Alexis first time going to the zoo!

On Wednesday Sept. 29th my parents came in town so all of us could go to the Milwaukee Zoo. We've all wanted to go but waited for the weather to cool down a bit. The weather was absolutely perfect! High 60's...totally sunny!

Before we went to the zoo, we all went to lunch at Fudruckers.
A huge, giant vulture!
Family picture by the elephants. The one behind us I said was dancing..she kept swaying back and forth. It was so cute!
Very pretty Jaguar! Every big cat we see some how reminds us of your cat Dakota!
The big lions were right up to the window just staring at every one. It was so neat! Their paws were like the size of Alexis head! Of course the lions reminded us of Dakota also.
The adorable Red Panda!
3 Giraffes. It was neat watching them eat the trees with their big, black tongues.
Alexis was such a good little baby the whole time we were at the zoo! She stayed awake most of it and as long as she could see everything she was fine and "talking"
My parents by the brown bears.
Grandma and Alexis! Alexis was determined to get my moms hair in her mouth! Do you all like Alexis shirt? It has all sorts of animals on it...I thought it was perfect for a day at the zoo!
I don't remember what this type of snake is and I hate snakes but this was so cool to watch this snake raise up like this! He even got higher after we had shut our camera off. Sooo glad it was in a cage!





We all had a lot of fun! It was also so nice not dealing with the crowds that we would have dealt with if we had gone on a weekend or in the summer.

Besides it being Alexis first time to the zoo it was also Kevins first time going to the Milwaukee Zoo. They both had a blast!

Madison came for a visit

Last year when Kevin and I were living in La Crescent, MN we had Madison stay with us for a week. Kind of like a last hooray of summer. So this year we decided to make it a tradition and had her come out to stay with us for a few days again. On Friday Aug. 20th my mom came down with Maddi..my mom stayed until Sunday and then on Monday my brother, Evan and Brandon came and then they all left on Tuesday.
It just amazes me that when I was Madison's age (11) she was Alexis age and I was holding Maddi. Now Maddi is holding my baby. Just shows how fast they really do grow up.
On Saturday Aug 21st Alexis turned 4 months old. I think this is an adorable picture of Maddi getting Alexis to smile and laugh.
Maddi loves babies! The end of summer she was watching Brielle, her niece and my God Daughter and she did so well!

On Saturday afternoon we went to Whole Foods with my mom for her diet. While my mom looked for her stuff she needed Maddi and I went around the whole store (which is pretty big!) and taste tested everything we could. Most was very digusting! Except for pita chips and this cinnamon bread. I, being the picky eater I am, tried goat cheese! So gross! By the end of trying everything I needed a soda so bad and of course they didn't have any!

On Sunday we made tie blankets. She helped me make Alexis one that I am holding (on the top corner of the blanket it says Lets Go Dancing) and I helped her make her's and it's the Disneys Little Mermaid. We had a lot of fun making them and we watched Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs and Old Dogs and ate Pita Chips.

On Monday Kevin had off so we went to Gurnee Mills in IL to do a little school clothes shopping for Maddi.
Kevin carrying Alexis in the Jeep carrier. She loved being able to see everything!
Maddi being goofy at Bass Pro Shop
Alexis wearing a Bass Pro Shops baseball hat. Still a little to big for her! Her shirt says "Who needs a piggy bank when you have daddy?" I thought it was perfect for going shopping!
The boys and Alexis hanging out while I got ready for the beach on Tuesday. Yes, my brother is wearing my Snuggie!
Myself and my two favorite girls at the beach
Watching Alexis reaction to her feet being in the sand and water. Which she loved!
Kevin, Evan and Brandon dug a big, deep hole and then berried Maddi in the sand!
Now its Evan's turn to be berried! After the boys got it all packed on Evan, Kevin walked over him!
Myself and sleepy head Alexis.
Maddi and I playing Uno while the boys played Kevin's new Madden game he had gotten on our shopping trip to Gurnee Mills.

I had such a good time with Maddi. She is so wonderful with Alexis, I think she held Alexis more while she was here then I did! I hope Kevin and I raise Alexis to be such a wonderful, caring young girl like Maddi is.


Until next year when Maddi stays with us again. Who knows, we may be in a new city!

Princess is 5 months old!

Can you all believe that little Alexis is already 5 months old?! It really seems just like yesterday she was born!
We had her 4 month check up just a little late due to super busy schedules but she is a healthy little girl! She now weighs 15 pounds and 26 inches long! The nurse gave her the shots and the little medicine drop...she hated that more than the shots! But once daddy picked her up she was just fine and no more crying! She is one tough baby! She wasn't crabby, didn't get a fever or anything from the shots either which is a huge plus!
Alexis has been slowly starting to roll over...she did it a few times but her arm would get in the way. Until about 2 days ago where you would lay her on her mat and 20 seconds later shes on her belly!

Alexis isn't the biggest fan of being on her belly so she will let out a yell until Kevin or I turn her back over..but just as fast as we turn her back over she is already back rolled over again! She is a goof!



Now Alexis is the perfect mix of Kevin and I but this picture she looks just like me! With the big huge cheeks! I just LOVE IT! She's so stinkin' cute!! Can you all tell I am one proud Mamma?!

