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Hurricane Sandy Can’t Fluster Maddie

Posted on October 30, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

Sandy is really quite a bore.

Since Maddie was born in July 2011, she has endured more than her share of extreme weather events. So far she’s already made it through one hurricane and one earthquake. So please forgive her if Hurricane Sandy doesn’t really grab her attention.

With a historic storm surge bearing down on New York City, Maddie’s parents packed up the car at 6 o’clock this morning and headed south. We hopped on the New Jersey Turnpike and Maddie was complaining to the beat of the band.

It was almost as if she knew we were going the wrong way. I had Maddie’s mom check the road conditions in Delaware on the iPhone and we got some strange news. The funny little folks in Delaware shut down all roadways at 5am – UH-OH!

“Way to Go!” thought Maddie. So now it was time for us to head west and find a new way to Maddie’s grandparents house. After a couple of hours, we pulled off to feed Maddie breakfast. As soon as we exited, Maddie fell completely asleep – UH-OH!

Time to recalibrate again!

About an hour down the road the princess woke up and was more than ready for a pit stop. We found a Mickey-D’s around Gettysburg and dragged Maddie out into the driving hurricane rain.

Mom and Maddie sat down while I was ordering food at the counter. Maddie could see me from the table and kept screaming, “Heyyy, Daaaa!” Most of the people line found this very entertaining.

We made it safely to the grandparents’ house and Maddie could not have been more pleased.

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Maddie Gearing Up for a Cold Winter

Posted on October 14, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

The ears obviously provide added warmth!

Even without the ear accessories, it’s becoming more and more obvious that Maddie is part polar bear. Just like last year, the cold weather has come rolling in and Maddie still hasn’t noticed.

This is a girl that doesn’t like the warm temps at all – but once it creeps under fifty degrees, she is in her element. Today we were outside and the wind chill had to be in the mid-thirties. I kept wrapping Maddie up in her warm blanket and she kept snatching it off and waving it over her head.

Despite Maddie’s cold weather antics, we have made progress in one critical area. Maddie now realizes that if she wants to go outside, shoes have become a non-negotiable part of her life.

Now that it’s chilly, Maddie signals that she is ready to go outside by hand-delivering her bear jacket and then bringing out a pair of shoes. This is one of the most dramatic turnarounds in the history of clothing. We really believed that Maddie would be refusing to wear her shoes well into her teens.

But this is no time to celebrate – The next Herculean task on our agenda is to get Maddie into gloves or mittens before the temps dip into the twenties.

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Soaring Temps Drive the Madster Indoors

Posted on July 19, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

Practicing my slide

Maddie has been enduring the heat like a champ this week. But the early morning walks and visits to the pool are taking a hit as the heat index flirts with the 100-degree range. Maddie has taken a keen interest in all of the geese in the area, but even the birds can’t compete with a 72-degree air-conditioned room with the shades drawn.

So the challenge now is how to keep an outdoor girl entertained while indoors. As always, trashing and shredding paper ranks high on Maddie’s activity schedule. But bumping her head on multiple surfaces is quickly moving up the list. The baby has also discovered the amazing world of yanking open up cabinets and raiding the contents inside.

This is how you work you work up a sweat

We also employed a new strategy of taking Maddie shopping at least once a day. The stores are cool and full of people for the baby to stare at and heckle. These trips also give Maddie a chance to sample new and exotic foods including goldfish and teddy grahams.

What been most impressive through out the week is Maddie’s good nature. It’s obvious that she does not care for the oppressive heat, but she’s not letting it dampen her moods at all. She’s been simply content to fight through the heat and appreciate all the time she is spending indoors.

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Alaskan Cousins Spend Wild Day with the Madster

Posted on June 5, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

We’ve only just begun…

Despite all the trials and tribulations Monday had to offer, Maddie had a fantastic and magical day playing, wrestling and entertaining her cousins from Alaska. Never mind the fact that the weather gods have a mean streak about a mile long. Maddie’s cousins Porter and Catie just endured a a terrible winter season in Alaska only to come to New Jersey for some record cold weather and rain. Yet somehow, we were blissfully ignorant of this fact when we walked to breakfast this morning.

The four of us polished off our meals with great enthusiasm and were ready to catch a ferry into the city. As soon as we waltzed out of the diner, a heavy and cold rain set in. It pelted the area with a vengeance throughout the morning and our best-laid plans were torn asunder. We trudged home in the rain knowing that today’s travel plans were shot.

Maddie reasoned that her only recourse for the morning was to take a long nap and try to work things out while she was asleep. By the time her eyes popped open, it was just about time for lunch. Maddie reasoned that a bit of good company and delicious food was just the ticket to turn the day around.

