holy shit.
we have been
incredibly busy.
let’s see if
the photos can jog
my memory a bit…
after the nyc trip
there were a few
days of work and daycare,
a visit to the
doctor for madeline’s
second flu shot,
dinner at the french
restaurant in the eagle rock
with auntie diane
then came halloween.
that friday, madeline
tried on a couple
both looked incredible.
then auntie melanie stopped by
and we
hung out on the couch,
waiting for some
trick or treaters.
we waited…
and waited…
eventually they started
showing up and
we handed out
some candy
to the exhausted kids willing to
walk up the stairs
to the house
after walking
up the big
hill to get to our street.
last year there
was one.
this year there
were 30+,
which sucks ’cause i
was counting on
eating most of the
candy i purchased.
oh well…
there is still plenty
left for me.
saturday we went
to breakfast with auntie anya.
later we went
with our friend laura
to a party at
one of her friend’s houses.
maddy started the
night as minnie
and i improvised so
i’d have a costume.
we met lots
of new people
and maddy got
to hang with another
potential suitor
a good
night was had by all.
sunday i took maddy
on a little shopping
trip to the west side
we drove past some
people fighting the
good fight.
i bought a
new rug for the
increasingly more mobile madeline.
something
liz
wanted her to have.
i think she
would have been
fond of the one i
picked out.
later, after moving
my couch and
furniture by myself,
(it was sort of like one of those sliding puzzles),
i found a
giant hole in
the damn rug,
which sucked more
than anyone can imagine.
i exchanged it
the next day,
rolled the thing out
(no hole this time)
and worked to get
the room back in order.
all the effort
was worth it ’cause
madeline loved it.
but rolling around
on the new rug
was a little more exercise
than she is used
to so she
passed out.
tuesday rolled around
and maddy joined
me at the
polling place
down the street to
help me vote.
we arrived and
found that
liz’s
name was still
on the voter roll.
the woman at
the polling place asked
if my wife
would be voting.
i said,
“no.”
“why not?”
she said.
fuck.
i don’t really want
to get into
this now, but i
don’t want the
lady to think that
liz
chose to not vote.
so i told her
what happened.
she apologized.
then i asked how
i go about
getting her name
off of the list.
she gave me
an answer that i
completely ignored
’cause i wasn’t
really prepared to
deal with this shit today.
maddy helped me
vote by working
hard to tear down
the voting booth.
we did our part
and headed off
to work and daycare.
that night we were
joined by peter, eileen
and amy to watch
the returns roll in.
it was over earlier
than any of
us could have
even hoped
so we broke
out the champagne earlier
than expected.
greg arrived with
another bottle of champagne
and we continued
the celebration as
our future president
made us smile.
with the night almost
over, one of
amy’s friends arrived
to join the party.
a great night for
many reasons, but
i was especially
excited to be
surrounded by friends.
as predicted, we
all slept well
that night.
thursday rolled around
and we headed
off to the bh
to check out an
art opening at
the gallery where
our friend laura works.
unlike the last
opening, i had madeline
strapped to my
chest and had a diaper
bag and camera
on either shoulder.
i was worried that
i was going
to bump into
one of the sculptures
so i stayed
near the perimeter of
the room.
mandy moore stared and
pointed at madeline
as i gave her 6oz
of formula.
as i talked to
laura and nate
i heard some
obviously intoxicated women
laughing loudly so i
looked in their direction.
at that moment
one of them bumped
into one of the
sculptures in the middle
of the room.
part of it
fell down and
shattered on the ground.
we heard a
collective “oh”
rise from the crowd
as they backed
away from the sculpture.
i looked at
laura, whose jaw
was on the floor.
“holy shit. how much was that sculpture going for?”
i said.
“$120,000″
was laura’s answer.
wow.
maddy and i left
the gallery,
pausing long enough
to see a different drunk
lady posing for
photos outside the gallery.
