Micah's 3rd Birthday!

Our baby boy turns three in the morning! How is that possible?!? We started our celebration early with a stay at the Anaheim Marriott and Disneyland! We checked in to the hotel on Sunday and had a fun and chilly afternoon swimming in the pool before walking to the Garden Walk for a yummy dinner at PF Chang's-they have a surprisingly tasty vegan selection!  Micah's favorite parts of the hotel were the phone (not sure how many times he got through to a real person but he kept saying-"I am talking to the guy!"  and the balcony where he could watch everyone in the pool.We all cuddled up in the hotel room (so sweet...one of those "burn in your brain memories") and woke up early to spend the day at Disneyland. We had so much fun and got to do so much! When we first got there it wasn't too busy and the weather was nice and cool so we were able to do a lot right away before it got busy. We did the Redwood Creek Trail, the Little Mermaid, the Zephyr, King Triton's carousel, Toy Story, a couple rides in Bug's Life (including the Ladybug Boogie which was Micah's favorite!), a cute interactive show with the Crusher the turtle from Finding Nemo, saw a band performance, the Dumbo ride, King Arthur's carousel, and the Tiki room! When Mama & Micah were on the Ladybug ride they giggled non-stop and Micah wanted to go on it again immediately. He was soooo brave! He didn't bat an eye at the rides flying in the air an spinning. He loved the Little Mermaid Ride and we were stoked we got on when the line was so short! Micah got his birthday button and had a special birthday song sung to him by the entire children's room! We decorated the downstairs with balloons, streamers, and other decorations for Micah to come down to in the morning.

We've noticed that Micah's brain has definitely been through a developmental leap as his thinking and speaking has grown increasingly complex over the last two weeks. Today he had us dying laughing by saying things like "I am a man" or in response to us trying to get him to leave the hotel "BUT I am celebrating my BIRTHDAY!!!," He is also telling very long, adorable stories and isn't afraid to tell his opinion to anyone who will listen. He is also quite the skilled negotiator.

At Micah's 3 year check-up he was in the 68th percentile for height and weight!

Madelyn 6 Month Update

Maddy gives big belly laughs when you give her light tickles, kiss her belly, or do something she deems funny. Micah is still number one but Mama gets her fair share of giggles these days too. She is still as happy and as laid back as can be but is moving more. She is sitting on her own for small periods of time in her little play nest, rolling onto her back and playing when she is supposed to be napping, and chewing on everything. On March 14th she had her first real food...avocado! We gave her a few slices in her tray to play with and she pushed them around a bit and then Mama gave her some mushed up on a spoon. The first few bites were huge hits she kept pulling the spoon back to her mouth and leaning in for more but then she was over it and started making funny little "yuck" faces and spitting it back out. Her tummy and diapers seemed a bit off after so we decided to hold off a couple more weeks before introducing anything else but she is definitely interested in everything we eat and drink an reaches for it every time. She is talking more and more when she in play mode but is still most likely just hanging out observing while sucking on her little fingers. She so rarely cries but when she does she MEANS it! Everybody loves to say hi to her because once they make eye contact she delights them with her big, bright smile. One of our favorite moments is when she wakes up from a nap and we go into get her. She will be laying tummy down with her face sideways on the mattress and as soon as we open the door she gets this huge adorable smile on her face before she even lift her head to look at us. We sometimes feel guilty that she doesn't get more individual attention (like all second children) but we noticed that when she does get attention when Micah is not around she is happy and playful for a few minutes but then seems bored like "where is that funny little guy I like to watch?"

She is talking and babbling more, and every so often, letting out a funny high pitched scream. When she gets excited she squeals and bounces! She loves to play hide and seek just like Micah did at this age it's so funny she literally does the exact same thing...pulls a lovey or blanket over face and then excitedly shakes her legs and arms until we or she pulls the blanket off and she has a giant smile on her face. Or we will say "uh oh where is Maddy?" and she peeks out. So cute.

4/5 Maddy had her 6 month check up today and is still a little peanut in the height department! 25 inches 13th percentile! he is 15.8 lbs in the 45th percentile! She has now tried avocado, banana, green beans, sweet potatoes, and peas. Her faves were definitely sweet potato and peas, she kept saying "mmmmmm" over and over again an leaning in with an open mouth for her next bite. SO CUTE!!!

