wait until she can sit unassisted.Bren & Maizie chilling after the race.

A family photo after completing the race. Maizlyn was busy looking at all of the people.