Visits From Our Friends

Thursday, May 30, 2013

I am achy! Maddie woke up last night at around 4:30 and Phil and I were up with her for an hour before she fell back asleep. She was tired and trying to sleep, but her body just couldn’t relax.  Poor baby.  Then she woke up again at 6:15.  Phil was already getting ready for work, so I got up, nursed her and rocked her for another hour.  She finally fell back asleep. When I put her in her crib, she turned and looked at me, watching me walk out of the room and close the door.  I was sure she was going to start crying any minute thereafter, but she has been asleep for a little over an hour now with not a peep from her mouth.  But, that brings me back to my first comment: I am tired, achy and grumpy.  Well, I was grumpy. I’m better now. :)

Twice this week, I found Maddie sleeping in interesting positions:

Laying on her tummy, just like her mommy!

Curled up and crossing her legs, just like her daddy! 

Maddie and I had such a fun day yesterday! Laura and Caleb came over in the morning and spent a few hours with us before having to head back home for Caleb’s afternoon nap.  Caleb is about 19 months old and so cute! He is chatty and loves his alphabet! He also is a very curious baby and helped to point out all of the things around my house that need to be baby proofed.  I really need to start doing this!

Laura and I had some coffee, checked out the garden and caught up since we haven’t had small group in a couple of weeks.  Laura is working on some Bible memorization and recited some of the sermon on the mount to me.  It was so exciting!

Then, Puja came over a little bit later.  We picked up some sandwiches and headed over to the forest preserve and had a picnic with little Mads.  Then, we took a short walk together.  We reminisced that just about a year ago, Puja and I were sitting at the same park having a picnic and taking a walk, but I was 8 months pregnant.  Maddie was on the inside of my belly, not strapped to the outside with the baby bjorn.  Ha! Oh, how time flies. 

Enjoying the afternoon sun! 

Updates on the kitchen: The sink is all hooked up, thanks to my dad and Phil.  They spent the whole day working on it and now it is running and draining and the disposal is grinding and the dishwasher is washing without so much as a drip.  YAY! 

Working.......

"We did it!" Thanks, guys! 

I sent in the deposit for the backsplash, Phil and I picked out the tile this weekend and we should be getting the walls done in about 2 weeks. In the meantime, here is the before and after pictures with just the granite being done. 

Before! 

After!

Maddie is really developing a lot all of the sudden! Phil and I have been walking around with her holding our hands. She takes a few steps, then runs a couple steps and then walks again.  It’s precious.  I also have been working on getting her to cruise on the furniture.  She will move sideways a little bit, but hasn’t quite figured it out, yet.  She also hasn’t figured out to bend at the waist when she falls.  She will let go of the table and let her whole body fall backward, stiff as a board, like she’s doing a trust fall.  Oh, Maddie.  It’s a good thing I am behind you all the time!

Mads has been chatty, also.  She is babbling a lot now and I love to listen to it.  I’m so excited for her to start saying real words and to start walking around. As more and more time goes by, I am really thinking that she will skip the crawling. 

  

This past weekend was a lot of fun, too.  Andres came over on Saturday. He’s back from Europe for a while and we really enjoyed spending time with him.  We set up the badminton net and volleyed the birdie a little bit, went for a walk and made some enchiladas.  All during this time, Phil dropped and broke his iPhone (no!!!!!!!!!) and we lost his glasses.  We searched high and low and they are nowhere to be found.  So, the rest of the weekend, between barbequing and running errands, we failed in our search for the mysterious, disappearing eyewear and then sucked it up and bought some new ones.  The new ones look really nice, at least. 

Maddie missed Andres so much while he was gone for 5 months!

Well, it still works, at least.

I finished memorizing Isaiah 55! My favorite verse from this passage is:

For you shall go out in joy
 and be led forth in peace;


the mountains and the hills before you
    

shall break forth into singing,
    

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

            Isaiah 55:12

It has been such a blessing for me to know this scripture . When running my 7 miles for my long run this past Saturday, I turned off my music and recited the book of Titus, Isaiah 55 and Psalm 1 to myself. It got me through a couple of miles and took my mind off of the running, which was nice.  Now, I plan to memorize the sermon on the mount, too! I started this week and have the first 3 verses done.  

