Three Months Old!

Her first pair of jeans seemed a little tight. Here she is pleading, "Mommy, please put me in a bigger outfit."

So Mommy put her in a 3-6 month size outfit. "Much better Mommy. Thank you!"

Maddie turns three months old today and we're all excited to pick up Vivian, our au pair from Brazil, at the airport this evening. New accomplishments:

1) She in now in a size 2 diaper

2) She is starting to outgrow some of her 0-3 month clothes (not all) and wear some of her 3-6 month clothes (not all)

3) Her slobbering continues to increase

Mommy returns to work on Monday.

Why Daddys Shouldn't Dress Little Girls

While changing Maddie's wet diaper, she spit up A LOT. While cleaning that up, she peed all over the place. While cleaning that up, she spit up A LOT again. By this point, Mommy needed some help so she asked Daddy to get Maddie a clean outfit. This is the result. Note that she is wearing SHORTS. Yes, a short-sleeve and shorts romper, to which baby leg warmers had to be added to cover her legs and a sweater (one size too big) to cover her arms. At least the socks match.

Daddy's Little Girl

Maddie hanging out with the dolly her Daddy bought her.

We bought some Aquaphor to use on Maddie's dry skin and cradle cap, and it seems to be working quite well. Her hands and legs are still a bit dry, but her face looks MUCH better and the scales of the cradle cap are mostly gone.

We continue to try and get Maddie to take naps during the day when she shows signs of being tired. This has been helpful because she is now always smiling when she is awake. Before, she would get a bit grumpy in the late afternoon, but we know realize she was just overtired. She goes to bed around 7pm, and then either wakes for two feedings at night, or sometimes just one (like last night at 3am only). With time we hope she goes down to one or no feedings as Mommy returns to work in one week and doesn't want to be too tired.

She is getting stronger, wiggling around sometimes making it clear we can't step away for a minute if she's on a raised surface.

This is our last weekend alone before Vivian arrives from Brazil next week and we are going to visit Grandma and Grandpa and finish up some projects around the house.

One more update...as for the breastfeeding and Mommy's soreness, it isn't gone yet. Twelve weeks and counting. We got some gel pads called Soothies last weekend and they help quite a bit. Mommy thinks the pain will be gone by the time Maddie turns 3 months next Friday. Let's all hope!

Jean the Bean

Tummy time today...she is getting closer and closer to rolling over!


I put Jean the Bean (Daddy named it...sorry Aunt Jean) in Maddie's arms today and she pulled in both arms so she could get closer to chewing on the hat. She's learning that her arms do more than just move around uncontrollably!

Last night was exciting for us. We've been trying to get Maddie to take naps during the day after no more than 2 hours of being awake, and before she gets overtired. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't. But they say sleep begets sleep and last night, she went down at 7:30pm and didn't wake until 4am! And then she only nursed on one side, went back to sleep, then got up at 8am. Let's hope she'll soon consistently sleep through the night!

We have a new nephew!

Connor Jacob Halliburton arrived yesterday at 3:19pm. 8 pounds, 8 ounces, 21 inches long. Everyone is doing well. Welcome to the family little guy!

Sun, Sophie and Daddy

Maddie is discovering her hands more and more. Here, she learns she can hit the sun and make it move.


A binkie and Sophie the giraffe...what more can a girl ask for?


Mommy loves this picture of Daddy and Maddie.

It is COLD in Chicago today. The wind chill brought the temperature to 40 below zero, with the actual temperature staying below zero all day. Daddy had to go to work, so Mommy and Maddie stayed indoors where it was warm.

Maddie continues to grow and is now blowing bubbles, sticking out her tongue to mimic when Mommy or Daddy does it to her, is discovering her hands can touch things or hold things, and smiles A LOT. She's a happy little girl!

Mommy and Daddy also started a bedtime routine to help her learn how to go to sleep before she gets overtired. We wash her face and bottom, change her diaper, put her into pjs, read her a couple of books, then turn on her lullaby music, rock her until she's really sleep and put her into bed.

Cutie and a binky

Maddie is sleeping more with a stretch reaching 6 hours. Although, there were a few nights recently where she was waking every two and a half hours. In the coming months, maybe she will become more consistent so Mommy can get a good night's sleep soon.
Maddie plays with the binky that fell out...again.

She does some poses on the couch while Cindy, Nancy, Lowell, and Cindy were over for football games.We took some pictures while she was in the baby bjorn.

Two month checkup

Maddie has a new friend - Sophie the giraffe. She loves to chew on her nose. Here she is this morning chewing on her.

Today, Mommy and Maddie went to the doctor's office for Maddie's two month checkup. She is now 10 pounds, 6 ounces and 22 1/4 inches long. She is doing very well developmentally, but does have really dry skin on most of her body. We're not worried as it is so dry in the winter months and have a humidifier in her room now.

She had to have FOUR shots plus a liquid vaccine. Yucky. She was a big girl about it and came home and slept most of the day (woke for a feeding, then back to sleep). She woke up again around 5pm and is still awake and very happy. There are no signs of swelling and we're giving her Tylenol to help ease any discomfort. So far, so good!

New Year's Eve was an early night for us. Maddie was having some tummy problems so when we finally got her to sleep at 10pm, Mommy and Daddy were exhausted and went to sleep as well. We wished each other a happy new year at the 2:30am feeding. Daddy went with Uncle Joel, Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Jean to the Blackhawks vs. Redwings game at Wrigley Field on New Year's Day while Aunt Julie, Grandma, Grandpa, Mommy and Maddie hung out at the house watching it on tv (much warmer inside!).

We're now back at home and getting back into our "normal" routine (which just means being in our house - we have no routine.) Grandma and Grandpa went to Florida and we are happy they are having fun but miss them. Maddie wears her "I love my Grandma" pjs in the photo above to send a big kiss to her Grandparents if they check this blog from the sunny balcony!

Tomorrow, Daddy returns to work and we begin the countdown to Vivian's arrival in the U.S. and Mommy's return to work. Vivian is our au pair from Sao Paolo, Brazil and will be arrive at our house on the 30th of January to stay with us for a year. We can't wait!