Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Madi's "Statis" (as in statistics, but it rhymes better)


Madi went in for her 6 month appointment today. We are so glad she'll be getting a six month break from shots. Hopefully the doctor's tips and prescriptions will help our fussy, agitated baby be more peaceful and happy. Fingers crossed! It is always fun to get new measurements and see how Madison is growing. She looks so long and strong and is getting to be such a big girl.

Witto Madi's Stats:
WEIGHT
Date........Weight........Percentile
11/22.......13.63.........10%.......6 months
10/04.......12.63.........21%.......4 months
8/01........10.5..........32%.......2 months

(She had a hard time putting on weight at the beginning so many measurements:
6/15........7.81..........22%
6/11........7.63..........23%
6/7.........7.5...........25%
And she weighed in at 8 pounds even at birth (5/24)

So she's an itty bitty thing with a HUGE Tasmanian Devil personality!

LENGTH
Date.......Length........Percentile
11/22.......25............26%.......6 months
10/04.......24.5..........50%........4 months
8/01........22.5..........45%.......2 months
6/7.........20.25.........49%

HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE
Date.......Head Circumf...Percentile
11/22.......16.8..........60%.......6 months
10/04.......16.3..........53%........4 months
8/01........15.5..........59%.......2 months
6/7.........14.3..........60%

Madison will celebrate her six month mark on turkey day--what a festival! She loves her exersaucer, is starting to sit up, is sad when we don't get to go on adventures (it may be a LONG winter), loves faces, grabs and sucks everything, thinks Lily is silly, gives her parents a major run for their money, but in spite of it all, continues to be the joy and light of our lives! Madison might not be a walk in the park, but we'd much rather hang out with our monkey baby in the zoo any day!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

(The Real) Bundle Me Baby







(I know to the non-mama/untrained eye, it may appear that I posted 6 copies of the exact same picture, but no, no, no! I know I should just pick my FAVORITE, but how? Each slight expression/smile change is a whole new shot...too cute to resist! So sorry for the redundancy)

I didn't realize "Bundle Me" was a real product made by J.J. Cole when I borrowed the title for a picture of Madi last week. But then we actually purchased a real Bundle Me--a cozy little sleeping bag of warmth and happiness that wraps around a carseat. So now, Madi is extra bundled and the cold Cache valley weather can't stop us from our stroller adventures. These walks are more critical for our mental than physical health. Madi and momma both go cuckoo when we can't leave home. The stroller is the only place a little nutball like Madison can be truly happy---moving, moving, moving! So we are very grateful for this new contraption that won't allow Mads to wriggle out of her blankies. It keeps her tootsies nice and toasty. Plus she looks so stinking cute and cuddly. During her first Bundle Me adventure, she got very calm and serene, taking in nature from her safe, snuggly spot. Madi sat in her hot-spot Hawaii while mom traipsed through the arctic (actually, it wasn't too awful). We completed another gorgeous 10 miler up through Providence to the canyon. We braved some pretty big hills and stumbled upon a gorgeous buck and all kinds of other beautiful creations. Soooooooooooo much cozy fun!

Monday, November 14, 2011

Adventures in Fantasyland

Mads loves a good, quiet background to her nursing. No tube, no talking ...she's quite the demanding diva. But I am not one to sit quietly, un-entertained for an hour during Madi's LONG breastfeeding sessions (Matt thinks I may have ADD and I wouldn't doubt it). The minutes seemed to crawl, although we are getting much better now. So, out of necessity, I hit the books! I have read more over the last 6 months than I have over the last 6 years! It's been such a treat to dive into a great book/series. Nursing has become a pleasure, the time when I escape from reality into my book. I got some great recommendations from the fam (Kristen--Shannon Hale, Kellie--Peter & the Starcatchers series by Dave Barry, Emily--The Help and Moon Over Manifest). Thanks for keeping me stocked in great entertainment. I'm passing along my quick critiques and recommendations. Happy reading!


*The Help by Kathryn Stockett--WONDERFUL book and movie, as everyone well knows


Shannon Hale's books. I've read a tons of them. My fave, by far, was Princess Academy. The Goose Girl and Book of a Thousand Days were also fun!
* Books of Bayern series
o The Goose Girl
o Enna Burning
o River Secrets
o Forest Born
* Princess Academy
* Austenland
* Book of a Thousand Days


*Peter and the Starcatchers Series by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

The book is followed by three sequels: Peter and the Shadow Thieves (2006), Peter and the Secret of Rundoon (2007), and Peter and the Sword of Mercy (2009). A fifth book titled The Bridge to Neverland was released in September 2011.

