decided it would be
fun to take
advantage of the
long weekend and take
madeline on a little
road trip to
a place i’ve
wanted to visit for
many years.
our friend, lauren
came into town
and joined us.
we hit the
road on friday
morning, on our
way to
now…it’s been
a few months since
our last long
back then,
11 month-old madeline
was known to fall
asleep as soon
as she was
buckled into her
car seat.
15 month-old madeline?
turns out she
likes to scream.
and not just a
little bit.
from the moment
we hit the freeway
to the moment
we arrived
at the park,
madeline screamed the
loudest, shrillest scream
i have ever heard.
for 3.5 hours.
no stopping, except
when i stopped
and removed her
from her car seat
while i was
fueling up my car.
i should have
known this was
gonna happen.
i mean, she’s
been doing that
a lot lately…
on the way to
work/daycare,
the record store,
and just about
every other time
she’s strapped into
her car seat.
i’ve gotten used to
it and i’ve even
started to find it
rather enjoyable.
that is, during short
car rides at
or around sea level.
it becomes
excruciating when it continues
for hours with no
signs of stopping,
and it becomes
suicide inducing
at elevations of
3000+ feet.
also, i figured at
a certain point
she would simply
stop because she had:
a. lost interest.
b. lost her voice.
c. fallen asleep.
d. become distracted by the blood dripping from her ears.
none of those
things happened.
we made a
few stops along the
way, ostensibly to
take photographs,
but mostly so
i could get
the hell out of
the car for
a few minutes.
and i tried everything
to get her
to stop.
toys, snacks, my phone.
nothing worked.
the worst thing?
she was happy
nearly the entire time,
so i felt
guilty that i was
even mildly annoyed.
eventually we arrived
at our destination
and i unleashed
the screaming beast
in the backseat,
sending her into
the forest so
she could
yell at something
without ears.
she found some
giant pinecones,
lauren found some
photography subjects,
and i found that
i couldn’t hear anything.
(i’m writing this almost a week later and i still hear ringing in my right ear).
we made our
way through the park,
stopping to take
photos when we
saw something awesome.
we took a
short but intense hike
with maddy on
my back.
haven’t had a
workout like that
since i hiked
waynapicchu with
liz
when we went to
machu picchu in 2007.
…
we finished up
our hike
and continued
driving through the park.
found a spot
that had been burned
in a recent wild fire,
and stopped
for a couple of photos.
from there we headed
back into town
for some dinner
and eventually some sleep.
i figured that maddy
would be exhausted
after the day
we had.
of course i was wrong.
despite my best
attempts to sleep,
maddy decided to
jump up and down
because she wanted to
keep me awake.
after a few hours
of this, i decided
i would try to
take her for a
drive to see if
i could get her
to pass out.
she was out within
1.5 mins.
amazing how driving
at night can put
her to sleep.
guess that means
we should change
the start time
of our future road trips.
the next morning
i woke up
early and took
maddy to breakfast.
caught up with
lauren afterwards and
we all headed
back into the
park for a hike through
a cave.
park service doesn’t
allow baby backpacks inside,
so i had to carry
maddy throughout the tour.
turns out she
isn’t keen on
being held anymore,
so she struggled
to get away
from me, preferring to
crawl through the
cave on her own.
that certainly wasn’t
gonna work,
so i held her
tight and listened
to her scream
into my already
partially deaf ear.
that was way
fucking fun.
people on the tour
seemed like
they didn’t appreciate
hearing her scream
in a cave.
luckily, the tour
was a short one,
soon enough
we were back
out in the sun.
we made our
way back up the
trail to the car,
stopping long enough
for a few photos
and to laugh at
lauren when she
slipped on a rock
and soaked her shoes
in the river.
we made it to
the car
and i saw
what may be
the best way
to preserve what’s
left of my hearing:
we continued our
trip through the park,
stopping to take
some photos in
a meadow.
i did my best
to get back at maddy
for everything she had
put me through
later she found
some sticks
and a friend.
we spent a
little time hanging
out under
some giant trees
in the giant forest.
then we drove
and hiked to
(by some definition)
the world’s largest tree
being the genius
that i am,
i decided that
this would be the
portion of the trip
where i would
put maddy in a stroller
(my back was sore so this seemed like the best option).
smart move, considering
there were like,
600,000 stairs to
get to the tree.
and of course, i
had to do this
on the way
back up to the car.
(love the look of horror on the woman’s face).
got to the top
of the hill and
gave maddy her
last moments of freedom
before we made
the long trek
back to los angeles.
the good news is
that all of the
fresh air, activity and
screaming must have
gotten to her,
’cause she passed out
before we got
out of the parking lot.
we stopped for
a few photos
as we made our
way down the
mountain and out of
the park.
maddy continued
sleeping as we got
back on the road home
it was getting dark
as we pulled up
to the house.
i put maddy to bed
and stood in
the middle of me
street, watching
the people at
the bottom of the
hill light the
neighborhood up with fireworks.
lauren headed off
to her hotel,
and i spent a little
time reading before
finally falling asleep.
sunday morning.
madeline slept in,
and i spent the
morning trying to
decide how we
should spend the day.
