5 Months

My baby is FIVE MONTHS OLD today. I can't believe how fast time is flying by. Daddy and I watched her while she slept last night. She's so beautiful.

A Few Pics

Madison loves to shake things now, loves the sound paper makes.She wants to crawl so bad and I can definitely tell when she's reaching for someone now. When she is upset, she says, "Ma!" or even "mom." So cute. But she doesn't quite get what that means.

She's spoiled rotten. Even gets to go on dates with Mommy & Daddy.

I can't believe she's almost 5 months old. She's growing too fast.

Good Morning!

Wake up sleepy head!

Strrrrrrretch!

Much Better!

Maddison is 3 months old today.

Tonight I got all kinds of squeals and laughter out of her. Real Squeals, not just grunting! Sure I had to torture her with all sorts of tickling, but I couldn't resist. She especially responds to me sort of nibbling on her ribs...it's almost too much for her to handle!

She's Too Smart!

Madison is something else. Yesterday she spent much of the day insisting on sitting straight up. Not sitting with mommy or daddy, resting her back against us. Nooooooooo, it had to be straight up. Fortunately she likes to sleep through the mornings so I was able to get some stuff done, but when she woke up I was working with her on trying to get her to play so I could finish my cleaning, or working out, or whatever else I had to get done.

She actually fell asleep sitting up against me last night. It was so funny because I didn't even realize she was asleep. I placed her against me sitting up so tall and since she was content with that (that time at least) I relaxed and started to watch t.v. Next thing I knew her body went limp. She was fast asleep.

I'm thinking she may be needing her saucer pretty soon, maybe even before Christmas...for our own sanity! I can't believe she's not even three months old yet and she's already laughing, squealing, gabbing, and responding to us. She's especially talkative at bed time. I told Scott that I think that our bedroom is her comfort zone. She just lays in bed and opens up with all her talk and play. She's so much fun, so full of personality. She brings so much joy into our lives.

Slow Down, Grow Up!

Madison is growing up way too fast for me. She's graduated to size 1 diapers. Of course, I discovered this right after buying a brand new package of Newborn diapers. If only I hadn't opened the package (and used a couple), but once she started to leak up her back after every poo, I realized that they just weren't working.

She is such an alert baby though. She now recognizes my breast and gets excited when she sees it. She knows what time it is when I pull down the fold to my bra!

Her grasp reflex isn't as strong. Her hands seem much more relaxed now and she loves to feel everything, but I miss how tightly she used to grab onto my finger.

She laughs in her sleep all the time. It's so cute. I just wish I could get her to do that while she's awake. But she's still too young for that.

I guess I'm hard to please. One minute I'm complaining that she's growing up too fast, another minute I want her to grow up faster...but her laugh is so adorable, I want to see her laugh on purpose!

Thoughts On Madison

Madison is such a joy. We are really enjoying getting to know our baby girl and Daddy is totally smitten. I can't explain the rush of pure bliss I am in when I see Scott interact with her, and when I see her cooing and smiling up at her daddy.

She is a good baby. She's hit a growth spurt period where she is eating more frequently, so my nights are a little more interrupted, but for a while she would sleep 6 - 6 1/2 hours before waking up to eat. WOW. She's waking up a couple times during the night right now, and she is growing like a weed. She was 7 lbs. at her first Well Baby appointment, which was the Monday after she was born. By her one month appointment, she weighed 8 lbs, 14 oz. The Dr. calculated that out to be about 23% of her body weight. How cool would it be if our Dr.'s applauded when WE gained 23% of our body weight?

Anyway, Tuesday, Madison discovered her ears. It's so funny, she grabs onto those things and hangs on to them. I'm not sure if she's figured out that they are hers or not. She also discovered her hands though, and I went out Friday night and bought her a cool little toy, so she has been really enjoying swatting at the toys hanging above her head.

She is really growing up fast. A couple of days ago, I smacked my lips together and she watched me with such intensity, and then tried to mimick me. Her efforts resulted in her tongue popping in and out of her mouth like a little lizard, and her little mouth opening and closing frantically, but it was a good try!

I am so blessed to have this little girl in my life though. She is such a joy. I find myself thanking God over and over and over and over and over again. I am just overwhelmed that He would choose to bless me with this little angel. He has been speaking so much to my heart through this little one and I'm discovering a whole other side of my Heavenly Father that I never knew. I've had such a warped image of who God is and how he works, that now I'm starting to see that maybe I've been wrong about some things - that my earthly experiences have sort of had an influence on my perspective of God's love.

And I'm determined to cherish every moment with this baby girl. I don't want to miss out on anything, or have any regrets. Sure a baby is a lot of work, but it's the best job in the world!

30 Weeks...

I have 9 weeks left and I feel gi-normouos! But would you believe some days I feel skinnier than others? I think she was especially sticking out this day - Wednesday...

I have to go now, she's pushing at the top of my belly,which is pressing her head against my bladder and if I don't empty my bladder soon, she is going to do it for me!

Oh yes, and the stretch marks are from my previous pregnancy...when I was about 30 lbs heavier!