Happy New Year

Well 2010 is almost over and it's been quite the year. There have been 3 babies and a wedding so definitely a whirlwind year. We're looking forward to 2011 and all that it brings. For New Year's we're spending it with Matt, Sarah, Tara and Justin. It should be a fairly relaxing evening which is good and the way I like to spend it.

Next week on Tuesday we embark for New England. We'll be up there for about 10 days so that Maddie gets to meet the family members she hasn't met yet and to see the ones she has. We're looking forward to it and it should be a good time. We were going to take the Jeep but after realizing that there were some complications on taking Marco along as well we have decided to take the truck. It will mean that Maddie and Marco are in the back by themselves but they'll manage and I can always turn around to do what i can. It's not like we can take her out of her seat while we're driving anyways.

We're going to NH first and my guess is that it will probably take us about 12 hours to drive up. The normal drive is about 9.5 hours so the additional time will be for stops to feed and change Maddie and walk Marco.

We are looking forward to 2011. We'll post a few pictures later from our last day in 2010!

Happy New Years!

4 weeks/1 month

It's hard to believe that Maddie has been in our lives for a month already. The time has gone quickly and it's definitely interesting to see how much she's changed. Christmas marked 4 weeks for Maddie and it was a day that went by quickly. We opened our stockings and gifts in the morning and talked to Jym's mom, sister, and grandma for over an hour on skype. It was lots of fun and Maddie was pretty good. Then we talked to Geepa and Papa on skype and then Maddie got to see her cousins on skype for the first time on skype as well. Maddie and Arden were wearing the same outfit on Christmas and it was fun to see the difference. We're looking forward to seeing everyone next week when we take the trip up north.

Yesterday Maddie slept in her pack n play for just about 2 hours twice. We tried to have her sleep in there last night but a little at a time. We'll try again tonight and see if we can't get her to sleep in the napper at night.

Here is Maddie's 4 week picture.

Christmas Eve

Well today is Christmas Eve and Jym is at work for a 12 hour day so won't be home till about 7:30. So it is just me and Maddie for the day. We have already gone out twice today and it's only 1:35. Although we only went to Walgreen's to pick up some photos and last minute stocking stuffers. I still want to get a few things for her but I'm ok if that doesn't happen. We'll probably go out again around 4pm or so depending on how she's doing and what gets done.

Last night we took a trial run with both Maddie and Marco in the jeep in preparation for our trip to NH/ME at the beginning of next week. We were going to go to the festival of lights at Bull Run Park which is about 25 minutes away. We got close but the line was really long (probably because the kids don't have school today and people were trying to get it in before the holidays) and we didn't think a two hour wait was worth it. It runs through January 9th so we're actually going to go next week when things have probably calmed down a bit (as well as go a little earlier like when it first opens). But on the plus side Marco did very well in the car. I think it helped that I sat in the back seat with maddie and could pet Marco. He stood up for a while but then sat down and then finally laid down. I think once his bed is in the back he'll be fine. Now the only thing we really have to figure out is how to get him in and out of the jeep once the trailer thing is hooked to the back. Oh the joys of traveling with a baby and a large dog. :)

Speaking of Marco he's done very well adjusting with Maddie. He likes to check on her when she cries and he's definitely protective of her. It should be interesting when we go to NH and there are other dogs there. I'm sure he'll be fine because he does very well there. We just have to remember to give him attention which we've been pretty good about. He still likes to try to get on the couch and we're working on that. Like all things lately it's a work in process.

Maddie is working on sleeping in her napper. We're up to about 30-35 minutes but that's about it. We're still working on it. We haven't gotten to night time yet so we're still sleeping on the couch but we're working on it. Hopefully over the next week and half we'll get her in the bed a bit more and then while we're up in NH/ME I'm sure it'll mess with her schedule but we'll manage. It's hard to believe she's already almost 1 month old.

It's gone by so quick and it's hard to believe how much shes' changed is such a short time. See her pictures below from the early days and just recently.

Week 3

Maddie has had lots of visitors over the last week and half. On Saturday Jym's friend James came over to bring some beer and to meet Maddie. Later that afternoon Rob and Christine came over. It was sweet to watch them with her and she was very well behaved.

On Monday Diana and Zack arrived. Zack was going to check out Roanoke College on Tuesday so they came in to visit and hang out for a few days. It was a fun couple of days. Then on Friday Brock and Erin got to meet Maddie an on Saturday it was a friend filled day with the Justice's and the Downey's. Through it all Maddie was very well behaved. She did cry a bit but in the grand scheme of things she's only a few weeks old and considering it was a busy few days and lots of new people she did really well.

She's definitely a very sweet baby. She sleeps a lot but is definitely starting to smile a bit more. It's not necessarily the social smile yet but she's getting there. We took some cute pictures the other day in her christmas outfit and of course we take pictures as often as possible.

Here a few pictures of the past week and a half.