(they really need to stop serving free wine at these events).
we headed home,
so fucking happy
that i wasn’t
the one to knock
that sculpture over.
woke up friday morning
feeling like shit.
maddy picked up
a nasty cold sometime
during the past
few days and decided
to pass it on
to me.
thanks, madeline.
we spent all of
friday on the couch
and woke up
feeling a bit better
on saturday.
decided we should
take advantage of the
beautiful weather and
head to huntington gardens.
i’d been there
a few time with
liz
and she loved it.
figured maddy would
as well.
got there and she
was asleep,
which allowed me
an opportunity to
take a few photos.
eventually maddy woke up
and chewed on her
teething rings.
her mind was blown
as it went
from light to dark
in a matter of
seconds as
we entered the
bamboo forest.
later we hung out
in the rose garden
madeline did a
little flying
then we headed
toward the exit,
pausing long enough
for her to
find her shadow.
and hang upside down
(she really loves that).
happy madeline
and i left the gardens
and made our
way back home.
we stopped home long
enough to replenish
her diaper bag
supplies than it was
off to peter’s place
for a party.
she impressed
the ladies with
her yoga moves
while the rest
of us played the wii.
another great night
with friends.
i woke up
on sunday morning
feeling like shit.
maddy was back to
her healthy self.
this is the
first time i’ve been
really sick since
she was born.
i was exhausted
and wanted nothing
more than to sleep,
which of course
meant that
she was full of energy
and ready to party.
i have no idea
how single parents
with multiple children,
or older, more active
children do it.
(my day is coming).
we made it to
monday morning
and i felt worse
than the day
before, so maddy
and i stayed home
to take care of
one another.
made it to
work on tuesday,
but that wasn’t such
a good idea.
woke up wednesday
morning wondering whether
or not i should
go to work
madeline somehow sensed
there was a
possibility that i may
go in, so
she did what she
could to ensure that
i’d have to
stay home with her
by turning me
into a pirate.
thanks again, madeline.
went to the doctor
to get some medication
for my illness.
my doctor, who’s
used to seeing me cry,
noticed that today
i was crying only
out of one eye.
she checked out
the eye and suggested
that i go
see an eye doctor.
she also determined
that i had a
sinus infection and
hooked me up
with some antibiotics.
went to the eye
doctor, who confirmed
that i had
a scratched cornea.
he patched my
eye up and tried to
prescribe me some
sleeping pills, telling me,
“i hope your wife can help you out with the baby tonight, because you need at least ten hours of uninterrupted sleep to ensure that your eye heals properly”
son of a bitch.
i told him why
that was impossible.
“do you have any family in the area?”
“no”
there are friends
who could help, but
they have their
own lives and
problems to
deal with.
i thanked him and
headed home,
remembering the advice
from all the new
parent’s i’ve met
along the way…
“sleep while your baby sleeps”
indeed…
i did just that
most of the rest of the
day, not getting
more than an
hour of uninterrupted rest.
at some point
i put maddy on
the rug and she made
some pretty serious
attempts at rolling over
and crawling.
the evening
rolled around
and i got a call from
liz’s
friend catherine asking
how i was doing.
i gave her the
run down and she
offered to drop
maddy off at daycare
so i didn’t have to
try to drive
her there with
only one eye open.
so, so awesome.
madeline allowed me
to get that ten
hours of sleep
during the night
and we both
woke up in time
for catherine’s arrival.
i thanked her
for the thousandth time for
offering to take madeline
to daycare.
(great to have so many caring people around).
i spent my alone
time sleeping until
it was time
to head back to
the eye doctor.
he removed the patch
and told me that
the damn
thing healed rather quickly.
he said that
the only thing
i’d have to
do is put
eye drops in my
eyes for the next
six weeks.
shit.
big problem.
i have no
idea why, but i’ve
never been able
to put
anything near my eye.
a few years back
liz
had to sit on
top of me to hold
me down as she
put drops in my eye.
what the hell
am i gonna do?
well, like
everything else,
i’m just gonna
have to figure it out.
on the way out
of the office,
the doctor said,
“some of the ladies brought in some clothes for your baby. once again, i’m truly sorry for your loss”
i guess the doctor
must have told
the nurses what happened
’cause i walked
out of the
exam room and was
handed a huge
bag of clothing for maddy.
people truly are amazing.
i picked maddy
up from
daycare and brought
her home with me.
we spent the
rest of the afternoon
napping so i
could get the rest that
my eyes needed.
before bed i
put madeline in
front of the piano
that was given
to us months
ago by the family
of one of
liz’s
high school classmates.
let’s just say
she went crazy
on that piano.
