A couple of weeks ago, Dylan was out of town for 3 or 4 days. He then was gone all last weekend for Stewart's bachelor party and turned right around Monday morning and flew to AL for work. He got home late last night, thank goodness!!! I got a taste of what it would be like to be a single mom and I can say with 100% certainty, I would NEVER want to be there....for so many reasons. Madison is such a good baby so I don't even know what it would be like if we had a little terror! Not only is it quite lonely, there is just stuff that has to be done to live and there isn't much time to do that if you don't have any help. We already knew what we have in Dylan but got confirmation again!
I have to mention my friend, Melissa, who is not a single parent, but whose husband works out of town close to 3 weeks out of the month, each month (his schedule differs, but you get the picture). They have 6 kids combined (5 that live with them) - the youngest is not quite 2. Having been home alone quite a bit the past couple of weeks, I am questioning how in the world she does what she does. Melissa, you deserve a cookie (or maybe a dozen). :)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Whoa horsey....
...slow down!
I can't keep up with Madison anymore...she is doing so many new things all the time and before I can post something here about one thing, she's impressing us with something else!
First, I don't think it will be long before Madison is walking. She is all over the place these days and has been practicing at school with a little walker thingy that she can hold on to and push. She's really doing great! Only thing is, her little left foot that turns in a bit kind of gets in the way and almost rolls over as she walks. I am sure it will be fine once her little leg gets stronger and she has more control over it though.
Though she doesn't have any teeth YET, she is doing great and absolutely LOVING finger foods - cheerios, fruit and veggie puffs and chicken sticks (I felt a little bad about giving her one of these at first...not something I was willing to try, but she LOVES them)!!!
Funny story about the cheerios and puffs. Roxanne and Yara came over to play and watch a movie with us Saturday night when Dylan was out of town. Roxanne brought a baggy of cheerios for Yara and the girls spotted them. Before long, we had cheerios and puffs all over the kitchen floor and the girls were grabbing handfuls and shoving them in their mouths. I'm serious! HANDFULS! It was like they were trying to eat them all before the other one could get them!! This idea was confirmed when Yara started moving her hand back and forth across the floor quickly pushing the snacks out of Madison's way. It was hysterical! Madison didn't mind - she just crawled over and around Yara.
Sidenote: The girls will soon be reunited at school. Madison will be moving to Yara's classroom in about a month. We have been visiting Yara before we leave school in the afternoon and Madison gets so excited!! Yesterday, Yara's teacher brought her to the door and they were waving (well, Madison was trying to fly) and grabbing at eachother through the glass. Madison even leaned over to the glass and put her mouth on it, as if she was giving Yara a kiss. :)
Ok, back on track. We can definitely tell that Madison is forming associations and remembers things she likes and dislikes. She loves baths and the minute you start to pull open the shower curtain, she starts bouncing and smiling.
She is also becoming a bit pickier with eating (though she is still SUCH a good eater). There are a couple of things she used to take just fine, but has recently started closing her lips tightly and blowing out of her mouth to try and keep us from putting it in there. You also may get food spit on you if she decides she doesn't want anymore!
Finally, she understands when we are telling her, "No". She sits back and looks at us and though she will sometimes try it again...and again, many times she just goes on to something else.
What a smart girl! :)
I can't keep up with Madison anymore...she is doing so many new things all the time and before I can post something here about one thing, she's impressing us with something else!
First, I don't think it will be long before Madison is walking. She is all over the place these days and has been practicing at school with a little walker thingy that she can hold on to and push. She's really doing great! Only thing is, her little left foot that turns in a bit kind of gets in the way and almost rolls over as she walks. I am sure it will be fine once her little leg gets stronger and she has more control over it though.
Though she doesn't have any teeth YET, she is doing great and absolutely LOVING finger foods - cheerios, fruit and veggie puffs and chicken sticks (I felt a little bad about giving her one of these at first...not something I was willing to try, but she LOVES them)!!!
Funny story about the cheerios and puffs. Roxanne and Yara came over to play and watch a movie with us Saturday night when Dylan was out of town. Roxanne brought a baggy of cheerios for Yara and the girls spotted them. Before long, we had cheerios and puffs all over the kitchen floor and the girls were grabbing handfuls and shoving them in their mouths. I'm serious! HANDFULS! It was like they were trying to eat them all before the other one could get them!! This idea was confirmed when Yara started moving her hand back and forth across the floor quickly pushing the snacks out of Madison's way. It was hysterical! Madison didn't mind - she just crawled over and around Yara.