settled on a
trip to huntington gardens.
met up with lauren
and spent the
afternoon wandering the gardens.
madeline was obviously thrilled.
after a bit of time
in the stroller,
it was time to let
maddy play.
we took her to
the children’s garden
and let her get soaked.
she was a
little tentative at first,
but eventually she
went nuts.
and again,
she was thrilled.
we dried
off a bit
before maddy
went from crawling
to stretching out
her legs
for what would
become the big event…
and just like
that, it was over.
what wasn’t
captured on the
video, was maddy
starting off with
a push from me,
5 steps,
a fall to the
ground, followed
by her picking
herself up off
of the ground and
walking again.
she’s taken a
few steps before,
but this is what
i would consider walking.
so, so proud.
bittersweet moment for
me though, realizing
this is another
one of those monumental
moments that
liz
will never get
to witness.
…
on the way
back to the car, i
got a phone call
from my brother, nick.
as always, he had
me laughing my
ass off with
a story, in this
case, a story about
him ending up
in the hospital to
have a fish hook
removed from his hand.
reminds me that
i need to
get maddy up to
alaska sometime
soon so she can
see her uncle and auntie.
…
ordered in some
thai food for dinner
before dropping lauren
off at the airport.
maddy was asleep
before we reached home.
got her out
of her car seat and
into her crib with
out her eyes opening.
i fell asleep reading
on the couch.
the best trips
are the ones with
no agendas,
ones during which
you can stop
where you want
without having
to worry about when
you’ll get to the
next place.
that’s the trip we
just had,
and it’s exactly what
we needed.
hope we can
take another one soon.
159 Comments
matt and maddy
i am so glad ya’ll had a happy mini vacation~~and yea for maddy for finally taking those first series of steps~~now you are in for it (if my grand nieces and nephews have taught me)
keep on keeping on
I totally agree- some of the best trips are those with no agenda…..
Great pictures !!!
Sounds and looks like a great weekend. I know that you are giving Maddie all the experiences Liz would have wanted her to have.
Love the EAT picture.
Love the videos of Madeline walking. Bittersweet. Yep.
Really, really fun weekend.
So glad we have a million and one photos to show for it.
beautiful photos, as always.
so glad you enjoyed your trip!
oh – and CHEERS! to maddy walking! wow.
I’ve never seen the words “No comments” under one of your posts until this moment!!!
Yay for wonderful road trips (although, LMFAO at the description of the car ride there). Yay for Maddy walking. So so sorry, as always, that Liz wasn’t there to witness it. Hope the little lady is doing well today and that the book writing is going well!
I am so glad you had a nice trip. I love those kind as well. YAY MADDIE!!!!!! I am so proud of you that you are walking. Great job!!!!
It is kind of sad that I have grown up in the same area of SoCal that you are living in and I have yet to have some type of spontaneous adventure and just headed for fun to the forest/fields/meadows or anything else for that matter. I should just go get lost (with a map of course) somewhere for a little bit.
P.S. You should carry some little sandals with you so when Maddy does want to “run around” you are fully prepared to let her walk and you don’t lose your hearing. I don’t have kids myself but I have twenty-something cousins all under the age of ten (no joke) so I have a lot of experience with kids.
You are a great dad..keep up the awesome work!!!
You guys look like you are always having some fun adventures!!
Love the pictures (as always)!
Maddy is so lucky to have a dad like you!
Gosh, Maddie is so cute… maybe you, that sees her every single day, don’t realize how she is getting a lovely girl and how she is growing up fast.. she is gorgeous…
And you are enjoying summer so much… =D
Those first steps are amazing. I have three kids and I cried every time. Thats quite astonishing because by the time my last child came about I was quite jaded. LOL
As a matter of fact, I teared up watching Maddie walk! I love those waddley first steps.
Awesome pix — from you & Lauren both. Y’all are talented sonsovbitches. Thanks for snappin’ some motel signs for me! At least, I like to *think* they’re for me… You know how needy I am. BWAHAAHAHHAHA.
When my Maddie got to that point in walking, we found a good pair of sturdy shoes helped her get over the hump and walk much better… (We went to Stride Rite, but there are lots of great, well made shoes for kids).
Great trip and as always awesome pictures! I love trips like that too…no agenda, no time constraints. I am so proud of Maddy walking! She will be a pro in no time!
awesome, awesome, fucking awesome!! Glad it was a great weekend and another great milestone! Your pictures always amaze me, I want your eye!!
That is how Sienna started off with walking…a few steps here & there, but only on her terms, finally at 18 months with the threat of early intervention she took off & now runs instead of walking. Good lord is she into everything, you will be in trouble my friend. But it is so very exciting.
Those are the best kind of trips! Looks like you all had a wonderful time. Great walking Maddy! Just wait a little bit longer, you’re going to be running around like crazy with her!
My daughter also does the high pitched scream, she thinks it’s hilarious, not so much when you’re in a plane with a few hundred people
Once again, breath taking photos of Maddy and the trees, very cool road trip 
She is so damn cute when she walks. Another memorable outing. Well done, Matt.
