Maddie Calls the Police

Sunday evening, Maddie was sitting on the floor playing with the phone. She loves to play with the phone, the remote, the computer, etc. She's a little tech geek. Usually I unplug the phone when she plays with it so she doesn't mistakenly call someone but I forgot to Sunday. As I worked on some correcting, the telephone rang. I looked at our little miss, thinking that perhaps she just pressed the ringer adjust. I picked the phone up and instinctively said, "Hello?" A voice on the other end said, "This is the Ashburnham Police Department. Is everything ok?" I blushed and said, "Yes," and went into an explanation about what happened. "Well, we're going to send somebody out to be sure." "Alright, I'll look for him." Ten minutes later a cruiser pulled up to the house and an officer came to the door. We let him in and I explained what happened, all of us having a good laugh over it.
In other news, Maddie has developed another new talent that kept us all very entertained over Thanksgiving. We call the new move "Fish Lips." Check out the videos (she cries at the end of the second one...).

Maddie's New Talent

Maddie treated Shara and I at dinner tonight with a wonderful serenade, a sample of which is demonstrated here in this video recorded the other night during her rehearsal.

Maddie the Duck...or Chicken.

So, Halloween has come and gone. It's Shara's favorite holiday. She went as a Physician's-Assistant-on-Her-Day-Off. I went as an Exhausted- 2nd-Grade-Teacher-Because-it-was-Halloween-and-the-Kids-were-Nuts. Maddie went as Duck or a Chicken, I can't decide. That's your job. Regardless, she was damn cute.

So I've left Brian to do most of the blogging lately.  I thought it should be my turn.  

We can't believe summer is drawing to a close.  Brian has started his new job.  He is teaching second grade at the Page Hilltop Elementary School in Ayer and seems to really enjoy it.  Maddie is with Grammie Jane three days a week when I have to work. From what I can tell they seem to be having a fabulous time together.  

We have enjoyed the multiple babyfests and barbeques over the past 3 months.  It has been really nice to see everyone and we are happy to be back home where we know we'll be able to catch up more often.  There is the picture you asked for Trish.  Sorry to all whom I promised this 2 months ago.

Little Friend

"Little Friend"
Minor Threat

Madeleine's New Developmental Stage

Maddie crawled for the first time yesterday, after weeks and weeks of eager anticipation on the parts of both parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and interested friends.
The question is: what pushed our little nugget over "Not Crawling Yet" Cliff into "Holy Crap! She's Crawling" Chasm? Was it her favorite stuffed animal? Was it a bottle of milk or perhaps her favorite food? Was it the prospect of excited praise from both parents? Watch the video and find out!
P.S. This is the second time she crawled and each time it was for the same thing. I think she looks like an AT-AT!

Arrrrrrrrrr! Part 2

For those with no imagination...









(One of these photos has not been doctored. You decide which.)

Arrrrrrrrrr!

Shara's new job gives her four days off to spend with the baby and me. She takes Maddie down to the beach for a swim and out for a run. I do the same when Shara's not here. I've promised Shara I won't let Maddie start crawling until Shara's around to see it. And her hair just keeps getting longer and longer. I swear it's longer today than it was yesterday. P.S. I picked out the barrettes!



Here are some photos of a possessed Maddie in the bathtub. You wouldn't be far off to think she just bit the head off one of her rubber duckies.

Been a while...

Wow. I thought I'd pop a new post on here because I knew we hadn't posted for a while and I can'tbelieve it's been almost 2 months. FYI: if some words aren't spaced properly it's becauseMaddie ripped the spacebar off the laptop last week. She's developed a love for banging on the keyboard. We try to keep her away because I don't think that's covered by Apple Care.
Anyway, it's been a busy couple of months. Shara's been steady with her job and I (sadly) finished up in Belfast. I'm still looking for a job--anybody know anybody?--in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. I had an interview last week but didn't get the position. We're settling in to the house pretty okay. It's strange for me to be at my grandparents' house without them beinghere and running into people that I knew when I was a kid.
We moved 98% of our stuff down to Massachusetts. Some of it's here at our place, some is at Shara's parents, someat mine, some at my Aunt and Uncle's, and a tiny bit still at the house. We've got some new tenants renting the whole house and we just switched to a new real estate agent. Fingers are crossed. Here's a picture of the empty living room and dining room. Don't those floors look great? You, yes, you could own this place!
Maddie is (can you believe it?) still exciting. She's not crawling yet but any day now she should be. She's sitting up really well and can pull herself up onher own if we hold her hands. Today she started babbling like crazy. I'll try and post a video as soon as I get one because typing it out isn't as cute: "bah, bah, bah,bah, bah." Shara and I are happy she has a new vocalization in her repertoire because we were getting pretty tired of The Shriek!


Here's Maddie and her friend CM using Photo Booth on the laptop.









We went to the beach last week and every morning when we woke up we found Maddie all ready to go catch some SPF50 rays.

Mad(di)e in the Shade(s)

When you wake up in the morning and the light is hurt your head
The first thing you do when you get up out of bed
Is hit that street a-runnin' and try to beat the masses
And go get yourself some cheap sunglasses...

Thanks to Mimi and Popi for the sunglasses :)






Grammy and Grumpy--just kidding--came up this weekend for a visit. Relax...Grumpy didn't give Maddie any beer, she just found the bottle very interesting.












