Our Family during February

 During this month...




Todd helped craved the pot roast on Valentines Day.

Maddie Jane continues to love baths.  As she grows, her kicks are getting some pretty big splashes.

We stopped at Scheels to see this new store.  The topical fish aquarium was really neat as well as the stuffed animals. 

We want to go back to ride the Ferris Wheel.

Madelyn showed Great Grandma Fuller how well she eats as well as is learning how to feed herself.

She is a great help with the kitchen utensils. Today, she learned how to drum using a measure cup and cool whip bowl.

Madelyn learned how to wave on the 22nd, while visiting Grandma and Papa last weekend.  She uses both her fingers and wrist when she does it. 

Six Months with Maddie

Madelyn has grown so much the past six months.
Her growth chart:
1 Day:       7 lbs 3 oz       19 inches
2 Weeks:   7 lbs 14 oz     21 inches (we think the nurse over did it a little)
2 Months:  11 lbs 6 oz     23.5 inches
4 Months:  13 lbs 7 oz     25.5 inches 
6 Months:  15 lbs 9 oz     26.25 inches

David's Birthday Party

 I have really enjoyed having David live so close while he is attending BYU.  It's so much to have him just come over for dinner or to visit and relax.  We are grateful that he is willing to babysit for us too.  Madelyn loves her Uncle David.  Probably because every time he comes over, he just wants to snuggle with her.

For David's birthday, we hosted David, Michael, Ta, Alden, and Calvin for a Sunday dinner.

David requested chicken pot pie and chocolate ice cream cake.

We sang Happy Birthday and enjoyed the cake.  Alden really liked to sing to him.  Also, afterwards, Alden amazed us as he recited the Preamble, the Pledge of Alliance, nursery rhymes, etc. Both Calvin and Alden are so cute!

We will miss him as he graduates, attends the Jerusalem Study Abroad as well as moves to Texas for grad school, but are so excited for him!

Valentine's Day

This year, I wanted to enjoy Valentine's Day celebrating all types of love.  Madelyn sent out special Valentines to the people she loves.  She even got a few herself!

At the beginning of February, Maddie and I started our 14 Days of Valentines for Todd.  Each day we hid a love note and sometimes a small treat that goes with it.  By the end of it, I had changed Todd's less than exciting view of Valentines Day and he now is excited for next year!

My favorite thing about this day is that I enjoy how there is a special day to tell the people you love, whether it is a spouse, child, sister, brother, parent, grandparent, or friend that you are thinking of them.  I feel sometimes we know we love these special people in our lives but sometimes forget to take a moment and let them know how much you care about them. 

On the actually 14th Valentine's Day, we had a pancake breakfast together as a family and a pot roast for dinner.  Todd so sweetly surprised me with a lovely rose and chocolates on my pillow.  Also, he hid 14 small notes of what he appreciates about me or loves about me throughout the house.  I found them everywhere---on top of the laundry detergent box, on the kitchen plate, stuck to the milk, under the baby wipes, etc. 





  This year, we are so happy and blessed to have Madelyn in our family to love dearly.

Mohawk Maddie

 

Madelyn's hair is getting long enough to do something with it...well, a mohawk is not necessarily "doing hair", but it helps to mix the days up a little.  To make it more feminine, I coined the hairstyle a "lady hawk". 

Todd has discovered that when he whistles, it always makes Madelyn smile. 

So he tried it out as she was falling asleep.

 

Sitting up has been the latest skill that this little one has mastered.  She enjoys being able to see her toys now to play with them better.

Madelyn has learned how to blow.  Before she could blow bubbles, but now she sticks two fingers in her mouth and blows.  Will she be a good whistler or maybe play an instrument?  Also, she is babbling and making new sounds.  The race is on to see if she will say "Da Da" or "Ma Ma" first. 

 As we enter the 6 month stage, we put away the 3 month clothing and brought out the new wardrobe.  If only we all had a complete new set of clothing every three months.

Todd made a comment the other day, which I loved.  He was talking about how Madelyn's cheeks are so chubby, saying "These things are bullet proof."

The discovery of toes keeps Madelyn entertained.  She loves to grab them and if they are covered by socks, she will do everything she can to remove the socks to get to these little toes.  I believe she looks forward to the warm months when she can go barefoot. 

Madelyn's First Meal

This past Wednesday, Madelyn tasted her first food---rice cereal.   

I gave the first few spoonfuls and Todd took a turn.

I say "tasted" because I doubt really any of it was truly eaten.  I think we were more excited for her first meal than she was, but she was a good sport and is learning how to eat.

Circus in Town

The circus was in town and what a treat to go as a family! We loved having Ta, Alden, and Calvin enjoy the tigers, tight rope walkers, jugglers, etc. with us.

It was Madelyn's first experience like this and mostly enjoyed the lights.

During the intermission, we walked down to get closer to the animals.

Glad we had Alden and Calvin as the kids who could actually enjoy seeing the performances.

During Madelyn's 5th Month

As January has been extra cold this year and sickness has been going around, we have stayed inside most of the month.  Thankfully Maddie got lots of new toys during Christmas time to keep her happy.  She loves the sheep that migrated all the way from England given to her from Grandpa and Grandma Shurtz.

During this month, Maddie Jane has been practicing sitting up.  She has tipped over quite a bit.

But is still so smiley!

Another favorite thing that she loves to do is grab the blanket and try to pull it over her face.  I guess she loves the game Peek-a-boo. 

Daddy will say "Pull-up", and she goes from sitting to standing.  She loves to stand while you hold her hands.

I guess being inside all day with one person somehow creates an attachment, because Madelyn is at the stage that when Todd is holding her and she sees me, she starts to fuss and wants her Mommy.

Laundry day is Madelyn's favorite because while we fold the laundry together, Madelyn loves the games we play.  She tries to grab at the clothes to hold them.  Also, she loves the feeling when the sheets just barely tickle her nose.  She giggles and smiles.  I know I always loved the sheet game growing up too.

 Sometime within the past few weeks, Maddie has found her voice.  She loves to be very vocal and say "Ahhhh" as loud and  as long as she can.  (Many of you have heard it as we have chatted on the phone, it's just Maddie's way of getting into the conversation.) 

 Todd enjoys playing ball with her.  We are grateful to Great Grandma Fuller for giving us this pink princess ball.  I never thought I would see the day that Todd is playing with a pink ball.  

 Some of the nights have been COLD.  The lowest we saw was -1 degree.  We bundled Madelyn up and she wore several layers to bed.  Despite the cold, Maddie has been sleeping great during the night.  We got a Baby Einstein Sea Dream Soother from Grandma and Papa Fisher for Christmas.  It helps her just peacefully fall asleep.  Lately, Madelyn sleeps 9 pm and wakes up around 7:30am. 

 To start training Maddie Jane young, she continues to practice the piano each day.  She gets so excited when we turn a song from the song bank on and she is mesmerized that she is playing so well already.

Lastly, Madelyn continues to love to snuggle.  There is nothing better than to snuggle up on a cold morning with Daddy in the bathrobes under blankets and eat breakfast together.