Big News!

Happy Heart Day!!!!

There's big news in Maggie World! I'm not even sure what it means exactly, but Mom and Dad tell me that there will be big changes to come this summer.  Everyone seems to be really excited, so I guess I am too.  Although I'm still not sure what all this means...

I'm going to be 2 years old in just two short months, but Mom and Dad keep referring to me being 2 already.  They'll say things like, "I think she's already going through her terrible twos." Sometimes I am a bit scared to turn two because I hear people describe them as 'terrible'.  I don't know why, I think 2 is going to be great.  Especially because I usually do and say what I want now that I've realized my independence.  My favorite words are "no!", "stop!" and "mine!"
I can't say that these words work too often, but I try all the time.

I really like to be what Mom and Dad call a dare devil.  I stand up on top of my slide and climb out of the bathtub.  I basically really get a kick out of doing the opposite that I am asked.  Sometimes I can get it to work, but other times I have to resort to various other means: screaming hysterically crying, bucking like a wild bronco, kicking and becoming what I like to call a 'wet noodle'.  I think these tactics are gonna work soon so I'm going to keep trying.  After all, I am pretty stubborn and headstrong (not sure where I got these personality traits..).
Don't get me wrong, there are lots of great things I do too!  Here are some of them..

Some things I am really liking nowadays:

• painting, coloring, drawing & writing: I like to lay on the floor and use markers and pens
• getting chased: Dad is really good at this!
• The song "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers.  I say, "clap, clap!" and spin around (my signature dance move)
• brushing my teeth and using the potty (a.k.a playing in the sink and flushing the potty)
• Watching The Olympics and cheering when someone wins (I raise my fist and say, "yay!")
• I like letters and numbers (everything is usually A or 8).  I like to 'count' too.
• I like to go to bed with a good book and read before I fall asleep 
• I also like to rip pages in books...sometimes I just can't help myself.  I say, "oh, no! rip!"
• I like to go to the library, but I'm not too good at sitting for the story.  I like to visit with other kids and play.
• I like to sit in shelves at stores and hide in clothes racks.  I find this makes for a very exciting trip to the store.  I know Mom really enjoys my games. (see pic)
• I am going to start a music class next week and I am really excited about that too!

Here I am working on a masterpiece

Here are some phrases that I use a lot:

• "Thank you!" - aren't I polite?  I say it about 500 times a day..
• "Hi Mom" - I say this about 500 times a day too.  I just like to keep her on her toes.  If the house is a bit quiet it's time for a 'hi mom!'  Sometimes I'll switch it up and trick her with a, "Mom?", then she answers, "yes?" and I respond with, "hi!"
• "Come, play" and "come, sit"
• "Hiiiii!" - I like to shout this at places like the library, but I also greet strangers nicely too
• "Um, no" - as in, (Mom) "Maggie, do you want a nap?", (Me) "um, no"
• "mix, mix, mix" - I like to cook and love the movie Ratatouille (Touille, as I call it)
• I say, "here Mom" and then I give her something (I'm very helpful!)
• "Hug" - that's pretty self explanatory

Oh, so much snow!

I am going to be taking a trip in a few weeks to North Carolina.  It's a state I've never been to, so I'm very excited!  I am also very excited because we are going there to celebrate my Great-Grandma's 90th birthday!  Wow, that is really special!!  I will see a lot of family that live all over the country and we'll have so much fun together.  Dad says it's a very long trip and we'll be driving through the mountains.  I sure hope Mom doesn't freak out.  I'll keep you posted.

So, as you can see, a lot is happening in this little life of mine.  I am excited for Spring to come (will it ever come?) and to get outside, help Mom in the garden, make some new friends and play at the park with Dad.  I am really excited to be a big sister soon, although I still don't get it.  Do you have any advice for me?  Thanks for reading about me and Happy Valentine's Day!


