Happy New Year's Eve!

With Maddie officially two months old yesterday, here are a few things that are noteworthy as of the last week:

• She has discovered she can suck on her hand
• She has cradle cap which we use olive oil to try and keep at bay
• She is now wearing the 0-3 months size in her pjs (she's growing!)
• She sometimes sleeps for 5-6 hour stretches, though not consistently
• She is pooping less frequently (TMI perhaps, but it's noteworthy) - two or three times a day which means we have to change her clothes more often as we have "blow outs" periodically
  
• She's gone up in diaper sizes but still can't fit the special biodegradable diapers we bought

We will be spending New Year's Eve at Grandma and Grandpa Freise's with Aunt Julie, Uncle Jeremy and Eva. We look forward to 2009 and more exciting changes for our little girl!

Maddie's First Christmas

Maddie surrounded by presents on Christmas morning. She hung out like this for a long time just watching everyone open gifts.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were quite exciting! On Christmas Eve, we spent the evening with Uncle Kevin, Aunt Lorrie, "Uncle" Craig, Jessica and Amanda. We ate crab legs and filet mignon - what a yummy dinner! Maddie was all smiles most of the night, and then got overwhelmed by all the gifts.

On Christmas Day, we had brunch with the Freise clan in the morning and celebrated Eva's first birthday for dinner. Both Maddie and Eva had a lot of excitement (Maddie took a five hour nap during the day AND slept for a six hour stretch at night. Eva didn't want to go to sleep as playing with all her gifts was much more fun.)


My first present was an exercise mat from Uncle Dave, Auntie Amy, Aaron and Baby Y (to be born soon!)


Big smiles for my cousin Jessica!


My Christmas jammies, which later had to be changed in the middle of the night due to a little tinkle. Mommy thinks it's time to go up a size in diapers.


We tried to get a picture of the Freise cousins, but it was a bit of a challenge as you can see!


Aunt Julie poses with Maddie. We were so happy Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Julie and Eva were able to be in Chicago for Christmas and Eva's first birthday. The nine inches of snow in Seattle made for quite an adventure in them getting here.


Maddie's Christmas outfit which her Great Aunt Mary Ann and Great Uncle Eddie got for her. Jaya said she looked like a little Mrs. Claus.

The Poop Song

When Maddie is clearly upset about a little gas in her tummy, Daddy sometimes sings to her. Here's a song he made up. Better than the Pancake poem? Maybe!
Really good poop, really good poop,
All I want is a really good poop.
Ask me now and I'll give you the scoop.
All I want is a really good poop.
Broccoli, cheese, and chili bean soup.
Anything that will give me a really good poop.

There's a sequel, the Burp Song, in the works.

To Our Loyal Fans

Yes, Mommy and Daddy have been slackers about doing another post. Perhaps it's because Daddy is in training all this week and keeps forgetting to leave the camera (and USB thingie) behind so Mommy can upload new pictures or video. Perhaps it's because Mommy is slightly exhausted since Daddy can't help with feedings due to his training class. Or perhaps we just want to keep our loyal fans in anticipation of what we'll post next.

Hint: Daddy sings a song that may be better than the Pancake poem. Stay tuned...


Maddie's hats were all too big so Mommy bought a new one that actually fits! It's so cold in Chicago we have to keep her head covered when we venture outside. Mommy and Maddie have done some last minute Christmas shopping. This picture was taken on the 11th.

A Perfect Day

Maddie's outfit this morning. We're going out to lunch with some friends, so she needs to look nice! The hat makes her look like Strawberry Shortcake - it's kinda silly looking.

Yesterday was a great day for Mommy and Maddie. Daddy went into the office, which can be hard sometimes on Mommy, but not today. Maddie was great! She was awake most of the day, with a three and a half hour nap in the afternoon, the up again most of the evening so she slept great at night (five hours the first stretch, then another three before Daddy's feeding). During the day, she liked to hang out on the floor and kick around. She didn't want Mommy to hold her as much as before...which let's Mommy get things done around the house. Mommy was able to get A LOT done, including laundry and finishing the Christmas present for Grandpa Freise (it's a secret). Mommy also gave her a tubby without Daddy's help.
Another big thing is that Maddie can now fit some of her clothes, so we put her in an outfit during the day and change her to pjs at night. We're hoping this will help establish a day vs. night routine for her.

A Good Weekend

Our plan has been to post every day for a month and then post weekly or when new things happen. We stayed and Grandma & Grandpa Freise's again last weekend. It was very pleasant. Grandpa had a very good day on Sunday. We started a new puzzle and Mommy almost finished that one too!

Here is Grandpa Freise holding Maddie.

Maddie also met her cousins, Jessica and Amanda, and her Uncle Kevin and "Uncle" Craig this weekend.

Mandy holds Maddie.


Jessie held Maddie for a long tome. I think we have a future babysitter!

Thursday (Week 5)

Daddy had a good night at bowling (164,183,138). Mommy went to Target today. Couple good poopy diapers. Her nights are staring to get a little better. Maddie is starting to sleep in 2-3 hour blocks. Daddy did a 6 am feeding without any issues.
Here's Maddie in the towel Sherye Halliburton made her.

Wed

Mommy got a hair cut today. Maddie slept most of the day. Daddy got a video on what happens when Maddie's binky pops out.

One Month Checkup

Mommy took Maddie for her one month checkup today. She now weighs 8 pounds, 5 ounces, and is 20.5 inches long. She's tiny - about the 25th percentile for her age. She also had to get a shot in the left thigh for Hep B. She was a trooper about it, but it's so hard to see her little face get red and then hear her yelp out in pain.

She was also awake most of the day again and enjoyed hanging out on her blankie on the floor.

Back at Home

Here Mommy wants to take a nap, but Maddie just wants to wiggle around!

Maddie slept for four hours between feedings last night (10pm - 2am), then a three hour stretch (2am - 5am), after which she didn't want to go back to sleep. She was awake most of the morning, with a few short naps, but waited until the afternoon to really sleep again. She is more alert, sometimes crying just because she wants to hang out on her blanket and look around (as opposed to wanting to be held). This is a new thing for us - now when she cries she may be hungry, wants to be held in a different way, has a little "bubble" in her tummy that needs to come out, OR wants to be put down to wiggle around on the ground. She's getting stronger too. During tummy time today she pushed herself up on her arms holding her head up for awhile.
Tomorrow we have her one month doctor's appointment so we'll see how much weight she has gained and how tall she is! She still can't fit into any of her 0-3 month clothes. The only outfits she can wear are her Carter's newborn sleepers - Mommy and Daddy bought her three more when they had a "date" on Saturday while Grandma watched Maddie. It was their first "date" since she joined our family.