I’m a long time lurker but this is my first comment! I love your blog posts and pictures, truly amazing!! I have toddler twins and my one piece of advice for roadtrips is a portable dvd player. I’m not a huge advocate of lots of tv for kiddos but an elmo dvd during a car ride is truly a sanity saver!!
sounds like a great little vacation! You sound like a very patient daddy – she is lucky to have you
Oh my goodness the look on the lady’s face is f’n great! (Maddy’s too)…I am a little ahead of you with my 19 month old but I am starting to feel like I can’t take him anywhere…uggg…doesn’t work for my schedule…lol!
Loving the pictures…I was wondering how Lauren was doing…hadn’t remembered reading her in your recent posts but as we both know, my memory is cloudy at best.
Also! I’m very proud of you for only being a week behind in posting…you just might be getting this hang of this afterall.
This post is hilarious for me because we just took our 15 month old on a road trip and our experience was very similar to yours…I thought I might never recover. Hope you regain your full hearing soon!
Cool that Maddie is walking now. I know what a thrill that is for you being her daddy. Get ready, they go from toddling to RUNNING in no time flat! Good luck!
I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go to Sequoia National Park! Great pics, as usual.
Walking!!!! The videos were great, the last one had me snorting coffee. So glad you had a fun, relaxing weekend:)
I loved watching Madeline walk! So sweet. It looks like a very nice trip!
We have to drive 5 hours to see the grandparents. We always dread it, but have begun driving at night and during nap times, much better! So fun to see her walking. I’m sure it has been mentioned before, but walking really does change everything!
What a fun weekend! I love those spur-of-the-moment type adventures too.
We have a screamer on our hands too. She screams ALL. THE. TIME. I wake up to screams every morning. It is much much worse than an alarm clock!
Some ideas (especially for the car)…
1. ear plugs? I have heard about this, but haven’t tried them yet. Apparently you can still hear everything, but at a much more acceptable volume
2. portable DVD. We’re saving this for our big 4.5 hour road trip. If nothing else, it should distract her for a little while.
3. We plan trips around her nap. We eat lunch, then leave just before nap time. Teagan won’t sleep if there is anything interesting, so we need to time it so we hit the highway before she gets over tired.
4…our secret weapon! We have had her fall asleep to music since day one (basically so we could be as loud as we want while she’s sleeping), so all we have to do is put one of her bedtime CDs on and she’s out like a light. The best part is that it’s not lullabies. She falls asleep to Wilco, James Taylor, Bob Marley (I know, I know), Across the Universe, and a lot of other stuff that we like too so we aren’t falling asleep too!
Congrats on walking, Maddy!!! What a big girl!
Wonderful pictures. You always dress Maddy in the sweetest outfits. The videos of her walking are amazing.
ha! i feel your pain. i took my triplets on a work trip to san antonio, 9 hours away (if you don’t have kids), when they were 6 months old. they screamed the entire way. yeah. three babies. it still haunts me.
now they’re 19 months old and are somewhat better about car trips. whew.
What a wonderful trip!! The photos are so beautiful! I know Rob would love to go to Sequoia when James is a little older (re: can use stairs on his own)
Oh Matt…where so I start?! I get the whole screaming baby in a car dilemma: she’s just singing, right! And not wanting to be held…needing to be free…I get it, man! Whatever makes them happy! And I love the ginormous pinecone…and your amazing pictures…and Maddy’s smile at the gardens…and your walking girl!!! Happy day. Mister!
i agree, no agenda, no schedule, no time frame – the best! for those reasons, i love vegas! one of my favorite places to go and get lost . always something to see, do, eat…and just walk and walk and walk on the strip. there just is no place else like it anywhere. ahhhhh….i love it! i find it relaxing. and now i want to go!
way to go walking maddy! my colson needs to watch…he just passed his first b-day (july 3) and has no interest what-so-ever in walking. he crawls so fast, i’m sure he figures why bother!
Matt, I have been reading your blog and wanting to comment for some time now. I just could never find the words to say what I wanted to say, or I always felt that my expressions of sympathy or support wouldn’t do justice to the emotions I had behind those thoughts. I think you are an amazing father. You should be so proud of all that you do. I am constantly in awe of your strength. Madeline is an absolute beauty. I find myself thinking of the both of you many times throughout the day and wondering what you are doing and how you both are. I will continue to think about you both, send warm wishes your way and follow your blog as you document your journey together. Much love to you and Maddy!
I listen to my Ipod in my car sometimes. It’s probably illegal, but so is driving my car off the road because I can’t take my kids screaming anymore. I keep the volume down enough I can still hear him and emergency vehicles.
Glad you had a good trip.
There is a bridge on the trip to my parents’ house that we had dubbed the “screaming baby bridge.” It was long enough into the trip (4 hours) that the baby had had enough and the screaming continued the last hour almost every time. Like all things, they grew out of it.
This was a great entry. I laughed and laughed.
My daughter just started to walk and I can related to feeling so proud. Amazing to think that a little over a year ago, they were just little blobs. And now, screaming, walking, talking little beings. Sniff sniff….
