Maddie's First Shots

Well, we all survived the pediatricians visit yesterday with just a few tears and a bit of really red faced screaming. The visit started off poorly due to the fact that we got there an hour and fifteen minutes too early because I missed a voicemail asking me to bring Maddie in at 10 instead of 9. So by the time Maddie could see the doctor she was already over it and getting cranky before anyone even started examining her. I dont blame her though, who wants to be stripped down to their undies and poked and prodded by some stranger, poor girl. The doctor examined her and said we have a perfectly healthy little girl. She weighs 12.5 pounds which is on the large size (80 percentile) and is 23.5 inches long which is longer than average (75 percentile). I think my suspicions were right, I have been over feeding her! The doctor didnt seem concerned so neither am I but I am going to try to breast feed more and lay off on the formula a bit. So after the exam came the shots, oh it hurt my heart to hear her scream like that. My eyes welled up with tears but I didnt cry. The baby books say I have to practice being tough so that my fear doesnt "rub off" on her. Luckily Daniel was there to hold and comfort her. She got a shot in each thigh and an oral vaccine, to my surprise she really hated the oral vaccine. I guess because it was very cold and had to be administered in six doses. She screamed so loud and made the worse face, I suspect that it probably tasted pretty yucky too. One good thing about the doctors visit was that Madeline successfully sucked her thumb for the first time there. I was so happy. Up until the doctors appointment she had been able to get it in her mouth but hadnt really been able to keep it there and suck on it for an extended time. I have really been wanting her to suck her thumb so that she could learn to self soothe. I dont really like pacifiers although there have been a few moments of frustration where we have offered her one, but she really doesnt take to it so I have my fingers crossed that she will be a thumbsucker. Some people advise against thumb sucking but it seems to naturally soothe their urge to suck and I think it may help me to stop overfeeding her:) Unfortunately it must have been just the stress of the doctors office that caused her to suck her thumb because she hasnt been able to successfully do it since. Oh well I am sure it will happen in time.
When we went to the doctors office we were feeling particularly festive so we dressed her in her Christmas onsie which was a gift from Uncle Dwayne and Aunt Roberta in Oregon. I think it is so cute, it has reindeer on her feet and on her bum.


Here she is "waving" and smiling in her Christmas onsie, see those shots werent too bad!

Her little reindeer feet.

Speaking of Christmas, we put up our first Christmas tree. This is Maddie's first tree and the first tree I have had since I was four years old. At first I didnt really care if we put up a tree or not, but now I love it! I want to keep it up all year round. It a bit sparse on the trimmings but I suppose we will build that up in the coming years.

The weather outside is frightful...

..and Maddie turned 2 months old today! We all survived, yeah! It was so cold outside today and now it has started to snow which is quite exciting around here because this part of Virginia very rarely sees snow. Daniel and I decided to brave the cold and take Maddie to Target, I didnt really want to take her out since it was so cold but it was nice getting out of the house for once. I have been feeling a little stir crazy. Anyway, our little rascal is getting so big! She is really developing a little personality, laughing and smiling at her silly parents. She really loves it in particular when we sing to her. She has some favorite songs, such as "The Wrong Band" by Tori Amos, Owl City's "Fireflies" and the Pixies "Gigantic". I sing these and she kicks her feet and coos. Its so cute. She is also getting really good at holding her head up. Monday Maddie has an appointment to see the pediatrician. I have been totally dreading it. SHe is getting her first set of shots. Oh I just know its going to break my heart to see her get them. I asked Daniel to take some time off of work to go with me. I hate it when Cooper gets his shots, so I just know I am going to be a nervous wreck when Maddie gets hers. I hate to sound like a paranoid freak but I just dont trust the safety of all the preservatives that the food, drug and cosmetic industries are using. I just dont think they should be putting Mercury in shots given to children but thats just my opinion. Anyway, thats a rant that I wont start this evening. We will also find out how much she weighs. She is becoming quite the butterball, I am a bit worried that she has gained a larger amount than normal but we will see. So here are some pics of Maddie in her car seat with her snow suit on getting ready to brave the cold and go to Target.

Bath Time

I just had to post these cute pics of Madeline that I took after her bath. Both of us are learning that bath time isnt that bad.

Getting into the groove

Madeline sleeping in her favorite spot, on my chest.

I cant believe Madeline is already 7 weeks old. Even in that short time she has changed so much. She is more alert and stays awake a little longer now. She is also getting better at holding up her head and pushing up on her arms. And when she opens her mouth it is no longer just to let out a little raspy cry, she now has started to coo a bit. Motherhood at first was quite overwhelming but now I feel like I am getting into the groove. Its basically a routine of diaper change, eat, sleep and repeat. Of course there are other things to do in between such as wash bottles (I am doing a combination of breastfeeding and formula, who knew breastfeeding would turn out to be so difficult) and various other things but everything takes second fiddle to Madeline. One thing is for certain, I feel that I have become more responsible in the last 7 weeks than I had ever been in the past thirty-something years. Its crazy how much everything changes when a baby comes into the picture. I no longer live for me, I live for her. Instead of thinking that I want to eat healthy because I want to lose weight and look good, I think that I want to eat healthy so that eventually I can set a good example for my daughter and so I can live longer for her. Life now seems so much more precious than it did in the past.


Madeline's first bath.

Well, although I think that I am comfortably getting into the groove of motherhood, there are still a few things that elude me. Such as how to time the diaper change just right so as not to put a brand new diaper on Maddie before she has had time to finish pooping in the previous diaper. That never ends well. She either soils the brand new diaper that I just put on her or finishes the deed on the changing table. The latter is always my personal favorite. Another task that is giving me a run for my money is bathing the poor kid. As an adult getting into the bathtub is an everyday harmless event, but to an infant, its like risking life and limb. There are too many perils. What if she could gets too cold? What if I accidently drop her? I dont want to drown her. The water could be too hot or too cold. And of course as I am bathing her and worrying about all of these scenarios, it doesnt help that she is screaming bloody murder, making the situation all that worse. Luckily for me, Daniel has the nerves of steel and has bravely stepped up to the plate to be the bather, for now. I will get over my fear soon I am sure.