To the Zoo Quilt

On November 9th I had the opportunity to go to the Palisades Mall and look at a quilt exhibit. The difference about this quilt exhibit was I had a quilt the was entered into the exhibit.

I don't love the quilt, but I learned a lot making it. I want to do another one, but change the pattern up some and work on the color scheme.

My favorite square to do was the birds. I liked all the colors of the birds.

I patterned this quilt after the Central Park Zoo. I was really excited about the penguin exhibit, but it didn't quite turn out like I wanted. One of the penguins looks crazy.

After I entered the quilt I was really nervous that I wouldn't win, but I was even more worried that no one would bid on the quilt at the auction. I didn't place, but I was pleasantly surprised when someone bid $125.oo on my quilt. I had a higher bid than the 2nd place winner.

I was glad I did the project even though it was a lot of work. I found out about the contest at the end of September and began working on it the first of October and the due date was October 31st. I wasn't even close to finishing 3 days before the contest ended so I stayed up for 3 days to finish it. I had an idea of how I wanted the quilting done, but in the end it wasn't very detailed. I was just happy I was able to finish it enough to enter it into the contest. The nice thing was the money raised by the auction went to a local charity.

Maddie and the UltraSaucer

Maddie loves her exerciser, but not only does she love jumping in her exerciser and using it to help her do her daily constitution she loves being out of it. When Maddie is not in the exerciser she loves to climb in it. She will climb throuh it and then try to stand up in it and then she gets stuck. Most of the time she will sit down and climb out, but sometimes she gets frustrated and we have to take out the seat so she can stand up in it.

Election Day

Wow! I am so excited that I was able to witnesses such a momentous event. It was so exciting to see such a historical event take place. I know I have heard so much about Obama not having experience and crap about Obama being associated with radicals. What I saw last night was a man who elegantly spoke about his love for his country and his desire to bring much needed change. I saw a man who really loves his wife and his children. I saw a man who is educated and ready to serve, but humbled by the huge task that lays before him. I was also impressed with McCain's concession speak. He was graceful, and I only hope that those who voted for him will follow suit.

I loved seeing the celebrations of all the people who had voted for him. I loved seeing the faces filled with tears. This was something that the majority of us thought we would never see in our life time. It is possible for a man to be judged by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin.

I did wonder at the contrast of the two different venues that were chosen for the speeches. Obama thanked everyone at Grant Park in Chicago, filled with supporters that flowed into the streets. McCain's had chosen an upscale hotel in Phoenix that look extremely isolated. I felt that McCain's choice was a representation of the Republican party and where it is today. Elitists that are out of touch with the people. I used to be a Republican, but I have been so disappointed with the party that I left. I am proud to say that I voted for Obama.

Rocketship Run @ Lincoln Center

Today I had the opportunity to go with Maddie, Terri and Seth to the Lincoln Center to attend Maddie's first concert in New York. Terri told me that Laurie Berkner was the "Elvis Presley" of children's music. Well I had never heard of her, but it was a lot of fun. She was quite entertaining. Before today I don't think the Lincoln Center has seen so many people dancing in the isles. Maddie was getting into the fun she was jumping up and down and flapping her arms at such a high rate she looked like a humming bird.

I never thought that my first time to the Lincoln center would be for a children's concert, especially since I have no children of my own. I don't regret going, because I had a good time.

I have added a video I took on my phone of Maddie. She was doing all of the bouncing herself. She does that when she gets excited. If you listen closely you can hear her cute little squeal.

Fish Face

Yesterday I had the chance to drive around Rockland County with Maddie. I am on the hunt for great parks. By the time I found one I wanted to explore, little Maddie was out cold. I didn't want to wake her, so I decided to leave the exploration for another day. It is different here, because you can't see anything for the trees, and it is hard to find parks because they are not marked well.

Maddie and I are having a good time. I am proud to say that I have taught Maddie, or at least I am taking credit for teaching her how to do the fish face. This picture is the coming out of the fish face. Every time she sees the camera she stops what she is doing.

Eating with Maddie is a bit of an overstatement. She really doesn't eat that much she ends up wearing more than she eats. Maddie has struggled with eating. She has had a hard time getting the food down. She usually throws the face "What are you putting in my mouth?" It is really cute. So one day I tried her food, and it is yucky, so I can't blame her for throwing the faces. The funny thing is she does that with anything that is put in her mouth. I think it is the initial reaction because she will eat some things and like it but you always get the face. Maddie also prefers to feed herself, but doesn't get much food to the mouth.

Maddie teething

Terri and Maddie to the right. I think that Maddie is going to grow up with a sense of humor, because her mom you can see is a bit of a ham and then hanging out with me, well she doesn't stand a chance.

It has been fun to see Maddie growing just in the short time that I have been here. She began waving, and sitting up the first week that I arrived. She will be crawling before we know it. She is ready to go, but has yet to figure out how to get her legs to work in harmony with her desires. She is going to be a little ball of fire once she is able to move where she wants.

Maddie broke her first tooth last week with the second just a day or two behind. She has been uncomfortable, but not too cranky for growing teeth. She loves to bite on anything she can get her hands on.

Center Park Zoo

August 23, 2008

I had the chance to go to Central Park Zoo before Tammy flew back to Oregon. It was so fun to see Maddie get excited about the animals.

Here are a couple of pictures of Terri and Maddie while we were at the zoo.