thursday (2) (finally).

thursday.

an offer was made.

diane to

take madeline for the

day so steve and i

could do something

adult in nature.

we went to disneyland.

(got in free thanks to the awesomeness of marissa).

met diane for

the handoff.

realized that this

was the furthest madeline

had ventured from

the house since the

big day.

she did great,

sleeping the whole

way to the anaheim.

disneyland was empty

so we had a great time.

we giggled like school girls

inside the matterhorn.

rollercoaster shot.

and ate like we

were 12 years old.

steve le gusta churros.

the male broback’s

food choices

made me think of superbad.

outside nearly every ride

i saw

one of those measuring

sticks that gives

the minimum height required

to ride the ride.

i used to make the

same tired joke

to

liz

about being too short

to join me on

the ride.

liz measures up for safety at the mn. state fair.
(photo of liz at the mn state fair in 2006).

(for those of you just joining us, she was 4 ft. 11 in.).

she always rolled

her eyes,

but never got pissed.

told the male broback about this

everytime i saw one of

these things.

later we sat

on a bench enjoying

some frozen

treats.

two beautiful women

walked by pushing strollers.

we turned to each other,

both thinking/saying the

same thing.

me thinking to myself, “i think that’s the stroller steve said they wanted to buy.”

steve saying out loud, “that’s the stroller we want to buy.”

after the disneyland

trip we reunited

with madeline and diane

deep in the land

of botox

and spray-tans.

had a drink at a rooftop

restaurant overlooking the

ocean

drinking.

as we waited

for the sun to set.

the robot waited patiently

in the trunk.

robot in trunk.

as the sun

descended toward the

the ocean floor,

the robot emerged

for his photo shoot.

robot photo session.

people were perplexed

(to say the least)

strangers stopped

and posed

with our friend.

strangers with robot.

strangers with robot.

stranger with robot.

(no one turned us down)

we also posed with

robot.

"no mercy!"

cusak who?

sunset with robot.

it was also madeline’s

first visit

to the beach.

it was cold, so she

stayed covered

in her car seat.

me and madeline.

later we went

for a seaside dinner.

madeline’s first

restaurant visit.

i ate a lot.

realized sometime

during the night

that

i have to stop

speaking in the

present tense

and should avoid the

use of “we”

(after 12+ years together, behavior is hard to change).

it would be a

lot easier if i could

do so,

because it would save me

a lot of back-tracking

in the middle

of a conversation.

(”we, i mean. well..now just me. nevermind”).

we then retired to a

stranger’s house.

sleeping in new

surroundings

leads to less

sleep than we get

at home.

(if that’s possible).

trying to sleep.

another great day.

lots of firsts

for madeline and me.

(is that two great days in a row)?

yes.

Comments 43

  1. Pattee wrote:

    MATT!!!!
    I love that dang ROBOT!!!!!

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 3:26 pm
  2. Jen Hendrickson wrote:

    Hi Matt -

    Sounds like you had a great Thursday - it was worth the wait to read about! Hope you had a great Friday too (three in a row would be spectacular) and a wonderful weekend. I will be thinking of you three this weekend. Happy Mother’s Day to Liz (and you)! Take care, Jen, Rob and Zoe in the MN

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 3:30 pm
  3. Mollie wrote:

    Awesome. And hurrah for great days. Especially when they come two in a row.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 3:42 pm
  4. Aliya in MN wrote:

    Matt
    As Mother’s Day approaches I will be thinking of you and Madeline who is getting more beautiful by the day and wishing wonderful thoughts to both of you (and Liz) on this day. It is the first big holiday hurdle, coming from a mother who lost her father a month before my son was born Father’s Day this year is going to be a doozy to get through. I am so glad that you had two good days in a row, even though we all had to wait for you daily update today it was worth the wait, thank you. Glad to see that you got some “adult time” and some fun, you were at the “happiest place on earth”, again, my thoughts are with you and Madeline for many happy days through the sorrow.

    Warm Thoughts from Aliya in MN

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 3:47 pm
  5. Angela from Montgomery MN wrote:

    Glad to see you had a great couple of days. I love the Robot! What a great momento to have! :) Madeline is getting so big already! Thanks for letting all of us strangers into your lives!

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 3:47 pm
  6. Tara in MN wrote:

    YAY! Here is to many more great days! Have a wonderful weekend!!

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 3:54 pm
  7. jen wrote:

    Matt,
    I am so glad you took time for yourself. You both look great!
    Here’s to another good day.
    Thinking of both of you.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 4:00 pm
  8. Dawn in Pittsburgh wrote:

    I’m rooting for you and I’m SO happy you’ve had two great days in a row. I pray there will be many more to follow.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 4:05 pm
  9. Janet wrote:

    I miss Disneyland. It has been too long.

