9 months

Today Maddie (a.k.a Little MAC, Madagascar, Madarewski--these are all names we call her) is 9 months old, only 3 away from turning a year. She is growing up so fast, and I'm just trying to savor these days! She had her 9 month well check-up today and she weighed in at 17 lbs. 10 oz. (35th percentile) and is 28 1/4 inches in length (79th percentile)--still on pace to be long and lean. The doctor asked if that length included her hair--ha ha! I love love love her hair and I would not want it any other way...it's just her.

This month Maddie had several firsts:

1) She went to the State Fair and rode her first carousel ride but we have no pics to prove it

2) She crawls like a champ--no more dragging one leg

3) She pulls up to standing on just about everything. She usually stands up at least twice before going to bed and we have to go in and lay her back down. She also stands in the morning and just waits on us to come get her!

See what I can do

4) She smacks her lips together

5) Celebrated her first Halloween in which she dressed as a little flower

6) She says "bye bye" but can't yet wave

8) She now takes a bath in the big girl tub--"bye bye little tub, that's for babies," she says. She is so brave that she even wants to crawl in there!

Peek-a-boo

"Mommy, I can't believe you just took my paci"

Showing off those 2 teeth

Quick, look at my dimple...I can't hold this face for long

Happy 9 months sunshine! We love you so very much!

Lions and flowers at the zoo, oh my!

Last night we went to Boo at the Zoo with Josh, Kelly, and Tyler. After about 30 minutes we were still at the front gate, ha! Wilson and I spotted Starbucks (yum!), Tyler saw some of his little friends from daycare, and we had to take pictures by the larger-than-life pumpkin. Maddie was a cute little flower and her cousin Tyler was a lion. I kept wanting to sing like the lion in the Wizard of Oz--uh hem (clearing throat)--"If I were the king of the junglllllllleeeeeeee".

It was a perfect night to go--a bit chilly but not too cold and our little flower of course stayed warm! We stopped at several booths so Maddie could go trick-or-treating but guess where that candy is now? My belly! I really enjoyed watching Maddie as she was mesmerized by all of the lights and Halloween decorations. We even got to see some animals, and Maddie laughed at a cow chomping on his hay! Daddy tried to bite us with his vampire teeth he found in one of the candy bags, but we were able to escape!

Cute cousins

A lion almost escaped the zoo!

Cutest little flower in the garden

Dancin' Machine

Bringing MC Hammer back is Madison Clark who'll be performing this smash hit from Hammer's 1990 release of Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em! Enjoy!

8 months (part 2)

A few more things have happened since Maddie's 8 month birthday so I thought I'd add on and have a part 2 of the previous post. On Monday, Maddie had her first fever so after a doctor's visit on Tuesday, it turns out she has an ear infection in each ear--poor little girl! However, the good news is that she weighs 16 lbs, 11 oz.--go Maddie! We haven't been to the doctor since her 6 month check-up and since then her menu has changed enormously so I knew she was getting up there just didn't know how much! A couple more milestones that have just occurred in the last day or 2 are that Maddie now says "da-da" (I know that is music to Wilson's ears) and she is now a forward crawler. She is not great at the traditional move one knee then the other but rather stays on one knee and pulls herself along with the other leg straight out behind her. Nevertheless, she is mobile and folks this means baby-proofing time!! Until next time...

8 months

Today Maddie is 8 months old and yet I am still amazed at how fast time flies in between these posts. All I know is we love her more and more everyday, and we absolutely cherish those sweet little, abundant smiles ! I'll keep this one short and sweet and dive right into her firsts/big accomplishments/fun things from the month:

1) She says "babababa" a lot and has even mixed in some "mamama's"

2) She is not yet crawling forward but can move backwards

3) She has started sitting up when going down for naps or bedtime--as soon as we leave the room she works her magic by moving from back to tummy to pushing up to sitting

4) Referring back to #3, she doesn't lay down when she actually does get tired, instead just falls asleep sitting up, usually bent over at the waist with head in the mattress

5) She pulls up on the side of the crib so we dropped the mattress

6) She decided after an entire box of oatmeal that she won't have that for breakfast anymore (she will throw up if forced to eat it)

7) She got choked on a puff (while we were in a restaurant)--this is VERY scary!

8) She knows how to undo her diaper, usually does it for me when I lay her on the changing table and sometimes when it's not time to change

9) The jumperoo has become her best friend...she jumps violently in that thing and it's pretty hilarical (don't think that's a word but I like it)!

10) She does what I like to call a shimmy--moves her upper body from side to side and

sometimes her head too!

11) She knows how to clap her hands and beat her hands on her chest like Tarzan (we do not advocate the latter)

12) Her favorite activity of late with daddy is to lay on a pile of laundry and tumble (roll) into his arms...she turns into quite the gigglebox!

Happy 8 months baby girl!

Striking a pose and looking at herself in the mirror

Wild Thing

It's pretty obvious what I'm referring to when I say wild thing. I don't think anyone can miss this hair, it's completely out of control. Maddie was wondering if anyone had experience with this type of hair and if they can give her pointers on how to fix it! Ok, I did exaggerate it slightly by styling it into a mohawk after her bath but I couldn't resist. Normally after brushing it, it looks perfect, you think, man I wish I had hair like that. But then...but then...hanging in there...B...BO...BOI....BOING, it sticks straight up! Oh well, "wild thing, I think I love you!"

7 months

Maddie turned 7 months old on September 5th and she is quite active and talkative these days. Sometimes she babbles on and on...I really wonder what she's talking about but I just imagine for now.  These are some things she has been up to lately (probably what she's been trying to tell us):

1)  She now sits completely by herself and plays with toys on the floor without falling on her face

2)  She loves moving her arms and legs in a fast motion which makes changing diapers quite difficult

3)  She rang in her 7 month birthday by cutting her first little bottom tooth

4)  She acts as if she wants to crawl--while sitting she rocks back and forth and thrusts her arms forward.  She just can't seem to figure out what to do with her legs though. I've put her on her knees and she makes this sound as if she is so scared...she must be afraid of heights!

5) She loves pulling my hair and rubbing daddy's head

6) She loves giving out hugs and kisses--what a little snuggle bunny.  This morning after I fed her cereal, she patted me on the back as if to say "thanks for breakfast mommy"--how sweet!  

7)  She started school (or at least I like to say she did).  On Wed. mornings she and her friend Katie go to Weekday at our church to give Ms. Susan a break.  Today was her first morning and she is completely worn out! 

I love watching her grow and develop into new stages--each one brings such joy and excitement. We love her more and more each day!  Happy 7 months sweet pea!