Two Weeks

Well Maddie has been in our lives for two weeks now and I am loving being a mom. She's such a sweet baby and I love holding her and watching her expressions. While I know most of the facial expressions aren't something she has control over but they are fun to watch regardless.

On Thursday Maddie had her two week appointment at the doctors. She weighed in at 10lbs and 2oz which puts her in the 98% for both her height and her weight. Her head circumference is in the 90-95th percentile so she's proportional and healthy. I have started going through her clothing and most of the newborn clothing is being put away as she's either too big or too long for them but the 0-3 month outfits some of them are too big. We're working our way through it but with all her handmedowns there isn't a lack of clothing for her to wear.

Yesterday Maddie had some visitors in the form of Jym's friend James (who was dropping off some beer and hung out for a while) and then our friend's Rob and Christine came by for a few hours. She slept through most of both visits but did get held by everyone. Tomorrow her Geepa and Uncle Zack come in so Zack can look at Roanoke College but they'll come visit for a bit as well.

We've also made our plans to head up to NH/ME in early January. We'll be gone for 10 days and it will be Maddie's first time meeting most of her relatives. We're looking forward to it and there will be lots of pictures to come. For now here is Maddie at 2 weeks.

We have a chowhound on our hands

So for those of you who don't know Maddie came out weighing 9lbs and 9ozs however by the time we left the hospital two days later she was down to 8lbs 12ozs and at her doctors visit the next day she was down another 3 ozs. Part of this was due to the fact that my milk hadn't come in but we spent about an hour with the lactation consultant (the doctor's office has two and the one we met with was absolutely wonderful) and an appointment for the next day to check her weight and see how everything was going.

The time spent with Mary (the lactation consultant) was much needed and helped me feel a lot more comfortable in what I was doing. While you would think that breastfeeding is a fairly simple thing (I mean hey women have been doing it for a long time) and that it would be second nature it doesn't always end up that way. With some great pointers and feeling a lot better we were sent home. At the appointment the next day Maddie had gained 3 ozs after a night of some very good feedings. We made one more appointment for today (6 days after the last one) and when she was put on the scale she weighed in at 9lbs 15oz. So our little girl 10 days after being born is now past her birth weight and had gained 1lb and 2oz in 6 days. Needless to say she's quite the eater.

One of the positives of her eating is that she is sleeping for longer periods of time. This morning she slept for about 3 hours which was great for both of us because I got some sleep and am feeling great. I'm finally getting to the point where I am ready to do a few more things around the house and try to start getting into a routine of sorts. Now I know there is only so much of a routine with an infant but I figure if i can get some additional stuff around the house done while she naps during the day and she sleeps well at night like she has (only getting up every 2 1/2 - 3 hours) been then we both win.

We'll see how everything goes over the next few weeks and Maddie has her 2 week appointment on Thursday so that day might be a wash if she has to get a bunch of shots but we'll see. Plus the following week her Geepa and Uncle Zack are coming to visit so that Zack can go check out Roanoke College. It'll be good to see them and we are starting to get ready for our trip to New England in January. During that trip she'll get to meet all her relatives so that will be good.

And because what post would be complete without a picture of the pumpkin.

1st day by ourselves

Jym went to work for the first time yesterday since Maddie was born. Our first day by ourselves was good although not very productive. I think the only thing we managed to do was clean off the coffee table. I did manage to put the baby bjorn on and walk the dog although it was a quick walk because it was soo cold out. Maddie didn't seem to mind as she was bundled up and was asleep by the time we got back inside.

Other than that we did a lot of lounging around the house which was nice. Today for day two I think we'll try to get a bit more done as I'm going to try to put Maddie back in the baby bjorn and go through the clothes in her room and seperate them out by size so that only the stuff she fits in will be out. Right now everything is out so it's a little hard to figure out what she should wear. Plus her Auntie Sara just sent her a bunch of stuff from her cousin Arden so we need to go through that. Plus a friend of her Auntie Kelly sent a bunch of baby clothes that we still need to wash and bring upstairs so hopefully it will be a fairly productive day.

Happy Monday!

One Week

One week ago Maddie came into our lives. It has been a bit of a crazy week as we get used to having her here. It's definitely been an adjustment period for us. She's been an absolute delight to have and I love holding her. She's soo sweet even when she's crying.

Jym has been really good with her as well especially considering he doesn't have as much experience with babies as I do. We are both getting used to not having a lot of sleep. He's getting a bit more than I am simply because he can't feed her.

While we have spent most of the time inside since she came home we have gone out a few times. On Monday we drove Geepa and Uncle Travis to the airport after their visit. We went to the doctor's twice and today we went out and ran a few errands which was nice to get out of the house. Jym also picked up our christmas tree and it's in the corner of the living room now. I'm excited to decorate it and get into the festive holiday mood.

Here's a picture of her at 1 week old. :)