Madison Ashley: 9 Months

Happy 9 months, Madison!!

-You weigh 19.2 pounds and are 26.5 inches long. You are a little over fiftieth percentile for weight and only twelfth percentile for height (I think you are going to be petite like your Mama)! 

-Still in size 3 diapers

-All 9 and some 12 month clothing and mostly 12 month pajamas. You still have tiny feet; size 1 shoes barely fit you.

-7 ounces of formula in the morning and evening and 5 ounces of formula during your two middle of the day feedings. You have reduced your amount recently because you are eating a good bit more table food and more food pouches. You generally want 3-4 food pouches during the day.

-You have tried a ton of table foods but still have not quite mastered the pincer grip. You still manage to get some of the food in your mouth!

-Still going to bed around 7:30pm sleep continuously until we get you up around 6:30 am. We are so spoiled in that we just plop you in your crib and you put yourself to sleep. You hardly ever cry as you seem to find your crib very soothing….even in the mornings, we will hear you chatting, but you don’t cry.

-Latest nicknames: bug de love, little one, Madison (French Accent), puddin pop, pudding, Bug, Wee One.

-I think the very beginnings of separation anxiety are starting. You do not get super upset yet; but are aware when we drop you off at school in the mornings that we are leaving you. You will turn to look at us and just this morning, you starting crawling towards me a bit frantically when you realized that we were about to leave you.

-You are soo happy to see us when we pick you up in the afternoons from school and we LOVE that! You make this anxious excited sound when you see us and want us to pick you up immediately.

-You seem to have a bit of a preference for Mama right now and I have to admit I love it. Don’t get me wrong, you love your Daddy; however, you will reach for me soon after being handed over to Daddy and you seem to cling to me a lot more lately. Makes me feel special.

-You are now starting to use the “proper” crawling stance as apparently what you were doing previously was still technically a really fast army crawl. That appears to be about to change.

-You now have two teeth!

-You love to walk assisted. We have a lot of fun with this! 

-You can say Mama and Dada and it seems to me that you now understand what these words mean.

-You are a pro at going from crawling to sitting and any other position you choose.

-You are pulling up and can stand for a good duration of time. You are still working on sitting down once you have pulled up. You get scared and start crying when you get tired of standing. It is so cute. 

-You are so active these days, that taking pictures, changing your diaper, or anything that involves you being still for more than a second is becoming increasingly difficult...you are just so busy and curious!

-You have graduated to the big girl tub in the past month (no longer need your baby bathtub). You love playing in the water, blowing bubbles and seem to really love the water! We can't wait to take you to the pool/beach this summer!

- I need to start planning your first birthday party! Agh!

I cannot believe in three short months you will be one! We love you, bug! 

 

Madison Ashley: 8 Months

Madison Ashley: 8 Months

Happy 8 months, Madison!! Where does the time go!?

-You weigh 17.8 pounds

-Still in size 3 diapers

-Mostly 9 month clothing and all 9 month pajamas; starting 12 month pajamas soon!

-7 ounces of formula every 4 hours

-You have really picked up on the number of ounces of baby food you eat at each siting. You used to take some but lost interest fairly quickly. Recently you will finish an entire pouch most meals! 

-Started table foods per your school's recommendation. You have tried: mixed veggies, cheese, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and a bunch of others. You LOVE puffs and have pretty mastered picking them up and putting them in your mouth. 

-Still going to bed between 7:30 (generally 7:30 pm) and 8:30 pm and sleep continuously until we get you up around 7 am.

-Latest nicknames: bug de love, little one, Madison (French Accent), puddin pop, puddin...so many nicknames...poor child will be confused once she starts understanding!

-You like to make a lot of weird noises!? Kind of like you are possessed (sorry, no other good way to describe the sounds). You are obviously learning all of the ways you can use your voice! 

-We are starting to see a lot more of your really sweet personality. You smile and "shriek" a lot when you see Mommy, Daddy and of course Bella. You are also putting vowels and consonants together (I.e baba, dada, mama...etc). 

-I think we have baby-proofed everything at this point; least I hope so! You are starting to crawl faster. I look away for a second and you will have moved a good distance when I look back! 

-You got your first tooth this month! It is three quarters of the way in now.

-You are starting to pull up all the time now and initiating taking several steps with us holding your hands. It's crazy to think you may be walking in a few months! 

-You can now go from crawling back to sitting and vice versa with ease. 

 -You are content playing with yourself for longer periods of time these days which is AMAZING (for Mama that is)!

We love you, bug! 

Madison Ashley: 7 Months

Madison Ashley: 7 Months

I am lucky if I make it to your one year with these month to month updates as late as I am posting each month; however, I will continue because it is so important to me to document your first year!!

-We are not sure how much you weigh exactly; however when you had a sick appointment recently, you weighed 17 pounds, so that should be pretty accurate, not sure how long you are, you have definitely grown some.