Sidenote: The girls will soon be reunited at school. Madison will be moving to Yara's classroom in about a month. We have been visiting Yara before we leave school in the afternoon and Madison gets so excited!! Yesterday, Yara's teacher brought her to the door and they were waving (well, Madison was trying to fly) and grabbing at eachother through the glass. Madison even leaned over to the glass and put her mouth on it, as if she was giving Yara a kiss. :)
Ok, back on track. We can definitely tell that Madison is forming associations and remembers things she likes and dislikes. She loves baths and the minute you start to pull open the shower curtain, she starts bouncing and smiling.
She is also becoming a bit pickier with eating (though she is still SUCH a good eater). There are a couple of things she used to take just fine, but has recently started closing her lips tightly and blowing out of her mouth to try and keep us from putting it in there. You also may get food spit on you if she decides she doesn't want anymore!
Finally, she understands when we are telling her, "No". She sits back and looks at us and though she will sometimes try it again...and again, many times she just goes on to something else.
What a smart girl! :)
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Madison is on strike
"Bye-bye strike" - a made up term similar to "relationship vacation" - that should sound familiar to all you Hills fans (boy, I'm really sharing all my secrets today!).
Anyway, since those first few times, when trying to get her to wave, she just stares at us as if she is just watching to see how long we will desperately try to get her to imitate us. She will lift her arm and sometimes move her whole arm up and down, but it is almost as though she forgot how to open and close her hand!
Anyway, since those first few times, when trying to get her to wave, she just stares at us as if she is just watching to see how long we will desperately try to get her to imitate us. She will lift her arm and sometimes move her whole arm up and down, but it is almost as though she forgot how to open and close her hand!
Confession
I have a confession to make... I really enjoy banana baby food. I always did and apparently I still do. ...well, someone has to eat the leftovers, huh? ;)
JUST KIDDING about that last part, but I do sometimes taste the food I am going to be feeding Madison. Wouldn't you want to know what you are feeding your baby? Don't worry, I know all about the importance of not exposing Madison to the germs in big people's mouths. :)
JUST KIDDING about that last part, but I do sometimes taste the food I am going to be feeding Madison. Wouldn't you want to know what you are feeding your baby? Don't worry, I know all about the importance of not exposing Madison to the germs in big people's mouths. :)
Thursday, April 17, 2008
A couple of fun stories
Earlier in the week, when I dropped Madison off at daycare, Ms. Rosie was there and Madison hadn't seen her in a couple of days. Let me just say, Madison has NEVER been so happy to leave my arms. We walked in and Madison started bouncing and then as we got close to Ms. Rosie, she almost flew out my arms and into Ms. Rosie's. It really is a great feeling to know she loves Ms. Rosie so much and that she is happy there, but I have to admit, I was blindsided by her sudden expression of independence - so it was kind of bitter sweet.... :)
And last night when I was getting Madison in her pjs, she started fussing, as she usually does during this time. She does not want to lay down to get her diaper changed or dressed. I usually sing to her or something to try and distract her, but she normally keeps fussing and tries to roll over and squirm away. This time though, she stopped whining and looked at me and started dancing (she bounces to music when sitting, but managed to make the same movements while lying down) and then started singing along with me! Her singing = the sweetest melody of soft aahs, baaahs and humms. So precious.
And last night when I was getting Madison in her pjs, she started fussing, as she usually does during this time. She does not want to lay down to get her diaper changed or dressed. I usually sing to her or something to try and distract her, but she normally keeps fussing and tries to roll over and squirm away. This time though, she stopped whining and looked at me and started dancing (she bounces to music when sitting, but managed to make the same movements while lying down) and then started singing along with me! Her singing = the sweetest melody of soft aahs, baaahs and humms. So precious.
It's Thursday....
Which means that the usually hectic beginning of the week is past us and we are almost to the weekend!! This also means that I now have a chance to catch up on the blog.
Hmmm...let's see... Madison is feeling much better. She had quite a bit of gunk to clean out of her nose this morning, but her cough is gone, she's got her appetite back, and she is a much happier, playful baby. We are so happy that she is feeling better.
We are really having to make adjustments to things these days, as Madison is learning to do so much everyday - new things amuse her, old things that maybe once did, are just that...OLD. She is also really getting around - you can look away for a split second and she is across the room, has pulled her self up on something, and is reaching for something she really shouldn't have.
