3 Weeks

Really? Madelyn has been here for 3 weeks already? Maybe it just feels like one big day due to the sleep deprivation...

My hair is so fluffy when I get out of the bath!

Jess boxing Jim on the Wii at Thanksgiving.

Okay, since we last posted - Happy Thanksgiving! Hopefully everyone had a wonderful holiday filled with friends, family, and great food! We spent Maddy's first Thanksgiving with some great friends - a group of 10 of us at Clint and Alicia's house (the couple Shaye and I went to Italy with). We had all the fixings and the best dessert - 6 pies and Grandma's pumpkin ice cream to share between us! Madelyn also got her first real look at television. The boys were watching a movie (in the dark) and I went to check on Maddy to see her completely "zoned out" on the big screen! Even the flash from the camera couldn't phase her!

Movie time!

Wow - must have been some good entertainment.

Before we started our afternoon with friends, we made a trip to Bury St. Edmunds to register Madelyn and get her British birth certificate. The first of many steps to get her officially registered in both countries....

Official UK Resident!

Friday was spent getting out of the house (it took till 1:00 p.m.) and walking around the Christmas Market in Bury. We enjoyed checking out some crafts and of course bought ourselves some honey roasted nuts and candies! We got rained on, but liked it all the same.

Madelyn didn't like bundling up.

Saturday we took the opportunity of some nicer weather and took Madelyn to her first castle! It was also Aunt Jessie's first castle ruin (she's been to the Queen's castle before) and they both seemed to enjoy themselves. Maddy slept and Jess took lots of pictures! We also took some time out for a great meal at the local pub (another first for Maddy) and stopped by the coast to take a peak at the North Sea.

Castle Rising Castle

Time for a sister pose!

Shaye and Maddy taking the tour.

Madelyn and Jess at the Pub.

Jess on the beach - North Sea.

The rest of the weekend was nice and relaxing. Jess helped put up the Christmas decorations and we spent the evening eating junk food and watching football. Madelyn absolutely LOVES the Christmas tree and spent a large part of the day gazing up at the lights. Monday was errand day and Maddy was snug in her car seat while we ran from base to base getting a few "essentials."

I close now with a video of Ms. Madelyn taking her favorite vitamins. She makes a lot of the same noises she makes when she eats, although the facial expressions are reserved especially for the vitamins! It's a little long, but hopefully you'll enjoy some more live footage.

All our love,

S, J, M, and D.

My Doctor Visit

This is when I'm "milk drunk"

Nice and full and fighting to stay awake!

Today I got to meet a really nice doctor. She told me that I now weigh 7 pounds 11 ounces ... almost a pound more than my birth weight! I am now 20.5 inches long (1 inch longer) and they measured my head, 34.5 cm (2.5 cm bigger than birth). Apparently this is all good news and I am doing very well.

Mommy just Loves this face too much and is always trying to catch it on camera!

Mommy also got to ask the doctor lots of questions...


She told the doctor that I am really noisy when I eat and called me a piggy... they said I'm normal. :)


She asked about my belly button (part of my cord hasn't come off yet)... they told her to try drying it out with alcohol, but that it looks good and just needs to heal some more.


She also asked about my breathing because she thinks I breathe too fast... this is normal too.


I think she just worries WAY too much!


Auntie was really good and only asked to see where I plot on the growth chart... 25% for weight and head, 50% for height.


Oh, they also gave me the first of my Hep B shots today. It hurt a little, but I was brave and the nice man gave me a pink Hello Kitty band-aide! What really hurt was the mean man in the lab. They had to take blood from my heal and he wasn't very good... it took 20 minutes and I screamed through the Whole thing. Daddy tried to comfort me, but he wasn't getting poked with the needle!

This is me after my long day (the hat was made by one of my Auntie's friends)

After all that, I slept for a solid 3 1/2 hours uninterrupted. Mommy says she got lots of errands done during that time. After we got home, I ate and passed out again - this is when Auntie and Mommy decided to finish some arts and crafts. Auntie taped my fingers together and they smashed my hand in ink and put my hand print on a picture. As you can see, I didn't care and Daddy said it looks cute!

Speaking of crafts, the other night they decided to get my footprint. This did not go nearly as well as the hand and I screamed during the process. The ink was MUCH more slimy and I was not sleeping during it. I was allowed to recover in the bath though and I really enjoy having my hair washed.

