Growing so fast

Well, it was just over a week ago that the first tooth popped through. Today the second popped through. I guess I have to say goodbye to her gummy little smile and hello to a toothy smile.

She's getting up on her hands and knees, still not at the same time, but doing it. She's been standing with me holding her or with her leaning on me. She actually tried to take a step toward my SIL last week, but it was a fail. I'm not looking forward to that day! So we now need to venture into the world of baby proofing the house. The outlets have had their covers on before Madison came along because Bailey liked to lick the outlets when he was a baby dog.

So not only do we need to baby proof but we need to move the mattress for the crib down because she can sit up and she isn't too far off from pulling herself up to stand. We are also retiring her bouncy seat because its not safe for her to be in now that she can sit up unassisted. I'm sure her exersaucer isn't too far behind since she is such a tall baby girl!

Can we just slow down time for a little while???

Long time no talk

Well, we've had quite the adventure and Christmas isn't over for us yet.

Friday Dec 17th we headed out to Wisconsin to stay with my friend for the weekend. We got there Friday afternoon and hung out.

Saturday morning we were getting ready to go to her mom's house to do our annual Cookie Day. Well, I was finishing up getting ready and Roberta tells me to peek out the bedroom door. I took a little look and there they were. Her 7 year old son sitting on the floor with Madison in front of him and her toys in front of her watching cartoons. She would get a little crabby and he would lean down and whisper a little something to her and she would be fine. It was the sweetest thing ever. We had a great time baking and playing and all. Madison seemed to enjoy her time too. She got to have Al try to teach her to crawl and had so many people to snuggle and play with her. Oh, Madison's first tooth broke through the gums on this day too! So excited!

Sunday we went to stay with my mom who loved every minute of Madison being there. We had some drama but that is neither here nor there. We didn't let it stop us from having a good time and visit.

Monday we met Dan and the dogs at the hotel. It was nice to be with my husband during the week.

Tuesday, I drove out to Gurnee Mills to meet up with some friends from high school and have lunch and do some shopping. I went early and got Madison's pictures taken with Santa. She didn't know what to make of Santa. There was no crying and no smiling, but she pulled on his beard. As I was walking out I ran into an old boyfriend's brother, who I spoke to for a little while. Well then as I walked out of the store into the mall I ran into the old boyfriend's mother, I talked to her and she told me he was there. I wasn't really expecting it, but ok. I went in and found him with her. We talked for a while. He made a big mistake a long time ago, but he's not a bad guy. He's actually one of the nicest, sweetest guys I know. Then I walked down and met the girls for lunch and shopping. We had so much fun. I wish we could have hung out longer.

Wednesday, Dan & I ordered some food and stayed in. It was really nice. I have the best husband ever!

Thursday, I took Madison over to my mom's in the morning because 1. we were moving back there for the holiday weekend and 2. Mom was going to watch Madison while I went to get my hair cut and colored. My brother and SIL with their kids had come in on Wednesday and were staying there too. It was a full house because Dan and the dogs showed up that afternoon! We celebrated Christmas with my brother, SIL and the kids that night. It was a blast watching the kids open their gifts. Afterward we watched Christmas movies and hung out. Did I mention that Madison slept in my mom's closet? Yes, she did. Mom wanted access to her room when Madison napped and there wasn't any other space to put her since we were so full that Mom put up the pack & play in her walk-in closet! Madison loved it because she had the best naps ever in there & she slept through the entire night! I'm not talking 8 hours, I'm talking 11 hours straight at night and instead of a 90 min nap we are talking 2 - 2 1/2 hours!

Friday - Christmas Eve! My brother and his family left, which was a little sad that they didn't get to stay and be with all of us for Christmas, but we got some really cute pictures of the 3 kids (his 2 and Madison) by the tree. That evening we went to Roberta's for dinner and to celebrate Christmas with them. Dinner was delicious, but then again I never expect any less from Roberta. She's a great cook!

Saturday - Christmas Day! I love Christmas. I was so excited to see Madison open her presents and have her first Christmas. It was so different having a baby to wake up with on Christmas morning and seeing her excitement to rip paper and play bows. It was the best Christmas present ever!

Sunday - We did our long drive back. Madison slept most of the way. Dan was happy to see us (He left Saturday night). My wonderful husband did the grocery shopping before we got there. I started to feel a little sick (my throat was hurting and still is) so he did the laundry and made dinner too. 

Survived the 6 month shots!

Friday, I took Madison in for her 6 month well baby. She cried when the nurse looked at her. I guess she knew what was coming. She gained 2 lbs and is now 15 1/2 lbs! She is also 1 3/4 inches taller and is now 26 3/4 inches. I have quite a tall baby. She is in the 95 percentile for height but only 50 percentile for weight. She got her normal 6 month vaccines plus her flu shot. She did not like them at all, but settled down pretty quick after getting them. Doctor said she was a pretty healthy baby.

We went home right after and baby girl went down for a nap. She woke up 2 hours later totally happy! What a change from after her 4 month shots! She only cried when I accidently touched her thigh (where shot got her shots) when we were playing and I was tickling her. Later that night a fever showed its ugly head. It was never over 101, but we gave her some tylenol and put her to bed. She woke up in the morning with no fever, but it showed up again Saturday afternoon and we gave her another dose of tylenol. She has been fine ever since.

We have to go back for a flu booster in the beginning of January. After that we don't go back until she's almost 9 months, but no shots at that one!

