Play time!

Maddie was cracking me up one day playing in her Baby Einstein play gym. She hadn't been in it in a while and her arms and legs were going crazy! Of course, whenever we get the camera out, she freezes up. She takes her play time very seriously as you can see!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We hope everyone is having a great 2007 so far. The new year has brought some changes for us as I am now back to work! It was fun while it lasted...but my maternity leave is over. I feel so lucky that I was able to stay home full time with Maddie for 5 whole months. I joke that it would have been nice if I could have scattered my leave; you know, worked during say month 2-3 when Maddie was fussy! Now she is sooooo much fun, so it kind of stinks to go back now. But that means she's a lot more fun for Nana Flo and Grandpa George. We are so fortunate that they are watching Maddie. The transition has been very smooth; just a few tears shed the first morning (by me, not Madeline)! Here are some pictures from Nana Day Care that my mom has taken. They have a goal of taking at least one picture from each day and my mom is keeping a journal of Maddie's days for me to read.

Maddie napping in her pack-n-play

Grandpa George giving her a bottle

Playing on her tummy...she's rolling all the time now!

My mom had to take a picture of Maddie's beautiful hair (ha!) My aunt Patti said at Christmas that I had the same hairstyle when I was a baby. Hairstyle?!? As if this look is intentional! She's got a little male pattern baldness, with a little mullet action at her neck and even a comb-over/mohawk going on up top. The bald spot in the back is a result of her turning her head back and forth constantly when she's going to sleep. Let's hope she gets some new hair soon!

Maddie got lots of great Christmas presents from everyone. My favorites are the jog stroller and video monitor and Maddie's favorite is her excersaucer. Chris's favorite is the Nike hat from Andy and Laura. It matches her Nike sweatsuit that they gave her. Here are some pictures.

Notice the bib? High maintenance! But worth it :)

The rest of the pictures are just some fun pictures that we've taken recently.

Maddie may look big in some of the pictures..but as you can see here, not everything fits her yet! Of course this is a hand-me-down and it's size 6-12 months. She looked so funny!

She loves this monkey that Shelley gave her!

Watching the playoffs with Daddy

First nap on her tummy...the timing was funny since she has a monkey on her pants! This was a fluke. Ever since then, when she rolls onto her tummy in her crib she gets really mad. So for now, we just roll her back over until she can do it herself. Sometimes, it takes 2 or 3 times before she gives up and falls asleep!

"My grandpa....what big eyes you have!"

Mommy's sweetpea!

MADDIE'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

We had a wonderful Christmas this year with Madeline. We were lucky enough to spend time with friends and both our families including the Cronin’s in Nebraska and Riordan’s in Pennsylvania. Everyone was so generous and spoiled Maddie (first grandchild on both sides; it’s inevitable). My mom gave me a little desktop decoration that has a saying that sums it up: “Children are spoiled because you can’t spank grandparents.” Aint that the truth! We are truly blessed and so lucky in so many ways. Here are some pictures of our Christmas.

TRIP TO OMAHA

Maddie met her Great Grandma Evelyn (that’s where her middle name Eve came from). The blonde cutie is Chris’s cousin August.

Here is Maddie with Chris’s cousin Cece. We stayed with Chris’s uncle Terry and his wife Marisa and Cece is their daughter. She was nice enough to let Maddie play with her toys. Terry and Marisa were the best hosts and we had a great time.

“So tell me Cece, how does this thing work?”

Check out the antlers!

Too cute to only take one picture. Maddie was going to town on this teething toy that vibrates when she chomps down. Of course it was a gift from my friend and coworker Stacy, the speech therapist. Great for oral-motor stimulation!

CHRISTMAS EVE

CHRISTMAS DAY

The Day after Christmas with GREAT Aunt Lorraine

More Visitors!

We were lucky enough to have Sarah (the missing member of the Fab Five in October) visit this past weekend. Jennie came out again to hang with "the girls." We had a very relaxing weekend.

"Sarah says I have to root for Florida in the National Championship!"

It truly was a girls' weekend since Chris was on his annual Moskal Boys fishing trip. While the guys were fishing, Maddie and I had a visit from her Great Aunt Sandy, Great Aunt GayLynn, and her cousins Tiffany and Logan. It was great to see them!

Madeline's Baptism

On the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend, Madeline was baptised at our church here in Leesburg. It was a great day; the weather was beautiful! Geordie (my brother) is Madeline's Godfather and Kim (Chris's sister) is her Godmother. Here are some pictures from the day.

"Yummy, this tastes good!"

Godparents Kim and Geordie

All pretty in her dress that Nana Flo and Grandma Mary bought her.

And the bonnet from Grandma Mary

All tuckered out after her big day!

Baby talk

One of our favorite things that Maddie is doing now is "talking." She's making all kinds of new sounds and she's cooing, giggling, and doing lots of raspberries! The video above is the best one we could get of her making lots of sounds. For some reason if we put one of our fingers in her mouth, she really gets going. Maybe she's working on some teeth!

Madeline is 4 months!

Madeline turned 4 months at the end of November. Time is now flying by! She had her 4 month check-up and she weighs 13 lbs. 5 oz. which is the 45th percentile. She is in the 90th percentile for height so the doctor said she's long and lean. She looks anything but lean in some of these pictures! Here are some pictures from the past month.

This is Maddie and her friend Brooke Plummer (daughter of our friends/old neighbors Matt and Lisa). Brooke is 3 weeks younger than Maddie. They are so cute together! Brooke loves to play with Maddie's hair and Maddie usually ignores Brooke and stares at the cameras. Can you tell which baby is Maddie? (hint...she looks good in purple!)

Madeline no longer stays in one spot in her crib. Chris and I were so suprised the first time we found her turned 90 degrees from where we put her down! It became a game....guess which way she's laying now!

Maddie's putting everything in her mouth now. She has figured out how to hold her toys and she likes to taste them all!

All ready for the Virginia vs. Virginia Tech game. Too bad they lost....but at least she looked cute! Wahoowa! Maybe basketball season will be better.

Sitting in the bumbo....watching some football. She loves to stare at the TV when football is on.

All bundled up ready for a walk outside. Chris couldn't resist a picture of her in her hoodie!

Nothing cuter than a naked baby!