You are my sunshine...

My only sunshine.

You make me happy when skies are grey.

You'll never know dear, how much I love you.

Please don't take my sunshine away.

That's the song I sang to Madeleine while I was pregnant. What's amazing is watching her face light up when I sing that song or the ABC's which I've sung to her almost every time I've changed her diaper since she was born (except during the night).

This was on St. Patty's Day. She was grabbing the pages of this book and moving them. I was so excited that she was turning the pages all on her own.. but then reminded myself that she's only 3 months old. She does enjoy reading books with us though!

Today was the first day that Madeleine wore 6 month clothes. We've tried to stretch it out as long as possible but her onesies were just too snug. During this last week she also moved into size 2 diapers. Size 2?!? Oh goodness, she's growing so fast!

This is a toy that Aunt Julia gave to Madeleine. She really enjoys the toys that crinkle but this was the first time that we saw her "chewing" on something. She didn't want anything to do with a different part of the toy.. she really liked the bumps and how they felt on her gums.

This week was filled with a lot of first times.

She took a big girl bath for the first time!! She's been splashing around a lot in the little tub that we've been bathing her in next to the kitchen sink so we thought it was time to try out the tub. She loved it and didn't cry once. We're hoping to take her to a pool during the next month and play around in the water!!

Yes, our cat is obsessed with water. He didn't want to take a bath but enjoys playing with the water!

Maddy helped me make corned beef and cabbage on St. Patty's Day.
I didn't eat any of the cabbage. I've order a steamed milk with sugar-free hazelnut from Starbucks a couple of times this week. I know how silly this seems but there's something about holding the cup of something warm to drink. Today I ordered a tall, soy 1/2 pump chai tea and it didn't upset Madeleine's tummy .. YAY!! I can drink something other than steamed milk!!

Today we had a wonderful visit from the Jensen family. It's always nice to spend time with them and Madeleine LOVES to watch Natalie and Ashley. Madeleine is still making her POOP face which makes me laugh every time.

Ashley. =)

She's learning her ABC's and 1,2,3's.

Natalie. =)

She sang a bunch of different songs to Madeleine today.

After dinner, Natalie took Madeleine for a car ride from the woods into the city. Madeleine really enjoyed the ride. It's amazing to watch her interact or observe other kids. She's not able to play with them yet but it sure wears her out!!

Look who's 3 months old already!!

I'm not sure where I should start...

Life has felt very busy since I've returned to work. I have found that days have gone by since I last checked my email or checked out my favorite blogs. I have narrowed my favorite TV shows down from 10 to 3 and still have a hard time finding the time to keep up with those unless I watch about 20 minutes worth during the night when I get up to feed Madeleine. Before I returned to work I had time to check my email and favorite blogs .. oh, about 5 times a day!

In a nutshell, I'm enjoying being back at work but do hit a wall around 2-3 in the afternoon. I missed my staff, branch and adult conversations. I could do without all of the crazy customers that I have at my branch but that comes with the territory. (My branch is located in the ghetto). I'm struggling with trying to catch up on all of the changes the company has made since I left such as a $10 fee for a checking account and also how SLOW my branch is now. I worked last Saturday and ended up helping 1 customer! There are times throughout the day that we will have a 45 minute stretch of no customers in the branch at all. In all of my 13 years working at a retail branch, I have never worked at a branch that is that slow.

Madeleine is amazing Nick and I everyday. She's starting to try to rollover or at least is making all the way over to her side. She still hates tummy time and knows what she wants, likes or doesn't like! We've learned her cries which helps sometimes when it could be a couple of different things bothering her.
We paid a visit to Dr. Call last week because Madeleine has been crying a lot after she eats (while I've been at work). We thought we might have to switch to formula or take my diet down to the B.R.A.T. diet so that we could figure out what was bothering her. Turns out just a simple switch to a different bottle did the trick! We went from Medela bottles to Dr. Brown's. The difference with Madeleine has been amazing. We're happy that she's happy!

She's sleeping from 8:15pm until about 1:30-2am, nurses for 10 minutes and is back asleep within a few minutes and then wakes up again around 4-4:30am for another feeding. Nick and I wake her up at 6:30 to start her day and are out of the house by 7am. I'm home with her every Wednesday and she was up this morning at 7am. I've accepted that I will no longer be able to sleep in for years to come!

I like to think that she really enjoys these photo shoots with me.