-Size 3 diapers

-Size 6 month clothing, some 9 month clothing and all 9 month pajamas

-Still taking 7-8 ounces of formula every 4   hours

-Are well into solids. You love oatmeal cereal and almost all of the fruit/veggie combos we have given you thus far. You have oatmeal cereal in the morning and a fruit/veggie blend in the afternoon. You keep eying my food and I think you may be ready for finger food in the next month or so? I need to start making you solids more chunky!

-Still going to bed between 7:30 and 8:30 pm and sleep continuously until we get you up around 7 am.

-Latest nicknames: bug de love, little one, Madison (French Accent), puddin pop, puddin...so many nicknames...poor child will be confused once she starts understanding!

-You are just starting to put vowels and consonants together (a lot of da da da da da and ga ga ga ga...)!

-Every once in awhile you let me rock you or soothe you to sleep and I savor ever minute of it. 

-Sitting up is old hat to you bow; it makes doing everything so much more fun.

-We are starting to see a lot more of your really sweet personality. You smile and "shriek" a lot when you see Mommy, Daddy and of course Bella. We LOVE it!!

-I need to start babyproofing everything!! You are starting to crawl faster. I look away for a second and you will have moved a good distance when I look back! Your crawl is still more of an army crawl; you haven't quite mastered the leg portion. 

-You still love anything crinkly. You especially loved wrapping paper and bows this month.

-You still have no teeth; I am thinking soon!? 

Madison, we love you so much and can't believe how quickly you are growing and changing! 

We love you, bug! 

Madison Ashley: 6 Months

It is the 29th of November (14 days past your half birthday)! Honestly, you are just so much fun these days, that I just didn't want to spend time writing an update. This month with you has been the absolute best!!

At your 6 month well visit you weighed 16.2 pounds and are 25 inches long. I think the length is right; but cannot remember for sure as it has been so long since your 6 month appointment!

-Size 3 diapers

-Size 6 month clothing, some 9 month and mostly 9 month pajamas

-Still taking 7-8 ounces of formula every 4   hours

-Are well into solids. You love oatmeal cereal and almost all of the fruit/veggie combos we have given you thus far. You have oatmeal cereal in the morning and a fruit/veggie blend in the afternoon.

-Still going to bed between 7:30 and 8:30 pm and sleep continuously until we get you up around 7 am

-Sadly, a month or so ago you decided that you do not like to be rocked to sleep anymore. If I try to rock you, you cry and get fussy. You much prefer for me to out you in your crib and you almost always put yourself to sleep. Such a big girl!

-Are sitting up really well now; it is so nice to be able to plop you down and you can play with your toys for awhile by yourself

-You have started looking up at me when I am holding you and you generally get this big smile on your face when you make eye contact with me...it makes me melt

-You also love to make eye contact and engage with us only to smile and immediately hide on our arm like you are bashful; so cute

-Got baptized this month at Milden Presbyterian Church in Sharps, VA, where a number of people in you Daddy's family have been baptized, married, etc...it was really special! Your Godparents, Brooke and Michael and their son, William made the trek for the event as well!!

-Helped with the special surprise I gave Daddy for our anniversary,  a Yeti cooler (see picture below)!!

-Had your first Halloween. You were a strawberry. You loved picking up candy out of my co-worker's bowls at work for our Trick or Treat. You had so much fun!

-Began army crawling the past week or so. I have a feeling we are going to have one very mobile baby very soon!

-Are extremely talkative lately....you become more vocal all the time!

-Love anything crinkly. EX: at your 6 month appointment, you love the paper on the examining table and loved patting it repeatedly to hear the sound it made

Madison, we love you so much and can't believe how quickly you are growing and changing! 

We love you, bug! 

Madison Ashley: 5 Months

You were such a little wiggle worm during your 5 month pictures, that these will have to suffice! Better luck next month! :)

Sorry Madison, I am a few days late with your 5 month post for several reasons:

1) Either you are experiencing a growth spurt, 4 month sleep regression, teething or all of the above so needless to say our lack of sleep these past ten days or so has made it difficult to find the energy to blog. :(

2) You were baptized today (October 18th) at Milden Presbyterian Church in Sharps, VA and thus were in Virginia all weekend for the big event. 

-You had your first pumpkin patch experience and loved touching the pumpkins (you are really into touch these days). You also seemed to enjoy the hayride and just stared contentedly at the scenery the whole ride.

Update: On 10/21 you began sleeping through the night again (our definition is 10-12 hours of continuous sleep)! We are so relieved and happy to have our good sleeper back!!

5 month stats: 

-Weigh approximately 15 pounds (not sure how long you are)

-Still in size 2 diapers (but almost ready for size 3)

-Still can wear some 3-6 month clothing; but filling out most 6 month clothing now

-Are finally able to wear some of the baby moccasins I bought you. You have very small feet!

-Take anywhere from 6-8 ounces half breastmilk/formula every 4 hours generally

-Started you on oatmeal cereal at 4.5 months and after two feeding attempts began to LOVE it! We have been trying to feed you oatmeal cereal twice daily now

-Started you on several solids in the past week and so far you really like apple and sweet potato. I am excited to see what other foods you enjoy.