She is eating some finger foods, "like such as" (that is for Dylan), cheerios and those little fruit puff thingys that melt in your mouth. It is so fun to see her figuring out what to do with them.
Oh, and she has GOT to be trying to get some teeth. We've been waking up quite a bit at night this week - many times I find her sitting in her crib chewing as hard as she can on her lambie. Poor baby. I hope those darn things come through soon!
This weekend Dylan will be hanging with the guys at Stewart's bachelor party. Madison and I will be at home being good girls. :) I'm pretty sure we are going to do a LOT of relaxing, probably some fun artsy stuff that I have been wanting to do and in my spare time, I plan to do some more babyproofing!
Hmmm...let's see... Madison is feeling much better. She had quite a bit of gunk to clean out of her nose this morning, but her cough is gone, she's got her appetite back, and she is a much happier, playful baby. We are so happy that she is feeling better.
We are really having to make adjustments to things these days, as Madison is learning to do so much everyday - new things amuse her, old things that maybe once did, are just that...OLD. She is also really getting around - you can look away for a split second and she is across the room, has pulled her self up on something, and is reaching for something she really shouldn't have.
She is eating some finger foods, "like such as" (that is for Dylan), cheerios and those little fruit puff thingys that melt in your mouth. It is so fun to see her figuring out what to do with them.
Oh, and she has GOT to be trying to get some teeth. We've been waking up quite a bit at night this week - many times I find her sitting in her crib chewing as hard as she can on her lambie. Poor baby. I hope those darn things come through soon!
This weekend Dylan will be hanging with the guys at Stewart's bachelor party. Madison and I will be at home being good girls. :) I'm pretty sure we are going to do a LOT of relaxing, probably some fun artsy stuff that I have been wanting to do and in my spare time, I plan to do some more babyproofing!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Too cool for school
Dylan's cousin, Ali, sent this "Spice Baby" bib to Madison. Ali lives in L.A. and tours with a lot of bands and other singers and does catering and other stuff for them while on tour. She got this while working the Spice Girls concert! Pretty cool, huh? Madison was definitely the coolest girl in school Monday when she wore her bib. We even made sure her pants, shoes and hair coordinated. :)
Pneumonia??
We thought the ear infection news was bad...until we learned Madison may now have pneumonia. The two aren't related, of course, but one would wonder considering our poor baby got hit with one right after the other.
On Friday afternoon, I got a call from daycare that Madison had a low grade fever. I had a feeling we needed to get it checked out right away because I had been questioning all week if she felt good - she was just not herself. Twenty minutes after I got the call, I got there to pick Madison up and her fever had spiked to 102.3. She did NOT look good at all. She was breathing fast, was very sluggish and sleepy and burning up! To make a very long, painful and sad story short, after three hours in an emergency care center, too many needle pokes and other torturous tests, they told me the radiologist saw some "pneumonia in her lungs" but couldn't tell if it was the early stages of pneumonia or a viral infection. They prescribed another antibiotic (she just finished a course a week before for her ear infection) and we went home - Madison was completely exhausted and I was drained in every way possible. I felt horrible for putting her through that torture and was just angry at the people there and the pediatrician's office for not seeing her instead (a long story that I won't go into here).
Dylan didn't know any of this was going on until after the fact because I couldn't reach him before I left work and on top of that, my cell phone was dead, so that made it even more stressful for me. I hated not having him there to help me make decisions about Madison's care.
Anyway, Madison was feeling better by Saturday - her temp stayed down all day and Saturday night and she seemed to be happy and completely back to normal (hence our short trip to the beach on Sunday!!!), so we pretty much decided that it was a crazy 24-hour virus or something.
YESTERDAY, Madison woke up congested, hoarse and by the end of the day, had developed a nasty cough! Needless to say, we're back to thinking it very well could have been pneumonia. There is definitely a lot of "junk" that she is trying to get rid of. She is such a trooper though. I just hope she starts feeing better soon. :(
On Friday afternoon, I got a call from daycare that Madison had a low grade fever. I had a feeling we needed to get it checked out right away because I had been questioning all week if she felt good - she was just not herself. Twenty minutes after I got the call, I got there to pick Madison up and her fever had spiked to 102.3. She did NOT look good at all. She was breathing fast, was very sluggish and sleepy and burning up! To make a very long, painful and sad story short, after three hours in an emergency care center, too many needle pokes and other torturous tests, they told me the radiologist saw some "pneumonia in her lungs" but couldn't tell if it was the early stages of pneumonia or a viral infection. They prescribed another antibiotic (she just finished a course a week before for her ear infection) and we went home - Madison was completely exhausted and I was drained in every way possible. I felt horrible for putting her through that torture and was just angry at the people there and the pediatrician's office for not seeing her instead (a long story that I won't go into here).
