Miss Chatterbox

Pictures!

Hershey is such a good big brother!

Daddy and Maddie

What a sweet face!

Mommy and Maddie after going on a walk

2 Month Check-Up

Madelyn had her 2 month check-up with Dr. Schmidt yesterday.  She is doing well!  She is growing and developing as she should be, so we are able to expand her feeding times.  We are still feeding on demand but at least every 4 1/2 - 5 hours during the day. 

Dr. Schmidt started her on a vitamin D supplement drop, as that is the only vitamin that breastmilk lacks.  She can also get vitamin D by being out in the sunshine, but it's just too cold right now to be outside for long.  Once the weather gets warmer where we are able to be outside longer and once we start her on solid foods, we should be able to stop the vitamin D supplement.

She had to get 2 shots (one was a combo shot of multiple vaccines) and an oral vaccine.  She of course cried when she was getting the shots, but was back to her happy self soon afterwards.  The vaccines made her sleepy and, eventually, somewhat irritable.  She woke up crying after her nap, and I couldn't get her to calm down.  We tried walking, singing, rocking, swinging, eating--nothing worked.  I think she was sore from her shots, so I gave her some tylenol.  You could tell the tylenol started to work in about 15 minutes, because she calmed down and drifted off to sleep again. She was a happy baby again throughout the night and today!

Here are her 2 months stats:
Weight:  10 lbs. 8 oz.
Length:  23 inches

Daddy's Girl

Daddy making Madelyn's face

All smiles

How sweet!

Mommy or Daddy?

Who do you think Madelyn looks like?  Mommy or Daddy?  We'd love to know what you think!  Put your thoughts in the comments below, or answer the poll to the right.

Happy 2 Months, Madelyn!

Madelyn turned 2 months old today!  She is growing and developing so fast!  I finally took her newborn clothes out of her closet to pack them up, even though she hasn't been able to wear them for about a month, and it was so bittersweet looking at all those tiny clothes! 

• She is wearing most 0-3 month size clothing (some brands are still a little large)
• Her next doctor's appointment is on 1/18/12, so I'll post weight and height stats then.
• She is still wearing size 1 diapers.  
• Maddie is able to hold her head up for longer periods of time while doing tummy time.  When holding her under her arms, she can pretty much hold her head up on her own, but it is still a little wobbly.  
• She continues to have a happy personality, although we have had a couple nights and one full day where she has been fussy...maybe colic or gas???
• Lulu in a Tutu continues to be her favorite toy, although she also likes to hold her Piglet lovie when she sleeps in her swing.  
• She is still feeding on demand--she likes to eat about every 3 hours during the day and about every 3 1/2 - 4 hours at night.  Due to our estimates how much I'm able to pump and how much she will take from a bottle, our guess is that she eats about 3-4 oz. at each feeding.  
• Madelyn is now sleeping her crib at night, and she has done wonderfully!  I think it was harder for Mommy to make the transition than it was for Maddie!  She usually wakes up about every 3 1/2 - 4 hours, but she has had a stretch as long as 5 hours and 20 minutes!  We are getting closer and closer to a full nights sleep!  :)  She still enjoys being swaddled at night and will occasionally use a pacifier to help her get to sleep.
• She has discovered her hands.  You'll frequently find her staring at her hands or putting them in her mouth (not for hunger, just for exploration).  
• Her favorite place to nap during the day is her swing.  It's so funny because the music on the swing is set on a timer.  Sometimes when the music goes off, she will let out a little cry as if she is saying, "Please turn my music back on!"  She also loves to stare at the mobile on the swing.
• She enjoys us singing to her and will kick her legs and swat her hands while we sing.  Some of her favorites are:  "Skin-a-ma-rink-i-dinky-dink," "Twist and Shout," and "Jesus Loves Me"
• Maddie's smiles are becoming larger and more frequent!  You can tell she is smiling on purpose when she sees Daddy or Mommy.  She smiles the most first thing in the mornings, but she will usually give you a smile at any time throughout the day if you work at it. 
• Madelyn is starting to track faces and objects with her eyes.  
• She loves for us to hold her and walk around so she can look at things.  Some of her favorite things to stare at are the tree in her room and the canvas flower pictures in the living room.  Although she recently discovered the picture of Mommy and Daddy in the living room and has started to stare at it a lot too.
• Maddie made her first big trip across NC over the holidays.  We only had to stop once each way during the 4 hour trip.
• She is cooing more.
• She has started slobbering more and blowing little tiny bubbles out of her mouth, especially when she gets excited.
• She is not really a fan of the Moby wrap right now because she has to sit facing in towards me; however, she does enjoy the Baby Bjorn where she can face out to see the world.
• She is able to grasp and hold one of her rattles for short periods of time when it is put in her hands.  She'll usually start to shake it and ends up dropping it.
• Madelyn enjoys looking at books.  We try to read 2-3 books each afternoon, and sometimes we'll read some before she goes to bed.
• When she is tired and is being held up on your shoulder, she'll squeeze your neck and nuzzle into your shoulder.  Maddie gives the best hugs!
• And guess what...she rolled over today!  She rolled over from tummy to back while laying on her playmat.  We missed the video opportunity, but keep posted!

Super Cute Smiles

Look At Me!

Look at how high I can hold my head up during tummy time!

Maddie's First Christmas

Our family had a wonderful Christmas!  It was so great being able to celebrate such a special holiday with our special little girl.  Maddie did so well throughout all of the holiday festivities! 
I was really worried about Madelyn traveling the four hour trip, as she had really only been in the car for short periods of time (probably no more than 15 minutes at a time).  She had been sleeping in the car until about a week before our trip, when she decided it would be more fun to frazzle Mommy's nerves by crying anytime she got in the car.  However, our prayers were answered and she was an angel on the way home for Christmas.  She slept most of the way, and we only had to stop once to feed her and change her diaper.  We were so proud of her! 

We stayed busy once we got there.  We went to Nana's for dinner on the 23rd, lunch with Amy and Elliot on Christmas Eve, Grandmother's for Christmas Eve dinner, breakfast on Christmas day at Uncle Jared's and Aunt Erica's house, Joye and Terry's house for Christmas lunch, and back to Grammy and Grandpa's house for Christmas dinner.  Maddie enjoyed getting to meet lots of new family members!  (Unfortunately, we were horrible about taking pictures...I guess we were just too in the moment!)  I don't think Mommy and Daddy had much of a chance to hold her during these events because everyone else was loving on her! 

Maddie meeting Amy and Elliot

Sweet Hershey Pie

Connor holding Maddie for the first time

Cody, Madelyn, Hershey, and I made sure to have some special times as a family too!  On Christmas Eve, we all set out milk and cookies for Santa.  Hershey got so excited and forgot they were for Santa and tried to eat them....but Mommy and Daddy were too fast for him and saved the cookies just in time!  On Christmas morning, Cody and I opened presents from each other while waiting on Madelyn to wake up.  She got up around 8:30 am and we took her to see what Santa brought her--a Love You Zoo Jumperoo for when she gets a little bigger, and some sippy cups, pacifiers, and mesh treat container in her stocking.  Mommy and Daddy started a savings account for her for Christmas present this year.

Putting out cookies and milk for Santa

Maddie already enjoying her jumperoo from Santa

We had a wonderful Christmas this year!  I can't wait to keep adding traditions as Maddie gets older and able to enjoy them!