You have been blessed with the best type of child. Maddy is cautious but not afraid; that will serve her well as she grows up in this world full of choices. She has been taking her time observing the world before she gets out and starts running in it. She knows she can walk if she wants, but she wants to observe her surroundings before taking off. Keep giving her the opportunities to observe her world. She is going to make you proud of who she becomes. She has taken another piece of my heart with those first steps.
Congrats, daddy.
Love the photo of Lauren and Maddy under those massive trees and the one of you and Maddy at the base of the knotty one.
I can’t believe she’s walking. So cool.
My little one just started the zombie walk too and it’s sort of sad – almost like my baby isn’t quite a baby anymore.
Your baby though, she’s a world traveler – and *I* am jealous of all the fun she has.
I’m having a moment of deep thought here, over the parallels your life is with a simple weekend away. You didn’t really make this plan, to raise Mads without Liz, but you are. It’s an adventure, you don’t know where you’re going, but it sure beats sitting at home doing nothing. I hope you’re proud of yourself young man. No, seriously, I hope you are proud. At minimum just a little.
As for the screaming… my Ava (same age) has been smacking faces and screeching for a few now. We started a “holding hands” time outs for such unwanted behavior. Prep with an immediate removal from the situation, even if just a couple of feet, and give her a stink face. Ditty goes something like: “Ava, it hurts me when you hit. Be gentle.” Then I continue said stern stink face and we sit, me holding her hands in her lap for all of eternity, ok, 4-10 seconds. Then I schmooch her up a tiny bit and we move on. I’ve done this about 3 times. It’s TOTALLY curbed the naughties. Just a thought. WTF do I know, I’m new at this too.
I laugh because Alex does the same thing in the car. Wait, WHAT? DID YOU SAY SOMETHING? I CAN’T HEAR YOU ANYMORE.
I had the idea to put pillows behind the front seats to muffle the sound. I’m not sure if it would work, but it seems like it might take some of the shrill off.
Or maybe I’m just deaf now.
OK…so I totally know exactly what you are going through with the screaming babe…and the babe being happy at the same time! One of my soon to be 11 month old twins, loves to do those ear peircing screams, all day, everyday. Maybe they should meet and scream at each other!! Congrat’s on the walking!
What an awesome weekend.
And I was as proud to see Maddy walk for the first time as I was to see my own kids walk! It’s such a huge milestone. But expect her to keep crawling for a few more weeks as she gradually mixes more and more walking in. One day in about six weeks, you’ll realize she doesn’t crawl anymore. Such a bittersweet process!
After reading this post, I’ve decided that when I take a trip from LA to SF next month, I’m leaving at 4 am! LOL … I can definitely relate to the unhappy toddler in the car!
The children’s garden at the Huntington is awesome … I had to tear my son away from that little fountain that Maddy loved!
Looks like you both had a great weekend. The long drives with a toddler can be tough. I’m afraid to take my 18 mo old on a plane for that very reason. I don’t know how you do it.
Maddy is such a big girl. She’s walking, next she’ll want to borrow the car. They grow up too fast!
oh… my… goodness.. my eyes welled up with the vid’s of Maddy walking.. thank you for sharing!!
Some random thoughts:
1) I used to think Maddy was an exact copy of Liz, from the pictures you’ve shown of her. But now I’m starting to see so many other people! There was one shot where she looked JUST like Candee. And there’s a lot more of you, too, than there used to be.
2) Walking…so exciting! It’s so funny to be so proud of it, like no one on earth has ever accomplished it before…but truly, is there anything more exciting than your child accomplishing this amazing task…?
3) Is it just my imagination, or is your beard getting a tad Grizzly Adams-ish these days…?
Those pictures brought back memories of my childhood. Lots of time spent there camping, take Maddy to the Redwoods when you visit awesome aunt deb. Beautiful, and makes you feel very small.
Matt, I’m glad you had a great time and was able to get away. Love all your pics. Love when you put ones of
Liz
in there.
Hugs to you from another…..stranger:)
What incredible pix!!
Sounds like Maddi is growing into lots of new stages… love how it’s all being documented right here!
Glad your 4th rocked!
So sweet. Madeline is just gorgeous. I love that you’re able to appreciate the trip even with the bleeding eardrums.
yay on the walking!
WOw this post just smacked me over the head with how fast Madeline is growing! It’s unbelievable. Those videos are precious-thanks for sharing
Sounds awesome! We live about 500 miles from our parents and we found that when we take a road trip back leaving in the evening was the best because then buggy (my 16 month old) would sleep and we could get more than half way before stopping for the night (we always have to stop for some point). I just throw her into some jammies and she is usually out within 10 minutes.
The pictures are just beautiful. Maddy is so cute and is growing up fast! Congrats on the walking…what a big girl! I found myself laughing several times through this post-my 2 year old daughter is a screamer, so I can feel your pain!
Damn that is one chock full post! THe picture of you throwing Madeline up all tiny and sweet against the enormous trees is amazing. That’s life, right there. We are so small and helpless against the Universe. All we can do is focus on what is right in front of us, and do it to the maximum.
Your posts are always so humorous…they make me laugh. Thanks for sharing your life and Maddie’s life with all of us. She is adorable.
She is there Matt!!
She is there with Maddy as she takes each step and chews each stick. She is there and so proud of the two of you.