Dylan didn't know any of this was going on until after the fact because I couldn't reach him before I left work and on top of that, my cell phone was dead, so that made it even more stressful for me. I hated not having him there to help me make decisions about Madison's care.
Anyway, Madison was feeling better by Saturday - her temp stayed down all day and Saturday night and she seemed to be happy and completely back to normal (hence our short trip to the beach on Sunday!!!), so we pretty much decided that it was a crazy 24-hour virus or something.
YESTERDAY, Madison woke up congested, hoarse and by the end of the day, had developed a nasty cough! Needless to say, we're back to thinking it very well could have been pneumonia. There is definitely a lot of "junk" that she is trying to get rid of. She is such a trooper though. I just hope she starts feeing better soon. :(
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Beach bums
We introduced Madison to our beach this weekend. It was Sunday around 1:00 and the weather was absolutely gorgeous, laundry needed to be done, dishes needed to be washed, so we decided to drive to the beach. We got our suits on, packed a bag and were on our way. It was nice and warm, but windy, so we didn't end up staying long, but just getting out of the house, getting our feet wet, and getting some sun was SOOO nice. We think Madison liked it too. :)
Learning new things
We are all learning new things these days. Madison is learning to get around much better to get things she wants, to pull up on furniture (at least twice now I have gone in her room to respond to a cry and she is standing up in her crib) and how to imitate things we do (including chewing and smacking her lips when we are eating).
Dylan and I are learning that our baby girl can get into stuff she shouldn't in a split second! I'm not sure about Madison, but I have had MY fair share of little bumps already! No bruises or any other lasting marks, thank goodness!
In light of these lessons, we decided to do something about our curious little one the other morning when I was in desperate need of a diet coke and had to go out to get it and Dylan was trying to save the computer from crashing and burning. You know how Madison is about computers!! Dylan didn't need a helper at the moment though. :)
This was our solution! No, we don't lock her up like this all the time... We haven't since, actually. I must say, however, it worked! When I got back from getting my caffeine, Madison was still sitting there playing.
We're still working on this one... Notice the purple pool? It's pedialyte and there was a larger one on the floor. :) She has mastered being cute during moments like these though. All you can do is look at this and laugh!
Dylan and I are learning that our baby girl can get into stuff she shouldn't in a split second! I'm not sure about Madison, but I have had MY fair share of little bumps already! No bruises or any other lasting marks, thank goodness!
In light of these lessons, we decided to do something about our curious little one the other morning when I was in desperate need of a diet coke and had to go out to get it and Dylan was trying to save the computer from crashing and burning. You know how Madison is about computers!! Dylan didn't need a helper at the moment though. :)
This was our solution! No, we don't lock her up like this all the time... We haven't since, actually. I must say, however, it worked! When I got back from getting my caffeine, Madison was still sitting there playing.
We're still working on this one... Notice the purple pool? It's pedialyte and there was a larger one on the floor. :) She has mastered being cute during moments like these though. All you can do is look at this and laugh!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Twilight Zone?
I had to pinch myself when I woke up this morning. I thought I was in the twilight zone because the alarm was going off and the last thing I remember was putting Madison to bed at 9:30 (we went to visit Tara and Arlene so Madison had a later bed time last night) and trying to keep my eyes open to find out who got kicked off of American Idol. So, you know what that means??? Madison slept through the night - she didn't let out one-single-peep!!! In fact (and I've heard people say this before), I was a little worried about her, but a couple of seconds after the alarm went off, she woke up and was ready to eat. I fed her, she went back to sleep, and I actually had to wake her up to get her dressed for school! Very exciting...I hope we can recreate the same conditions so that we might both get more full nights of sleep in the future!
Bye-Bye
No....we're not going anywhere....
