Seven Months

Seven Perfect Months

Where does the time go? Madden seems to change a little more every week and I wish I could freeze time right where he is right now. Seven months is such a fun stage! Everyone keeps telling me that he will just get more and more fun the older he gets and I don't see how that's possible. He is so aware and interactive and he's even starting to reach for me! We love this little guy, he has the sweetest personality and it doesn't hurt that he's ridiculously cute either!

Here are Mad's latest and greatest achievements from this past month....

1. He is such a happy and calm baby. Everyone who meets him always says, "Oh, he's probably being really good right now..." But he's always good! And he's always happy! He smiles at everyone, stranger or not. It's kind of been a good lesson to me actually. Last week we were in line at Walmart, and a kind of gross looking lady came up to us and starting playing with Madden. I of course was thinking, "Hey lady, get your grubby paws off my baby!" I know, mean, right? But then I looked at Madden and he was smiling away at her, no judgements whatsoever. It was one of many lesson's I'm sure I'll learn from him. Babies are always the best examples of Christlike attributes.

2. At seven months, our TALL baby boy is 19 lbs 10 oz, and 29 inches long- 50th percentile weight and 90th in height.

3. Madden is a biter! Oh my word do I have the bite marks and hickies to prove it! His two bottom teeth popped in this month and they are razor sharp! He even makes growling noises and sometimes shakes his head like a dog when he's biting my face! He mainly just loves my face and will suck on my chin and lips at any chance he gets. I can't complain though, I kiss his face all day long so he probably just thinks he's doing the same to me!

4. Mad takes two naps a day, around 9:30 and 2pm and is in bed by 8:30. He wakes up every morning at 7:30 on the dot. Every few nights, he still wakes up to eat at about 5:30am, but then we goes back to sleep for a couple hours. Not bad!

5. When he is getting tired, he rolls onto his side and flicks his ear with his fingers.

6. I have to keep his nails trimmed short all the time, because he is constantly grabbing the skin on my face and nose and squeezes and scratches. He mostly does this when he's nursing. Oh, and he really likes sticking his fingers up our noses.

7. When he's playing on the ground with a toy, he'll go quiet all of a sudden and start staring at his hand. It's so funny watching him rotate his hand around while he stares at it.

8. Madden is sitting in his high chair now! He's such a big boy! I used to put him in his bouncer on the kitchen floor, and I'd mainly just feed him solids in there. But a couple weeks ago, I looked over at him and he had flipped upside down in it and was crawling head first out of the seat! Time to put that away! He loves his high chair and he bangs his fists on his the whole time he's sitting in it and bonks his head against the back of it too. He thinks he's so funny.

9. When I put him into his crib for a nap, I put him on his back and he rolls straight over onto his tummy and falls asleep. This is how he goes to sleep now, he won't let me cradle him anymore! My favorite thing is hearing him sing to himself in the baby monitor when he wakes up, and when I walk into his room to get him I see his little smiley face popping up to see me. I'm going to be sad when I have to lower his crib and I won't see that sweet face so easily!

10. Madden does a fake cough, and he thinks it's so funny. He'll cough and then look around at us, like, "Hey, did you hear that?" And he gets a kick out of when Jeff fake coughs back at him. He could laugh for forever over that, it's hilarious!

11. When he wakes up he does some big stretches, and you can see just about every roll there is on his body, all while he has the biggest smile on his face. I need to get a picture of him doing it, it's priceless.

12. Mad is sitting up like a champ these days! It's almost like i can't remember what it was like when he was on his back all the time! And he is sooooo close to crawling, he kind of rocks back and forth on his knees. Right now he does an army crawl and rolls to wherever he wants to go. It makes me think it will be a while before he actually crawls! Some friend of our lent us their jumparoo, and Madden is LOVING it! He's always wanting to stand up, so this is the perfect toy for him. And I think he knows what "jump" means because when I say "jump, jump, jump!" he goes totally crazy! It really wears him out too! No wonder he's become such a good napper all of a sudden.