In other exciting news, we are planning our 2nd Annual Grandpa's Gift Golf Event for this spring! It will be here in Illinois and we are so excited for a great day to celebrate my Grandpa Tom (his birthday is May 21st) and raise awareness for OI.  Plus, we'll have a tone of fun!!  There's so much more to come about this awesome event, so stay tuned!  If you want to read about our event last year go here.  If you are interested in donating to our silent auction (crafts, merchandise, gift baskets) or are (or know a business who would be) interested in sponsoring or donating please contact jcsheridan78@gmail.com.  Thank you!

Here are some more outtakes from my photo shoot:

 

 

Happy Heart Day!

xoxox, 

Maggie Shae

What a Gift

I can't believe that the month of May has come and gone, and now I am 13 months old!  I am getting older and wiser by the day..and pretty mischievous as well!
I've been so busy this month that it just flew by.  First off, every Tuesday I take a music class at The Old Town School of Folk Music in this wonderful place called Lincoln Square.  It's an area of Chicago that is so quaint and my Mama tells me all about how she used to live there and play softball at Wells Park, she would watch couples dance in the square on Wednesday evenings in the summer and she and her friends had a great time.  Not long after she lived there she met Daddy, so she says she gets very nostalgic when she thinks of it, whatever that means.
Anyways, music class is such a blast, and then after I get to meet up with my pal Sadie and we play and have a snack.  Mama said she signed me up for the summer session, so that means we keep going and I'm so excited!  I love music and love to strum, strum on Miss Julie's guitar.  All of my friends in the class are older and walking so I want to walk too.  Which brings me to my next subject..
I'm climbing and crawling!  Yes, it's true.  The day after my first music class I began to pull up to standing all on my own.  I crawl all over everything and I'm very quick.  I had been getting around doing my 'Army Crawl' and that was getting me where I needed to go just fine, but after seeing all those kids getting around on their legs I wanted to do that too!  Sometimes I get up into a 'downward dog' pose and everyone thinks I'm trying to stand up.  I'm going to keep practicing and I bet I'll be walking before anyone knows it!  Mama and Daddy just look at each other and say, "oh, jeez!"
I just say, "Relax, I'm growing up!"

              

Here's what happens when I'm left to my own devices...

Grandpa's Gift -- A True Gift

As you might know, my Grandpa Tom passed away in October.  To celebrate his life some of his friends and family decided to come together and plan a fun weekend camping trip at one of his favorite family vacation spots, Camp Dearborn in Milford, MI.  Along with honoring my Grandpa and celebrating his life we wanted to use this opportunity to raise money for the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation (OIF).  Being such a kind and generous man himself, my Grandpa would've done everything he could to help me and other kids with OI.  In a way the OIF reminds me of my Grandpa.  Their sole purpose is to support families living with OI and raise money for research to find a cure.  My Grandpa always did everything he could to help others too.

After months of planning, and planning, and more planning the weekend-long event took place last weekend on Memorial Day.  What a fitting time to honor the memory of such a wonderful man, along with honoring those who honor our freedom.  It was also very fitting that it took place in May because my Grandpa would've been 63 years old on May 21st.  

My Mama and I traveled to my Gramma's house the week before and spent the week getting ready for camping and our golf and silent auction events.  Daddy came a few days later.  The OIF sent a banner to hang at the campsite and made polo shirts for our golfers.  No one could've ever imagined what a huge success this weekend would be, and it was a joint effort by many, many people.  My Grandpa's good friends worked tirelessly to get people to come out and camp - recreating the trip we'd all look forward to spending with our best buddies each summer.  We stayed from Friday to Monday, playing his favorite games: euchre and horseshoes and sitting around the campfire making smores, talking and laughing with each other.  There were 6 kids under 5 that camped and countless others that came during the day to play.  So many friends, family and even people who never knew Grandpa woke up at the crack of dawn on a beautiful Sunday morning to golf, something he loved to do. 

We had around 50 campers, 20 euchre and horseshoers, 72 golfers and countless bidders at our silent auction.  The weather just got better and better each day and every single person who showed up, even for just a visit, and waited patiently as we worked out our first-time kinks (none of us had ever done any of this before!) demonstrated the beauty of the human spirit.  Just thinking about how much money we raised and what fun we all had is enough to life your spirit for ages!

