Dad is 30

My daddy turned 30 years old yesterday (March 21). For his birthday, his friends Andrew Ekblad, Andrew Lupien, and Bryon Booher, and his brother, Michael, came to Madison to surprise him! Everyone did a really good job of keeping him in the dark, so he was completely shocked when they all showed up! They all had a really great time hanging out, playing board games and football and poker, watching lots of basketball, and playing with ME, Mazie James. Happy Birthday, Dad!

March... winter or spring?

We've been really busy (in a fun way) this month. On March 5, Avia came to visit! We had lots and lots of fun, enjoying some warm weather and spending some time outside at the park.



Then it got cold and rainy again over the weekend, but that was okay because we went to the pool and I made some real progress with my swimming! I've been kicking and kicking whenever I get in the water, so Mom finally just let me go and I swam underwater for a few seconds at a time! Our last swimming class was last week, and I impressed everyone with my new skills-- even the other big kids couldn't swim like me!

Then last weekend, Mom and Dad and the dogs and I we went up to the cottage. We've been meaning to get up there all winter, and on the way up we were afraid we'd missed the winter-- most of the snow was gone along the road. But once we got up to the cottage we were excited to find out that it was still winter up there-- the lakes were still frozen enough to support ice fishermen and even some SUVs! Even better, we got some wonderful, sunny 40-degree weather on Saturday, so our whole crew (including the dogs) packed up and walked across the lakes to Pine Isle and back! It was a great little mini-vacation.




We drove back from the cottage on Sunday and got back just in time to pick Nana up from the bus station -- she had some work to do in St. Paul and then took a Greyhound bus down to see us for the week! Like Avia, she brought some gorgeous weather along from Colorado. For St. Patrick's Day today we had bright sun and temperatures in the 70s! Mom took the afternoon off, and we lounged around at the park with Lolly, Henry, and Charlie for a while, and then met David, Sejal, and Sheryl at the Memorial Union terrace to soak up more sunshine!



I had so much fun today that I only took one short nap... and then fell asleep at dinner in my high chair!


I think it's supposed to cool down again tomorrow, but we have sure enjoyed our little doses of spring and can't wait until it's here for good! Here are a whole bunch more pictures.

I can do so many new things.

I'm changing in so many little ways. I can talk now, even though no body seems to understand me. I can walk, even though my parents won't let go of my hands. I can eat all by myself, even though I don't care for utensils. I can dive into the water, even though I don't care to do it at the same time as my classmates. I can even wave hello and goodbye. Just like it says in my Pat the Bunny book, Paul and Judy can do lots of things, and I can do lots of things, too!

A Tooth!!

At two days short of 9 months old, I'm finally cutting my first tooth! Mom and Dad discovered this last night when Mom was giving me sips out of her glass and heard a strange "tink" sound -- she poked around and sure enough, there's the very beginning of a little tooth just barely poking through my lower gums. My days as a toothless wonder have officially ended. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some chomping to do.

Mazie loves love.

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.

From Frosty Madison to the Kalahari!

Yesterday was a busy day! We got up and walked to the Capitol for the 1st Annual Frosty 5K race. Mom, Dad, our friend Sejal, and I were part of a small group of walkers in the race, and we managed to finish LAST -- 54 minutes! We had a great time, though-- it was a beautiful day with a fresh coat of pretty white snow, and it felt great to be outside! I slept for most of the race, cozy and bundled in my stroller. Next year maybe we'll get a nice jogging stroller like my friends Charley and Henry, and then Mom and/or Dad can run! Or maybe we'll try pulling up the rear two years in a row!








After the race, we joined some of Mom's work friends (including Charley and Henry and their parents) at the Kalahari indoor water park in Baraboo, Wisconsin! (Dad was playing in a soccer tournament, so just Mom and I went.) It was so fun-- the warmth was great, and lots and lots of shallow pools for me to crawl and splash around in. I loved it, and can't wait to go back! Click here for more picture!

Play Groups!!

Daddy and I are becoming more social. The last two weeks we've been going to all sorts of play groups so that we don't sit around the house all day or go on walks all by ourselves.

Monday is zoo day. We go see the chimp and the orangutan, the lion and the tiger, the giraffe and the alligator, the American bison and the polar bear, the seal and the river otter. And all along the way Dad gives me the little toy version of the animals I'm seeing. Finally, these little plastic figures mean something. I totally get it now. After the zoo we go to ZuZu's for lunch. It's great 'cuz Dad gets really good food and there is a train table for me to suck on.

Tuesday is music class day. We meet up with my friends Charley and Henry and their mom Lolly. There sure are lots of moms. Music class is pretty fun. I crawl around and play with the other kids while Dad makes an ass of himself dancing around and singing. We play rhythm games and we repeat the sounds that the crazy lady makes. I love it.

Wednesday is library day. We go to the Madison Public Library for story time. 15 mommys and Dad sit around in a circle while a nice lady reads a HUGE book to all of the kids. I'm not that into it, but I do like getting off my dad's lap and crawling around. I like to grab other kids in the face. I'm not really sure why I like it so much, but I've just got to do it. Also, other kids are great for helping me pull myself up to standing.

As if the library wasn't enough stimulation for the day, Mom takes me to swim class at night. This is my favorite time of the whole week. Anyone who knows me, knows I love the water. I love bath time and I love swimming. Mommy and I go to a pool at a local elementary school for swim class. There are lots of kids there and plenty of moms AND dads. I can kick really well now and Mommy's going to let me swim all by myself soon.

Thursday is Mad City Dads day. We go to The Happy Bambino, which is English and Italian or Spanish for Happy Baby. This play group is awesome. None of the dads tell me how cute I am or marvel at my mobility. They just leave me alone and talk to my dad about last night's basketball game or the perils of picking up dog shit during the winter months. I get to tackle the other kids and grab their ears. One kid even let me put my fingers in her mouth. I also sucked on another kid's forehead for a little while this week. Nobody seems to care.

Friday is time for Nightcrawlers. Dad has, so far, been unable to explain the title of this play group. It's back at the The Happy Bambino, but it's at 9:15 in the morning. So Dad is a little confused about the reference to night. Maybe we're all just a bunch of worms. Anyway, it's only for kids my age. Well, between 6 and 12 months. So all the kids are about the same size and only one kid can walk. This group is like the other non-dad groups. There are no other dads. Just 8 or so moms and my dad. It's a really nice group though. Lots of very nice people.

Well, that's my week. I still hang out at the house a lot, of course. I still nap on Dad's back twice a day and I still watch the Daily Show and the Colbert Report at night. Life is pretty sweet.