Her dad packed her up in the stroller and set off in the rain while the grandparents drove the cousins to our lunch spot. Maddie feasted on fries and fruit, and made several loud crackling announcements to the lunchtime crowd. During lunch, the sun managed to peak out and Maddie thought she still might be able to treat her cousins to some pool time. However, as soon as we got to the pool about an hour later, the sun shriveled up into the clouds like a scared turtle. Maddie was more than happy to dip her feet in the water and kick around a bit, but without the sun, it was just too cold.

The baby opted for one more nap and try to pick up where she left off earlier. By the time she woke up, it was time to drive the cousins back to their grandparent’s house. About 30 miles into the trip, Maddie was treated to her very first flat tire experience. This led to an unscheduled stop at the Goodyear Tire Store off the highway. Between the rain, car trouble and unseasonably cold weather, Maddie is worried that it may be some time before her cousins dare to make their next trip back East.

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Baby Treats Father to the Perfect Birthday

Posted on May 23, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

I think my dad needs alot more than one candle!

As my amazing baby girl settled her head into the crook of my arm with her hand on my chest to go to sleep tonight, I realized that this was the best birthday I have ever had. Maddie wasn’t in the best of moods today and was even a bit under the weather. Despite all of that, she was a true pleasure all day long and there was no denying what a blessing it was to spend it with her.
 
Maddie is on the cusp of being 10-months old and is growing up far too fast for my liking. We both got up this morning during a driving rainstorm. With weather like that, we had no choice but to grab a quick bottle and get our butts outside before the rain stopped.
 
We made our rounds about the city and watched the commuters scamper for cover hopelessly trying to evade the pelting rain. Maddie and I took all of this in stride as we made our first stop at Dunkin Donuts. Mads ordered her usual, a toasted whole grain bagel and it was back out into the monsoon.
 
We made a few more stops and stopped to watch some pedestrians get pummeled by a wall of water launched by a speeding bus. That gag just never gets old, but it was time for the sweet girl to catch a nap. Maddie slept so long that we were late leaving for our birthday lunch with Maddie’s grandparents and great aunt.

I have it all under control!

Maddie arrived fashionably late and started wooing every person in the restaurant she could lock eyes with. Typical Maddie, the star of the show, using her smile to leave everyone locked into a trance. 
 
We had an amazing meal and Maddie made sure to help her dad unwrap his present – she’s always good like that. Then she slept the whole way home so we could spend the remainder of the afternoon playing and exploring. It turned out to be the best birthday ever and it was all thanks to exploits of the Mad Madster!


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Rain Rain Come My Way

Posted on May 10, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

I have the umbrella, concentrate on steering!

After a rigorous day of rolling all over the house – Maddie was eager for some real outdoor time. I made every effort to explain to her that the weather was abysmal, but she was adamant. 
 
So once it was time for Maddie’s mom to leave for work, the baby and I joined her for a rainy trip into town. As soon as the door opened before us, a great smile spread across Maddie’s face. She seemingly rediscovered her great love for the outdoors and was more than happy to embrace the driving rain.
 
It didn’t take long for Maddie’s mother to notice that the baby was trying to wrest control of the umbrella from me. Maddie obviously believed that she could handle the umbrella with a far greater proficiency than her father. However, a golf umbrella still might be a little much for the princess to manage.
 
Once we dropped off mom, Maddie insisted that we press on. The harder it rained, the more Maddie’s mood improved. Strangely, this set the tone for the rest of the day. As where some people struggle with their moods during rainy days, Maddie’s stock soars.
 
The baby drove me about another half of a mile before we finally turned around and headed home. Maddie and I sealed our unspoken pact never to miss a day outside together just because of a little rain.

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Yukon Baby Tackles City Blizzard

Posted on January 23, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

This isn't cold - where's my bikini?

The snow was piling up outside and the wind was charging up the Hudson River. All it took was one quick peek at the raging storm outside for the 6-month-old Mad Madster to make up her mind! “I’m going in!”

At this point, Maddie doesn’t particularly care for the taste of bagels, but she loves walking to the little shop where everyone is ready to share a smile and comment with her.

She snapped on her warmest pink bear outfit and called on her father for a little transportation (at least that guy is good for something!) Maddie got all snapped into her Bjorn and was ready for a crack at some real snowmageddon! Her father was a little tentative on the icy steps, but the little girl was restless and demanding some real action.

The harsh snowy wind gave little Maddie a good lick in the chops and I wondered how she would handle it. I paused at a parked SUV and peered at our reflection. This way I could see the baby’s face and gauge her reaction to this frontal blast a frigid air. It was obvious right away that she was fascinated by Mother Nature’s fury and it was time to press on.