We raised over $2,400 from campers and our horseshoes and euchre events, and over $2,500 from our silent auction and generous people giving donations!  

So many people donated items for our silent auction.  We had lighted wine bottles, jewelry and hand-knitted scarves; beautifully hand painted watercolor notecards made by my Great-Grandma and quilts made by my Aunt Brandy.  Someone donated a brand new pair of Oakley golf shoes, a golf bag and clubs! And the list goes on and on.  I wish we had a picture of our silent auction because everyone worked so hard on it, but we were so busy we forgot to take some!  So many people commented that they have items to donate next year, and we hope to be able to have it available online for people who can't make it.  The support has been overwhelming!

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to everyone who loved my Grandpa and supports our mission: To create an annual event in memory of Grandpa Tom and to raise awareness and support for Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease).

If you didn't get a chance to participate this year we're going bigger and better each year on out.  Plan to join us next year for The Annual Grandpa's Gift Camping Weekend, Golf Tournament & Silent Auction.  

If you would like to make a donation to our Grandpa's Gift OIF donation page please go here. Thank you!

Here are some pictures from our super fun weekend:

Here's our OI banner displayed for all to see at the campsite

 Here's my Gramma, Auntie Shannon and some of my Grandpa's closest friends before our golf Tournament

Here's on of the foursomes on the course

Here are our horseshoe champs and runner-ups!

Here I am around the campfire with my Mama - Hootie wouldn't miss it!

Here we are at our home for the weekend! 

My Papa and I watching the Horseshoe tournament

Our polo golf shirts - they were a hit!

You can also visit here for so many more great photos!

xoxo, 

Maggie Shae

Q&A with Maggie Shae

 You won't believe what secrets this adventurous baby reveals in this tell-all interview!
Well, okay, maybe you will..

I sat down with this little lady to re-cap the past 10 months of her adventurous life, and to try and delve into the world that is Maggie Shae.

Maggie Shae, you are about to have another birthday - 11 months! And you're almost a year old! Can you give us any details about your big birthday bash?
Well, only that it is a once-in-a-lifetime event...quite literally, actually.

Who will you be wearing?  Who is on the guest list?  
Well, I don't like to name drop, so all I can tell you is that I am going to be dressed to impress.
As for the guest list, all my favorite people will be there.  It is going to be quite the soirée! (yes, I can also speak francais)
I have very special guests coming from near and far.  Some from very exotic places, like Michigan.  
I hear we will be doing all kinds of very fun kid things, and my Mama always gets this crazy look in her eye when she's talking to me about it.  I hear her say things like, 'cake' a lot, but I don't know what that is. I hear it will change my life though..
A moment on the lips makes a baby do flips...isn't that how that saying goes?

I guess so..Well, you live a pretty adventurous life.  What is the most exciting thing that has happened to you in the past year?
Hmmm, that is tough...I feel like everyday was a new adventure for me!  I've visited many new and far-off places, like Ohio, Kansas City, Michigan and I'm going to be going to a place called South Carolina soon!  My Daddy and Mama say I will swim in an ocean and play on sand.  I really have no clue what that means, but I hear we will have so much fun!
But I digress...
Now that I have gotten so big - I'm nearly 18 lbs and over 27" long now - I'm eating big girl food and army-crawling and talking, waving bye-bye, dancing and playing so much and everyone tells me that I've really developed quite a little personality.  I am just such a happy girl and I really love just about everything!  I just can't wait to keep growing and learning and meeting lots of new friends!

Has anything exciting happened to you lately?
Why, yes!  I started going to this wonderful place where all of these babies gather and we play and sing songs.  My Mama said it is a baby class.  I try to get everyone's attention and I crawl right up to all of the kids that are standing and try to talk to them.  I'm curious about these kids because they are much taller, but Mama says they've learned to stand on their legs,. What the what?!  I can't believe that because my legs are great and all, but right now I just use them to push me around real fast when I'm trying to get into something I shouldn't be.
Anyways, this place was unbelievable! There were all kinds of grandma's and mommy's, and everyone was so nice to one another.  We sang and listened stories, danced, and played.  It was pretty much like a baby nirvana, if you ask me (and you did... just to be clear).