(just like her momma).
went to work on
friday, feeling better
with the help
of the antibiotics
and the eye drops
(yes! i was able to put them in on my own).
took the team
to the huntington gardens
(their choice)
and took a whole bunch
of photos both inside,
and outside.
it was great to
get the team
out of the office.
after the gardens
i rushed back to
the north hollywood,
picked up madeline
and we headed off
to the burbank
airport for our
flight to the sf.
uneventful trip, other than
having to explain
to the woman
next to me why
i was wearing
liz’s
rings.
awesome auntie deb met
us at the airport
and guided us
back to her apartment.
we had a great dinner
with deb and
her friend erin.
then it was back
to deb’s place
for a quick nap
before meeting up with
creepy karyn.
she delivered to me
a birthday gift that
i can’t even
begin to describe.
(thank you d.c.b.)
we went out
for a few drinks
while maddy hung
out with her auntie.
we eventually met up
with my cousin josh,
who took the
long way to deb’s
neighborhood and
didn’t arrive until 1:30am.
we stayed out
rather late and woke
up way too early to
get ready for
the real reason we
were in town…
thanks to kate c.,
one of her coworkers
(whose name i do not remember),
brenda f. and seth g.,
we were invited to
see the premier of
maddy stayed with deb
and josh and i
met a big
crowd of folks
at sfo and
waited around for the
buses to arrive to
take us to our destination.
as we waited
i finally got a chance
to talk to brenda f.
face-to-face
(we’ve been exchanging e-mails and phone calls for the past few weeks).
we joked around
for a bit then
finally boarded the buses
to the ranch.
after a long drive
we arrived and
followed the lead
of the other nerds
in the group,
snapping photos
whenever they did.
(truth be told, josh and i were there for the robot chicken thing…we’re not the biggest star wars fans on the face of the earth…though this event would have been right up liz’s alley. and aj’s, too, but he’s got more important things to deal with in the coming weeks).
we met
some of the guys
who make the show
possible, enjoyed a
a great lunch then
picked up
some gifts from the
gift shop for the
star wars nerds
in our lives.
later we got a tour
of a tiny portion
of the ranch.
i made josh mimic
the pose
of all the other
geeks we met,
while i spent
my time enjoying
the fall colors.
we both laughed
as one dude
called another,
“king of the nerds”
after he interrupted
and corrected the
tour guide for
the second time.
after the tour
we caught up
with brenda f.
who took us inside
to meet seth g.
and george l.
heard more than
one person in the
mob of people
say something about
george being a god.
not sure about
that, but it was
pretty awesome
to meet him.
also got to
chat with seth.
in the short time
we talked to him,
he proved to
be one of the
nicest hollywood types
i’ve ever met.
after the mob
scene, it was time
to head into
the theater
so we could watch
the robot chicken thing.
it was nothing
short of rad.
after that,
we got to screen
raiders of the lost ark.
after the movie
we jumped back
on the bus
back to the sf.
i have to
thank brenda f. again.
talk about awesome…
she spent a ton
of time talking
to two dudes
she barely knew when
should could have
been with her good friends,
clients and colleagues.
thanks for caring
enough to not
only set this
up but to make
it one of the
best days
i’ve had in a
long time.
made it back
to deb’s neighborhood
and met her,
her friend kate and
madeline at an
indian restaurant for dinner.
we were also
joined by one of
liz’s
college classmates,
jessica f.,
and her husband.
had a great conversation
and promised to catch
up again.
josh and i planned
on going out
that evening,
but we were both
too exhausted.
so was maddy.
we sent deb and
kate out and
we went back to
deb’s apartment with
madeline to get
some rest.
josh and i woke
up the next
morning and took a
little walk around
the city, enjoying the
unseasonably warm weather
in the sf.
after a nice long walk
we met up
with auntie deb and madeline
at a restaurant for
breakfast. we were joined
by julia and her mom
and brother, as well as
chandra and derek.
everyone was excited
to see maddy.
she was happy to
see them as well.
after breakfast
we said goodbye
to josh and his
rad rental car,
and deb, madeline
and i wandered
around the city
taking photos.
madeline was thrilled.
we finished up
our walk and it
was time for
us to go.
deb walked us
to the bart station
and we made our
way to the oakland aiport.
got to the airport
with no problems
and had an
uneventful flight
with maddy.
we made it back
to the burbank,
got our car
and drove home.
we were asleep
by 10:00.
a whirl-wind weekend
for sure.
i keep thinking
i need to slow down,
but as the holidays
approach, it’s only
gonna get busier.
i’m exhausted,
but it’s these trips,
time spent with
friends and family,
and especially everything
to do with madeline,
that get me
out of bed every morning.
thanks for helping
me do that.
