Madelyn: 8 weeks old...

Madelyn Joy is 8 weeks old!  She is living up to her name and is really such a joy!  She is definitely the happiest baby of the three.  As of right now, she seems like the most laid back and she definitely goes with the flow.

Maddy is quick to give smiles and coos when she's talked to.  She is our smiliest baby yet!  She is happiest when being held and prefers to be held facing out so she can see everything going on.  She also really enjoys the sling and usually falls right to sleep once I put her in. 

Here is a sweet video of Maddy talking to me yesterday.

Maddy continues to experience lots of new things and "firsts".  Last week she took her first vacation, first visit to the ocean and first dip in the pool.  She was such a great traveler!

Happy 8 weeks to our sweet, happy girl!


Maddy's Newborn Pictures

We had Madelyn's newborn pictures taken when she was 4 days old.  The pictures turned out pretty good overall, despite a couple uncooperative toddlers.  Maddy did great though and it's so crazy to see how much she's changed already!

 

Here are some of our favorite pictures.

 



Madelyn: 6 Weeks Old...

Madelyn Joy, you are 6 weeks old!  Where is the time going?!

 

I'm finding that weekly updates, as I tried to do for your sisters, may not always be feasible this time around.  Your sisters are keeping me busy and on the go and you have reach the stage where you constantly want to be held!

 

You are quickly moving out of the newborn stage and every day I see less and less of "newborn" in you.  This is definitely sad for me and I'm trying to cherish every moment knowing you're our last baby. 

You have solid awake times now that range anywhere for an hour to 2 hours at a time (sometimes more if you are really fighting sleep).  You seem to be having some difficulty sleeping lately.  You prefer to nap/sleep in our arms and you usually wake up the minute we lay you down.  The past few nights have been pretty rough as you were up quite a bit.  We're hoping this is only a stage or growth spurt and you go back to waking only twice a night.

 

You are now in size 1 diapers.  You are still wearing newborn clothes, but having moved into a few size 0-3 month clothes and sleepers.  You are definitely filling out and we hear often how chubby your cheeks are and how round your face is getting.  Unfortunately, you have been hit pretty hard with baby acne.  Your face starting breaking out last Wednesday and it seems to have gotten worse in the past few days.  It doesn't seem to bother you and we hope it goes away quickly!

You are nursing on average every 2 to 3 hours.  You are a great eater, but you do spit up often.  You tend to prefer to "snack" throughout the day, so it sometimes feels like you're always eating!  You are really starting to smile and I tend to get the best smiles out of you in the morning when you first wake up.  You are also starting to coo/gurgle and respond when we talk to you.

 

Your sisters are still enjoying you and ask often to hold, kiss and hug you.  They love it when you are awake and often ask to see "your eyes".  It's so cute to hear them talk to you in their (even more so) high pitched voices.  You are such a trooper and really tolerate them well...especially when they are noisy and poking you all over.

 

 

This past weekend you got to meet (and see) more family members at Connor's 2nd Birthday Party.  Here are a few pictures of you with Great Grandma and Grandpa Zurcher and your proud, big cousin, Elli.  Unfortunately, I missed a picture opportunity with you and your Great Aunt Carla.

 

This girl needs (another) baby brother or sister.  She loves cousin Maddy.

 

 Happy 6 weeks to our sweet, Maddycakes!


Random...

Just a post with some random information for documentation sake.

 

*  Avery has been calling me "Moms" lately.  As in, "Here you go, Moms." or "Thanks, Moms."  It cracks me up everytime she says it.

 

*  Ever since Kens took swim lessons, the girls play "swim lessons" at home.  Complete with kicks on the kickboard, bobs on the side of the ottoman, jumps, high fives and even wrapping up little sis in a towel/blanket after lessons.  It's hilarious and Avery follows every word Kens tells her.