Onward! 

Baby Steps Towards Our New Kitchen

Tuesday, May 16, 13

It’s happening.  As I type this, our countertops are being installed. I am so excited!

 

Before.....

In progress.....

As for other updates, our plants are in the ground.  Booya! Bring on the veggies!

Maddie met her two uncles, Alex and Isaac, for the first time yesterday.  It was adorable the way she just stared at them as if to say, “You kind of look familiar but I’m not so sure about you.  I guess you can stick around and I won’t cry.”  Alex was able to hold her for a little while, which was really nice.  It was so good to see both of our Californians in town for a little while. We really miss having you guys around!

 

"Hey, cool hair, Uncle Alex!"

Maddie is on her way to walking! Phil held her up on her feet and encouraged her to take some steps forward and she did.  Now we are walking all over the house together. Me, behind her holding her waste and chanting “1 step, 2 step, 3 step, 4 step” until we reach our destination.  She is really enjoying being up on her feet. 

So, next project is the sink hook-up.  My dad and Phil are going to work on the plumbing tomorrow and hopefully we will have a functional kitchen.  I miss having my water hook-up, already, and it’s only been disconnected for half a day.  Then, within the next two weeks, the backsplash goes in (hopefully!).  I can't wait! 

Cousin Kaylee is Here (and some other quick updates)

OK, some quick updates because Madelynn just woke up and I have to go feed her. 

Maddie is officially 9 months old and healthy! We had a great doctor’s appointment and, as of yesterday, her daddy was able to get her to take a few steps while holding our fingers. 

Mother’s day was wonderful, it was so great to see our families and I really enjoyed spending time with my daughter and husband on my first mother’s day.  Phil bought me a gift certificate to the spa and some tulips.  I lovetulips!

And, Kaylee Jessica was born on May 14! Maddie and I went to go visit Auntie Rachel and Cousin Kaylee yesterday and had a really nice time.  It was a long drive through lots of construction, but well worth the trip.

Maddie played at the library with some new toys.

We got the tomatoes and cucumbers in the ground.

We discovered Maddie’s love for computers!

Picked out our granite color and sink (install of the counters is in less than a week!). We are still shopping around for the backsplash, which has been an adventure.

And we have spent lots of time outside in the beautiful weather. 

A Letter to My Daughter on My First Mother's Day

Madelynn Kristina, 

Before I heard your first cry for breath, I didn't understand that a love like the one I have for you could exist.  Tears clouded my eyes upon the first glimpse I had of you and I knew my life would be forever different now that you were in it with me.  I didn't know at that point, just how different it would be and how much you, a tiny, helpless, speechless, precious girl, could change me.

You have given me new eyes: eyes that see your every trait. The freckle that appeared on your right ankle a few months after your birth to mirror the mark on my left side. The dimple on your chin when you smile to remind me of your daddy. The depth of your blue eyes and your olive-toned skin. The small mark on the tip of your nose, which has us always wondering if you'll share your mommy's signature, silly freckle. My eyes love every bit of you. 

You have given me new ears: ears to hear your every coo.  Your ever-changing voice as it matures and learns to speak words.  From your very first infant cries, to your dadas, mamas, blahblahs. Your wheezes that scared me to bringing you to the doctor only to be told you are just experimenting with your voice and being a silly, silly girl.  Your grunts and moans as you slip into a sleep you so desperately crave. Your sneezes (and your subsequent smile), and your burps. Your snores as you dream in your deep slumber. Your cries to be held and rocked and cradled. Your screams! Oh, those screams, that I like to call your "singing".  My ears love every sound you make. 

You have given me new feeling: skin that craves to be near your own. The way you turn your body into mine to be held more tightly. The soft caress you give as you nurse. The 'honk-honk' of my nose being grabbed by curious fingers and the 'eek!' pain as you learn that you can scratch things with those ever-sharp nails of yours. Your wiggle and turning as you experiment with different positions while in my arms. Your head resting calmly on my left shoulder. Your soft, baby hair wisping along my lips and under my nose as I kiss the top of your head. The eskimo kisses against your little button nose. The warmth of your tummy tucked against mine as we rock in the chair and sing soft lullabies. Your funny, open-mouthed, wet kisses and big smile after we "mmmmm-mahhhhh!" Oh, how I love your every touch. 