99 Comments
I love the videos!! She is getting so big
Welcome Back! It is amazing how many people are waiting to hear from you. Madeline is growing so fast. The pictures make me miss my home town of San Francisco.
*smiles* I love all the pics and the vids are great too. That is one happy kiddo you have there.
that’s just awesome! and no, i’m not a star wars fan. i’m just THAT impressed. 
OMG you got to meet George Lucas and Seth Green. wow.
Madeline is just so beautiful and her hair has grown so much!!
As a single parent of a 3 year old, I know what you mean about your kids being the reason you get up in the a.m. Sometimes it’s just so hard, but you hear them in the next room and you get your ass up and go see their crazy bed head and that in itself is enough to put a smile on your face!!
Matt –
We’ve been dealing with our own issues with a child with special needs. Thanks for being so honest about it all. It is really, really refreshing.
Rachel
pipsylou.blogspot.com
So glad you have been enjoying the past few weeks. So sorry about the colds, the tragedy of daycare, and the eye. I have a daughter, 3 mos., I love it when I seen Madeline in an outfit that my daughter also wears. It makes me smile. You are doing a great job!
She’s so friggen adorable. I love the videos and so does my 20 month old son. He kept saying, baby, me! He wanted her to play with him. Next time you are in the SF we’d love to come up and meet you. We were up there this past weekend, gotta love global warming and the amazing weather we’re having
Glad you’re having so many good days.
Rosie (in the san jose)
beautiful recap of the past little bit. love the fuzz on top of that girl’s head!
i dig the videos and the fact that you met george lucas and seth green?! crazyawesome!
hope the week of thanksgiving will be filled with more of the same – family, friends and food!
What an adorably happy baby. You really scored the jackpot with her, Matt! I love the pics of her in her Halloween costume.
P.S. I know I’m not an art collector or expert by any means. But $120,000 pool tubes on a chair?
So nice to hear from you again, Matt
Been wondering how you are!! Great pictures, great videos, and I”m glad your eye is feeling better, and that you and Maddy have kicked your nasty cold! Maybe I should go to the DR today… been sick for FAR too long now, I probably have a sinus infection too!!! And I don’t even PAY to see my DR! lol
I am BEYOND jealous of you getting to visit Skywalker ranch, meet George Lucas and Seth Green! That’s CRAZY awesome (I am a huge star wars fan lol).
So love to see your and Madeline’s gorgeous smiling faces!!!
GREAT update! And even better pictures! Beautiful flowers, beautiful paintings and a beautiful little girl!
The staff from the optometrist’s office are awesome! And good job on avoiding the $120,000 sculptures.
And I’m rather jealous that you went to Skywalker Ranch and met George and Seth and saw Robot Chicken AND Raiders of the Lost Ark!!!
we’ve missed you!! awesome update. i love reading all the adventures you and madeline get into, you are a great dynamic-duo!
Tip on eye drops from a fellow eye drop incompetent: if you drip the drops onto the inside corner of your eye while your eye is closed, then open your eye and tilt your head to the outside, the drops will just roll in and it’s not nearly as traumatic as trying to hold your eye open and apply the drops directly.
Also, every girl should have the opportunity to be a unicorn for Halloween. It was my favorite costume from when I was little.
Wow. That’s a lot of catching us up! Thank you!
So what’s the deal at art shows?…I’m thinking there’s no “break it, buy it” rule. If there was, I’d serve free tequila, rum, vodka, wine, beer, etc… That’s how I’d make my money.
Huntington Garden photos are fantastic.
Madeline is such a happy baby, good job Matt!
I was wondering if those pics were from Huntington Gardens.
Do you think if I went this weekend if the flowers will still be gorgeous??
Seth Green. Awesome. He seems way cool, it’s nice to know that he IS.
you’re back!!! hooray!
WE MISSED YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!! Thanks for catching us up. The pic of her playing the piano (one of my own favorite hobbies) is just too cute!!!!
We are thinking of you as the holidays approach…Take care!
Lots and lots going on — it’s all good. Excellent that you cracked champagne for the election, and you’ve been spreading your wings ever since.
Over here we’re all celebrating with you — such a great day, which has been such a long time coming.
California dreaming.
Love the shot of Madeline finding her shadow. When she smiles, she looks alot like her mama. Glad to hear you both have been having adventures. After a few days without a post, I was worried you had succumbed to the drudgery that is the life of all working parents. Good to hear you’re still getting out, about and sharing the love.