13. One of my favorite things he does now is when he starts laughing his hands go straight into his mouth and he covers his face and looks all shy. It is so sweet.

14. Mad is starting to be quite the copier! My mom visited us last week and got him to copy her shaking his head up and down! He also copies us when we click our tongues. He'll do the same but it sounds more like he's smacking his lips.

15. A few things Madden loves lately are: reading books (especially trying to eat and destroy them), playing with the wipies pack during diaper changes, trying to roll away from me during diaper changes, bath time, being naked, he loooooooves the pool and looooooooves the beach! He is a little water baby and has been such a trooper being dragged all over the place and trying out differenct beaches. He also loves any and all foods, even avocados now. I was persistant with those, and now he likes them. I haven't found a food that he doesn't like yet. He is so his dad's son. He even likes the taste of sand believe it or not. He loves screaming really high pitched screams, especially in church. He loves being held and getting lots of attention, which usually isn't a problem!


I love being a mom, especially to this boy. He is the light of our life, and we love everyday that we get to be his parents!

Six Months

I've been a mom for half a year now! It's been the best six months of my life and I can't believe how lucky I am to be Madden's mama. He is the sweetest little baby and every day he does something new that makes him even more lovable. We just can't get enough of him! Mad is getting so big and grown up already, here's what happened this month...

It's hard taking pictures of a 6 month old!!

1. When I put him in his crib, he rolls straight over to his side and falls asleep.

2. Our last week in Missouri, we took him on a walk to see his first firebugs. There were hundreds and it looked like he was having fun watching them.
3. He is starting to scoot around on his tummy. For someone who can't crawl, he sure finds a way to get to where he wants to go! He looks like a little snail, scooting around with his little bum in the air.

4. Madden starting sitting up while holding himself up with his hands on July 14th. We're still working on sitting up with no hands.
5. At six months he weighs in at 18 lbs 10 oz and is 27.5 inches long

6. On August 1st I heard Madden wake up and start fussing early in the morning. When I went in to get him it was still dark so I felt around for him in the crib and realized he was sitting up!! What!?? I wanted to push him over, he's too little to be doing that already! Stop growing up!

7. Lately he's been sucking in his bottom lip, it's so funny and stinkin cute

8. We have a tooth!!! First tooth pooped in on August 2nd, it's his bottom left. The tooth right next to it is starting to break the surface. Other than being really really drooly, he really hasn't seemed too bothered with teething yet.

9. This boy is going to be a fish. He LOVES the ocean and the beach. It doesn't take any work to get him to smile there. It probably helps that the Gulf is like bath water.

10. He also loves the pool, he kicks like crazy and looks so surprised when his face gets splashed. He hasn't made the connection yet that he's doing it to himself.

11. We've started vegetables! Loves squash, carrots, peas, sweet potato, green beans. He gags on avocado though, it's pretty hilarious. We're still working on that one.

12. Loves sucking on watermelon, and has even started reaching for it when I'm eating some.

13. Loves holding my phone when it's playing music

14. Madden did soooo great during the move. I'm so grateful that he was not mobile at the time, it made my life so much easier. He's such a trooper- he's like his dad and is always ready for the next adventure.

15. He knows that Jeff's face is always scruffy and winces when he nuzzles him. Now he won't let Jeff touch him with his scruff, and pushes him away with his tiny hands when Jeff come close to him. Even when Jeff is shaved, Madden still doesn't trust him!

16. Loves to play with water bottles and is even starting to try drinking from them, although most of the water ends up running down his face.

17. Moved to size three diapers, and I'm starting to move him into some of his 6-9 month clothes!

18. Makes the cutest little dinosaur sounds, and is getting noisier and more talkative by the day. He tries to talk by making a "pthhhh" sound, and he laughs when he mimick him.

19. This kid loves my face. He's constantly grabbing fist full of my cheeks, ears, nose, eyelashes, whatever he can get his hands on. And he must love how I taste because he still turns and gives me huge kisses and chomps on my jaw bone. I've gotten a few hickies from this little monster too, I'm going to have to watch him in about 18 years!