I used a scarf as a baby windscreen and kept talking to Maddie during our trudge acorss the snowy sidewalks. Every time we passed a taller vehicle, I took a quick glimpse to make sure the baby was fighting the good fight. A few times we even had to walk backwards to keep the wind from blasting into the face of our little princess.

Once we entered the bagel place, the heat inside seemed more shocking to Maddie than the cold air we had just wandered in from. The place was pretty empty for 7:30 on a Sunday morning, so Maddie focused on grabbing the attention of the boys behind the counter. They all went to great lengths to greet and welcome her.

The walk home was better for both of us because the wind was now at my back. The snow began falling more heavily and the Yukon Baby shared these words with her father, “Buckle up buttercup and keep it moving!” I picked up the pace, but as usual, Maddie was just toughing it out and taking it all in.

One of the first things I noticed in our reflection as I walked up the stairs to our home was that Maddie must be bulletproof or have a built-in heat generator in that bear outfit. Her father was completely blanketed in snow from head to toe and Maddie was pristine – looking like she had just come off the runway. Even weather can’t bust the honey badger!

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Baby Deploys Weather Shield to Combat Bitter Cold

Posted on January 4, 2012 by stayhomepapa1

Wake me up when it's over

With the wind chill hovering around 10 degrees, Maddie had to break out the heavy artillery for this morning’s road trip. Actually, her father had her outside for a grand total of 50 seconds – but it was cold out there.

Maddie’s new counter-weather outfit is like a bullet proof, oxygen tent, pressure suit sleeping bag that goes around the baby for all of her trips to the Arctic.

Step One began this morning when we took Maddie’s mom to work and then made our way to the store. Luckily, the car stays parked in a garage where the average temperature is about 75 degrees, so the first part of our frigid journey was anti-climatic. I parked out front, while Maddie was getting all bundled up in her insulated body length weather shield. Getting Maddie from the front door into the car took less than 8 seconds. This part of the journey actually failed to even get Maddie’s attention, because the car was already nice and toasty.

The next stop would present more of a challenge – I would have to run Maddie from the parking lot into the store. However, when I got to the back seat, the little girl was fast asleep. The ten second jog into the store didn’t even wake her up!

However, once we got into the store, I had to peel this massive snow suit off of the baby before she got too hot. However, when it was time to leave – Maddie was wide awake and all fired up to test out her new winter gear.

Just as we ventured outside, a 25 mph wind gust buffeted the shopping cart. This fierce frozen blast must have made its way past the baby’s weather defenses because her eyes snapped wide open as soon she felt it. The baby wasn’t upset, but she was giving me a scathing look that seemed to say, “Excuse me, what in the world was that?”

However, even that shock was all-too short-lived. Once I had Maddie settled into her car sear, she passed out asleep again before I was even finished loading the trunk.

As for the snow suit – It is truly a formidable outfit and at some point we may actually take a walk with it – but today would not be that day!

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Maddie Breaks Out Monkeys for October Snowstorm

Posted on October 31, 2011 by stayhomepapa1

Aren't monkeys made for winter?

You have to forgive Maddie for not being overly concerned about snow in October. At the ripe age of 13-weeks-old, the baby has already had to deal with an earthquake and a hurricane evacuation.

When Maddie and her parents entered the store to go shopping, it was cold and windy. 40 minutes later when they were leaving, there was a full blizzard raging. PaPa pulled right up to the entrance – but still had to get Maddie into the car.

Maddie gave her Dad a knowing smile as he picked her up in the car seat and ran for the car. Just as he popped the door open, he could see the baby frantically trying to catch some of that snow on her tongue. She really wanted a flake and as luck would have it, one landed right on her tongue. Her eyes went wide with surprise and then delight as she snagged her first flake.

Once we got home, it was time to expose the baby to the elements once again. The wind whipped PaPa and the baby as they trudged up the stairs – but Maddie could not have been happier. She may actually turn out to be a real-live cold-weather woman!

Even once we got inside – Maddie still looked like she was ready for action, but her snow time adventures had come to an end.

After some food and a change – it was time for Maddie to try out some toasty winter-ware and thanks to her Aunt Jill and Uncle Jim, we had just the ticket. Let’s face it,  everyone knows that when the cold weather gets going, it’s time to break out the MONKEYS!!

Earlier this year, Jim and Jill had gotten Maddie a full-length stunning sleeper with a chimp on the hip and one for each foot to ensure maximum monkey-warmth for the baby. So while the snow and wind raged outside – Maddie and the monkeys slept soundly all through the night.

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