Peter and the Starcatchers was a breath of fresh air! I couldn't put it down. This is THE Dave Barry--hilarious! After reading too much flowery Shannon Hale, these boy books were like Christmas. No extensive, cumbersome character descriptions, minimal time in the characters' heads (thinking...sharing thoughts...thinking), these books are all ACTION! They move fast and the plots tie together beautifully at the end. SO MUCH FUN!!! The first is by far the best, but all were enjoyable (except the follow up "Bridge to Neverland" written after the authors had sold their souls to Disney)


*Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

One of my new favorite books. Beautiful in every way! Smart, sweet. Reminded me of the good-reading-feelings I got from To Kill A Mockingbird. I had tears streaming down my face during the entire last chapter as everything tied together and the heart of the story was unveiled. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

But now I need another great book/series! So please keep the tips a'comin!

Curds & Whey




Miss Madi loves mush! She flunked out big time in the nursing department but is redeeming herself beautifully with an A+ in the field of solids eating. She LOVES her rice cereal with sides of Gerber goolash. Her favorite has been prunes, and her digestion has never been better. Grandpa was really on to something, there! Thanks for the great tips, Aunt Em. We love the plastic bib and rubber-coated spoons. She is one happy eater!
Madi's First Attempt at Solids: Fri, October 7th at about 4 1/2 months
Now she is eating like a pro, twice a day. That lucky little ducky gets breakfast all day long. YUM!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Bundle Me Baby


All bundled up for a brisk, late fall walk. Don't worry, she was as content as could be in her toasty cornucopia of love and warmth safe in the stroller. Happiness in a pink mushroom headed hat. :)

EXTRA, EXTRA ...Read all About It (and laugh your guts out, too)!



Who knew the newspaper could be such a hoot!?! Madison's first real laugh occurred when Grandma and Grandpa Black were up for a visit at the beginning of October. Mom missed the whole thing when she was out back letting Lily out. But Grandma had everyone rolling with a "POP" (finger in the cheek) surprising sound followed up with a happy, giggle so that Madi could understand it was hilarious not terrifying. Madison let out the loudest, deep, low, belly laugh just like a big 3 year old and shocked the whole room. So, of course, Mom has been set on coaxing another good, real laugh out of Madi ever since. It took several weeks but I just wouldn't give up. Finally, a few different methods proved successful--a good, "BOO" and giggles, very classy fart noises (a real hit), lifting weights at the rec. center (dumbbells clacking together over my head really got Madi going), popping my hand on the roof of the car while I sat beside her in the backseat. But I never could get footage of her letting loose. Until we discovered the hilarious and terrifying sound a newspaper makes when it is snapped open suddenly and forcefully. Good times! Oh, we love this silly little character.

Mad's First Fabulous Fall


Life is Good---Life on the Open Road--Paving Trails


Our 10-Mile Adventure to First Dam

Adventure Buddies



Grandma Patsy & Aunt Jenn's "I'm So Cute It's Scary" Halloween Outfit








Happy Halloween 2011

Oh, how we have loved this beautiful autumn season! Alas, the leaves have changed and fallen and winter is already rearing her ugly head. But we will forever cherish our first fall with baby Madi. We walked, and walked, and walked, basking in the beauty of our lovely Logan. The stroller caravan of Mom and Mads + little Lily (the chihuahua)all trooping along, crunching the millions of leaves along our way continually paved new trails, setting up impromptu photo shoots wherever an especially beautiful background appeared. The 3 amigos surprised Daddy/Matty at his U.P.S. hub a few times by popping in to say, "Hello!" We thoroughly enjoy this 8-mile jaunt from our apartment to Dad's work. One especially ambitious day, we got up to the temple and decided to just keep going. We found a trail that connected us down to the "island" and kept traipsing our way up Canyon Rd. We didn't turn around til we reached first dam. We were all starving but wildly thrilled with ourselves upon completing the 10 mile adventure!

On Halloween, I "flew on over" to Wilson Elementary, my beloved old school, to scare the pants of the adorable first graders there as "Gretch the Witch." My marvelous mom was always so sweet to do this for my classes each Halloween. It was always my first graders favorite memory of the school year. I did my best to follow in her footsteps but I in no way measured up to the legendary Gretch. So I was Grutch, her challenged cousin. I was scared to death and nearly had a heart attack before the big performance (the entire grade level of 80 kiddos was waiting for me in the kiva). But we had a blast mixing up our Super Smart Fizzy Bizzy Brew (rootbeer and dry ice concoction). Matt was so sweet to skip out on a class and cheer me on while watching Miss Madi.

For Mad's first Halloween, we didn't pass out or partake of a single piece of candy (not for any noble health reasons). Instead, we went to Chili's and had dinner while watching the Kansas City Chief's football game (one of Matt's favorite teams). I'm sure Madi won't let us get away with that again, but it was so much fun! So much fun it was SPOOOOOKY (thus making it relevant to Halloween)!!!

So now we will hold on to our happy-time fall memories as we get ready to hibernate through winter. Just wake Mama Bear up when it's over (gently).