 

*  In an effort to sleep a bit later in the mornings, we got a small clock for Kensley's room.  She's not allowed to get up/come get us until her clock says 7 am.  She can read books or play quietly in her room if she wakes up before (also go to the potty if needed).  Jeremy placed a notecard with the number "7" on it next to her clock to remind her what it looks like.  My dad went in yesterday morning to get Kens just a few minutes before 8 am.  He told her that it was 7 and she was allowed to get up.  She quickly informed him that it wasn't time yet because the number on the clock (which was a 7) didn't look like the "7" in daddy's drawing.  The 7 on her clock has an extra line..like this one..7.  We got quite the kick out of the misunderstanding.  Kens is definitely our little rule follower and is very focused on details.

 

*  Here are a few pictures of Madelyn's nursery.  It's been done for a while, but I never posted pictures since her name was up on the wall.

 



Madelyn: 1 Month Old...

Madelyn Joy is 1 month old!

It's hard to believe she's been with us for a month already!  Her looks have changed so much in a month!  We hear a lot that she looks like big sisters and I have to agree.  I definitely see lots of similarities between them all.  She has acquired several nicknames: Maddy, Maddycakes, Cakes, Cakers, Mads.

 

As with most little ones, she loves to be held.  She, however, is usually content hanging out in her swing or boppy pillow as long as she can see or hear the commotion around her.  She sleeps the majority of time we are out running errands, etc. When she is awake though, she prefers to be out of her carseat. I've been wearing her in my sling quite often when we go on walks, to the park, etc. and she seems to love it.

 

Her sisters are still smitten with her and Maddy tolerates the hugs, kisses, and the general roughness pretty well.  She is pretty go with the flow and usually only gets upset when she's hungry or is getting her diaper changed.  She's still only had a few baths, but seems as though she's starting to enjoy them. 

 

She is still wearing newborn clothes and diapers.  She's quickly growing out of her newborn sleepers and before long, we'll be breaking out her 0-3 month sleepers (and clothes!).

 

We don't really have any sort of eating or sleeping schedule.  Maddy is nursing about every 2-3 hours during the day and sometimes stretches out her feedings to 3-4 hours at night (we have gotten a few 5 hour stretches at night).  She is starting to take after big sis, Avery, as she spits up quite a bit.  The doctor isn't concerned as it doesn't seem to hurt her as reflux would.

We had her 1 month appointment today and she did great.  No shots today and the doc was especially pleased with her weight gain.  Here are her stats:

Weight: 9 pounds 1 oz (48%)
Height: 20 inches (19%)
Head: 14 inches (20%)

And now for her monthly photo shoot.  I can already tell these will be interesting as I have lots of helpers!

 

Happy 1 month birthday, sweet Madelyn!

Lately...

This is sort of a random post with lots of pictures catching up on the past few weeks.  Maddy is 4 weeks old today and it's so hard to believe the weeks are flying by so quickly (detailed post of her first month to come later this week).

Here's what all we've been up to.  Warning...there are lots of pictures, but I guess that happens when you have three kids to photograph!

Pumped about her first swim lesson.  We've been doing swim lessons at the local high school.  There are 8 lessons over a two week span...she is loving them!

Boat ride!

Funny face

Just looking sweet

Morning snuggles

Swimming in the lake

Looking adorable in her new outfit...thanks Dawn!

Aves being goofy at the pool

Kisses for Maddy

More kisses for Maddy

Two weeks old!

Sleepy smiles

A day shy of 3 weeks old

Nana, Ashley and the kiddos came to visit last week and the girls were thrilled to see them!

This little one is filling out (she's already outgrown these pj's!)

Playing with chapstick and trying to stay entertained at sissy's swim lessons.

She's clearly not amused by all the pictures.

Already getting dressed up by big sisters.

Aves was feeding her babies through her "tummy"

Morning at the beach (by our house)

Tummy time!

Loves to "hode" her

Napping while big sisters play at the park

Look at those kissable cheeks!

A selfie with my three girls!

 Also during the past few weeks, Jeremy and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary.  We celebrated with an afternoon/night out shopping and eating at the Melting Pot.  Maddy joined us once again, but this might be one of her last "date nights" with us.  She's entering the stage of wanting to be held a lot and is not as happy hanging out in her carseat for long periods of time.  We certainly have had a lot happen in the past 7 years!