Exploring

We’re Back!

19 Oct posted by pattyanne

I’ve been missing this space! I keep thinking I need to ‘catch-up’ and then I feel overwhelmed, and then nothing happens… So here is a little recap from this fall.

We’re all taking a break from pickling. Baby Elisabeth loves snuggling with Grandpa!

Riding bikes is a new favorite activity. It’s chilly here, so we’ve been getting bundled up. Elisabeth loves her hats, and in Minnesota, that’s a good thing.

At the Minnesota State Fair there was an area in the cow barn for kids to try milking life-sized cow replicas. Well, Elisabeth was too small to care about milking this year but she was very interested in cow hoof anatomy. She positioned herself on the cow stand (the cow was securely bolted to it) and compared the front and back hooves.

Elisabeth was having a great time until the local “cow barn busybody” said we couldn’t allow our daughter to play on the cow. Technically, she wasn’t on the cow but we removed her anyway for fear of getting hauled off to Fair Jail. Every real cow in the barn then had to suffer through the temper tantrum that followed.

This was right after the cow episode. Elisabeth had made a full recovery from her temper tantrum when she tried her first Icee.

The family took a little trip up to Duluth this fall to see the leaves and explore Lake Superior. Indie and Bear joined us too! Both of the dogs and Elisabeth took a little dip in the lake. If you’ve ever been to Lake Superior, you know it’s really cold…

Playing at the park

We also had our neighborhood block party this fall. The fire department brought a truck for the kids to check out. The big kids even got a chance to try the hose. The resulting puddles provided hours of entertainment for the little kids.

After some time away from writing I have a lot of new story ideas and can’t wait to share them with you. Stay tuned!

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Filed Under: Around the House, Exploring, Parenting

Miss Independent

4 May posted by pattyanne

Our adventure today took us to Waldoch Farm for some flowers and of course, a visit to the barnyard. Elisabeth loves the animals and pointed out each one and signed what it was.

I also got in trouble because I was hovering a bit too close.

Not pictured: Me talking to the hand

Hovering is a habit I developed to keep track of Elisabeth’s ears. She’s still losing them from time to time. However, in this situation she doesn’t have a lot of experience with chickens and I didn’t want her to get pecked. Guess what happened exactly 10 seconds later.

Elisabeth quickly recovered and visited with the sheep. All fingers remained safely on her side of the fence until she tried to climb in.

Maybe I have a little 4-H’er on my hands?

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Filed Under: Exploring, Parenting

My First Updo and a Walk for Talk!

20 Feb posted by pattyanne

Elisabeth finally was able to sport her very first updo! She had it up for about half the day and then grew tired of her little pigtails while we were at the Children’s Museum. I spared my kiddo this time, so there were no crazy haired photos taken…

Of course her favorite thing do do is play in the water! Then there is me, the helicopter mom. I have to hover from side to side to be certain a cochlear implant device doesn’t go for a dip. I do this all while trying to snap a few photos. I couldn’t take it anymore so I had to take them off while she was playing at the water table.

Perhaps you’ve noticed the new addition to the sidebar…Elisabeth is raising money for her new school, Northern Voices. Chris and I enrolled her in January after she turned 18 months old.

We had previously been using the school district for all of Elisabeth’s services for speech and sign language. We were also taking her to the U of M once per week for speech therapy. Chris, Elisabeth and I just loved all of her teachers and providers. They worked so hard for her and helped teach Chris and I the right things to do at home. However, after she received her second cochlear implant we felt like she needed more help with speech. Our district suggested checking to see if Northern Voices would be a good fit. We took a tour, heard the kids talking and were just amazed.

Northern Voices School teaches children who are deaf or hard of hearing that have hearing devices how to listen and speak. Elisabeth has already made so much progress and it is exciting to hear her vocalizing. She is making so many new sounds and even saying a couple of words! It’s remarkable. The best part is she loves to go to school. Every morning she’s ready with her coat on waiting at the door to get to school.

Back to the fundraiser, our family is walking a 5K in May to support Elisabeth’s school. If you’d like to make a contribution you can do so through Elisabeth’s fundraising page, donations are accepted online from just one dollar on up or you can walk with us. There is also a link on that page if you want to read more about Elisabeth’s school.

Meanwhile, we’ll be training for our walk. It’s been awfully nice here so we were out almost every day last week. Maybe Elisabeth will be able to walk the whole 5K. I’ll bring the stroller just in case, because I know I can’t carry her that far!