She is looking less and less babyish and more little girlish everytime.
Gorgeous pictures…per usual. Madeline is just so dang pretty! I laughed out loud over the screaming and 600,000 steps. A few years ago i did a breast cancer walk with my son that ended on the field of the L.A. Colesium. Really freakin’ cool until I realized the only way to get out of there was up 1.5 million stairs. That stroller almost killed me. Lucas however was happy as a clam. Glad to see she’s walking…now you’re really screwed. Once they’re mobile, it’s curtains for us parents.
The car seats on top of the car? Worse than screaming. Parent code for “children puked, seats washed, air-drying.”
Great pictures!
“no agenda” trips are always my favorite kind of trips too!!
Yeah, for Maddy walking. She looks so proud of herself in the videos. Glad you guys had a nice weekend.
I love the video where she pretty much ignores you while playing with the shoes – typical kid! Great photos, even better videos!
wow! that was a long one:)
congrats on your very, very cute girl!! way to go!!
now the real trouble begins:)
have a good weekend
Great trip…those trees must have been just amazing to see in person.
We learned, probably when our 2nd child was Maddy’s age…whenever possible, travel under the cover of darkness…saves a lot of headaches!
P.S. Laughed right out loud at the “bleeding ears” comment. We have all been there!
You guys had a wonderful weekend, those are the best!
Yay for a walking Maddy, she’ll be off and running before you know it. Enjoy here little steps while they last.
Much love…
Matt, thanks for sharing the stories and the pictures. I love love the videos of Maddy walking, and especially the one of her falling and getting back up and falling again. She’s getting so big and ever so gorgeous. Yay for Maddy walking! Once she masters that, she’ll be running, so get those running shoes on! Have a great weekend! XX
Yay! Go Maddy!!!! Such a little girl now… No more baby Maddy
Cherish all these moments and never let them go…and always remember Liz is with you each step of the way!
Take Care you two! Have a GREAT weekend!
Happy screaming…huh…I think I’ll tell me 19 month old that she should be doing that instead of the usual terroristic tyrades she charms us with during car rides. Same ear drum popping volume, but more angst. I’ve been dazzled by many of your photos during my stalking of your site, but the long distance shot of you throwing up Madeline may be one of my favorites. I had to come back to it a couple of times.
Love the pictures as always, my favorite is the one where Maddy is on the ground pointing at the camera, so cute!! Congrats on the walking, you are going to have some fun stories of how fast she gets into things now. Best wishes!
Aww how fun, Yay for Maddy for walking. Woohoo.
Matt, I think most kids go through that screaming phase. Lovely isn’t it? Lucky for us parents, it’s just a phase. Within a year she’ll start saying words instead of screams. Then she will talk instead of scream. The talking is so cute but there comes a time when you wish for the peace and quiet and you long for those infant days when they didn’t make too much noise. It’s all just part of the adventure of parenthood right?
Maddy is walking! So cute! My youngest waited until he was 15 months to walk and I’m telling you, within a month he went from walking to running! Enjoy every minute Matt! Thanks for keeping this blog going, I love reading your updates. You are such a great Father, you and Maddy are lucky to have eachother.
I always get a kick out of Maddy’s intense reactions to her world. She is such a precious toddler and boy is she loved! And I definitely enjoy your droll humor! Taking pictures to get out of the car, ‘juggling’ pinecones, noting irony – loving life and laughing. You are a swell person and I am proud of you. Keep on Matt. Looking forward to your journey and your book!
we just got back from a 15 day road trip, NH to Amish Country, MD, SC and then to NC and home. My kids did great in the car, saw parts of this country that made my head spin
Those are the best kind of trips! What a beautiful place!
I had to smile at the ears bleeding. I know how you feel. We did the ears bleeding thing and changed when we left to go on trips with both of my kids.
Fabulous photos & videos!!
I was hoping my 7 month old would grow out of screaming in the car for no good reason…lets hope she doesn’t follow in Maddy’s foot steps!!
Screaming aside it looks like you had a wonderful time and your photos are amazing…I hope to go there one day!
Congrats on Maddy finally walking…there will be no stopping her now!
Thank god someone else’s 15 month old screams in the car. Here I thought it was just me! We had Gina Lee take some family photos a few weeks ago after seeing her amazing work on your blog. She rocks! Seriously awesome.
YAY Maddy! Great job on walking! So adorable. Amazing pics.
Yahhhh Matt you have done an amazing job with Maddy, and I am sure Liz is smiling down on you both. Keep up the great work, and keep your ever growing fan base up to date. Your stories make me smile and LOL sometimes, and it’s nice to see that you can still find the good even in the worst situations.
Sarah
You’re right: the best trips are the ones that are spontaneous. Congrats on Maddy walking!! I’m so happy for you two getting to experience another great first. I’m sure Liz would be so fucking proud!
Glad you were able to get away, Sequoia is definitely on my “to visit” list, if we ever get to California. (passports first perhaps)
Maddy is so vibrant, she looks right at home chillin’ with those pine cones. I can only imagine the cave-screaming acoustics. Perhaps an idea for a hidden track on a free jazz album? Hope the week coming up is smooth.
goodness the pictures of the trip are beautiful!!! I would love to go there someday…
I got a little teary watching Maddy walk. WTG Maddy!!!
