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.

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety-Jig

A resounding cry of "More photos!" prompts today's post--that and the fact that we brought our new bundle home for the first time last night. Thanks to everyone who called and/wrote. Shara and I hope to see and share with you soon.

My Rendition of the Story

Hi Everyone! So I have finally had an opportunity to read Brian's comments about the delivery of our little bundle. For the most part it is accurate, however, I will have you know that there was no cursing before, during, or after Madeleine's arrival.

Our first day together as a family was an amazing success - and Brian and I felt like heroes. Last night was a different story altogether though. Madeleine was colicky and left us each with only 2 hours of sleep. We are due to travel home today in another one of Maine's latest blizzards. The two grammies are anxiously awaiting us. More later.