This is what she does when Grandpa Mike asks Madeleine what a lizard says.

Passed out! This was after the big Husky game last weekend.

Always putting something in her mouth these days. She loves that toy dog so much, we bought her a blue elephant. Both of the "crinkle" which she's really into right now.

I swear that Chester was born in a box which would explain why he's obsessed with them.

Oh look, another box.

Oh... Chester!

If you're wondering where Gizmo is and why I don't take as many pictures of him.. it's because he's always sleeping!!

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It's off to work I go...

I spy Chester.

So March 1st was my first day back to work and it was nice! I didn't cry once.

The funny thing is... what are the odds of our daycare plans falling through?!? Maybe 1 in a million? Our sister-in-law is watching Madeleine on Tuesdays for now (until the summer time and then she'll watch her on Mondays) and our nephew came down with the stomach flu. We didn't want to take any chances with Madeleine catching anything so Nick stayed home with her and off to work I went!

Here's our daycare situation in a nutshell:

Monday: Nick works from home.

Tuesday: At Aunt Renee's house (with Ethan, Esmee and Willa - her cousins)

Wednesday: I'm off and at home with her!

Thursday & Fridays: At Grandma Sue's house

Saturday: I work until 1pm and Madeleine gets to spend the morning with dad!

Sunday: Family day. =)

Overall my first week back to work was nice. I missed it. There's a lot of work to be done and it's not going to be easy but I know I can pull it off. I was gone for a total of 4 1/2 months. My manager was at my branch all day on Thursday and I thought I would be really stressed after that but I wasn't. I didn't like showing up to work on Tuesday morning and finding out that we had a "call night" from 6pm until 7:30pm on Wednesday that I had to be there for.. but I was happy that I could make it back home in time for Madeleine's bedtime.

Enough about work...

Madeleine amazes Nick and I every day. She's interacting with us now, smiling most of the time and her motor skills are developing. Our bedtime routine is going well. Right before 8 pm we change her into her PJ's, swaddle her at 8, read her a little book and then I nurse her for maybe about 15 minutes and then she's down for the night. During the last week, she's slept until about 1 or 2 and then I nurse her for 10 minutes and then she's back down for another 3 hours. The worst part about this is that 2nd feeding usually ends up being around 4 am and I wake up for work at 5:30. Sometimes I have a hard time falling back asleep.. but I'm finding that I'm so tired I usually fall asleep within 15 minutes.

We've been giving Madeleine gripe water to help with her fussiness. We've found that this helps keep her "regular" or at least makes it easier for her to poop.

Most of all... what's helped me the most this last week is being prepared for the next day. I make my lunch, iron my clothes, pick out Maddy's outfit, pack the diaper bag, prepare my breakfast and pack the bottles I'll need at work (pumping).

Pumping at work hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. My little sister, Ashley told me to use the Medela quick wipes to save time and so that I don't have to wash the attachments in the break room. I have to pump 3 times each day and once on Saturdays. Each time takes about 15 minutes, start to finish. I have to say .. it's really nice having to take a break every 3 hours.

Hope you enjoy the pictures from this week!

Purse, water bottle, lunch and pump.

It's a lot to tote around each day.

Lots of hugs and kisses before I leave for work everyday.

Madeleine wasn't too concerned about me leaving that day.

Looks like I'm more awake than Madeleine. She's still in her PJ's.

Nick's mom has kept a lot of his clothes that he wore when he was a baby.
Here she's sportin' Nick's 1979 Seattle Supersonics jump-suit. Classy, huh?






This is what Nick and I wake up to every morning. We actually like going into her room together to wake her up so that we can see all of the smiles she has for us!
What's the non-slip shelf-cover doing underneath her?? There is a wedge underneath the sheet and because she's such a wiggle-worm.. she moves herself halfway down the crib and then wakes up! We took the wedge out tonight before we put her down... we'll see if she likes it without the wedge... !!







Mr. Doggy!!
I actually had to wash him today because she's been covering him in slobber each time she gets her tiny hands on him! We bought her an elephant today that makes the same crinkle sound because she loves Mr. Doggy so much!! Let's just hope that she can share the love...

Such a little ham.

She makes me smile every time she smiles. I love it!!

Tummy time!!

This was the first time I laid her down on her tummy and she didn't cry. She only lasted about 4 minutes.. but I'll take anything at this point.

My little Munchkin is growing so fast!!