I’m glad to see that you are back! aaand I’m glad for the new pics of M
So glad to hear from you. Madeline just keeps getting cuter and cuter. My favorite photo was the one with the teething ring. She is beautiful.
All the photos were great. So glad you had a good time.
Damn Matt – I’m exhausted just reading what you’ve been up to! I agree though – keeping busy and being surrounded by so much love and support and fun fun fun things to do is what eases the pain – Hope you are getting a little quality shut eye in between –
looking forward to catching up next week –
Take Care – Darcie
I LOVE the picture of Maddy passed out with her Obama shirt on. Actually, all of the pictures are pretty kick ass. Great update, I love seeing pictures of your travels.
Matt, Welcome Back! you and Maddy have been missed! So nice to stay soooo busy. It makes everything going on in your life a lil easier to tolerate, huh?! It’s nice to hear of all of the love and support you get from family & friends, and all the FUN things you do! That’s great and I’m happy for you! Take care of yourself and your gorgeous Maddy. Love all of the pics! Thanks for sharing!
Well no wonder you haven’t had time to update the blog! Madeline sure is a well-traveled baby, isn’t she?
I checked out these pics on flickr, but it’s nice to read the stories that go along with them. LOVE the graffiti pics and the flower pics are amazing!
I’ve done the pirate patch thing before…it sucks! Glad you and Maddy are both feeling better!
Yea!!! An update! I feel so much better now! haha…sorry about the eye, been there done that..those little fingernails can cause big havoc! I just love the little videos, it’s so fun to watch her growing and learning. Thanks for sharing with us Maddiphiles!
Thanks for taking the time to catch us up on your news. I can only imagine how exhausted you are, so I’m impressed that you take the time to show off your doll and let us into your life. Your daughter could not be more adorable! Thanks again!
Glad you had a good trip! Looks like you have a little musician on your hands–that would be neat. And I don’t care whether you are a huge fan on not–that is AWESOME to meet George Lucas and go to Skywalker Ranch. That’s something you can brag about for a long time! Looking forward to dinner!
I always enjoy your pictures, but those flower and plant shots from the Gardens are just amazing!!!
And, I LOVE the picture of Maddy with the giant lizard!!! Laughing while she kicks it.
Wow, great post, amazing pictures, amazing opportunities! OMG Maddy will be crawling soon and then boy she’ll never stop moving!
My son would have been so excited about Star Wars and robot chickens! Glad your eye is better, stay healthy!
You take amazing pictures, for sure, but none are better than Maddie in the sea of candy.
That 2nd last picture is gorgeous.
I’m exhausted just reading that.
Hi Matt & Madeline! Wow—- Glad to see all the fun you two are having! The pics, and video are great. She’s a musical genius for sure…. Take care.
great photos – I especially love the flowers, do you use a macro lens?
Great garden photos. I really love that piano. Do you know where they got that? You know, she only has to be three to start Suzuki…….
dude – my 3 yo scratched my cornea about 6 weeks ago. Talk about painful! I had to wear a contact patch and go the eye doctor 3 times in 1 week. Like you, they said my healed surprisingly fast for actually having a divet removed from my eye! But it still dries out sometimes and I think it will never be the same again. Heal soon!
wow busy busy busy. beautiful pictures, and beautiful Madeline too!
hugs from NJ,
erica and Landon
Love this update (well, all of them, really!)… especially the pics from SF, the city that I miss all the time! Your pics of the murals remind me of my Uncle who used to photograph them every week to show the change that occurred that most people didn’t notice.
I wondered where you disappeared to…I was in Grant Park on election night. You and Maddy would’ve had a blast! I thought of you both while I was there, and I’m sorry you weren’t there to take pictures of it!
Glad you and Maddy are doing well. I love the videos, and I can’t believe how big she’s getting!
Wow Matt, I was tired just reading all of what you’ve done! I’m glad to get an update, and happy to know you are still getting out there with people and doing fun stuff. Hope you are feeling better and Maddy is keeping you smiling. Enjoy!
The pictures are just beautiful!! You are the best photographer!! Wow!!!
So glad to have you back, you and Maddy are missed when you’re so busy. Think of you often.
I LOVE the video of Maddy playing the piano! How absolutely adorable she is!! You’ve got such a beautiful little girl!
