Little Pumpkin

What is Halloween without a pumpkin picture or two? (Many thanks to our friend Stacy who knitted this hat.) Luckily we had a farm right down the street from us where we could walk around in the mud and find a few to take home. We may have been premature about teething, no teeth yet but Madelyn sure does love to chew on things now, preferable your finger or part of your hand while she drools all over the place. No new noises this week, we are still trying to get her to giggle more for us, but what can you do to a three month old to make her laugh?

Her latest trick has been to learn how to splash Mommy while in the tub. She used to kick her feet but has now figured out that it's more fun to pump her arms and splash everybody within three feet of her, including herself. She knows how to swap a toy to her other hand. If I place her toy keys in her right hand she will slowly transfer them to her left before she really shakes all around. Perhaps the best part of all of this is just watching her change, she'll settle into a routine one week and as fast as you figure things out she has changed again. She is almost double her birth weight, weighing it at ~15 lbs now. We'll have costume pictures for the next post. My pictures seem to be improving as I get more familiar with the new camera, I still only get about a 5% keeper rate. We took about 80 pictures at the farm and came up with about 5 good shots. Thank goodness for digital cameras :)

New Videos

Two new videos have been added. Click on the links or the bottom two video's on the left side of this page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAtOHatOMJU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UajAgD99Dgc

First Giggles and Teething

Madelyn continues to surprise us every day. She giggled for the first time this week, seems to be teething and is learning how to roll over onto her back. This is how our week has gone, Mom spends all day feeding, cleaning, comforting and playing with her until she's almost ready to pass out. Dad comes home and takes over, Mom leaves the room for a break, Madelyn does something new for Dad and Mom misses it.

Needless to say this is frustrating for Mom and endlessly fascinating for Dad. Last night I blew a Zurbert on her stomach and cried when she looked back at me and giggled, Mom caught a few but she stopped giggling after a few rounds. I don't think there is a sweeter sound than than the laughter of your child or any child for that matter. The same thing happened on Tuesday night when Dad egged Madelyn on to roll over onto her back. Luckily she has since put in a repeat performance for Mom.

Teething also has started this week, but that's not as much fun as the giggles. Basically she will try to chew on anything in sight and drool, man does she like to drool. Yet again something else they failed to mention to us in parenting class. We can't see any teeth yet but they must be getting ready to pop.

She is sleeping most nights from 9:00ish until about 7 or 8 the following morning, because of this the daytime feedings and routine are in flux. It seems like just when you get her or the routine figured out she changes on you.

Life with the harness has been ok, she gets it off in two weeks on Nov the 5th, yippie!!

Fall Pictures

We finally went to the park today and got a picture taken with the three of us, thanks to the Leatys for getting us out and to Karin for finding a place with some great fall color.

New Sounds

Madelyn has continuing to make new sounds this week to her Mothers delight. They seem to change day by day and provide us with endless amounts of entertainment. Tummy time seems to be getting easier but it's still not her favorite activity. She can recognize us fairly well and will kick her legs when she notices Mom or Dad is around. She also likes to smile at her Memere , Pepere or any of our friends or neighbors who happen to be around. Sitting up in the Bumbo helps to give her a new perspective but she's still aways away from doing so on her own. Simon our cat still does not know what to make of this little women yet, but finds her hat a fun play toy.

Three Month

Well time seems to just be flying by, has it really been this long since we brought her home from the hospital? She weighs in at 14lbs now and we already miss the days where we could hold her in our arms for hours on end. Now it more like 15 minutes or so and the thought of, "man your getting heavy kiddo I have to put you down." New tricks and sounds are coming on a daily basis now. First she loves to kick when she's out of her harness at night, it's like she needs to get in her full days supply of exercise in that time. Life with the harness has gotten easier after the first week with it. 5 more weeks to go, we just remind ourselves every day that it's only temporary.

She can also grasp your finger and squeeze it with all of her might or hang on to a toy and wave it all over the place as if to say "look what I can do!" Sometimes her thumb will make it to her mouth but she does not seem too interested in sucking on it unless she is hungry. 2-3 times a day she will coo and make a few noises at you and wait for your response. If she deems it favorable she'll blow a few spit bubbles for you or make some other odd sound and hope that you react to it.

Sleep has thankfully become much better, she slept 8 hours a few nights this week but her normal routine is a 9ish bedtime and a 2-3am wakeup for a snack and then back to sleep until 7 or 8 the next morning. It's not perfect but it sure beats the 2-3 times a night feeding in the beginning.

She is also more into people and will react to Karin and I when one of us comes home. Zurberts and kisses on the cheek always seem to draw out the smile that melts our hearts every time. Yes she loves giggles but we have not heard any from her yet.