    Love the shot of you with your arm around the robot…

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 4:16 pm
  10. garrity wrote:

    Beaches are very important.

    I am glad you took your child and your robot to the beach.

    Keep smiling and eating. Keep introducing your daughter and your robot to the world.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 4:20 pm
  11. Catherine wrote:

    I love it. I’m sooooo glad you had some fun. You surely did need it. Thank you to Diane Baek for organizing the adventure! The photo of you with your arm around the robot is poignant.

    Please continue to enjoy your weekend, and courage for Sunday.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 4:21 pm
  12. Lori wrote:

    Matt,
    I just learned of your blog today and I’m already a huge fan. Your ability to capture moments and random strangers’ hearts is a true talent. Your writing and photography are perfection.

    I am rooting for you and your baby as you tackle each new day head-on with that awesome robot. What a lucky guy you are to have experienced such love in your life already and to experience it anew through the eyes of your beautiful daughter.

    -Fellow Robotaholic-

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 4:27 pm
  13. Laurie wrote:

    Your good days make me happy. Yay! :)

    That picture of you and the robot chummily watching the sun go down has got to be one of my favorite photos so far. He’s really turning out to be quite a social little beast, isn’t he? And not even an English speaker, no less… very impressive. Gotta keep an eye on him around the booze, though.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 4:30 pm
  14. Alisha wrote:

    I really love that robot! My boyfriend gets a huge kick out of it. I’ll be thinking of you two on mothers day.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 4:33 pm
  15. Carrie wrote:

    I am so happy to hear about 2 great days in a row, my best wishes for a 3rd. You look good Matt and your little beauty is getting bigger with every picture. Its very important that you take time for yourself and do some things that make you happy no matter what they are or how silly they seem. You are blessed to have such a great group of friends. Enjoy and I’m glad to see/read you are doing well these last two days, build up your strength and courage for Sunday, you will need. I am sure that you will make it through you are an amazing guy! I will be thinking about you all this weekend.

    PS Keep saying “we” and keep wearing her rings, no need to change -

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 4:38 pm
  16. Christa wrote:

    As a new reader you must tell me the story of the robot..pretty please and dang that baby is cute..will be thinking of both of you on mother’s day

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 4:38 pm
  17. Kate in Northridge wrote:

    Man, you were not kidding when you said you got some great shots of the robot! Praise Odin. I particularly love this one:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattlogelin/2479364838/in/set-72157594529379436/

    May I just say, you look rock-star bitchen in your aviators. No one would ever guess you were from the mpls! ;-)

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 4:42 pm
  18. Shirley in CT wrote:

    It is so good to know that you “giggled [today] like school girls”. That made me smile knowing you had a good day. More are sure to come.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 4:51 pm
  19. Michele from Mn wrote:

    I am so happy you’ve had 2 great days!!! Madeline looks peaceful in the last photo. Warm thoughts to both of you…

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 5:00 pm
  20. Lisa wrote:

    Reading this post and seeing these photos.. I just laughed and laughed. I’m so glad you had a good time.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 5:31 pm
  21. katie wrote:

    2 good days in a row is awesome… more will follow, soon to be 3, 4 and 5.
    Madeline is going to grow up thinking the robot is her sibling ~ she’ll love it :)
    Glad you both had a good day.
    I’ll be thinking of the three of you this Sunday.
    Hang in there

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 5:33 pm
  22. Tina wrote:

    Been following your site. Madeline is beautiful. So glad you had a good time at Disneyland.

    Tina
    http://www.caringbridge.org/md/lance

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 5:52 pm
  23. Maria wrote:

    Woo hoo for two good days in a row!

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 5:55 pm
  24. Hawkfeather wrote:

    i wanna go to disney without my kids.

    I found my kids never slept well when i slept at other’s homes’.. my effort to retain my youth by having the occasional jammy party has been squelched by diapers and fussy babies.. but it just helps me appreciate my bed more too.. so it works out well balance wise.

    yay good daze.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 6:05 pm
  25. Lisa from NC wrote:

    Good to see a smile on your face. I agree…there is something rock-starish about your cool shades!

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 6:14 pm
  26. Joy wrote:

    Hi matt,

    I just chanced upon your blog. You are an awesome dad! I know this sunday will be mother’s day, you are the mom AND the dad of adorable madeline, so I should say happy mothers day to you. You will always be in my prayers. You and madeline both. If you need a listening board, I am here.

    I love how the way you capture every single thing. I am now a fan of your blog. Keep it coming!

    God Bless!

