WE'VE GOT A WALKER!

So, yes, Madeline has started walking as of last week! It's hard to believe but true. I think that she actually already knew how to walk and was practicing when we were not looking...she's crafty that way. She just stood up at Grandma's house and walked across the kitchen. It's funny though, when she wakes up, she doesn't really remember that she can do it. Then around mid afternoon, she remembers and starts truckin' around all over again. She is hesitant to walk at our house just because we have like the most unsafe house for a baby apparently. Tile and hardwood floors don't feel very good when you fall down. Tonight she actually did fall and got a bloody lip...that did not go over well with Madeline!

School started yesterday. I have full classes and it seems like a pretty good group of kids so far. Hard to know too much on the second day but nobody really stands out as a distraction just yet so that is a definite plus. I have one class with all returning students. That is the first time that has happened. This is my sixth year teaching...I never would have imagined that I would be on this path. Never.
Madeline is fitting right back in at school. All of her little buddies are growing up now too. It's fun to watch them all play together. They are finally at the age where they interact with each other on purpose. There is one kid there that is a little heavy handed. He likes to hit other kids with hard toys and he pushes and pulls a bit. Apparently this is normal behavior. I wish he would go have his normal behavior somewhere else. I'm kinda tired of seeing him manhandle Madeline. It's just a matter of time though before she just pushes him back...that sounds awful, I know, but the kids are going to learn how to tell him no in a way that he understands all on their own.
Every morning and evening, she just likes to sit on our porch while we are loading or unloading the car. Van Gogh is a nice cat and rubs on her thank goodness. The other two just run when they see her. She loves to sit there and squeal at Van Gogh and she just LOVES being outside. She is such a funny little thing! She is always so happy.

Before school started, we took one last trip down to Santa Rosa. This is a picture of Mike and Madeline outside of one of the wineries that we went to. She was such a trooper! We went over to Glen Ellen and did a little bit of wine tasting. It is SO cute over there, I had never been before. And if you ever make it to Rohnert Park, you have to try the restaurant Hana. It was the most amazing Japanese restaurant that I think I have ever eaten in. Everything was so tasty and SO decadent. It's making my mouth water right now just thinking about it.

Madeline has officially grown out of her baby bathtub. We find ourselves in a pickle because she's too young for a shower on her own and to big for her tub! We don't have a big bathtub in our house...so, we decided to get really backwoods and hillbilly and get her a new tub! She now has her own little galvanized tub that will sit in front of the wood stove. Here is a picture of her enjoying her new tub.


Okay, I should definitely be going to bed. I have to get up early to make copies for those lovely kids tomorrow.
I will try and blog at least once a week. It's really hard right now because of school and because I have a job every weekend up through the first week of October!

Oh, and I know this is totally corny and all but if you want a good book to read that will totally suck you in read Twilight. Seriously. I am embarrassed to admit it because it's a teenage book about teenagers but for some reason, it SUCKS YOU IN! So, if you want to read it, let me know, I have it...and the second one and the third one...