My son went through the crazy happy screaming around 7 months as well – he mostly kept it to the grocery store tho, preferring, I suppose, the cavernous echo there to the confines of the car. Beautiful photos – I was there maybe 10 years ago, and looking at your images brings back memories.
These are my favorite set of photos thus far. We drove from Missouri to Texas last summer with a 15 month old and he also screamed for 3 hours. I feel your pain on that one. We even left late at night, hoping he’d sleep. Yeah. Not so much. The best advice I can give you is to invest in a portable DVD player for your next trip. Oh- and I think Maddy is really starting to look more like you.
I’ve always wanted to see the sequioa’s!!! Beautiful!! Love all the pictures as always! I hope you can have another trip again soon, too!!
Hey Matt! Haven’t posted in a while, but this entry had me laughing out loud multiple times! First when you said you had to “unleash the beast”…..too funny, can totally relate. Secondly, I would have paid money to see you pull that stroller with Maddy in it up all those steps. (and you are right, the look on that lady’s face is priceless!). Lastly, OMG the video of her standing and falling back on you was hilarious!!!!!!! Great post! As always, you are rockin this dad thing and Maddy gets more beautiful as the days go on (if that’s even possible!) Take care you guys!
Yay!! Maddy is walking!!
I am so happy for you two!!! But it is bitter sweet…and I am sorry for that~
It looked like you guys had a great time and the pictures were great!! She is so beautiful and we love the beard!!!
oh ps. my daughter is the same way in the car seat!
It looks like you had a total blast.
I fugured it was time to introduce myself since I have been following you for a few month (probably a month before Oprah?) and not saying hi was probably rude; so “hello, I am Priscilla”.
YAY!! Maddy is walking, there is no stopping her now.
Those are totally the best trips. Sounds like it was a great time. Glad you guys were able to have some down time during all the big happenings and appearances and such.
She’s WALKING!!?? Oh, how I’ve waited for this day. You’re such a good dad Matt.
Your pictures are bad ass. They are beautiful in a really cool way. Just like you.
As always, thank you for sharing with us.
Have you turned her car seat around yet to face forward? I know that did the trick for my 1st – that screaming is unbearable!! Been there done that.
Holy crap, she’s walking!!! Awesome! Your road trip looks like so much fun (minus the screaming esp. in the cave). LOVE the photo of the woman and her child watching you go the stairs with the stroller, freaking hilarious!
Maddy is so cute, even if she screams the whole time in the car. I have a 13 month old son and he just isn’t getting the walking thing yet. He cruises and doesn’t like to sit when I try to put him down (the ol straight leg trick).
I’ve been reading your blog for a while, but I never post. I had never hear of Iron and Wine until reading your posts, but then I saw an article in our newspaper about a music festival that is happening in here in September…and there was the man with the beard. I thought…I know him. Of course, I don’t but it was such a coincidence.
Love your pictures, but they really crack me up sometimes. I hope that’s ok. The one of you lying down….that made me laugh. I thought it was like road kill or something at first!
Thanks for sharing your life with us.
That screaming constantly thing is a real bitch. My favorite phase was after 2, when she was strong enough to fight being PUT INTO the car seat or TAKEN OUT of it.
She will be articulate soon, and you may wish she’d go back to screaming. At least if you wear earplugs you won’t be missing anything. Once she starts talking, she’ll expect you to be able to decode every syllable instantly.
Have you considered Benadryl?
X
Supa
Jeez – instead of glaring at you, maybe that lady could have helped you with the damn stroller!
I love the pictures, of course, and Maddy’s outfits are so damn cute!
Congratulations Maddy! You’re a big girl now!
I love all the pictures!! I would so love to go there and take our kids, that would be so fun. The giant pinecones? hilarious. Love the photos of you and Maddy at the base of the tree and of Maddy pointing at the camera. And regardless of what you may think, I would bet that Liz is watching everything, and smiling. Oh, and have you tried the portable DVD player in the car for long drives? My son shuts right up for an hour and a half when that thing is on, and they come with headphones so you don’t even have to listen to it!
Yeah Maddy!!! Big walker now…good job baby! xoxoxo
Amazing trip photos. Congrats to walker Maddy! My own little lady took her first steps today… leaving little footprints on my heart and an amazed, proud grin on my face! Look forward to reading more of Maddy’s adventures on foot.
My favourite entry ever. A child that is thriving, humour, friends…but Liz is missing of course. But that’s why I keep coming back to your website, it’s real. Reality bites at times..but this post screams hope, love and future! I hope yuo will have a great summer with your little one. Anja (Ontario),.
Fun trip, and that is amazingly awesome Maddy is walking!
I couldn’t stop laughing! Beautiful pictures! My 3 year old said “he’s tired” in many of the photos she saw of you.
Looks like an awesome time! Love the park photos! Maddy has that walking down. Good for her!!!!
Matt,I look forward to reading your updates every week! You make me lauagh and cry!You are an awesome dad! I love the new pics of Maddy! she is beautiful.