Madison just learned how to wave bye-bye!!! I have been anticipating the wave for a couple of days now because her teachers and I have really been working with her and just a couple of days ago so raise her arm up when I waved bye to her, but wasn't quite sure what to do with her hand yet. This morning, we stood in front of the mirror and I opened and closed my hand while saying "bye-bye" to her and she lifted her arm and waved bye-bye to herself (not just because she was looking at herself in the mirror - she actually did the wave backwards, as I've seen some babies do...) You should have been there to see my reaction!! You would have thought I won the lottery, I was so excited! Madison probably wondered what in the heck the big deal was. :)
Later on, as I was getting her dressed for school, she started opening and closing her hand, as she looked at me and then looked down at her hand, without me even saying bye-bye to her.
The sad thing is, her daddy hasn't seen her since Monday morning, so hasn't seen her new trick yet. He cannot wait to get home tonight and we can't wait either!!!
Have I mentioned lately how incredibly adorable and perfect she is? Thought I would in case there is any question... :)
Madison just learned how to wave bye-bye!!! I have been anticipating the wave for a couple of days now because her teachers and I have really been working with her and just a couple of days ago so raise her arm up when I waved bye to her, but wasn't quite sure what to do with her hand yet. This morning, we stood in front of the mirror and I opened and closed my hand while saying "bye-bye" to her and she lifted her arm and waved bye-bye to herself (not just because she was looking at herself in the mirror - she actually did the wave backwards, as I've seen some babies do...) You should have been there to see my reaction!! You would have thought I won the lottery, I was so excited! Madison probably wondered what in the heck the big deal was. :)
Later on, as I was getting her dressed for school, she started opening and closing her hand, as she looked at me and then looked down at her hand, without me even saying bye-bye to her.
The sad thing is, her daddy hasn't seen her since Monday morning, so hasn't seen her new trick yet. He cannot wait to get home tonight and we can't wait either!!!
Have I mentioned lately how incredibly adorable and perfect she is? Thought I would in case there is any question... :)
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
8 months
Madison will be 8 months tomorrow. If you only knew how much we are enjoying each and every minute with her... Pretty amazing what kind of impact a little person can make in your life in just 8 short months!
So, I thought it was time for another well exam, but I was wrong. I guess the next one is at 9 months. I can, however, update you on her weight because we went to the doctor yesterday to make sure her ear infection has cleared up. It has, so I guess I have to find another excuse for the middle of the night wimpers and whines that sound a lot like, "come hold me". :)
Madison now weighs 17 lbs, 10 oz. and, according to one of the charts I have consulted online :), she is up to the 46th percentile for weight.
I know...I'm a nerd...but here's the chart.
I think this one gives a little different percentiles than the doctor has given us in the past (@ 6 mos they said she was in the 20th-some % for weight - this one says 30ish), but pretty close.
So, I thought it was time for another well exam, but I was wrong. I guess the next one is at 9 months. I can, however, update you on her weight because we went to the doctor yesterday to make sure her ear infection has cleared up. It has, so I guess I have to find another excuse for the middle of the night wimpers and whines that sound a lot like, "come hold me". :)
Madison now weighs 17 lbs, 10 oz. and, according to one of the charts I have consulted online :), she is up to the 46th percentile for weight.
I know...I'm a nerd...but here's the chart.
I think this one gives a little different percentiles than the doctor has given us in the past (@ 6 mos they said she was in the 20th-some % for weight - this one says 30ish), but pretty close.
No one told me that at 8 months we would already be dealing with a very determined, somewhat sassy little girl. :) Just within the past week, Madison has made it very clear when she wants something and does not appreciate us taking it away from her. Paper, for instance, that she wants to chew on - take it away from her, she screeches and whines. I've said it before, but show her an electronic of some kind - laptop, in particular - and she will dive bomb it. If you hold her back, she is not happy and let's you know. Either that or tries really hard to wiggle her way to it.
Though I was a little surprised to see that she is already expressing what she wants, the truth is, we are thrilled that she is so active and curious. I really think she is one smart little girl - you can just look at her and see "the wheels turning" inside her little head. :)
On that note (and I promise I'm almost finished), Ms. Rosie told me today that Madison got to visit the "young toddler" classroom for a bit yesterday, where Yara has been for a couple of months. Ms. Rosie's response to how she handled the new classroom was, "You have one smart little girl on your hands." She said that Madison sat still and just looked around at everything, watching all the others and checking out her new surroundings for about 45 minutes or so and then she moved toward the toys. It sounded as if she was scoping things out and deciding where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do before making her move. What a sweet little thing!
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