Wow, that sounds great! But, I have to ask, is there anything that you really, really don't like?
Well, if you would've asked me that a week ago I would've said baby food or peas - ew! I really don't like these things.  But there is something else I have recently discovered that I really do. not. enjoy.
Snow.
I used to look out the window and think it was great, but I never expected to be plopped down in it, then made a fool by being pulled around in this hideous orange thingamajig.  It was quite embarrassing and offensive, if you ask me (and, again, you did..to be clear).

See the exclusive photos here first!

 

I will act like I can't see you because I am so. mad. right. now!

And then you have the nerve to tip me over in this torture device you call a 'sled'?! 

Wow, you're right, you do look pretty miserable.
Yes.  I don't know how anyone thinks this stuff is fun.  It's completely ridiculous.  I wouldn't even smile, and when they finally took my back inside and asked me how I liked it I gave a good raspberry.  Hmpf...as if they couldn't tell that I hated it.

Well, let's change subjects since I can see you are a bit worked up. What is something new that you've learned?
Well, yes!  I mean, I don't want to toot my own horn or anything (toot! toot!)  But, I have recently tried my hand at dancing!  I even try to say it.  My Mama and Daddy usually have to do some pretty outlandish things to get me to dance (see the video for that), but when I want to I can really get down!

Ok, it takes a while for me to actually 'dance', but it happens.
And hearing my Mama make a fool of herself is pretty priceless!

Wow, you really are crazy.  Now I'm going to ask you some basic questions so our readers learn a little bit more about the girl behind the adventurous image:

What's your favorite game to play?
It's still peek-a-boo..what a classic!

What's your favorite book?
Well, I don't like to discriminate, I do enjoy a good solid board book to peruse while I'm relaxing, but if I'm looking to get into trouble and chew or tear something up I usually go for a good old classic Dr. Seuss (no offense Ted, and happy belated birthday to you, friend!)

What's your favorite song?
I am quite partial to the ABCs and I'm a Little Teapot still - you can't go wrong with those rhymes-  but I do enjoy some good classic rock and classical every now and again.  My Papa introduced me to this wonderful show called Little Einsteins, and it's just delightful!  I learn all about music and art.  Each episode they have a new artist, composer and area of the world that they travel to and have a great adventure.  I just love it!  Those zany kids...

What is your favorite thing to eat?
I have quite a refined palate, lately it's been raisins and scrambled eggs.  And I love a good filtered water in a cup.

And finally, what is your favorite part about being a baby?
Hmm.. just about everything. I love smiling at new people and being happy all the time.  I love kisses and hugs and exploring.  I love being held and picked up and strolled around.  I love my wubbies and my owl puppet (HootieHoo), my wood puzzles and my dj turn table.  I pretty much just love everything about everything (except for that silly snow).

Well, our interview is all done.  Is there anything you would like to say?
Well, yes actually.  The past several months have really been quite wonderful in my little life.  I really have grown and learned so much, been shown so much and have become my own person.  I just wanted to say thank you to everyone out there who cares about me and sends lots of love and prayers and good thoughts out into the universe for me.  For all of you who read this and follow my story and asks about me and my family, it really means a lot.  I am the happiest little girl you'll ever meet, but the reason why is because I have been shown so much love and kindness from pretty much everyone I've ever met.  My life didn't start out the smoothest or the most pleasant, and some times it will be hard, just as life can be for everyone, but I just want to take the time to say thank you for showing me the most wonderful 11 months any gal could ask for.  I really do love you all.  Lots of hugs, Maggie Shae!

Next time you here from me I'll be a year old!!

Wow! Well, you heard it here first people.  Miss Maggie Shae is every bit the little professional you thought she was.  Living under a veil of secrecy over the past few weeks, with no word form her camp and no new publicity, I had thought perhaps she was going the Baby Gaga route and was 'taking a break' from her high-profile lifestyle, but she really proved me wrong today.  What a little lady indeed.

Hooray for you, Maggie Shae!