tales from a far-land

Take a look at the photo of Madilyn sent to me via my phone this afternoon by Yolanda (our daycare provider) with the following message ... "Hey mom, need formula and wipes!" How can you not love this face?  I cannot wait to get home and gobble her up!  Yolanda, thanks for sharing this adorable picture of our little baby.

The Farrell-Landers family visited Chicago.  I had an industry conference to attend, so Madi and Josh decided to tag along.  We really enjoyed ourselves and Madi was such a good traveler.  She experienced her first airplane ride, first cab ride, first hotel stay, and much more.  We were true "tourists" hitting all of the major museums and events.  And even experiencing the locals incredible food venues like Portillos where you can get dinner and a show from the kitchen staff. The weather was pretty nice (much better than the 100+ degrees we left in Arizona).  Madi's favorite part was the Shedd Aquarium.  Here take a look at her excitement ... Josh and I decided that we cannot wait until she is a little older to *really* enjoy vacations.  Here is a slideshow of our trip ... now you can say you have visited "The Windy City".

So, you probably have been wondering what new things Madi has been up to for the past two months.  Here are some of the "firsts" she has shared with us.  Each new moment is *so* much fun!  It makes parenting so rewarding. First Laugh ~ Her first laugh occurred while we were visiting GG and GP in California for Memorial Day weekend.  Take a look at this clip.  I couldn't help but laugh myself.  First Swim ~ Madi took her first swim in my parents' pool on Memorial Day.  As you will notice, it took her a while to warm up to the idea, but once she did, she seemed to enjoy it.  Here is our water baby ... First Solid Food ~ Yes, that is right.  Madi has started eating solid foods.  We are slowly starting to introduce rice cereal into her diet.  Wait until you see this clip.  Too funny!  Game Playing ~ Madi has started playing little games with everyone.  She plays her own version of peek-a-boo....

I'm back! Summer has arrived and unforunately the Farrell-Landers family has been keeping busy.  Therefore, I have not been diligent updating the blog.  I had a few moments so I wanted to update you on our summer adventures.  So, here is a brief recap of our first family road trip ... Our summer officially began with a weekend trip to California for Memorial Day. It was a wonderful way to escape the Arizona sun and visit with family and friends. For Madi's first road trip ever, she did remarkably well. She mostly slept the entire way, occasionally, waking up to admire the toys that Josh and I had strewn around her car seat. We didn't want her to get bored. The adventure began with a brief stop-over in Yuma, AZ, as I had to assist with a client's benefit enrollment meetings. Luckily, the meetings concluded mid-afternoon and we were able to get back on the road earlier than expected. Many thanks to GG and GP for welcoming this rowdy clan into their home for...