I've Got Skills

Hello, it's Madeleine here! I woke up this morning and decided I would crawl today! For over a month Mommy and Daddy have been thinking I was on the verge of taking a scoot forward but that was all part of my plan. They wouldn't have been as impressed if I'd made it look easy!

What wonderful things I've discovered these past few hours. For example, Mommy's house isn't as clean as she thinks it is because I found a bread crumb under the kitchen table. Lucky me! And those stairs Isabelle has been climbing up and jumping from? Well, I am ready to do that too. They were my first stop on my tour of the living room. Alas, Mommy was too quick for me and before I even got to the second step I was dragged away like a sack of potatoes. Want to know the best part about crawling? I can get to my sister's toys faster than she can move them out of the way! And to think, there were naysayers who thought my thunder thighs would keep me from being the adventurer I was destined to be. I say to you:

Look out world! Here. I. Come.

Sister Adoration

Take Me Out to The Ballgame

It was baseball day at the Brock house as we had FREE tickets to see the Everett Aquasox play the Eugene Emeralds this afternoon. While we were conflicted as to whether to root for our old hometown or new hometown we figured we really couldn't lose so when Eugene won we were amongst the few to go home happy.

I always enjoy going to baseball games because there is so much to do besides watch the game. We dispensed with our organic diet for the evening and consumed fake food like radioactive Cheetos and Dibs ice cream snacks. We watched as grown men tried to peddle tricycles around the bases and others did a dance-off for a free Subway sandwich. People went crazy trying to snag bank logo t-shirts as they were thrown into the stands and we watched in disbelief as an adult wrestled a foul ball from a five-year-old boy. Sure - that was a fair fight.

I too came home victorious after correctly answering the 10-second movie clip trivia question and was pleased that my useless knowledge of 1950's film noir came in handy - thanks Mom and Dad for never letting us watch movies made after we were born! The answer was "Sunset Boulevard" by the way and is it sad that I could also tell you the director and star of the movie?
All in all we had a great time at the game and it was a nice way of beginning to bring the summer to an end.

Playing in the bouncy house before the game.
Webbley: the team mascot. He's supposed to be a frog but I think he looks more like a cleaned-up version of the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Madeleine enjoyed every minute of the game.

Dinner break

Isabelle loved cracking open the roasted peanuts.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Isabelle looked at the field and said, "Hey! What are those guys doing out there?" Clearly she was paying attention to the point of this outing. :)

7th inning stretch. Isabelle sang along to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" - we've been practicing.

Look at my totally awesome prize! I'm giddy with excitement!

And, what could be better than opening your giveaway coupon book and seeing a picture of your sister hocking a trip to the casino? Yep, it happened to us!

Stage 2 Baby Food

Before I begin, let me preface this post with the fact that I have an acute fear of my children choking. Isabelle has done this on many occasions, most recently after biting into a plastic spoon and getting the sharp plastic stuck in her mouth. Madeleine occasionally gags on baby formula. Thus far I have not needed to use the Heimlich Maneuver, most likely because my shrieks of panic scare the food out of their throats. However, it is not something I want to test my knowledge at - yes I've taken first aid and CPR classes and even have "how-to" pamphlets posted around my house just in case.
So, this is how, at the age of nine months, I am still hesitant to give Madeleine finger foods. How I envy those mothers who have their babies snacking on delicious table food while my poor little Maddy is stuck eating yogurt and blueberry puree. But, I did recently move her up to eating stage 2 baby food with minuscule chunks of meat and vegetables and am quite pleased at my own progress. :)

I launched a full-scale baby food making operation.

Isabelle helped wash the leeks.

The beginnings of chicken casserole. We also made baby beef stew, chicken and apples, creamed chicken, peas, green beans and brown rice chicken and peach delight.

"Gee Mom, you're the best!...

...but I'm good."

P.S. You'll be happy to know readers that Madeleine was able to enjoy a lovely beef stroganoff the other night because I knew I'd be able to grind it up really well. She loved it and looked at me as though I'd been holding out on the good stuff these last four and a half months. Someday she will forgive me.

We've Gotta Get Out of This Place...

...if it's the last thing we ever do!

That's right, our house is for sale - again. About a year and a half ago we tried to sell our house and move into something bigger. We had a grand plan to be settled before we started our second adoption and way before Isabelle started kindergarten. After having the house on the market for 6 months we decided to give up and pursue our adoption plans which, as you all know, turned out perfectly. Now that we're home and settled with Madeleine we're trying again and hopefully things work out this time because frankly, we really dislike our neighborhood. Cars drive too fast and there seems to have been an influx of delinquent teenagers in the last year. Our For Sale sign was up for less then 48 hours before it was stolen by one of these darling children. (All right, I don't know for sure that it was one of them but the glass half empty part of me just isn't buying that we're so well-liked by our neighbors that one of them took the sign to prevent us from moving.)

So, if you're interested in moving to a lovely home in Lake Stevens I know of a great place -teenagers included.

Here's our MLS link for more pictures.

If our house does sell we're not sure where we're going to move. We're thinking maybe the country, but then we'd have the axe murderers to contend with. But another neighborhood with obnoxious hooligans also doesn't seem right. Any votes?

Road Trip

On the way home from our vacation we decided to go through the Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington, which is only about an hour and a half from our house. It was the perfect place to stop for dinner and a stroll close to the end of our 8-hour car ride.

Leavenworth is nestled in a small valley in the middle of the mountains. It's beautiful in summer but I like it best in winter when everything is covered in snow and twinkling icicle lights.

We brake for beer and bratzs!
Isabelle about to enjoy a pint in the beer garden at Munchen Haus. (Just kidding everybody! - that Bitburger was all for Mommy.) :)

Berry gelato for dessert. Did I mention it was 100 degrees when we were there?

Surprise Baby Shower

While we were on vacation we threw a surprise baby shower for my sister and her husband. After being on baby watch for almost eight months we're ready for Baby Girl Duerr to arrive!

"Gee Aunt Darla, you sure do eat a lot!"

"Surprise!"

Isabelle had the very important job of delivering the gifts to be opened.

Yes, this looks like a person who can be trusted to raise a child. Anyone interested in taking a vote of no-confidence?

Aghast at the spectacle that was this present, winner of the ugliest wrapping job contest.

Just missing the baby.

Madeleine taking her clean-up duties seriously.

A Little R & R

For our summer vacation this year we went to Eagle Crest Resort near Bend, Oregon. My parents have owned a timeshare there for many years and it's a great place to relax and have fun for a week. My parents, sister and my sister's husband all came and we had a great time swimming, playing golf and tennis, riding bikes and eating yummy food.

Pool Time

Madeleine with a very pregnant Aunt Darla

Some of us golfed, while others observed ladybugs on golf balls,

while still others just enjoyed tasting the ball.

Off for a bike ride. Madeleine was a good sport but was clearly confused as to why she was donning a space helmet and being strapped into a chariot.

See how happy Jason is to be towing these munchkins? Believe me when I say this was not his expression by the end of the trip.

Dining al fresco

What a great vacation!