20. Madden wants to stand alllll the time, he has such strong and chubby little legs. They are starting to get so brown too from them sticking out of his canopy while he's in his stroller. This boy will be a brown bear, that's for sure!
21. Whenever Madden wakes up from his nap, Jeff and I race to his room to be the one to see him first and get him out of his crib. It's resulted in a few wrestling matches to see who can get there first. It's our favorite thing when he wakes up, we miss him when he's sleeping! And as soon as we come into the room, Mad pops up his little head and gives us the biggest smile ever, so heart melting.
22. As soon as we moved to Florida, Madden was moved into his very own room. Sad day for me! I'm starting to get used to it now, but the first week I was worried that he was lonely on the other side of the house all by himself. He's fine though, and he's even sleeping a lot longer through the night now that he's in his own room.
23. We love our Madden, he is the light of our life and we're so happy he's ours.


Well we finally made it to Florida! We miss Missouri a lot, but we're excited for this new adventure too. Jeff survived boards, hallelujah they are over! Those stupid tests have consumed our life for the past two years and it feels soooo great to have them over and done with. I'm so grateful for how hard he worked and studied, he has always kept our family as his first priority and sacrificed so much for our future. Our whole life is different now that boards are done, Jeff started work in the hospital and he's loving it so far. Happy to be out of the classroom and finally getting his hands dirty. We've been exploring the beaches and fun places in our new area, and it's overwhelming and exciting living in a place where people come to vacation! We've been fishing off the pier and have caught some weird things, we've tried some fun restaurants, found a killer walk close to our house, played tennis, gone swimming, watched a lot of amazing sunsets, and enjoyed having some much needed family time.

Madden and I are loving spending our days together playing with toys (although my kitchen utensils are more fun than his toys now I guess), reading books, going to the pool, making yummy dinners, snuggling, and planning our weekend family adventures. I love being a stay at home mom, and I know I'm really lucky to be able to be home with Madden. He's growing so fast, and I'm blessed that I haven't missed any of it. 

Love you all!

Five Months

Photo shoots with my five-month-old have changed quite a bit from when we was a newborn…back then I could point and shoot for hours and get about 500 of the same exact picture because he would only move about an inch every five minutes. Nowadays, all my pictures are severely blurry because this little one is on the move! Well, I guess he’s not really on the move-he’s nowhere near crawling- but he is the wiggliest, squirmiest, rolliest baby, and I am loving it!

 

Lately Jeff and I have been having frequent, “Ahhh, he’s not a newborn anymore” moments, and it’s crazy looking back at Madden’s pictures from just two months ago and feeling like he was a completely different baby. This month we have witnessed a personality exploding from our little man. He is constantly making us laugh and smile, and we can’t help but feel blessed that he’s ours.

My list of happenings is getting longer and longer each month because his life is starting to entail more than just eating and sleeping. It’s beginning to be hard keeping up with our little adventurer. My new favorite thing is watching Madden take in his surroundings, and I can already tell that he’s going to be a “go-go-go” type person, just like his dad. He loves everybody too, which I guess is a good thing but I secretly wish he only ever wants to be held by me. Just so long as he’s being held, he’s totally happy with new places and faces.

So, here are this month’s happenings…

1.       Madden loves counting. We count in the bath tub, at bedtime, during feedings, when we walk, pretty much all the time. I have no idea why he likes it, but he gets the biggest smile on his face and starts shaking his arms all crazy as soon as he hears 1!

2.       Still loves looking in the mirror, and yes, my mirror is still dirty with baby prints and now baby slobber too- he’s started mauling himself.

3.       Usually is asleep by 8:30 and wakes up around 7. For some reason he has started waking up around 3:30 again. Just when I was starting to enjoy sleeping all the way through the night again, he goes and switches it up for me! I usually just bring in into bed with me, I think he just wants to snuggle!

4.       Rotates around in his crib all night long, and he sticks his chubby little legs through the slats and sleeps with them hanging out over the side of his crib. It is so adorable.