Love Madeline the virtuoso. Also love how you’re all, nonchalant, like, “he’s one of the best hollywood types I’ve met.” Because you’ve met so many! Sounds like the SF trip was ::awesomesauce::.
What a cool trip to the SF for you two. Love that you got to go to Skywalker Ranch for Robot Chicken. Just awesome.
I have to agree that that piano really is the coolest toy I’ve seen. Between that and all the great music you expose her to, she may end up being the youngest little rock star ever.
Wow, so much over the past few weeks..great update. (I like your rug choice– I am needing a new one) Your adventures here in the SF looked like a lot of fun.
maddy and daddy look great…glad everyone’s feeling better. she’s going to be crawling before you know it…loved the piano bit
I’ve been reading your blog since the beginning, but have never left a comment. Thank you for sharing your story so candidly with all of us. You are doing an amazing job raising Maddy. Liz would be proud.
On the eye drop front… Laying on your back, closing your eye and placing a drop in the corner by your nose. Then all you have to do is open your eye and the drop rolls right in. That’s how I have to do it with my boy. He has a horrible aversion to getting eye drops.
I’m exhaused just reading about your adventures the last few weeks. Love the video of Maddy. She is adorable. Can’t wait to see her crawl!
My issue is needles. Jeff used to drive me home from blood tests, etc. Now I have to just suck it up and try not to pass out. I find the trick for me is to not let myself think about it. If I look at it or think about it entering my arm, I’m toast….fainted toast. If I bring the kids, I’m okay. They distract me by attempting to remove things from the nurse’s drawers as I try to dissuade them.
LOVED the flower photos and Maddy kicking the dragon with a smile on her face. Kung fu baby!
Maddy is getting so BIG! She has to be the happiest baby ever, that smile is killer! I’m glad you got to update, I’m always thinking of you two.
Holy Recap!
Glad you’re back. Great pics and thanks for sharing!
wow, what a whirlwind, as you write. you both look great. good job with the living room rug, too. I was cheering on maddy trying to reach her toy. my seven year old daughter loved the piano music and singing, too.
the flower photos are fantastic.
glad you are feeling better, too.
that is all for now. happy to see you’re back!
Did Maddy react at all to you wearing an eye patch?
Also, that sculpture story? Friggin’ hilarious.
I know this will sound creepy but who cares -
All weekend my daughter and I were both puking our guts out and all I kept thinking about was you and what an awesome single dad you are and what I would do if I were you. I have a husband to help and could barely keep my shit together. Kudos to you.
(Strangely enough, Mari also poked me in the eye and I too had a scratched cornea all weekend. No patch for me, but my doc did confiscate my contacts and I have no glasses so it was pretty horrendous.)
Thanks Matt and Madeline your post and pictures made my crappy day better. I understand you are busy and get sick, but I must admit I am addicted to you guys and felt like I was fiending for a logelin update. That is rather scary to me, but I am thankful my fix was filled today.
I love the pictures from the Huntington, I love the gardens there. Your close ups are brilliant!
Glad you are feeling better and keeping busy. Thanks again for the fix!
Welcome back, we’ve missed you both!!!! The pictures continue to be awesome, some make me laugh out loud….the gardens are breath taking. Realize you are busy, but sure look forward to your days spent with your cute little lady. Get some rest, once Maddy starts rolling over, you’ll be busier than usual!!!!
Thanks for the update Matt, hugs to beautiful little Maddy.
Trice
Thank you so much for catching us up! I was convinced you were done blogging for good! What a sigh of relief.
Keep fighting the good fight.
Love your beautiful photos Matt! Just gorgeous. Looks like that Maddy girl is getting closer to pig tails, her hair is getting so long!
you are doing a fabulous job with your daughter.
She is adorable and happy.
It brightens my day to see your blog updates.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Can’t get over how big Madeline is getting and how much hair she has!!!! Her eyes are beautiful and can’t get over how long her eye lashes are!!!!
She was so precious in her Halloween outfits!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the picture of her surrounded with all the candy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All your other pics are amazing as well….you are such a talented photographer….
Praying for ya’ll from Dallas!!!!!!
I am glad for you….that you were not the one to knock the sculpture over!
Thanks for the update! Hope you’re surviving the eye drops. The piano video is fabulous!
Matt,
Glad to hear the past weeks were good for you and Madeline. I thought your last post saying thank you was it…Thank goodness it is not
I have to tell you that I appreciate your blog for so many reasons that it would be to long to write. You are doing a great job with Madeline. I love the bumbo at the Piano. You are doing good!