- I plan to pull out my Baby Brezza this weekend and start putting my culinary skills to work (ha...we will see how it goes)

-Are sitting up and have been for about 2 weeks now. You are still a bit wobbly and can only do it for about 10 minutes at a time; but you are getting better at it.

-This is really nothing new; however, I have to mention how smiley you are most of the time and how much you love to giggle. Oh your giggles are the BEST!

Madison, I know I say this every month, but you are the best thing that ever happened to Mommy and Daddy and we are constantly overwhelmed by the amount of love we have for you! Happy 5 months!

Madison Ashley: 4 Months

Stats:

-Weighs 13 pounds 13 ounces per her doctor on 9/15 (42nd percentile)

-Are 24.25 inches (42nd percentile)

-Are in size 2 diapers and mostly 3-6 month clothing; you can just now fit it newborn size shoes (you have Mommy's small feet)

-Bedtime is around 8pm and you sleep continuously until we wake you around 7 am 

-Eating approximately 7.5 ounces of breastmilk every 4 hours during the day

Since last month you:

-Got to meet your new little bestie, William Baker Mazhari! You don't know it yet, but you are going to be forced to be friends! 

-Are giggling. I think you did a little bit of this at 3 months, but it is so much more now!

-Are smiling so much more every day. It is so obvious that you recognize your Mommy and Daddy with your smiles

-Started at school on August 24th and the first day was really tough for both of us; however, after day one you have done really really well. You seem to really like your teachers and they always tell us you are one of the happiest/easiest babies they have ever had! Makes me feel much better knowing that you are not crying your head off at school all day. I continuously check my email waiting for that picture or two from your school....I love seeing your sweet, smiling face!!

-You already were pretty vocal; however, this past month you have taken it to a whole new level. No Mama of Dada yet, but you seem to be getting pretty close!

- You try to sit up on your own but can't quite do it yet. I think it will happen in the next month or so.

-Continue to LOVE your exersaucer and now LOVE your Kick n Play Gym. You can batt/grab the toys and enjoy the attached mirror. 

-You can now grab toys and have an interest in them. Your favorite toy is the Manhattan  Winkel Rattle. 

-Are currently experiencing your first cold.  I hate seeing you sick, but you have been such a trooper and still sleep through the night (even sick).

-Can roll from your back to your side easily and can roll from your tummy to your back. 

-Our current nicknames for you: love bug, bug de love, Madisoon (with a French accent...I don't know)! 

Madison, I didn't think it was possible, but we love you even more than we did previously. You are the greatest joy that I have ever known. I can't wait for the many firsts we will have with you this fall/winter!! Happy 4 months sweetheart!! 

Madison Ashley: 3 Months

I cannot believe that just like that you are already 3 months! Where has the time gone? In some ways it seems like you have always been with us and in others, like you have just gotten here!

 

3 month stats: 

-You do not have your next doctor’s appointment until 4 months, so we are not quite certain how much you weigh. We believe that you weigh around 13 pounds, maybe a bit more.  

-You take a bottle with 7-8 ounces of breastmilk every 4 hours (woo!) which makes life so much easier for us now that we only feed you every 4 hours. You are a bit of a slow eater (always have been) taking anywhere from 20-35 minutes to finish your bottle.

-You are still in 0-3 month clothing and size one diapers but it appears that you will be in 3-6 month clothing and size 2 diapers here very soon.

-Sleep: You generally go to bed around 8:30 pm and sleep continuously in your crib until we wake you at 7 am. You eliminated night time feedings long ago and we are so thankful for that! You are the best sleeper and we are so thankful! During the day you have 2-3 naps varying in duration, but generally anywhere from 1-2 hours each. The last nap of the day is kind of spotty and we anticipate you dropping this nap at some point in the future.

 

Highlights:

-You went to the pool for the first time a week ago. You seemed to enjoy sleeping on Daddy’s chest and dipping your feet in the pool. We sat you down in maybe several inches of the water and this didn’t seem to phase you in the least. Maybe next time we will let you put your hands in the water..ha!?

-You rolled over for the first time (from tummy to back) at 12 weeks! You hadn’t rolled over since until 5 days later when you did it again!

-You smile all the time now. It is our favorite. You are such a happy baby!

-You giggled for the first time {I think} several weeks ago! You have done it a number of times since.

-You "talk" to us all the time now by cooing and seem so insistent on trying to communicate with us as much as you can. Your Daddy and I love having these five minute "conversations" with you where we mimic what you say and smile at one another. We never get enough of this.

-You are still loving your exersaucer, tummy time (for 10 minutes usually), and your play gym. 

-Speaking of tummy time, you are getting so strong and can lift your head and neck for an extended period of time a that you can see things around you. 

-You are very interested in both black and white and color images/patterns. You especially love the pink stripes on your Milk Snob car seat cover. 

-You are starting to be interested in mirrors (see picture below) specifically your own face.

Happy 3 months Madison! We are so happy that you are ours, sweetheart!