The Daddy Difference

I really think there is a difference in how men and women view their children, and I don't mean this in a negative way. Let me share...
Today when I came home from work I took Madison for a walk (I didn't have to tutor, so there was some much needed extra Mommy and Maddie time), I fed her dinner and also gave her a bath. We sang some songs along the way and I even had her belly laughing when she was lying on our bed. (She was surrounded by blankets, because as you know she could have rolled off even though I was standing right there..alright, alright....I am a bit overprotective....which does directly correlate with my point, that I will get to....eventually).
After a few belly laughs, it was time for me to make one of my famous dinners....rice, turkey sausage and steamed veggies. Maddie and I were cooking. I was explaining to her that safety is important in the kitchen when you are using a knife. When Daddy got home everything changed...
"Oh Madison, Daddy had a horrible day at work today and I love seeing you," Carmen said to her as he picked her out of her Exersaucer and placed her on top of the refrigerator....yup, the fridge. Now as you can see that is high off the ground, yet Maddie didn't feel scared at all, she liked it. Carmen didn't need to jump around and sing to her to make her happy or smile...he just needed to what he does best. I guess I was right when I said having a child gives Carmen a license to be just that...a kid at heart. One who adores his daughter and has no problems having a great time with her!

Poor Meesha

Madison is sick and I wish I could be sick for her. The poor thing is teething and has not been able to breathe through her nose for the past few days. She currently sounds like a motor-boat while she sleeps. I sure hope these pearly whites break through her gums soon! If not, poor Daddy, may end up having a nervous breakdown....you think I'm kidding...see below:

Carmen was so concerned for her last night. When he got home from work she was all tucked into my arms in one of her comatose states and he had this horrible look on his face.
"What's wrong with my baby girl?'
"Carmen, it's her teeth. I have already called my mom twice and the doctor already called me back. Dr. Bowman said that as long as we can get a few more ounces in her she will..."
"We should take her to the emergency room," he said as he felt her forehead and tried to get a smile out of her, flailing his arms like a bird who cannot fly. "She always smiles when I get home from work, Kris she is not smiling, she needs to go to the hospital."
"Carmen her gums are bugging her, yes, she has a high fever, but we are not taking her to the hospital, Mr. Over-Protective. The doctor said that by tomorrow morning..."
"I have a say in this too, you know. She still isn't smiling, 'my poor baby-girl, Daddy will make it all better'." He scooped her off of my lap and tried to make it all better. "Do you need to go the hospital? no, you can stay here with Daddy and everything will be OK...."
As the night went on, things did get better. Carmen put Maddie to bed and she slept until 4:30 this morning. She got up, had a few ounces to eat and has since gone back to sleep. Her fever is lower than it was, and things are getting better, for both Maddie and Daddy.

The Great Outdoors

Well, we made it! We really did. We went camping for 5 days and came back all in one piece, without too many problems. We had a great time just relaxing on the beach, as you can see from Maddie's picture!

I will admit, I was wrong. I was. I thought for sure setting up would be much more of a hassle than it was, but I was wrong. We ended up only having 2 mini-altercations about where to set up the tent, and I did end up winning in the end....only because someone left their dog's droppings at the site that Carmen wanted to set up shop. Lucky me, lucky me.

Our tent was busting at the seams with the amount of gear that I packed, the size of our air mattress, and Maddie's pack and play. We had about a 2x2 area where would could stand (if we stood at a 45 degree angle), and giving Madison her binky in the middle of the night proved to be more of a task than one would think. You see, I was elevated with our air mattress being so large, and then I was nervous that I would lose my balance and fall in with her...good thing I only had to find the binky 3 times or so.

On Monday we spent most of our time at the beach. Cole was not afraid of the sand at all, and Kendall had a blast in the water. Maddie and Claire stayed in their baby cabana, while the rest of the clan soaked up some rays. Tuesday it rained all day so we spent time moving Madison across the camp site to keep her dry and also played some Euchre. Carmen and I still aren't very good, but we had fun playing anyhow.

We had a lot of fun from playing in the rain, jumping waves, making pie-iron pizzas, taking Maddie for walks, and even drying the 4 slides on the playground with our fanny's. Yup that's right, I didn't have a big towel, so I used the next biggest thing....my rear. What was I supposed to do? I did what any good aunt would do...I went down all of the slides in my shorts to dry them off. Cole and Kendall coined the phrase "Shake your fanny," as I was attempting to get the extra water off of my shorts. They are too darn cute.

We had such a good time camping, I think we may make this a family tradition and try to get out camping again next year....we shall see. Take a look at some of Maddie's pictures. She really did have a goo time!

Getting Ready for Camping

Well, it is almost done...packing for tent camping with a 5 month old. I never realized how much stuff a baby needs. We do have an SUV, but it is packed to the max, and Carmen has yet to put his gear in. Maddie has a bag for her toys, a bag for her clothes, one for her bathing necessities, and of course one for her food. She also has a bag for the beach, a cabana, so she doesn't catch any rays, (not to mention the 3 tubes of Baby Aveeno sun block), her exersaucer, and of course some of her favorite stuffed animals....do you think I forgot anything? Oh yes, all of her blankets, and her pack-n-play (which is actually in Grandma's camper). I think that is all we need for a few days. We are not bringing the bathtub, as a good ol' bath in a dish pan never hurt anyone.

We are going with my parents, my siblings, and a few family friends will be popping in and out along the way. I sure hope we have good weather. What do you do with an infant when it rains and you are in the wilderness???? Let's not let our minds wander there.

I cannot wait to get down to the site, be all set up, and crack open a cold one with the family. Although, I am sure that is not how it is going to work out....this will be the real scenario.
• Carmen arrives and we begin setting up the tent.
• The poles to the tent are not fitting right and there is a bit of negative energy flying around the site. (*Use your imagination here)
• Maddie needs to be fed.
• The tent is up, but it is on a hill.
• Maddie needs to be changed.
• Here comes the "R" word that everyone hates when camping....
• Maddie wants some Mommy time.
• Carmen has to finish setting up.
• Maddie needs to catch some ZZZZZZZZs.
• We forgot how to put up the Pack-N-Play....

Yadda, Yadda, Yadda.... Don't get me wrong, I am more than excited to go, I am just keeping an open mind and know that I can be in for just about anything with our luck. Well, wish me luck (lots of it), and pray for some good weather along the way. I of course will post pictures when we return.