7 weeks

I am 7 weeks old today and boy am I smart! I love to look at everyone and follow the dog around the room. Mommy thinks I enjoy laying on my tummy in order to lift my head and look side to side so I try to amuse her for a little bit. I like to talk (coos & gurgles) and smile and laugh at my silly family.

I have Grandma and Grandpa wrapped around my finger! Grandpa tried to play tough and say I had to call him Sir, but by the end of the week I had him referring to himself as Grandpa too! I can even get him to pick me up when I start to whimper. The other day I slept so long in my swing, I heard him asking Mommy if I was okay cause I hadn't moved in a while. Grandma and Grandpa have also been talking a lot about taking me home with them until Mommy and Daddy move back... I'm not sure about this place they live, but I think I like it here, it sounds really cold where they come from! I bet I'll enjoy it when I visit this summer though.


Christmas is AMAZING! Mommy told me that Christmas is to celebrate Jesus' birthday and that I would get to learn all about him as I get older. I also learned about Santa and got to meet him (well, I was told I met him, I was sorta sleepy that day).



I loved the packages I got and thought my Harley booties were especially fun! When do I get my motorcycle? All these great people that my Mommy says love me gave me clothes, toys, my first real piggy bank, and books.

Spoiled?

Daisy got packages too!

Grandma and Daddy had oyster stew on Christmas Eve while Grandpa and Mommy had potato soup. That night Daddy read "The Night Before Christmas" to me, twice! Christmas Day we had some friends over and Daddy made a really great meal with some help from Grandma. They had ham and turkey and all the fixings. I had some really yummy milk! They also took up a tradition here in England and popped crackers where they all wore goofy hats and got silly toys to play with.

Mommy and Daddy got "Buckaroo" from some friends and they played it (it was for ages 4 and up)

On Boxing Day, Mommy and Daddy took us to a big church in a nearby town. It was a little cold inside, but it was really big and old. Grandpa enjoyed looking at the architecture (whatever that means) and Grandma says the stain glass was really great!

Mommy is so talented that she fed me... even while touring the church, thanks to the 'super cape!'

We also took a road trip this weekend. Daddy took us to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and the city of Bath. I didn't get to meet the Queen, but I saw where she entertains. The rocks were closed because it was getting dark, but Grandpa says I didn't miss much. Mommy said we stayed at another base that night. I didn't have a bed and it was really cold in my room so I got to spend most of the night in bed with Mommy and Daddy. Mommy says she didn't sleep much cause she wanted to make sure she didn't squash me! The next day we visited Bath, an old town. I was really tired of traveling when we got done with lunch so Grandma did a bit more sightseeing with Daddy while Grandpa (who was complaining about the people and cold) took me back to the car so Mommy could feed me and let me take a nap.

Road Trip!

Windsor (above and below)

Bath

Talk to you all next week,

Madelyn and all

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This adorable hat says "My 1st Christmas" and this is the reaction

I get every time I try to get her to wear it!

Okay, a little calmer here (but it didn't last long).

6 weeks now... Maddy has had a very busy life so far. Trips, meeting an auntie, meeting grandma, and now grandpa has arrived! She is very good at entertaining everyone though. Only trouble is that mommy has a really hard time getting out of the house before 12... okay, lately, it has been more like 2! What will happen when I am finally left to tackle it all alone???

I haven't been in too many pics (I may regret this later) so here's one to share.

The weekend was spent finishing up some last minute Christmas shopping and taking mom to the pottery store. Her gift from all of us kids for Christmas. It is local pottery that she fell in love with in June. I can't blame her, Shaye and I picked some up for ourselves this weekend as well!

This is Madelyn after she is done eating ;-)

Dad arrived safely on Monday and was-is very tired. The jet lag and time difference grabbed him a little harder than he thought it would. He is a trooper though, napping between conversations and outings. We took him to Lavenham to check out some unique architecture as you'll see in some of the photos. He wasn't very willing to pose for them though!

I made him do a phone booth picture:

First, how was it made...

OK, I'll humor her!

Checkin' out the crazy crooked houses of Lavenham.

What a couple!

Madelyn is growing out of some clothes and I have had to put a few away. This is both sad and exciting. I like my cuddles and her small, but want to see her grow and continue to develop. By the way, she is very sociable with her smiles and I'm trying really hard to capture this on video for you, but she gets a little distracted with the video camera becoming more interested in it and limiting the smiles/ conversation once it appears!

Well, I really don't know much this week, but we hope that you are all with lots of friends and family and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas this year. We hope you are all as blessed as we feel and wish you a very Merry Christmas.

A few photos to close out the blog - just because mommy thinks she is SO cute. Guess maybe someone else should write this since I have a hard time limiting my post pictures! Enjoy!

Adorable and getting so Big!

Our love to you all: S,J,M, & D

5 1/2 weeks :)

Okay, so we're a little late with this post...

The computer is up and running again (for now). My computer is being fixed as we speak and will hopfully be back to us by the new year and then Shaye's can be sent off for its solution. Darn technology - so great and yet so frustrating at times!

Madelyn loves laying under the Christmas tree.

Where did we leave off?


Well, after taking Jessica back to the airport - I got to have a full five days without extra help, and 3 of those days I was flying solo as Shaye was sent to work in Germany. Those of course were the days that Madelyn chose to be a pill. Cried every time I put her down ( I blame Auntie for this ;). Wonder how she'll be when Grandma and Grandpa leave? I guess people don't know what they are talking about when they say "you can't spoil a baby!" Okay, she is not spoiled, just really loved - but how can mommy continue this love and the cleaning, laundry, cooking, and not to mention blog updates? You know you would all be super disappointed!