Glad you had a nice time, Maddy’s over her cold and that your eye’s healing well. Thinking of you both xXx
Asalamu Alaykom Mr. Matt,
(I’m improving my spelling for Arabic transliteration for anyone who wonders at the different letter arrangement)
Too frickin’ busy, dude! Not for you—you seem to be thriving. You are too busy for ME! I need a man on a regular basis and it used to be you, but sigh…like all men you seem to have gone on to bigger and better: George Lucas?! Seth Green?! COME ON! How can a girl compete?!
@Alibaba in the L.A., any chance you’re Muslim AND single? LOL! l can hope!
Great update! I am so glad you are keeping busy. And with such fun things!
I am glad you didnt break the sculpture too!
This line ” a good night was had by all” totally gives away your Minnesota roots, dontcha know.
Thank you for the update….missing the world of Matt and Madeline. Glad your both feeling better.
HOLAAAA my friend!
So happy to read that Maddy and you are having good times!
Just wanted to say HI!
besos y abrazos
<3
Sol
p.s. It seems that I am NOT the ONLY “Argentino” here…wowwwwww….
…missed that smile…thanks for the post, matt…glad you are feeling better…
It’s so funny to see you skip over the flight experiences since they are no big deal now that you are a pro! I’m wick jealous about you meeting the super nerds (as I am a huge sw nerd myself), but what an awesome opportunity! Your friends are rad!
I was so happy to check your site this evening and see your new post!!! I’ve really missed the updates, but so happy to see you and Maddie had good times in your travels. Love, love, love the new pictures! Thanks for taking the time to write and post such an awesome blog today.
THANK YOU FOR UPDATING! OMG I seriously was going out of my mind checking – obsessively. ugh. anyhow, sooo happy to see the pictures (love the bee one) and the video of maddi and her pink piano was too cute. i love you talking to her in the back ground. sooo sweet!
Hey Matt,
Been reading your blog for a while now… you’re doing a wonderful job with Maddy. It’s nice to see a man who is open with his feelings and not afraid to let others in and who asks for help
.
Even though you were able to get those drops into your eyes, just wanted to share a little tip. It might come in handy in the future with Maddy cause it’s next to impossible to get drops into kids’ eyes. Close your eyes and place the drops in the inner corner. If you then open your eyes, the drops will roll right in!
Have a great Thanksgiving!
wow, that was an action packed update! it really does suck to get sick when you have a little one..I’m going through that right now actually. I’m glad you seem to have recovered. Madeline is looking adorable, as usual….
Take care of yourself, and watch your eyes! (my son had a propensity for head butting me in the nose, so I built up a pretty quick defense mechanism!)
truly, you are amazing…. liz must be proud watching over you and Maddie..
a thought on the eyedrops, as I hate them …
close your eyes (i know, sounds nuts) put the drop in the inside corner of your closed eye (sounds easier than it is) and then open your eye.
done. works like a charm on little people, too. (beats sitting on them and listening to them scream!)
hi,
GO maddy with the army crawling attempt, you are such a smart girl. Matt great pictures in SF, man those guys can spray paint.
Finally.
Got my fix of Matt and Maddy.
You’ve been missed.
Sounds like you’ve been busy!
Eye scratches suck.
Ah the attempts at rolling are so frustrating, you can see them just tring to use their head as leverage and when they finally get it you are so relieved. And then they can seem to figure it out for a few more days. My babe enjoyed the video, I swear she knew exactly what Madeline was saying, she just perked up in my arms as I watched and then started squawking back. They are truly amazing creatures.
i still love reading your blog. i’m sooooo close to being a single parent (39 nine weeks preg!). it’s so wonderful to read about your life as a single parent, seeing so clearly how much you love your daughter and how much joy she brings to your life…as much as possible i suppose. i can’t wait to meet my daughter:)
Oh man… so jealous you got to meet Seth Green. George Lucas too, but Seth has got to be one of the geniuses of this generation.
Maddy’s getting so big! Before you know it, she’ll be crawling after you as you walk around the house. Have you babyproofed the place yet?
wow, busy busy busy.
you did some frackin’ awesome stuff! love the pics. really like the puddle one from the garden.
madeline is gonna be cruisin’ in no time. then a whole other level of fun begins. enjoy!
hope you two have a stellar day!
