6 Weeks Old~

Madalyn is getting so big! I weighed her this morning after a bath and she was 11 pounds, 3 ounces. Im not sure how long she is, but she is definitely a big girl! She is getting to be very good at holding her head up on her own and is always looking around to see whats going on. This past week she slept through the night for eight hours one night, and for six hours on two other nights so I certainly cant complain about not getting enough sleep. She smiles all of the time and had the cutest dimple in her left cheek, which we assume she gets from her Uncle Ben.

5 weeks old

Surfing on her "tummy time" surfboard!


Catching a wave!


Bathtime with Mommy


She's floating!


Naked baby...

Im so proud!

I never thought the smallest things would make me so incredibly happy. Really. But today Madalyn played with her (I mean Savannah's borrowed) playmat for quite some time. Since Peyton had destroyed several of the toys that go with it, we had to make our own with linkable letters. Gigi had given her some little rattles in her Easter basket so I attached those... and Madalyn worked very hard to be able to wiggle enough so she could swat at the rattle with her fists. She was so happy when she got it to make noise... and after watching her try this and finally accomplish it, I was so incredibly proud. She is getting so big! If Im this excited over this... imagine how it will be when she rolls over or crawls or walks or talks!

Madalyn's first month

House Slideshow

Really one month...

Almost a smile!

She's so big!

She's one month old!
Thanks to Jenna for the correction. Today is Madalyn's one month birthday, not Sunday. That was her 4 week birthday. So today she is officially one month old. And what a busy day she had... we went to Lowes yet again to buy the "big stuff" for our house. She loves her Baby Bjorn when Mommy wears it... she just rests her head on my chest and naps while we shop. We ordered all the wood and drywall to replace the walls that we knocked down, as well as 2 kitchen cabinents. We cant afford to do the entire kitchen yet, so we bought the base for the sink and the corner, which has a built in lazy susan which makes it very useful for storing appliances and baking dishes. Just those were almost $400! They are white and will look great when they countertop is done (we are using a deep blue tile with white grout) We also bought our trim for around the baseboards in Madalyn's room and the office. It was an expensive day, but I am really looking forward to seeing it all put together.

Nana Swanson babysat again yesterday so I could work on the office a little bit.... the walls are finished except for one part where the drywall will be replaced. Ben and Shawn are finishing the plumbing there tonight, and when the wood and drywall is delivered we should be able to start moving a little faster.

One month ago today....

It is so hard to believe that one month ago today our little angel was born. This month has passed so quickly, and as my mom is so quick to remind me that all fly by like this. Madalyn has grown up so much in this past month. Now she is able to look at us and recognize who we are and will smile and coo at us. It is the most amazing feeling to be able to hold her in my arms and know that she is my flesh and blood.

Madalyn has many hours of being awake, and is so scared to miss anything. She really only likes her crib at night, probably because during the day Mommy and Daddy are up and doing stuff and she is missing out. She will nap in her swing quite happily and often opens her eyes to peek and make sure we are still here. Its funny because I am the magic "OFF" button... no matter why she is crying if I pick her up she will burrow her head into my shoulder and the cries will immediately turn to wimpers. She is such a Mama's girl (just like me) We have a great time together. I never expected that motherhood would come this naturally for me, but it seems to be the thing that I was put on Earth to do.

This past two weeks we spent traveling... Mom and Dad's for ten days, and then to Jenna's house on our way back home. Savannah seemed very interested in her "baby" and liked to share all of her toys with her, even though Madalyn didnt seem too interested.

Today we weighed her... right after she ate so it wasnt accurate... but she weighed 10 3/4 pounds. So she is most likely about 10 1/4 pounds... what a big girl! She probably grew at least an inch while we were out of town.... she actually outgrew several of her pairs of pyjamas.

Nana and Papa Swanson babysat her for three hours today while we went to the house and did some work. I had to stop myself from wanting to keep calling to check up on her! Turns out we hadnt even pulled out of the driveway before she spit up all over Nana. They gave her 2 bottles of breastmilk I had pumped and she took them like a champ. But she cried the entire time we were gone.... luckily they love her or she might have scared off her babysitters! (Maybe that was her intent... so Mommy and Daddy wouldnt leave anymore!) When we got home she wouldnt let me put her down until about an hour ago when she finally fell asleep and could go in her crib. Its ten at night... so I had to do my homework while holding her. She didnt even want her Daddy... how in the world am I going to be able to leave her to go back to work? :)

I have at least 4 more weeks of mandatory maternity leave before my doctor will let me go back to work.
More updates later....

3 Weeks Old

Home

There is something so refreshing about the familiarness of home. I realized that tonight as we sat outside and Shawn swam in the pool... and I caught a whiff of the same scent of night blooming flowers that I have been smelling for the past 18 years. And it reminded me of all of the nights before now that I have enjoyed the serenity of a night outside on our dock. The windows of the houses across the lake still make the same patterns on the still water. And the sound of the crickets and the occasional fish jumping are now the same. I love being home.... and I love it even more now that we are able to come here with our daughter.

We came home last Monday to stay for a few days, and that has turned into a week... and we are stil here. It is nice, being home with Mom and Dad and relaxing. I cant remember the last time I was here this long.... and I am certian it will be quite some time before Shawn and I will both be off together to make this trip. It is nice to be able to be here, somewhere I am completely comfortable, and share this family time with Madalyn.

She turned 3 weeks old on Sunday, and what a difference from when she was born! She is so bright eyed now... and it is very apparant that she can recognize faces and voices. She will turn her head when she hears her Daddy talking and whenever I hold her and talk to her she gets the most beautiful smile on her face. It makes me melt. Earlier today we were "playing", which mostly entails me talking to her and kissing her... and she looked at me and her face lit up in the biggest smile.... it was so amazing. She is such a blessing!