I think the past weekend, okay day, was really busy and am ready for bed tonight (well, Mommy hopes I sleep well) The doctor also told her I was normal at night too!


We'll see what tomorrow brings...

Love to you all,

Maddy (Mommy, Daddy, and Daisy)

2 Weeks

"Auntie caught my smile"

Wow, Madelyn has already been with us for 2 weeks. I do believe the 12 weeks I have off is going to fly by and before I know it, she will be walking and talking! We go to the doctor tomorrow for our check-up and I will post more then, but wanted to get a few pics up today for all of those dedicated fans waiting to see more pictures ;-)

"My new blanket made by Great Grandma O. "

Jessica joined us on Saturday for a two week visit. Maddy handled her first trip to the airport rather well - although we were a bit late and Auntie was starting to worry. To our defense, she landed early and Customs took 2 hours for mom in June - apparently Jess flew through it in minutes. We also found Auntie to be sick with a nasty cold. She has amused us with her hand washing, hand sanitizer, and blue mask (see photo). Guess it is good to have an Aunt in the medical field when she's sick and visiting an infant.

"Guess we needed a nap"

Today, we went to Shaye's shop for a potluck. It was a small gathering, but nice to catch up with everyone and they all enjoyed some "Maddy time". We spent most of the weekend recovering from sleepless nights and Jess being jet-lagged, but hopefully will do something exciting for a least a couple of the days that she is here.

Aside from getting the house ready for Jess, a few visits and dinners from friends, the rest of the week was pretty quiet. I am learning to deal with a lack of sleep and Shaye is getting along at work with his inspection going really well for him last week.

We have discovered that Madelyn loves her hands up by her face!

We believe she may be saying, "woe is me" or "what are they doing now?"

I personally feel it shows her dramatic side :-)

That is all for now, will give you more tomorrow after our check-up. Guess how much I will weigh!!

All our love,

Jody, Shaye, Madelyn, and Daisy

1 Week Old

I'm going to try to follow my dear friend Sarah's lead and update the blog at least once a week for all those interested. What better day to start than on Madelyn's 1 week bday ;)


Events of our first week at home:

Friday we went to a doctor's appointment. As soon as we got there, Maddy decided it was time to eat and I got to test my skills at nursing in public. I think we both handled it rather well! :) The nurse we saw is confident that the jaundice seems to be under control. She said that with as well as Maddy is eating and the diapers we are getting, it will take care of itself. We also found out that Madelyn weighed in at 6 pounds, 10 ounces - almost 3 ounces more than when we left the hospital Wednesday - the nurse was quite impressed. Guess it will be interesting to see what she weighs at the 2 week appointment.

Even my Newborn clothes are still big on me!

Maddy and Daisy went for their first walk together on Friday since the weather was so nice. Okay, neither one of them really seemed to know or care, but we documented it anyway! Shaye got to try out our new carrier and Madelyn slept through the entire thing. May be one of few outdoor experiences she gets for a while as winter seems to be descending on us faster than usual lately.

Saturday we went to base for the bazaar they were having. We spent about an hour and Maddy had lots of onlookers (the spouse's club that I belong to put the bazaar on). By Saturday evening, I decided that I have been a bit too active and need to take it a bit easier for a while.

Daddy fixed my hair... that should explain the face!

Today, Maddy made a trip to work to finish up some reports for upcoming IEP's that I was working on. I had asked Madelyn to come anytime after Monday (the 10th) because I was confident that all the paperwork would have been done that day - but - she had her own agenda and I'm sure no one at work minded holding her while I finished up!

Aside from the sleep schedule, Madelyn seems to be taking to the world rather well. She is eating well and Shaye and I have gotten to experience several of our first diaper "incidents" in the last couple of days :) Maddy has shown us the ways of projectile poo, and peeing on cue when the diaper comes off. We are learning though!! I have also found myself calling Maddy my little mouse - she makes a lot of really cute noises and "squeaks", especially when she sleeps ;)

This is one of mommy's favorite faces!

Well, the rest of the week is on reserve for some R & R. The long nights and erratic sleep schedule is finally catching up with me. Madelyn and I are going to take it easy around the house and get ready for Aunt Jessie's visit this Saturday.

I'm closing with a video of Madelyn and a typical "awake"moment for her. May not be very exciting at this point, but I figured the Grandma's would enjoy any 'live' feed they could get!

Until next time - all our love,
Jody, Shaye, Madelyn, and Daisy