I Love You, Aunt Mary!

Dear Aunt Mary,

Thanks for the cool shirt you gave me for Christmas.  It is awesome and so are you!  I love you! 

Love,
Madelyn

Just Chillin'

I'm just chillin' in my swing...



Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Madelyn got to sit on Santa's lap twice, once at Daddy's office party and once at Chick-fil-a.  She asked for a jumperoo that she could use when she gets a little bit older and can hold her head up on her own. 

Talking with Santa at Daddy's office party

Visiting with Santa at Chick-fil-a

 

1 Month Check-up Stats

Maddie had her 1 month check-up today with Dr. Schmidt. She is doing very well and is growing!  She didn't like the Hepatitis B vaccination too much, but she was a good little patient.

Stats for 1 month:
Weight: 9 lbs. 5 oz.
Length: 21.5 in.

Maddie's New Discoveries

1. Her toys on her playmat--About a week ago, Maddie reached for her "Lulu in a Tutu" toy that was sitting near her changing pad while I was changing her diaper.  A few days later, she began reaching for the toys on her playmat.  She enjoys hitting the toys, so we play on the playmat a few times a day. 
2. Her hair--If you watch the video until the very end, you will notice she starts crying.  I didn't realize why she was crying until I picked her up.  She had grabbed a handful of hair, and was tugging on it.  You can see her hand go up and grab her hair in the video.  She did this again the next day while she was napping and woke herself up.  Poor baby!

1 Month Old

Madelyn turned 1 month old yesterday!  Wow....how time flies! 

• At her last doctor's appointment, which was almost 2 weeks ago, she weighed right at 8 lbs.  Daddy weighed her on our scales at home, and we are thinking she is about 9 lbs. now.  Her next doctor's appointment is on 12/22/11. 
• She is wearing newborn and some 0-3 month size clothes, although the newborn size is getting a little snug.
• Maddie is now fitting into size 1 diapers.
• Her neck muscles are getting stronger.  She is able to pull her head up about 45 degrees while doing tummy time, and she can hold her head up for short periods of time when we burp her.
• She is a happy baby most of the time and only cries if she has a dirty diaper or if she is hungry. 
• She is starting to try to grab things that catch her attention, like her toy, Lulu in a Tutu, which rattles and crinkles, or the butterfly on her play mat.
• She is eating about every 2 1/2-3 hours during the day and about 3-3 1/2 hours at night.  She eats about 2-3 ounces at each feeding.
• Maddie is usually awake and alert for a good period of time first thing in the morning and in the evenings.  She naps well during the day and sleeps good at night, usually going immediately back to sleep after eating.  She likes being swaddled at night.
• She enjoys bath time, especially since she lost her cord and can now enjoy tub baths instead of sponge baths.
• She is smiling, usually when she is drifting off to sleep.
• Madelyn loves her swing and usually will nap there during the day.
• Maddie has enjoyed going out with Mommy and Daddy to several places--church, Sam's Club, a Christmas party, and the doctor's office/Daddy's office.

Take 1...

Take 15...

 

We are so blessed to have such a sweet daughter.  She has grown and changed so much already.  We are looking forward to what God has in store for our family in the future as she continues to grow and change.

Belly Cast

When I was around 32 weeks pregnant, my friend Kelley helped me make a belly cast.  During the last few weeks of my pregnancy, I sealed it with several coats of gesso. (I know that makes me sound very artistic, but I can't really tell you what it is other than some kind of white, thick paint that Kelley told me to use!)  It filled in the holes from the gauze used to make the cast and made it more of a solid piece.  Kelley had offered to paint something on it for me, but I decided to do it myself to make it more of a sentimental piece for Madelyn.  I have to say that I wondered many times if I was crazy to do it myself when Kelley is so artistic, and I'll be the first to admit that I am definitely not!  I was a little hesitant about starting it, afraid I would mess it up.  However, I think it turned out pretty good, and hopefully Madelyn will enjoy looking at it when she gets older.  I used the design from her bedding for the top, and then painted her birth stats on the belly.  It's so hard to believe how she fit in my belly at one time....she has already gotten so big!