Hey I have family in Alaska too, Eagle River. So the screaming is like a “Girls Gone Wild, I’m having too much fun” kinda scream? Sounds fun, not. Great pictures. I was just telling my husband that I want to go to those forests someday. Maybe I will just live vicariously through your trips.
Hey Matt, my family and I Iive in Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula. I have noticed a couple Alaskan t-shirts in your post. Where does your brother live?
I definitely feel for you on the screaming in the car bit. My little one is only 9 months and we have only traveled with her once but it definitely was an experience. Girls I think are so much worse about this, I guess they are gearing up for all the talking we tend to do as adults:) The videos of her learning to walk are adorable. I think you are doing such a great job with her!! Kudos.
I agree that the best trips are the ones with no agendas. Rare, but so great. Awesome to see Maddy walking…watching her grow up right here is like glimpsing into my 12-months old future. Thanks for sharing!
Such wonderful video of Maddy walking! Congrats Dad. Very bittersweet. She’s the most beautiful child I’ve ever seen.
My suggestion for the screaming, portable DVD player, we never take a long trip (to us long is 1 hour) without it. We even got our youngest used to wearing headsets around Maddy’s age. It’s saved us many headaches.
She’s a beautiful little girl
Those huge pinecones are just nuts!! Watching Maddy take her first steps had me totally tearing up again. Congrats, daddy, and better touch up your baby proofing if you haven’t already. Heh.
Gahhh!!! She walks! It’s so cool to see babies make that transition. They don’t seem to be at all impressed with themselves – as if they’ve been doing it all along.
I think if tomorrow I suddenly could walk on my hands I’d be pretty impressed with myself…
Mini Vacations are awesome! She’s walking! Look out daddy once they start walking, it doesn’t take long for them to start running!
give Maddy a month and she will be running. You seem to enjoy her toys more than she does….like you are a big kid yourself…that is really good as it keeps you young with Maddy too.
What a fun weekend you had! Those trees are amazing! I hope to get up that way someday.
YAY Maddy for walking! Big Girl!
I find some of my happiest moments have been unplanned. Looks like you guys had a great time. Beautiful scenery and good times.
Don’t worry, the happy screaming stage, soon passes to the “Why?” questions stage. One of my sons asked me why 542 times in one day- that’ll make you slightly nuts too but at least your hearing will be in tack.
Thanks for sharing her first steps with us. She is an amazing girl.
Those pictures were amazing!! I have decided now that I need to visit CA and that park – been there many years back, but I think that my daughter would really, really enjoy it. Congrats on her walking!!! Life will never be the same.
I recently arrived at your blog and wanted to comment on all of the awesome experiences you give Miss Maddy. It is so important for us parents to go out and engage our children in the world; to be by their side encouraging (and cautioning where necessary). You are such a fabulous father.
although i’m not sure what i believe about the afterlife, i’d like to think liz knows exactly what’s going on & sees every amazing & inane thing you guys do.
Wow! Amazing photos!! Amazing vids too!!! She’s is getting to be such a big girl and those teeth!! Very very cute but as amazing as it all was, I’m sorry that Liz was not there with you sharing these wonderful moments. The saying ‘its not fair’ was never more true.
Invest in a portable DVD player!!!!!!!! You will see a huge difference in traveling by car.
Funniest line you’ve ever written:
“people on the tour seemed like they didn’t appreciate hearing her scream in a cave.”
About the car screaming. Sometimes my favorite moments of the day are the seconds it takes to walk to the drivers side of the car after putting my son in his car seat. Even if he’s not crying and just talking non-stop, it’s quiet with him in the car and me out.
This was a hilarious post. I’ve been reading your blog for quite some time. You are very inspirational and you’re leaving a legacy for your little one. You should be really proud and happy. You’re remarkable.
Yay for walking! Look at her go!!
Great pics Matt–those are the biggest freaking pinecones I’ve ever seen!!
ahh, it’s funny. my son is 15 months too (born within a few days of maddy) and he is actually obsessed with pinecones too. it’s one of the words he knows, which is a strange first choice for sure. and he also hates to car ride with me… i have to do a variety of different things. singing the alphabet, filling a water bottle with beans and giving it to him to shake, feeding him saltines or goldfish crackers, putting musical toys back there. it’s incredibly difficult to travel with, but hopefully it’s just a phase!
As always the photos are beautiful.
And YAY! for Maddy walking!
Photos are as per usual, freaking awesome. Love that Maddy took those great big steps – hugely monumental!! Awesome quote about the trip – so true.
I’m glad to hear your story about the screaming. I always wonder if it’s just my kid that does stuff like that. Congrats to Maddy on the walking!
Love the photos!
I am a long time lurker and recently started blogging myself and I love getting comments. So I am trying to comment more myself! First – I love your blog. Inspirational. Definately something to be proud of. Maddie has a great dad. Awesome commentary and awesome photos. Second – Road trips were hard for us to – A was always unhappy in her carseat. She would rather be moving herself than sitting in a moving car. I decided to get a portable DVD player and it has made long road trips a breeze! Now she asks for “Pooh” (Tigger and Pooh Movie) whenever we get in the car – not sure that is a good thing, but at least it keeps her happy and us sane!