5 Months

Maddy cakes is still as smiley and happy as ever. She is very laid back and is quite content with whatever we are doing, so long as she can suck on her two favorite fingers. She smiles at everyone and radiate joys, but NOBODY can make her laugh like Micah. She has only ever let out a full on belly laugh for him. He does goofy little dances and songs and she thinks it's the funniest thing in the world. Her favorite thing to do is watch him. She loves when we sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider," "Hello to Maddy," and "You Are My Sunshine." She still wakes up about a million times a night, but naps so easily during the day that we can't complain. Today (3/11/17) she had her first beach day and stuck her little toes in the ocean. It was a cold day and she shivered a bit when her feet hit the water, but had a huge smile on her face.

She talks, coos, and shrieks and has a very loud voice-we love to hear what she has to say! She loves tummy raspberries and kisses and giggles every time. She is super ticklish!

4 month update

1/22 Maddy rolled from her tummy to her back-and we missed it! Mama turned her back for one minute to set up the breast pump! Maddy has been very laid back & happy lately, she loves to make eye contact and smile and is content as long as she is in arms. She has gotten better at sitting in the car seat and is falling asleep on her own in the crib! We are shocked by this behavior and hoping it continues!

Maddy LOVES to make eye contact and gives the biggest, brightest smiles you have ever seen. She has the cutest giggle and loves to get kisses. She screams in the funniest little way (for joy) and sounds alternately like a baby elephant or a pterodactyl. We just can't get enough of her sweet personality. She falls asleep on her own if she is put down in her crib sleepy but mama can't help but nurse and rock her anyway. She is calm and content as can be as long as she is in arms.

At her 4 month well baby check she weighed in at 13 lbs 8.5 oz (32nd percentile) and was 24.5 inches long (46th percentile).

4 months

2/8 Maddy cakes has found her toes and just LOVES playing with them! She is reaching for and grabbing her toys and bringing them to her mouth.  Still loves to smile and giggle, cuddle and kiss. Loves watching Micah but is smart enough to look a bit alarmed when he gets too close. 😂 keeps me up All. Night. Love her to pieces anyway!

3 months

This girl is the sweetest. She just can't help but give you a huge, all encompassing smile if you look at her. She just melts our hearts. She also has a coy little look away where she smiles at you but then immediately covers her face with her hands and turns away. 

Poor baby caught the bug that has incapacitated our whole family this last week (since Christmas Eve) and it has been heartbreaking and terrifying to watch her have a stuffy nose, cough, and fever. We have all been so sick but she is so little and it seems so scary.

She is grasping toys and bringing things to her mouth. We think she may be teething already! She still loves to watch Micah and smile at him.  She giggles now if you give her kisses on her neck, belly, or cheeks-so cute! Still hates the car seat with a fierce passion and will tolerate being put down away from us for only a short period. She loves face-to-face interactions best and will talk and tell stories to mama for several minutes. 

Two and a half month update

Maddy is our happy, smiley girl! If you catch her eyes and give her a smile or talk to her, her entire face lights up and she gives you the sweetest, biggest grin you can imagine. She brings so much joy to our family! She LOVES to stare at her big brother Micah and gives him the biggest smiles of all. She literally follows him around the room with her eyes. Micah is always asking about the baby, where is the baby? Is she hungry? She needs a diaper change-I will help! Although he is definitely struggling with some big feelings about this huge transition in our lives, he is very sweet about his baby sister-he always makes sure she is taken care of. If she cries while mommy or daddy are changing her clothes or diapers he demands that we "STOP that" and lets us know "she doesn't like that!" Having two kids is SO HARD but it's also so wonderful and we feel very blessed and grateful.

She is sleeping pretty well for us at the beginning of the night and takes one long nap and several mini naps everyday. She is also already learning to self-soothe and puts herself back to sleep sometimes by sucking on her little fist (thank you sweet girl-we appreciate it)! She is cooing at us and talking (when we call it talking Micah likes to remind us that she cannot talk and is "still learning"). She always wants to see what is happening around her and turns her head toward whoever is talking. She is startled by loud noises and screams her little heart out (daddy ripping tape off of a package, big brother playing the drums, etc.). She loves to be naked, poops about 27 times a day, hates to get her nails trimmed, enjoys her bath, and loves her night time routine baby massages. She loves to nurse, nurse, nurse, and has grown, grown, grown. At her two month well-baby check-up she hadn't grown lengthwise AT ALL but had gained over two lbs! (21.7 inches long in the 13th percentile and 11 lbs 6 oz in the 47th percentile!) Daddy lovingly refers to her as his little tree stump! She has the cutest little cheeks and baby rolls-we just love every inch of her!