8 months of love

Madalyn turned 8 months on the 4th and I can hardly believe it! She is growing up so fast! But she is such a wonderful baby and I'm so blessed to have such a sweet, loving, happy girl. Here are some of the highlights of the past month:

First pink eye
Topical yeast infection
Flu shot
Weighs 21 pounds
Wearing 9 month clothes
Can pull herself up all by herself
Got her first tooth (bottom right front)
First hair cut (trim really)
Started finger foods and loves to feed herself
Loves veggies
Likes to try and walk when we hold her hands
Loves being outside
Swung in a swing at the park for the first time
Started crawling one day before she turned 8 months old
Loves to talk and squeal
She is now sleeping exclusively in her crib
Loves her pink blanket more than any other one
She is such a happy, smiley, loving, energetic, independent little girl.

There is nothing, not one hair on your sweet little head that I would change. You are everything to your daddy and I. We are always taken back by how much you change and grow everyday. Your smile makes us forget everything else in the world and there is such joy your beautiful blue eyes. I'm so proud to be your mommy, Bug. You are perfect. Never forget that! I love you to the moon and back.

6 months new

Madalyn has been six months new for a couple weeks now and time has eluded me. I have started up school again and while trying to balance our new schedule, Bug has decided to change her schedule once again.

She is growing up way too fast. At her 6 month check up, she weighed 19 pounds 1 ounce (90th percentile) and was 26.5 inches tall (80th percentile). She still fits into some of her 6 month clothes, but we have dug out her 9 month clothes and they fit just right! 

She has also begun eating solid foods. She currently LOVES avocado and sweet potatoes. She is not too fond of the rice/cereal (I think it is a textured thing). She drinks a 7 ounce bottle every 3-4 hours and eats her food 3 times a day.

Mads can sit on her own. She is still working on getting in to the sitting position all by herself but when she gets there she loves it! She can also stand on her own for several seconds when holding on to the table or chair or someone. Her hand/eye coordination is incredible. She is extremely ticklish and loves to laugh.  For Christmas (her very first one), she got a bouner/saucer from her papa and nama. She absolutely loves to bounce in it! She also received new clothes, books and some money to go towards her education.

She has found a love for anything Elmo, especially when he is singing. Tom and I constantly have Elmo's song stuck in our head. 

Mady is the light of my life. She is everything to me. I am so proud of who she is and who she is becoming. She is the best thing I have ever done and I pray I will make her proud.

4 months of joy

I should be doing dishes or sleeping, but instead I am here, thinking about my sweet baby and how fast these last 4 months have just flown by! It seems like just yesterday, I was meeting my precious little lady for the first time! I am still in awe that Heavenly Father chose me (and Tom) to love, protect and nurture this child of His. I am beyond blessed and I feel so unworthy of this amazing gift!

Madalyn is such an incredible joy to be around! From the moment we wake up, she is all smiles. I often find myself being awoken from her talking and when I glance over at her in her bassinet, her big beautiful eyes meet mine and she smiles the biggest smile! It sure makes getting out of bed a lot easier! She has the best temperament and truly is such a wonderful baby.

She is currently enjoying standing up and looking around at everything! She loves to talk and is checking out her vocal cords now by screeching! She is learning to roll over, and while she has done it a few times, her arm gets in the way a lot and she gets very frustrated. And she will let everyone know she is!! She already sleeps through the night, which is such a blessing in itself! She is happy, loving and bright!! I am so blessed!

Current nicknames:
Doodlebug
Munch
Doodle
Bug
Lovebug
Pumpkin
Mady
Mads
Ginger
Shea
Ginger Baby

Firsts:
First Halloween (she was Tigger)
First trip to the ER (for a cough)
First time rolling over from front to back
First move
First time having water
First professional photo shoot (she is such a good model)


Madalyn,
You are perfect! There is not a thing about you I would change! I love every moment of being your mommy, even the trying ones. You have truly completed our family. You bring your daddy and I so much joy that it is often indescribable. I am so proud of you and all that you are doing! Keep going, bug!! I love you so very much!!

Love you forever,
Mommy