Spring is definitely here and summer is soon to follow. The nice weather has drawn us out of our winter den to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather we've been having. An easy fix for a fussy baby is some fresh air.

Here's a video of Maddie talking to her Mom and me. As you can hear, Maddie had a very eventful day and was very excited to share it with us.

Hats

Mimi and Maddie

I was out of commission 2 weeks ago following a minor surgical procedure and my Mom came up to help Bri and I with the baby.  We got this shot of Mimi and Maddie and thought we'd share.

Nice Weather is Here

Bri and I have finally had the opportunity to get outside with Maddie.  We went to Lucia beach last weekend, and walked the breakwater in Rockland yesterday. 

 We've been doing yard work while keeping our fingers crossed that the house will sell.

 

 There have been a number of people out walking in the neighborhood, and it would seem that several have stopped to comment on our 'For Sale' sign.  Brian thinks they were commenting on the condition of our house instead :(

Maddie's hair is now long enough for barettes!! 

Mimi and Popi Visit

Giggles

A couple of nights ago I plopped Maddie on my knee while Shara and I finished dinner.  Much to our surprise and delight she began giggling--Maddie, not Shara--which made Shara giggle and then Maddie, then Shara, then Maddie, then me, then Shara, then Maddie, then Shara, then Maddie, and then Shara again.  We didn't risk going for the camera but just enjoyed the moment.

Well, tonight Shara and I were finishing dinner again and I plopped Maddie down on my knee again and guess what?  More giggles!  Shara went and got the camera and we taped Maddie's laughs.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.  Who knows what she finds so funny--maybe Shara had something in her teeth.

Hair!

Hi there...Brian here. Last night I gave Madeleine her bath and decided to have fun with her hair when she got out. What you see is the result.

Shara didn't think it was funny but she let me keep it like this. I figure we might as well have fun with it now.

In the morning, Shara wet it and brushed it down. She didn't want Jamie at Day Care thinking she would send Maddie out in public like this. I think it looked worse better before. Sadly, I don't have a picture of it, Just enjoy these.

This photo was taken the other night after her bath. I didn't try and style her hair. This is just how it set itself. Madeleine is becoming interested in mirrors. Here we are having fun making faces.

Not ALWAYS smiling...

Baby's first cold. :(

and


Somebody doesn't like their Rainforest Jumperoo as much as her Daddy does...

So we made it through week one of daycare. The baby has a slight cold but still wakes up every morning with a smile.

I've included some pictures of Brooke and her beau, Wyatt. The two of them have made a huge effort to keep in touch with Bri and I over these past few months as we try to adjust to life with baby. Brookie you are amazing with kids. I can't wait until you are a mom too. Wyatt pay no attention - yet.....

Going Back to Work

My maternity leave is all but over and I am desperately trying to savor the last few moments I have with Maddie before returning to a busy call schedule. I have successfully nursed her over the past two and a half months during which time she did demonstrate the ability to take a bottle. Now however, she utterly refuses. Brian and I have tried just about everything and we are at our wit's end. To boot, Maddie is no longer sleeping through the night. I think she senses change on the horizon. Any recommendations from other moms out there would be more than appreciated.

Babyfest

So Trish, Erin, and I all got our babies together last week. Trish, Erin, Sydney, and Ciara trecked up to Maine - an eight hour journey round trip. We celebrated Syd's birthday a bit early with a cake only I could make ;). It tasted good, but was lopsided after being exposed to a warm oven.

Bri and Syd escaped the babyfest and spent an hour or so at Planet Toys. Syd got an electronic destiny device which, if I remember correctly, told us we would all be broke.

Ciara seemed to enjoy the Rainforest Jumperoo (pictured here). It is still too big for Madeleine, but it won't be long.

Thanks for coming up you guys!!

Let's Get Physical

Brian wanted me to post this picture of Madeleine impersonating Olivia Newton John. He actually wanted the song playing in the background but my computer skills are not that good. So sorry.

Smiles!

Shara and I are considering re-titling our blog. Any ideas for a name? I suggested "Holy Crap We Have a Baby!" and Shara had nothing to contribute.

The 80s are Back Baby!!!!!!

Brian here, taking a few moments while our little Madeleine is busy working to increase her lung capacity. She's also trying to turn as many shades of red as she can.
Last week, Maddie woke up with the hair seen in these photos. They have not been doctored. In fact, Shara and I are frightened as to what these photos portend for her in the future.

Angry Ballerina

She is not always sugar and spice. Check out the feet on this outfit!

More Photos

It's taken awhile to get into a routine, but I have finally been able to carve out enough time in the day to return to blogging. Maddie is getting big - so is her hair! For those of you who knew me then, think Shara 6th grade. Those photos will follow in another entry when I'm feeling less lazy. In any case, Maddie is over her case of baby acne but is now entering the drooling stage. Brian and I are getting 8 hours of sleep so we can't complain. Oh, and Maddie is now socially smiling. We can be confident that her smiles are no longer going to be followed by a dreaded diaper change.

On other fronts, my brother recently moved into his new condo. Congrats Paul!

Brian's sister started working at Pier One in Boston and has returned home from N.H. - Yeah!

Also, Brian and I have put the house on the market. We decided that the time spent working on it room by room is too much time spent away from family. Life is too short to strip wallpaper and scrape paint. It was fun while it lasted and was a learning experience to say the least, but we are ready to move on. Keep your fingers crossed that it sells soon.