5.       Loves staring and sucking on my fingers because of my nail polish. He loves the bright color, and it’s great for me because it’s like having a toy attached and available at all times!

6.       He is becoming a nasty little biter. And he bites hard too!! I’m kind of dreading the day he gets teeth!

7.       Madden has the most perfect, flawless skin. I look so old and haggard next to him!

8.       Does not like his bumbo at all. Sometimes he’ll deal with it, but he’ll moan the whole time until we get him out. I think it’s just not made for his manly physique. He inherited the Willardsen baseball thighs, and it’s a two person job spreading the leg slots apart to get him shoved in there. Can you blame him for not like it?! How humiliating!

9.       Mad loves being outside, and he loves staring at the trees behind our house and on our walks. I love to lay him back in his stroller and put the canopy down so he can stare around at everything. We go on walks a lot to the nature sanctuary near our house, and I always get him out when we get to the waterfall. It’s so peaceful and I think he loves being there too.

10.   Loves to suck on my finger wrapped in his burp cloth. He starts to fuss when it gets too soggy and he’s ready for a dry spot. Hey, it keeps him quiet in church!

11.   I put him in his bouncer in the kitchen while I cook dinner, and every time I turn to look at him, his eyes get huge and he squeals and smiles. I love it so much but at the same time it makes me feel guilty that I’m not playing with him.

12.   Still hates being laid down on his back. Now that his little neck is strong, he pulls his head up like he’s trying so hard to sit up. Looks like it’s a great ab workout, I should join him!

13.   One of my favorite things is when I nurse him, he’ll look up at me and hold my face and just smile. He kind of thinks it’s a game, and I can get some good giggles out of him.

14.   One of the funniest things he does is he does not tolerate anyone talking while he’s eating. If me or Jeff starts to talk, or even whisper, while he’s eating, he’ll look up at me and give me a face that says, “Who told you that you could talk?” It’s so funny, but it’s kind of an inconvenience because I used to get all my phone calls done while I nursed him. Oh well, I guess he’s the boss.

15.   He is noticeable eating less now. I keep thinking he should still be eating every 2 hours like a newborn, but now he can go about 4 hours inbetween feedings. He’s also awake so much more during the day, and he’s falling into a two nap schedule.

16.   Standing up so strong on his little legs! He can even stand and hold himself up on the couch for two whole minutes! Jeff timed him.

17.   Madden is the best kisser, ladies look out. He’s not shy either, he’ll attack you with an open mouth wet one any chance he gets!

18.   Madden loves singing. His new favorite is the  “I love the mountains, boomdeeada song”

19.   Ate cereal for the first time on June 26th. It took about a week for him to warm up to it, but now he adores cereal! He makes the funniest smacking noises when he eats, and he pulls my hand and the spoon toward his mouth before he’s even finished with the last bite.

20.   He is always grabbing his toes and it’s the cutest thing ever- he’s such a rollie polie. He rubs his feet together too, and sucks on his toes!

21.   Swam for the first time at Grandma GG’s pool while we were in Colorado. The water was much colder than his bath water so it took a little getting used to, but overall I think he liked it!

22.   For a couple days he would study our faces when we stuck out our tongue at him, and all of a sudden he started sticking his out too! Cutest little copier of all time.

23.   Mad did great with the fireworks on the 4th of July. I wondered how he’d react to the noise, but just like with everything else, he’s was a trooper. He actually slept right through the whole night. Our neighborhood goes a little bonkers with fireworks, and I was shocked he didn’t even stir in his crib. We’re so confused though how he can sleep through booming fireworks, but when the door squeaks he is up and ready to party.

We love our baby more than ever! He makes every day an adventure and we don’t even have to leave our home. Happy five months little Mad Pup, we love you so much!!

We are just about ready to leave Kansas City and try out life in Florida for a couple years. We’re so sad to leave because our lives changed for the better here. We explored this awesome city, Jeff got two years closer to becoming a doctor, we made some lifelong friends, and we became parents to the most perfect boy. We made some incredible memories here but we’re excited to start a new adventure!