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 6:14 pm
  27. colleen wrote:

    i am so happy that you had a good day. i was able to get through most of the post without tearing up. always happens when i see the pics of madeline.
    sleep well.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 6:16 pm
  28. Megan in Osceola wrote:

    Whew. I am relieved. You are ok. Even better than ok. I hope Mother’s Day will be do-able. You are being her mother and father, and you are doing a great job, for all the world to see. Liz got to be a mother for a bit… I’ll be thinking of her that day.

    Peace.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 6:33 pm
  29. lindsey - cape cod wrote:

    So glad to hear you had a good day!! Madeline is perfect and you are doing so well! I read this daily, sometimes more than once, and you are a true inspiration to me! Keep up the good work!

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 7:11 pm
  30. Jessica wrote:

    LOL at the Karate Kid photo!

    So glad to hear you had a good day.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 7:27 pm
  31. Shawna O'Reilly wrote:

    At some point the good days will outnumber the bad. Until then, take them as they come and enjoy them completely. Your strength is an inspiration.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 7:40 pm
  32. Jaimee Bellfield wrote:

    Hi Matt!

    That’s awesome that you had 2 great days in a row! LOVE the pic of you and robot on the beach watching the sunset!! :) Hoping you have a great tomorrow.

    Jaimee

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 7:47 pm
  33. Michelle wrote:

    Love the pics! So happy to hear that you had a good time at Disneyland. BTW, what is the story behind the robot? Your blog is becoming addicting!

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 8:05 pm
  34. leslie wrote:

    Matt,
    I am so happy you had a great day - again. This latest post makes me grin from ear to ear, especially the roller coaster photo. You’ve really got the best friends.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 8:09 pm
  35. Laurie from MN wrote:

    So happy to hear about your good day. The robot sure does get around. Like always, love all your pics. Sure do remember the sleepless baby nights. Amazing how a person can function on such little sleep, huh?
    Hope you had another good day today. Try to get some zzzz’s when you can.
    Take care.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 8:10 pm
  36. Nina wrote:

    can I just say how much I love that pic of you with your arm around the robot?! I think you might need to give the robot a name, other than just robot. just a thought.
    oh I also want to add that I didn’t realize Liz was only 4′11″. I just thought you were incredibly tall…..

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 8:37 pm
  37. em wrote:

    So glad you had such a great day! I particularly got a kick out of you and your friend’s milestone “dad” moment when with two hot chicks nearby, you thought only of baby gear. How quickly (and profoundly) your priorities change as a parent can really smack you upside the head, can’t it? (Especially when you find you don’t even really mind.) Reminds me of one of my milestone “mom” days, when on the very day my passport expired (leaving me without a valid one for the first time in two decades after years of globetrotting adventures) I found myself on a car lot buying a minivan. You do what you gotta do — and the kids benefit so much when you can shrug it off with a laugh.

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 9:39 pm
  38. juanita wrote:

    Two good days in a row - amen for small miracles. How nice that you and Maddy are going to spend the night by the water; Issak Denson said, “the cure for everything is saltwater: sweat, tears and the sea.” I hope the sound of the water helps lull you both into a peaceful sleep.

    As a member of the 4′11″ club, I can relate to the half amused/half annoyed look on Liz’s face in the photo w/ the height requirement sign. If I had a dollar for every time J has made me do that…

    I will be thinking of you and Maddy this weekend.

    j.

    P.S.
    Can I be the president of the Robot Fan Club? This photo shoot really brought out his tender side and I am quite smitten.

    P.P.S.
    Who won the karate showdown? The robot or the male Broback?
    Did they make peace afterward?

    Posted 09 May 2008 at 10:46 pm
  39. Beth in MI wrote:

    “the male broback’s

    food choices

    made me think of superbad”

    That is the funniest thing I’ve ever read. Ever! ha ha ha ha

    Posted 11 May 2008 at 3:11 pm
  40. Sarah in MI wrote:

    Please keep saying “we” - in the past tense to tell about how much you loved Liz and in the present tense to talk of you and sweet Madeline. She’s so wonderfully lucky to have you as a dad and also to have all of the people in your life who obviously care so much about your family. I am touched by your journey and am rooting for you. Best wishes, from an interweb stranger. :)

    Posted 11 May 2008 at 5:41 pm
  41. Kim from MN wrote:

    Matt, I am so happy that you had another good day :)

    Posted 12 May 2008 at 6:08 am
  42. Erin in L.A. wrote:

    Matt, I’m just getting caught up on your blog. I’m glad to hear you ate a healthy meal. Things will get better with time.

    On another note, I just had to comment that the pictures of the robot on the beach are excellent. I especially love the one of you watching the sunset with the robot.

    Your disposition seems to be improving. You’re very strong. Keep it up.

    Hugs!
    Erin

    Posted 19 May 2008 at 11:18 am
  43. Pammy wrote:

    The robot actually made me laugh for the first time this morning reading this.

    Posted 23 Jun 2008 at 10:33 am

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