Children's Museum

Hayden at the Children's museum

For Christmas we got a membership to the Children's Museum in St. Paul. Last Monday Andy had off work so we took Hayden and Madelynn. Hayden had been once before but it was when he was just under three years old so he didn't really remember going.

Hayden absolutely loved it! We knew he would. It is a neat museum that has two main floors, but what is really neat I think is that it is organized into three different rooms on each floor. I think Hayden's favorite was the area where he could move packages around and play in the water area. We stayed in that first room for quite awhile.

They also have a town area with a kitchen, grocery store, post office, etc. A jungle room with a thunderstorm and ant hill the kids and parents can climb around. I climbed aroud the bigger area but didn't venture in the small two story colony area. They also have an area fo 6 months - 48 months. That will be fun to take Maddy in, in the future. Lastly they have a ball room and a room that changes, upcoming is Clifford will be visiting the museum.

I am looking forward to taking the kids back during the weekdays:)

Madelynn's Jumperoo

I just love this thing!

Madelynn loves to jump as I'm sure I've mentioned before. The exersaucer is great but I knew she would love a johnny jump up. The problem: We don't have door frames in our kitchen where a jump up would go. But Fisher price makes stand alone jumpers so we decided to get one for her. And I was right she absolutely loves her Jumperoo! Her eye just light up when she is jumping in it. It has three different height levels and she is on the lowest one now, which is great because she has room to grow into it.

Snow Day!

Winter in MN

Maddy playing

This Exersaucer is the Best!

While it wasn't a day where preschool was cancelled, it certainly has been a day to stay indoors! It has been snowing here all day. Hayden is already talking about when he can get outside and play in this new snow. His daddy and him did go out a previous weekend and play in the snow, but it wasn't packing snow. Hayden really wants to build a snowman, so maybe this next weekend we can go out and try to build a snowman. Next year I will be able to take both kiddo's out, if only for a little while,to play in the snow. This year Madelynn is just too little.

Madelynn is doing great, active as ever. She loves the exersaucer that we have for her. Even when I hold her she bounces in my arms. It amazes me how active she is. There is another baby we know that is a month older in my MOMS club and that baby is such a relaxed baby, she just lets you hold her and just sits there. Not Maddy most of the time. She has her moments where she likes to be snuggled, when she's tired, but not when she is awake. When on her tummy she gets a bit frustrated that she can't move, she wants to get going but can't figure it out. She hasn't mastered rolling yet, but loves to grab her feet and roll to her side.

The playroom

Hayden and his Train trackThe new bookshelf

When we returned from Christmas we realized we didn't have enough storage in the basement playroom for Hayden and Madelynn's toys. And we also realized that just 7 months ago we bought two big bookshelves from Ikea and thought they were plenty big. We were wrong. So this time we bought the largest bookshelf, knowing that we wanted space for the ever growing toy collection. It is nice not to have to shove toys into overflowing buckets. And to know that there is actually a place for the toys to go.

Hayden loves the basement for the room he has for his train tracks, legos and star wars toys. He is going through a phase though right now where he gets scared to be down in the basement alone. I can understand the fear as I had one when I was young. So we all come down for a little while each day and then I usually end up taking Maddy upstairs with me to do somethings around the house or make dinner. Then he will stay down in the basement for awhile longer by himself. I know this phase will pass, as he is becoming such a big boy.

Puppies!

My sister's dog Vivian had her puppies early Saturday morning. Hayden has had a blast watching them on the web cam she has set up. Andy created a website for her so she could keep an eye on the puppies and Vivie while at work. There are two girls and two boys. One of the boys is tri color (black/white/brown) and the other three are brown and white like their mommy. They are just adorable to watch. Hayden calls them "sweetie pies!"
Heidi (my sister) was brave enough to help deliver these puppies in her home. I can't imagine taking that on. And she had been at work for 12 hours as a neo natal nurse till around 7pm Friday night. Then she stayed up with Vivian until 3:30am when the last puppy was born.
We are so excited all the puppies are doing wonderfully along with Vivie. Feel free to check out the puppies at www.cavaliercam.com.

Madelynn at 5 months

Madelynn at the wheel

The picture was taken at a rest stop on our way back from WI, one of the many breaks we took that day.

Madelynn is now 5 months old and such a talker! Hayden and her can be a lot alike but not in the talking area. Hard to believe but when Hayden was 5 months old he didn't jabber that much. He was pretty quiet. Not our Maddy, she loves to jabber. And we love to hear what she has to say. Hayden is waiting for her to say his name, she already says "hay" in her jabbering so he thinks she is practicing his name.

She is starting to sit up a little on her own. We have moved her out of her infant carseat as she is too big for it. I don't miss lugging it in and out of the car. I do however miss her being asleep and staying asleep once we got home from somewhere, like daycare dropoff. Now that I have to get her out of the Britax carseat, she wakes up. And with Maddy she never wants to miss anything, so she insists on staying awake. What a little busy body she is!

She cut her first tooth on Jan 3rd! Here I thought since Hayden got his first tooth at exactly 5 months old there was no way she would get her first tooth that early as well. I was wrong..... so she hasn't been sleeping well at night. Tylenol helps but she still wakes at least once, usually twice. Let's just say the infant car seat is still upstairs and in our room. For some reason that settles her. Ah the joys of teething:)

Our Trip to Wisconsin for Christmas

Grandma and her Grandkids

Uncle Jake and Madelynn

Auntie Heidi and Maddy talking

Nana and Hayden

Hayden opening a gift from Santa

Hayden is still talking about the three Christmas' he celebrated. He feels like the luckiest little boy thanks to all of our family. We really enjoyed our time in WI with everyone. We only wish it wouldn't take so long to get there. On our way to WI it took us 7 hours and we were being chased by a snow storm that we drove in for about 3 of those hours. On our way back the weather was fine, but it took us 7.5 hours. Madelynn was great for the first part of the trip but then she didn't seem to want to be in her car seat so we made 4 stops. Needless to say we were glad to get home.

Our first Christmas celebration was on Dec 21st with Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Jake. Dec 24th we celebrated with Nana, Papa and Auntie Heidi. Christmas Day we drove to Kenosha to celebrate with the extended Banas family. Hayden was truly amazed that he got to celebrate three times!

The theme for Hayden's Christmas was definitely Lego's. He loves the lego's sets he got, I love to watch him build them. His other favorite toys included a spaceship, Bat cave, and his magic tricks. Madelynn enjoyed watching all the festivities and even got involved in unwrapping some of her presents. She got lots of adorable clothes and some fun toys.