Sleep

Sleep has been a hard thing to get around here. Little Miss Madison has been waking up crying multiple times a night. The only thing that had been stopping it was me picking her up, but as soon as you put her back down she starts screaming again. So after doing that 3 or 4 times, I'd just pick her up and bring her to bed with me. Most nights I would lay there with her and let her sleep there until she fell hard asleep, then move her back to her crib where she would sleep for at least 3 hours at a time. This started almost 2 months ago. Before that she was sleeping through the night, though some nights she might wake up once, but all you had to do was turn on her music. So I decided yesterday that we were going to start her napping in her crib and using the CIO method because I can't keep this up.

Nap #1 in her crib she cried for 15 mins before falling asleep. Now I would walk in and rub her back after 5 mins of crying. I want her to know that I'm still there and will be there when she needs me. She slept for an hour and a half.

Nap #2 in her crib. No crying right off the bat. After 40 mins of sleeping she woke up crying and I walked in patted her back for a few seconds and then walked out. She napped for another 50 mins!

Nap #3 in her crib. No crying at all. She slept for about 30 mins and then it was time to get up to eat.

Overnight - I put her down in her crib at 8:45, no problems. She slept until 10 when we started the crying game. I walked in patted her back for a few seconds walked out. This went on every 5 mins for 45 mins. After that she slept until 6 am! At this time she cried for a second and then fell back asleep, waking at 7:30 this morning! I call this success! Yes, because it would have gone on all night until I pulled her into bed with me and I didn't have to do that this time!

Today so far she is on Nap #2 in her crib. This morning, there was no crying until she woke up after a hour and a half. Nap #2 is going very well. Seems like it will mimic this mornings nap! Now, I'm hoping tonight is better than last night.

I'm so proud of myself for sticking with it and proud of my baby girl for doing better!

This past week.

Boy, this past week has been a whirlwind of craziness. I was unable to blog due to computer issues. I felt so out of touch that it wasn't even funny.

Monday - We arrived in the North Suburbs of IL in the early afternoon. It was in the 60's and stormy. A few tornados touched down in IL & WI. One of which, touched down basically across the street from a friend's house. We had to cancel our plans for the next day due to this because of the damage and she had no electricity. It was scary.

Tuesday - Madison and I had lunch with my mom. It was nice to spend some time with her. That night after Dan and my parents got off work. My parents picked up Madison, so she could spend the night with them. Yes, thats right it was my first baby free night since I got pregnant! It was truely hard to let her go. I took her out to the car and buckled her in. Then walked back into our room, where I was promptly greeted by both the dogs, who were fighting to lay on top of me. Maggie ended up winning. ShIt e cuddled with me for quite a while. Then Dan and I went to go see Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Part 1 on the IMAX. When the movie was over I called my mom to check on Madison. It was the only call I made that night. She was already asleep and doing fine.

Wednesday - Mom brought Madison back to me and we loaded up the truck and took our stuff and the dogs over to my parents. We basically hung out there until it was time to go pick up Dan from work. After that we went up to see my friend, Roberta and her family. It was nice being able to have time with them. They love my baby girl so much and us of course and we love them!

Thursday - Thanksgiving Day! Madison watched her first Thanksgiving Day parade. We headed over to my Aunt & Uncle's for dinner. It was a great time. As we gathered around the table to eat, I realized how truely rich and blessed I am. We are not rich in the sense that we have money, but in the sense that we have such wonderful people in our lives.  Our families, our friends and lets not forget about our pets. I am thankful for everyone in my life. I would not be who I was if it were not for all of them. It is these wonderful people that makes my life a happy one. After dinner, we all had gathered in the living room and Madison was laughing at my Uncle's dog barking! It was so funny. She had everyone amused.

Friday - We got up and drove home. Oh, what a long drive it was. We got home, unloaded, and pretty much headed over to Dan's sister's house for Thanksgiving with his family. We had a blast with them. Its always fun. At the end of the night, I basically shoved the baby at his oldest nephew and he had no choice put to hold her. Yep, I'm evil, but now, he realizes its not a horrible or scary thing to hold a baby. Tons of pictures where taken! Too bad Dan had taken my camera to the car already!

Amazing

Last night my friend, Jill, her daughter Jade and their dog, Paityn came to visit us. This was definitely not the first time they came over. Jade is a week older than Madison and its just amazing at how much these two girls have developed. The first time somewhere around 3 months old (ish) they both cried. If we got one calm, the other would have a fit. It became a little game to them I think. The next time they did better, then the last time they layed together under Madison's activity gym together and Jade grabbed Madison's shirt and they held hands. It was nice. Then last night they played independently for a while and then held them face to face. Oh, my! I was ready for all hell to break lose, but they played together. They held hands and reached for each other. They talked to each other.

I just find it amazing that 2- 5 month old girls can interact with each other as they did last night. It makes me so happy and so proud to be a Mom. Its so great to see the milestones and growth that my baby has made.

Its that time of year

When I become a hunting widow. So if I'm a hunting widow, does that make Madison a hunting orphan?

Anyway, hubby had last week off for hunting and plans to hunt on weekends. He has been informed that he cannot hunt like he has in the past because we have a child now that deserves his attention. Since we had the talk about it, things have been better. He took a day off to spend with us and a couple other times took 1/2 a day off to spend with us too. I try as hard as I can to deal with his hunting because he works so hard for us and it allows me to stay home with our baby girl, however, he needs to do his share of understanding and take some time to spend with us, so that I can have a tiny break too.

We've been making plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It will be fun to see Madison during the holidays. I can't wait to see her stare at the lights on the tree in awe or her reaction to Santa. Look for the fun posts to follow on her first holidays!


Oh and in case I don't make it back here this week - Happy 30th Birthday, Christine! I wish we could come celebrate with you!