Great pics. Yeah – walking – totally changes everything!
and here I thought Maddy was a perfect little angel all the time. So glad to see that she is human and that my 16 month old isn’t the only hellion around. Love the pictures! and thanks for the laughs!
Yay for Maddy! Pretty soon you won’t be able to keep up with her.
Oh yes, the shrieking. Brutal, eh? I’m always afraid my girls will give me a seizure or something, screaming for so long at that insane frequency on car journeys. Let’s hope it’s a phase!
The pics are gorgeous. What an astonishing place.
Since I saw your story on the Oprah show, I’ve been meaning to write. I understand what you are going through. I, too, lost my husband unexpectedly when I was six and a half months pregnant. And like you, I had no time to mourn my loss. It’s been nine years, but it feels like yesterday. I miss him tremendously. As crazy as it may sound, I talk to him still. The pain doesn’t go away, you just learn to handle it better day by day. I have to say that I feel fortunate to that Bill left me the best thing, a smaller version of him. It is bittersweet, but if I had to do it over again knowing the end result would be having Billy, I would. He is the reason I am still on this earth. I wish lots of love.
maddy looks so happy in so many photos! i am sure both of you have enjoyed (despite the partially deaf ear =P)
Sitting in a coffee shop crying from laughing so hard at the stroller on the stairs and the look of horror from the woman. Thank you as always for the injection of humor in my day. The guy next to me thinks I’m crazy – I just told him he needs to read your blog.
Maybe u can try buying a portable DVD player to keep with u in the car? We had to do that with our little one..but man, now thats shes used to it we HAVE to watch a movie even if we are going just down the street! But hey, whatever works!!!
Sounds like a blast, can’t wait for my 7month old (tomorrow) to begin walking, talking and really making my life more crazy/fun/exciting than she already has!
So great that Maddy is walking! She is doing a fine job!
Your pictures from your trip are amazing. Do your ideas just pop into your head or do you think about them before you take them?
http://sprucehill.typepad.com/
Great photos Matt! My little girl will be 3 in two months & lemme tell you, it all goes so QUICK! You’re giving Maddie such wonderful memories with all the photos you take, she’ll cherish them forever!
PS – Love that you hike in jeans!
Your posts are always inspiring. Waiting for our baby to come (5 days past due) it’s given me more time than I’d like to think about how much life if going to change. I know its going to be different. I love how you have always been adventurous and traveled long before Maddy, yet you still continue to do so. You haven’t let being a father take away from anything that you enjoy. I can’t wait to wake up on a Saturday morning, pack the baby in a carrier, hike around a state park, and take pictures of him with gigantic pine cones. While reading your blog it has made me realize being a parent doesn’t stop you from enjoying the things you love, it enhances them and makes it more special.
btw… you dress Maddy adorably! Makes me wish I was having a girl.
OMG! She’s walking! So proud of her and happy for you. A big big milestone, albeit a bittersweet one for you, Matt.
Oh wow. She screamed the entire way? My suggestion is a set of earplugs (not cheapie ones either, ones that seal out any sound). LOL. The pics are adorable though.
OOHHHo MG, has Maddy gotten huge!!!!!, I haven’t check in awhile. But has some time to get caught up on my reading and I just can’t thank God enough for giving you some great opportunities. The BOOOK! way to freaken go!! the poem HERE, loved it, every sad thought it brings……..I love the pictures of the tag #1 Dad, funny, thought you should have got that foot up lol. great job matt, hugs to maddie!!!!!!
I’m diggin’ the beard growth, by the way. But I’m sorta married to a Grizzly Adams look-alike, so I may not be a great judge.
I have one of those too. A screamer. Actually, I have two of those. Sigh.
Those first days of walking are special. of course down the road you will long for the days she couldn’t get into some things she can now get to!
Being from the northeast, I am in awe of the pictures and huge trees.
When my son was around Maddy’s age he went through a screaming in the car stage. This was before there were car DVDs and we used to argue over who got to drive and who would be the child entertainer. Alas, he is grown now and loves to travel the world.
Yeah for walking! That is great. I love the photos, you always have the best.
She is so gorgeous and I love the pix and sense of adventure you convey in your writing. Here’s an old mom trick – when the kid starts screaming in the carseat, get a bigger cushier carseat – I’m thinking Britax Marathon or equivalent. It’s worth the money.
You are f-ing hilarious and I am exhausted just reading all of your activities. p.s. Maddy is one of the cutest kids I have ever seen except for my three!
the video of maddy persistently falling backwards b/c she knows you will catch her is hilarious.
i like this.
I teared up with Maddy walking, very precious. Is the children’s garden new at Huntington? I think you are a wonderful daddy. I hope you have many more unplanned adventures and trips. Sounds fun. Take care, happy belated father’s day.
HOORAY Madeline!! I got so excited to see her walk!!!!!!! That is such an exciting moment! You looked so proud!
matt,
the screaming thing sounds all too familiar. not that you asked, but a little advice- maddy is old enough to be reprimanded. when she screams, try telling her “no no” in a firm, effective voice. that is something that you want to nip in the bud now!
good luck! toddlers are tough!
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