Last week, Shaye gave Madelyn her first bottle (breastmilk of course)! She took to it really well. It is a little quicker than she is used to, but after the first couple of minutes, she seems to get the hang of it. This has been a nice bonding experience for Daddy and Maddy and allows Mommy to do other things from time to time.

Mom flew in on Friday, Shaye was still out of country, and my friend Erica and her daughter Sophia came with to keep me company (and tend to Madelyn in the car "just in case"). Everyone did great and Maddy slept the whole time. Mom was excited to meet Madelyn and got her first reminder of baby changing as Maddy peed while the diaper was off allowing her to get a new outfit!

Friday night we took Mom to Shaye's work Christmas party. We had some good food at a local pub and got to pop crackers (a tradition here in England, I'll explain it more with our Christmas posting). Inside are the crowns that you'll see in the pictures below. Mom brought Madelyn a BEAUTIFUL Christmas dress and she was adorable. Somehow we managed to take only pictures while she was being held. Not to worry, this dress will be back on for Christmas and we will get a proper photo so that the dress may be seen in all its glory!








On Saturday, we promptly put mom to work making Christmas goodies at a friend's house so we could thank everyone who made us dinner the week after Madelyn arrived! Sunday, I took some time away from home to finish the Christmas plates and volunteer gift wrapping for a group I belong to. Mom and Shaye were left with milk and held down the fort.

Making caramels.

Maddy enjoyed her corner of the kitchen. No, it is not a dog bed (we were asked!)

We have had a pretty slow week, but I still can't manage to get much done or out of the house before noon! Hopefully I figure this out eventually...

Madelyn is sleeping better, but then as I say that, we will probably have another "off" night. She is becoming more routine and giving me 3 hours between feeds. She is also getting the hang of 'eat- sleep', 'eat-sleep', and I am happily spending about 30 minutes in her room. Before she would 'eat-party -sleep' and it would take me 1 to 1 1/2 hours to get her back to bed.

After a bath...

Madelyn got to take her first bath in water this week too. We have been putting her on a net that floats above the water, but she really enjoyed having her bottom in it for a change. She is so good with baths!




To give you a better idea of how Maddy looks...
Tuesday, we took Madelyn to my old school to meet some friends. At one stop, I was asked, "Is her father Italian or what?" Another friend went on and on about how beautiful her skin is. "What beautiful olive skin she has!" Thankfully, she doesn't appear to have Mommy's color and although Daddy is whiter than ever (since living in England), it looks as though Madelyn will take after him and tan nicely over burning like a lobster!

This is the outfit she was wearing for all her skin compliments!

Wednesday we spent the day at Cadbury world. Erica and Sophia joined us again for a day of chocolate - YUMMY! We had a nice tour, lot of samples, some shopping, and Sophie even got a little play time in the cold! I only got confused twice with the carriageways, but thankfully Tom Tom got us back on route and we made it there and back successfully!

Part of the tour was darker with lights in the trees and some loud music playing (see the picture below). Madelyn was snoozing off and on and once we walked through the doors to this area, she gave us the greatest look... Well, you'll just have to check it out below... priceless I think!

Erica and Sophia on part of the tour.



She stayed like this during the whole "forest walk" :)

Daisy is doing well with Maddy too. She always checks in the car seat when we get home to see that she is still there and when I'm not in the room, she promptly takes her place next to the baby (I guess she realizes she must be pretty special!). Although, she is not up and down all night with me anymore, she will often stroll into her room to see that she is still in her crib, especially if Madelyn goes to bed before Daisy! What a pair :)

Daisy babysitting while I was in the kitchen.

Always trying to catch Madelyn's smiles for the camera.

Hope you are all well - and I'll be back Monday after we pick Grandpa up from the airport!



Loves, Jody et. al.

ONE MONTH OLD!!

Well, it is official! I am one month old! A lot has happened in the last month. I think my mom and dad (well my mom for sure) are tired and wish I would sleep a little bit more. I have a few good nights but for the most part I am a party animal and love lots of attention around 3 am!!

This is me at 3AM with my auntie--who else wants to hang out with us?

During the day I have become a huge fan of the Christmas tree, my swing, and I take lots of naps! Guess I might sleep more at night if I didn't take so many naps, but 3AM parties are sooo fun!!

Great spot for a nap!

Last week was fun. I hung out with my mom and dad's friends and my auntie. However, I had to say goodbye to my auntie on Saturday! Wow was she a mess. You'd think we were never going to see each other again! She took a lot of pictures of me while she was here, so I think she will be ok.

Mommy, daddy and me at Neil and Rachel's

I get to meet my grandma on Friday morning. Mom says we have to leave home at like 5 AM to get to grandma so she doesn't have to hang out at the airport. I wonder if grandma will take a nap with me that day? Later that night we have my daddy's Christmas party. It will be fun to see all of the people he works with again.

I will spend a little time with my grandma, and then my grandpa is going to come on a big plane across the ocean. Dad says that grandpa isn't so excited about the flight, but guess what...? His big tough heart is going to melt when he sees me! Mom says we will all spend my first Christmas together. I can't wait, this whole Santa thing sounds great!

Well I do have some bad news...my auntie took my mommy's computer back to the states to get it fixed (it has been broken for awhile). Then after she left--daddy's computer broke!! There is no way for mommy to upload new pictures of me and update the blog-- (my auntie had to do this) until the computers are fixed. Mommy might need to borrow a friends computer someday! So to all of my faithful fans, hang in there. I will keep growing and being cute. So stand by and the updates will return as soon as possible. In the meantime, Daisy and I will just hang out!

With all my love Madelyn, (Jody, Shaye and Daisy)