You have given me new tastes: tastes for funny combinations of food! Strawberries and macaroni and cheese. Roast beef and bananas.  Peas and pears with salmon and french toast sticks.  Oh, how I love experimenting new foods with you. 

You have given me a nose filled with scents that I will never tire of. The scent of your skin. There is nothing more soothing, calming and perfect than the scent of your skin. Your sweet baby breath as you babble close to my face.  Your stinky diapers! Ha! And your yucky, yogurt-burps! The scent of your scalp as you rest in my arms. Oh, my dear Madelynn, I love your smell and the way my heart stirs with every small sniff. 

You, Madelynn Kristina, have given me my most cherished gift. You have given me the gift of motherhood and the gift of a daughter. 

I will never stop loving you. 

I will always be praying for you. 

I will always be here for you. 

Unconditional love outflowing from my heart into yours forever and ever. 

Love, 

Mommy 

Blah Blah BLAaaaaaaaaaah choooooo!

Friday, May 3, 13

The weather was amazing at the beginning of this week! I was so excited to have Maddie try on some of her summer clothes (it was in the 80’s!) and, as expected, she looked adorable in them! We took several walks and spent a lot of time at the park and in our backyard.  I am looking forward to this summer and all of the activities we can do, especially getting a little kiddie pool and just playing in the water together.

Hanging out at the park! 

I took several pictures of her outside in this outfit. There is a picture where she is smiling and adorable, but I love this one because I think she looks like me (and my mom) in it. 

Updates on the crawling front are as follows: Maddie is getting better and more efficient at her army crawl, but she still isn’t getting up on her arms.  I am going to her 9 month doctor’s appointment next week, so I will ask the pediatrician about her development and make sure she is still in the normal range (I think she is).  I am feeling a lot better about her slow progression the more I talk to people.  Miss Wendy from the library program told me that what she’s doing now is the precursor to crawling, so she is on her way.  In terms of her being bypassed by other younger babies reaching this milestone, apparently Miss Wendy seems to think that Maddie is advanced vocally.  She said that babies can’t work on both verbal and motor skills at the same time and Maddie is clearly working on her speaking.  So, we shall see if she is an early talker!

She says so much: dada (Phil’s favorite, of course), mama (only when she’s upset, hahaha), blah blah (typical girl talk) and lots of other things. Yesterday she was working on the ‘s’ sound a lot and she loves to imitate us when we make clicking noises and “huh huh huh” noises.  It seriously sounds like she is stringing together multiple sounds to form a sentence sometimes, but our favorite moment was when she imitated the syllables after Phil said “I love you.”  It seriously sounded like she said it right back: TWICE! We are just loving listening to all of her babbling. 

 

Look at those legs! Sleeping on her daddy, cradled safely in his arms. 

Oh, you know how babies seem to laugh for the silliest reasons? We have another thing to add to the list (Phil kicking the dirt off of the stepping stones outside was random-reason-to-laugh-hysterically number 1).  Number two is sneezing.  I have noticed that Maddie smiles really really big after she sneezes, but I think it’s because I say. “God bless you!” in a very chipper, excited, happy voice.  But, when we sneeze, she thinks it’s the funniest thing ever.  So, we have been winding them up to build Mads’ anticipation and then sneezing really big.  She loves it and giggle giggle giggles.  Ah Ahhh Ahhhhhhhh Ahhhhhhhhhhhh Chooooooooo!   Silly baby. 

This past weekend was really nice.  I was able to go out with my best friends for Pretty's birthday!

 

Love these girls! 

We also visited a new church, which I think we are going to start attending.  We really enjoyed every aspect of it and feel very welcomed and at home. We can't wait for Sunday service again this week! Then, I am off to my sister, Rachel's baby shower up in Wisconsin.  It will be fun to see her.  

The plants are looking good! I put the zucchini in the ground last week and they are loving it and doing very well.  

They couldn't wait any longer: they outgrew their little pots and graduated up to the big garden outside

One more random picture.  This (cobb salad) was delicious! It's grilling season and there is nothing better than chopped up chicken on a bed of lettuce with.....well....everything else!  :)