Allergies???

I thought seasonal allergies do not show up until after the first year, especially is breastfed babies but it's exactly what Madeleine seems to have. This is the forth time it's happened. She starts sneezing, her eyes drain and her nose runs. It's really bad the first day and then tapers off only to start again a week or two later. Plus, she spits up more because of all mucus in her tummy. My poor girl is miserable! If the drooling is not enough....every orifice on the girls face is producing liquid.

I love that every time she is in the swing she puts her left foot up on the bar. Always.

Ooops...sorry Madeleine

I love it when I download the pictures off the camera and I find little surprises from Noelle.

Later! Pictures from our weekend in San Diego. The Zoo was SO FUN!

5 Months

Sorry for sounding like a broken record but, 5 MONTHS!?!?

They say time flies when you're having fun, guess I'm having a blast. Little Miss Madeleine Gracie-Girl is growing so fast, is so giggly, grabs any and everything she can and is turning into a blabber mouth. I remember Noelle having a lot of drool when she was teething but that was nothing compared to this poor girl, it even runs down my arms when I'm holding her.


Last Saturday we were at Auntie's house going through old pictures, we found an old family video and turned it on. There were some funny, funny things and we both were cracking up, then we realized Madeleine was, too. Oh, how I wished we'd could have gotten it on video! We both stopped looked at each other and this baby was in stitches....head thrown back, wide open mouth laughing. I guess she was just picking up on the vibe. When she realized we'd stopped she broke into tears, I guess she was sad the fun was over.

Pool Time

Since the heat wave is pretty much over, we decided to hit the pool today. Smart, huh? It was only about 72 degrees and kind of windy but the water was fabulous! I'm so glad I did not bag it at the last minute.

We got to the pool and realized I'd forgotten my camera...I was so upset! But, my phone saved the day. Madeleine had the best time in the pool, she's definitely a water baby.

Madeleine's first experience in a bathing suit was great...my first experience back in a bathing suit was absolutely horrible to put it mildly. I'm working hard but the weight isn't budging. I know one morning I'm going to jump out of bed, my clothes will fit and all those miles and missed chocolate will be well worth it. Right?!

Trash Truck

Noelle loves to hate the trash truck. She can spot one of them from a mile away and has always excitedly pointed them out from the time she was a little baby. She used to call them a 'truck trash.' Monday is trash day and by far the most exciting day of the week around here. We hear him first thing in the morning and the antics continue through most of the day. Looking at him through the window is incredibly exciting but being outside when he is actually at our house is nothing short of a panic attack. Three different trucks come by: one for trash, one for recycling and one for yard waste. It's load of fun.

We have several conversations a day about what he does and doesn't pick up, here is the one we had at 6:15 yesterday morning when my sweet slumber was interrupted:

Noelle: "Mommy, it's the trash truck!"

Mommy: "Yep."

Noelle: "Mommy, the trash truck is not going to pick me up, right?"

Mommy: "No, the trash truck is not going to pick you up."

Noelle: "Mommy, the trash truck is not going to pick Madeleine up, right?"

Mommy: "No, the trash truck is not going to pick Madeleine up."

Noelle: "Mommy, the trash truck is not going to pick up my green, right?" (green = favorite blanket)

Mommy: "No, the trash truck is not going to pick up your green."

Noelle: "Mommy, the trash truck is not going to pick my stroller up, right?"

Mommy: "No, the trash truck is not going to pick your stroller up."

Noelle: "Mommy, the trash truck only gets the trash cans, right?

Mommy: "Yes, the trash truck only gets the trash cans."

It will be a sad, sad day for me when the trash truck comes and we no longer have these conversations.

Little Sunshine

Aaron is such a silly guy, he loves to make up all kinds of funny words and names for people. A name did not come that easily for Madeleine, but we finally have one. Whew! I was starting to get worried.

Aaron calls her his 'Little Sunshine.' It's totally fitting. The minute he walks in the door and does not see her he asks for his Sunshine. Noelle actually calls her 'Unshine,' when we try to correct her she says, "Not Sunshine, she's Unshine." She also likes to call her, 'Boo-Boo.' She grabs Madeleine's little fist and kisses it while saying, "I love my Boo-Boo!"

While I was at Target doing some Easter basket shopping I found this little outfit and knew it was made for her. I could not wait to get home and show it to Aaron, he loved it so much he almost cried.

Poor little thing is teething like crazy, her fingers seem to be permanently stuck in her mouth. And if anything is within a close proximity of her mouth she desperately starts licking for it and trying to cram it in her mouth. Nothing is safe around here!

She also loves her new play toys, her feet! I'm just waiting for her to figure out that those fit in her mouth, too.

It so sweet to see how tender Noelle is with her, when she starts crying and I can't get to her right away, Noelle will lay down with her and say, "Oh, my sweet girl, it's OK. Don't cry sweetheart" It's reassuring to know she's picking up good habits, too.