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Filed Under: Exploring, Hearing Loss, Parenting

Twenty Twelve

1 Jan posted by pattyanne

The start of the new year is always exciting for me. Rather than making resolutions this year I am focusing on my vision board and a list of things I want to try and accomplish. Elisabeth acted out her list, I think she wants to do some farming.

Chris and I rang in the New Year with crab claws and a movie, I wasn’t able to stay awake until midnight. It was a good thing though, Elisabeth was wide awake at 5 a.m. So, after a little nap, we headed to the Como Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul for their Noon Year’s Celebration.

First, we took a quiet stroll though the Conservatory too. Elisabeth pretty much had the run of the place, she held still only a few times for me to snap her picture.

It’s so fun watching her explore, walking all by herself and looking but not touching the plants. Each time we visit a place we’ve been before, she shows interest in different things. There’s never a dull moment!

Elisabeth had so much fun at the party, her favorite part was the beach ball drop. She was kinda miffed that she couldn’t get down to catch her own ball in the huge herd of people. She got over it real quick when I caught a flower covered ball.

That frown turned upside down as soon as she realized that was her ball to keep.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you peace, love and joy in 2012

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Filed Under: About Me, Exploring, Parenting, Photography

Pop!

1 Dec posted by pattyanne

Elisabeth’s new favorite hobby is popping bubbles. She was in for a real treat at the Minnesota Children’s Museum last week; they have giant bubble wands. To her delight, she quickly figured she could hold one in each hand.

I know a picture says a thousand words, but you’ll have to imagine her screams of joy while waving the bubble wands.

Oh, and Chris is giving away some copies of his solo piano CD, All You Know at www.kellehampton.com. Check out her recent blog post for more details.

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Filed Under: Exploring, Parenting, Uncategorized

The Barnyard Bee

19 Oct posted by pattyanne

We stopped at the pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin, see the animals and say hi to our friends at Waldoch Farm. First, we stopped to visit with all the animals. Right now Elisabeth’s favorites are horses, chickens and sheep.

She was trying to kiss the chickens too. Don’t worry, I was right there to swoop in if she got too close. Although, if she were to have gotten pecked, I’m pretty sure she’d be done kissing chickens.

Where are the sheep? Elisabeth thought she’d just climb in and find them.

There they are!

Bye bye sheep, Elisabeth is ready to choose her pumpkin.

Well, we didn’t make it out to the pumpkin patch due to the Barnyard Bee’s impending meltdown. Luckily, there were plenty of already picked pumpkins to choose from. We also picked out some gourds and garlic and made it back to the car just in time for the fit thrown by Baby E. I’m blaming the crankiness on her new set of teeth.

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Filed Under: Exploring, Parenting

Urban Baby

6 Dec posted by pattyanne

This weekend Chris and I took Elisabeth to the Macy’s holiday display, “A Day in the Life of an Elf.” On the way through the Minneapolis Skyway System we stopped for a quick break to take in the view.

Elisabeth loved watching the hustle and bustle of the city.

We were in for a treat when we arrived to Macy’s and there was no line. If you’ve ever been to Santaland on a weekend, you know that the lines can be hours long. My advice: plan your trip while there is a Vikings game, a game where they aren’t losing.

At the end of the walk through Santaland is Santa himself. I was hoping to get a photo of Elisabeth screaming while on his lap. We even abruptly removed her beloved pacifier just before sitting her on Santa’s lap. Instead, Miss I Fear Nothing attempted to “pet” Santa’s beard. I am certain she was just checking for authenticity. Santa was not thrilled about being pet and after removing her hand from his beard she went right his bell bracelet. I guess we’ll add that to her Christmas List.

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Filed Under: Exploring, Photography

Discovering Fall

19 Oct posted by pattyanne

Fall is my favorite season, I love the cool, crisp air and the leaves. Time slows back down a little bit too.

Elisabeth is not particularly impressed with many toys or at least the toys we have. However, she loves the leaves. We took the dogs on a walk and she got play in the leaves afterward. It was so fun for her to look at each one and then rip it to pieces.

After an hour in the great outdoors, it was time for a nap. A NAP! Not a lot of napping occurs at our house so this was a special treat for me! Hot cocoa and crochet…A perfect afternoon.

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Filed Under: Dogs, Exploring