So enjoyable to vicariously participate in your many excursions and adventures!! My husband, who is not a part of the blog world, smiled and nodded his head when I mentioned you had an opportunity to meet GL and SG at Skywalker ranch. The original Darth Vader/Skywalker cartoon is one of the funniest things ever!!!
Also wanted to note that I opted to donate to the My Stuff Bags charity in honor of my mom’s birthday this weekend. I know she’ll truly appreciate this!!!
Hi Matt,
Hi Madeline,
Peace to both of you…
Still reading…
Hi Matt & Maddie, nice update – good to hear that you are keeping busy and trying to stay healthy!! Let me know if the drops in the corner of your eye trick works!! I always pick up some useful stuff from my fellow creeps! Glad to hear from you, I also check in daily to see how all goes.
Take care and keep on keepin on…
Hey I know you got the eye drops in okay but if you ever have trouble, try this little trick of closing your eye and pooling the drop in the corner of your eye next to your nose (where your sunglasses rest), then open your eye and plop…goes in the drop. Works like a charm!
Sounds like life is busy and crazy…but you again are doing a wonderful job!
Wow – sounds like Maddy’s got it in for you!! I am sure it is all with love!
Interesting time at the Skywalker Ranch…good to hear that Seth Green is cool – I always picture him as the jerk on Entourage. Looks like keeping busy keeps you happy – keep it up!!
I love those teething rings of Maddy’s, I’ll have to search those out for my little one. Have any of those teeth popped through yet???
Good to hear from you! I love all of the traveling that you’ve done and the pictures that you’ve captured!
I’m loving Madeline’s yoga moves too!
She just gets more and more stunning everytime I see her!
SF is so amazing. I can’t believe my parents wouldn’t let us go there when we were kids. Great pics of the murals. Love the look on George Lucas face, kinda like he don’t give a fuck. Funny. Hope your eye is all healed now!
Ok, I think this is my favourite post EVER! Perhaps because it seems so epic.
Loved the nature pics, the art gallery story (peed pants), the George and Seth experience, of course all the Maddyness, esp the random ones of her about town (the one of her in front of the graffitied old van was the best ROFL).
I wonder if you will EVER escape the comments or questions from those who don’t know. I suppose it will just get easier to answer. I know ‘easier’ is the wrong word.
I know most of us are total strangers, but I’m sure we all wish we were closer so you could have backup for when you poke your eye out!
HAHAHAHAHAHA oh my ….I just got some awesome f’ing laughs in…it took me two days to read the whole post (not the easiest with a 2yr old) Honestly..those pictures were sooo friggin humerous with the carriage casually placed at the mouth of the dragon and how she was just so perfectly placed within the graffiti pieces. I really appreciate the humour that your photography projects. I love reading/following all of your adventures and think that Maddy has done more travel in her little lifetime than i’ll ever do! (I’ll have to work on that!)
the jumperoo is a big hit with my tiny one as well. as always, she is adorable. rock on.
What a very special post. Thank you for sharing.
Wow, we obviously all missed you guys lots! Loved the new pictures, Madeline is so happy, and the piano video was the best! Hope your time leading up to Thanksgiving is filled with great family and friends.
I grew up right around the corner from Skywalker Ranch. I believe my family installed his security system when they owned the business and my friend was his nanny, everyone says he is a wonderful guy!! I loved this post, LOVED the flower pics!!, watching Madeline do yoga and try to get her toys, sorry about your eye (that sucks= 6 weeks of medicine.wow,good luck with that) I love when your posts have pics of places I have been and know. I really have been missing home and it makes me feel closer. THNX!!
Sam and I are actually going home 12/9-12/15 if you find yourself in the SF area again give me a ring!! I’d lvoe to visit again where I do not have my busy toddler distracting me.lol Hope you are feeling better.
My favorite was the piano video. Thanks for sharing her with us!
I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now, I just want to tell you I think you are doing a wonderful job with Madeline. It is obvious how much you adore her, she is lucky to have such a caring father. Keep up the good work!
I have not checked out your site in quite awhile and was sooooo shocked at how much lil’ miss maddy has grown! What a cutie
and MY oh MY is she lookin’ like her momma! A little like you as well…but she looks so much like Liz! A beauty in the makin’! Matt…. you are doing an incredible job with Madeline! I know Liz would be mighty proud of you! Hang in there during the holidays and know that we continue to pray and root for you.
Love, Lyn