Pictures

Which (if any) of these pictures would you buy? Leave a comment!

1.
2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

I got my free 8X10 of this picture, but it's cropped better.

Happy Easter

She's Crafty!

Some serious Easter crafts have been going down around here lately. Wait until you see their dresses!!!!!

I had a lot of much fun making matching shirts for the girls.

Auntie is awesome and we made these basket liners together. I will post a better picture, this one does not even do them justice.

Today Noelle and I made these cookies. They are really cheesy but it's the first time I have ever used Royal Icing...very time consuming. After the first couple I just started slapping the stuff on and calling it good. Plus, what do expect when you have a three year old as your assistant? "I can do it, I can do it!"

Her strong suit definitely is eating them.

Tomorrow....dyeing Eggs for the first time. Can't wait!

Starving...

You know when you are really hungry to begin with and then when you start preparing the food you almost go crazy because you are SO HUNGRY!? That was me tonight. It has been a long day, baby has been fussier than normal and Noelle has been like an Atom Bomb...one huge disaster to clean up after another. Aaron has been gone...you know how those days go.

It seemed like it was taking hours for the food finish cooking. Madeleine was screaming, Noelle kept stealing food and pulling at me saying over and over and over, "I'm REALLY hungry." I finally get everyone situated, the first bite is on it's way to my mouth...suddenly Madeleine's little hand catches the side of my bowl and it all goes flying everywhere. Really? REALLY? All I could do is laugh. So, I picked little pieces of chicken out of baby's hair, got both of them in bed, and had Graham Crackers & Milk for dinner. Fabulous.

Miss Noelle...

...is turning into little Miss Attitude.

Her reply these days for almost anything is, "This is too strange!"

Mommy: "Will you get Madeleine a clean diaper?"
Noelle" "Nah, I don't feel like it."

They say it's a developmental milestone when your child can reason and lie. Not sure I'm so happy about this.

Mommy: "Please give me the jelly beans back, you did not ask for them."
Noelle: "I don't have them." (quickly hides them behind her back)

Mommy: "Go wash your hands before we eat, they're dirty."
Noelle: "I don't need to, I already washed them!"
Mommy: "No, you just came in from outside."
Noelle: "I already washed them." (waving her hands in my face)

Daddy Love

I'm playin catch-up tonight with all these posts!

Anytime Madeleine can hear her Daddy's voice she turns her head any way she can to find him. Even when she is eating! Now that is saying something because this little one does not like to skip meals. Here they are on the couch tonight.

4 Months

Last Thursday Madeleine turned 4 whole months old! Where has the time gone!?

This little baby is such a source of joy for her parents and her big sister. We love having her here with us, I can't really remember when she wasn't. She's always smiling and happy...unless she really needs something. Then she lets us know, but as soon as her need is met, she is back to being Miss Sunshine again. It's like she has a switch that can be flipped on and off. The poor little thing just drools buckets and buckets. I do everything to try and keep her dry but I can't keep up with it, she still has a little rash under her chin.

Noelle loves her sister so much. She can almost always be found face to face with her saying, "Hi Madeleine! Hi Madeleine! Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Madeleine!"

Her 4 month check-up went really well. I have been somewhat concerned that she is not reaching for toys or swiping at them like she should. She has toys she loves but she is perfectly content staring and giggling at them rather than touching. She is developing on track in every other way, so it just seemed odd that she has not been doing this. Doctor confirmed she is doing great, just keep dangling fun toys in front of her.

When it came time for shots this poor little girl had no idea what was coming. You would think her ample chub would make it hurt less, apparently not! She cried, screamed and cried some more. Nothing would appease her, finally I just packed her up without even getting her clothes on, she knocked right out before we even left the parking lot.

Height: 25.25 inches - 81%

Weight: 16 pounds 2 ounces - 90%

Head: 16.25 inches - 58%

A Year Ago...

One year ago today my life changed significantly for the better...

I met little Miss Georgia for the first time. On Sunday we were with her as she celebrated her First Birthday. She is the sweetest girl, it was a fun day!

~~

I also found out that this little blessing was going to be joining our family.

There were no words to describe the joy and apprehension I felt. It took an entire year and two rounds of medicine to get pregnant, little did we know it was because of the Graves.

Funny story: I took a left over test given to me by a friend (Georgia's Mommy, actually, she did not need it any more!) really early that morning and I was not sure if I was reading it right (long story.) I needed to know if it was truly positive. I scoured the internet for a picture that matched and it seemed that I was right, but, I HAD to be 100% sure. So, I ate really salty food, went to the gym and worked out without any water, then walked around Costco forever letting my pee concentrate, bought more tests and finally went home. I have the proof that it was obviously correct. Oh, the things we women do!