La Crosse Trip

On Tuesday, Aug 17 and Wed, Aug 18 we headed out to La Crosse for a little visit. We have not been back there since June. Tuesday night we just had some good ol' family time!

Myself, Alexis and Aunt Kim
Aunt Josie and Alexis


On Wednesday we met Brian, Josie, Emily and Joe at Chucke Cheese for lunch, to play some games and have Emily and Joe open their birthday gifts from us. We all had a lot of fun!

Alexis' first time to Chucke Cheese. She loved looking at all the different games and everything. Eventually she got pooped out and fell asleep.
Josie pointing out all the different activities in the Little Mermaid kit we got for her.
Joe sure did like the ribbon I put on his gifts to hold them together. He kept chewing on them..it was super cute!
It was fun to just watch Emily run around and look at all the different games.
The Bartelt cousins. Such a cute picture!
Very nice picture of Uncle Brian, Aunt Josie and Alexis. I'm pretty sure they love their little niece..hehe :)

Daddy's days off

This past Monday and Tuesday (Aug. 9-10) were Kevin's days off. On Monday we went to this county park in Menominee Falls. It's a camp ground, has a pond where you can fish on one side and has a beach on the other. Kevin fished for awhile...he didn't catch anything but we did see a lot of fish going after the bobber/fishing thing (forgive me..I don't know much about fishing!) It was pretty hot and humid outside and the mosquitoes were awful (but that has been the story all summer!) After we fished and walked around for awhile we went to the beach side to just see how Alexis would like/dislike the water and sand.
This is what Princess Alexis thought!
She loved it! She was to busy staring around and wondering what is going on while I took the pictures to smile but she did love it! I can't wait until next time we go to a beach to see if she likes it just as much!

On Tuesday we went to the May Fair mall. We went shopping for presents for Emily and Joe's birthdays (I can't believe Emily is 3 and Joe already 1!) When Alexis woke up from her nap in her stroller we went to Build a Bear Workshop to make her a bear! :) Mommy named the bear "Bear"...you ask how did I think of such an awesome name like Alexis to name my daughter but just come up with "Bear" for her teddy bear...well my thinking was I want Alexis to be able to say/remember her teddy bears name when she is young. I know... smart thinking!
Here is Mommy, Alexis and Bear! We also got the giggle sound and put it in Bear's hand..she loves that noise! and we bought Bear a red polka dot dress (not seen) because Alexis loves the color red.
Later on Tuesday night while Kevin and I had spaghetti for dinner we put Alexis in her high chair for the first time. She didn't get to eat anything but she didn't seem to mind just playing with her blanket and watching mommy and daddy eat.....

Kevin's mom had frozen the top cake of our wedding cake for our first anniversary. All we had to do was un-thaw it but we've been so busy it took us a little bit to have the time to un-thaw it. But! We finally did and it still tasted amazing!!

Thank you, Cheryl for doing that for us!!! I couldn't have asked for a better Mother in-law! There are so many more reasons you are amazing other than freezing our cake! hehe!

Alexis Gets to Meet More Family!

This past weekend (Aug. 6-8) Alexis and I went up to Green Bay as my Uncle Tim and Aunt Christy from Colorado were in town. They drove to Green bay and got in town Friday night so of course we all headed to Krolls to meet up.
My Aunt Christy holding Alexis...with part of my uncles head in the upper left corner!
Unfortunately it was past Alexis bedtime and she wanted to be by mommy

After awhile at Kroll's Alexis woke up and we headed to my Aunt Annette's house to have a fire. My Aunt Christy buckled Alexis up and got her to be all smiley!
So I know I took this picture the wrong way (forgive me, I was tired!) but Alexis fell asleep on the way home which was about 11:30pm and she didn't wake up until 10:00am the next morning! She slept like this, in her car seat, buckled up all night!
When Alexis finally woke up Saturday morning my mom took her and watched cartoons for awhile.
On Saturday my Aunt Mary Ann came over with my cousin Dale's daughter Sophie (on the left) and my cousin Jay's daughter Annika (on the right) This was their first time meeting Alexis!
After a visit with them we headed over to Bills Pancake Restaurant to meet every one for brunch
A very nice picture of Alexis and Aunt Christy.
I just think this picture is so funny! Look at the expression on my uncles face and then the expression on Alexis face.
A very funny but cute picture of Uncle Tim and Alexis!

My aunt and uncle just loved Alexis!
A picture of all of us before we left the restaurant.
"I want to drive Ryan's Mustang!!!" haha! Look at the way Alexis is staring at the steering wheel...trying to grab it!
Just a sweet picture of my mom and Alexis
Looks like Alexis and Mommy were pooped out!

Alexis talking

Our little Alexis is becoming quiet the talker these last couple days! Here is a video that is about a minute long of her just talking up a storm while laying on her belly (which she used to hate doing not to long ago) At the end of the video Kevin is standing her up..we got her measured a few days ago and she is 24.5 inches long! That is 93% on the chart for her percentile for girls her age in the U.S. That is above average!

Enjoy!!