Pictures

Mike and I have been super blessed with some great pictures in the past, and this weekend was no exception.

Stacey has a friend who is a photographer, Charlene. Charlene has been looking for newborn models, so when Stacey told me about her, I jumped at the chance to get some pictures taken of Rylee. Charlene was so good with Rylee, she seems to have a natural ability to calm babies down and pose them just how she wants!!!

Rylee slept the whole time and I've already got the chance to see 2 precious pictures of Rylee. I can't wait to see the rest!

If you're looking for a photographer, I highly recommend giving Charlene a try. To find out more about her and to see the great pictures of Rylee, visit her website.

If 30 people comment on the post, I get a special something, so let her know what you think!!!

Rylee's here!!!

After what seems like a really long wait (9 whole months), she decided to come! Rylee is definitely punctual; she joins a group of only 5% who actually come on their due date.

On Wednesday the 7th at 8:30 pm, Mike and I got in the car and headed up to Tri Cities hoping that what I was feeling was really "it." Luckily, we got admitted!! Less than 5 hours after being admitted, and one calm and almost relaxing (sounds weird to say about childbirth, I know) delivery, Rylee joined us. She was officially born on April 8th at 2:19am, 7lbs 14 oz and 19 1/4 inches.

Mike and I both got really good sleep the night Rylee was born (once we were all situation in our room.

The next night wasn't as relaxing, Rylee learned how to eat and didn't want to stop. She was up and feeding from 11ish until 4ish. That was both a blessing and a curse. I was really worried that I would have the same problems feeding this time around, but I don't (YAY)!!

We're home now, and getting adjusted. Madison is still learning her boundaries with Rylee. I know once we have a routine figured out, Madison will be a great big sister. She's already shared her binkies and blanket with Rylee and has shown concern when she heard Rylee cry (which she has only done a bit in her short life).

All in all, we're all a bit tired, but truly blessed!!!

Madison's First Big Ouch!

No, you do not need to call CPS ;-). Sunday morning, Madison was being goofy. During all her silliness she slipped and hit her head on the corner of an end table in the living room...the end result; her first big ouchie! It turned purple and became a goose-egg instantly. Surprisingly, she only cried for a second, and it wasn't even the loud, screaming kind. Daddy is so proud of her first bruise (I guess it's a guy thing).

Santa Claus

Here's Madison's first time seeing Santa. The first picture is us waiting in line to see Santa (Sinta as Madison calls him).

Halloween 2009

My Crazy Girl

I know it's been forever since I blogged. I would like to say it's because I never, ever have time. That wouldn't be completely true. Mostly I'm busy with Madison, Jordan (the 2 1/2 year old girl I watch Monday through Thursday), and work; but there is some time, I'm just a slacker.

So, instead of trying to catch up on what has happened in the last 4 months, I'll just start fresh, pretend this is a completely new blog I'm doing.

Madison is now over 13 months old and such a big girl already. She's been walking since she was 10 months old, which means she is now running (very quickly) everywhere. Her newest thing though, is talking. She talks so much! Here are some of the words she says regularly:

Of course, Momma, Dadda, and Poppa (sorry Grandma, I know she loves you...she just doesn't call you by name yet)

Cracker (everything that tastes good is a cracker to her)

Cow (that's her new one. She very emphatically says cooow and then moos)

Hat (everything is a hat to her. pants, socks, coats, anything she can get her hands on)

Bottle (baba)

Book (or as she says it bookabookabookabooka as she's bringing me a book to read to her)

Eat

Please (which really comes out at as pe or ple while she's signing it)

Bye Bye

Apple

Baby (she thinks every child is a baby even kids 2 and 3 times her age)

Bath

Socks (she's just started this one)

Shoes

I'm sure there are other words she says, but this is all I can remember for now.

Here are some other cute things she's doing:

She dances all the time. Any song that comes on, regardless of how short, slow, or fast you'll see Madison bouncing up and down and swaying back and forth. I'm sad to say, she also has started to drop it like it's hot (for lack of a better term). I don't know where she got it from. She's never seen a music video and she's definitely never seen me doing it...she puts her little hands on her knees and gets as low as possible. For now it's funny, but I think eventually Daddy might have to put a stop to her little girl's "dirty dancing."

She has a little car that she rides around. It has a seat that lifts up to put things in. Most of the time, she'll put her babies into the car, head first and legs hanging out, and push them around. It's so cute!

She also kisses every stuffed animal, baby, and picture book she can find! She makes the kissing noise with her tongue and puts the victim up to her face to slobber on. I love it. Now if only I could get her to regularly kiss me!!!

So, since I wrote a small novel...I will try to remember to keep this updated!!!

9 Months Old!

OOPS! I wrote this blog on the 16th, but forgot to post it!

Sorry, I know I just blogged twice already. Madison is taking her second nap of the day right now and I've just had a minute to reflect on the fact that she's over 9 months old. That's right, she is now 9 months and 5 days old! Can you believe it? I definitely can't. So...to commemorate my late blog on Maddie turning 9 months old, here are some facts that everyone should know about my beautiful daughter!

1. She looks like her daddy, only pretty! Seriously, red hair and all!


2. She has her mommy's eyes.


3. She loves to smile at grandpa!


4. She started crawling before she was 6 months old.


5. When she was exactly 7 months old, she stood on her own, no holding on!


6. Whenever she hears a repetitive loud-ish noise (like this little toy she has where you push a button on top and balls go popping), she goes bonkers. She drops whatever she's doing and gets to me as fast as she can, and then holds on for dear life. She has always been that way. She used to be afraid of it. Now she likes it!


7. She is a smiler, but not much of a laugher; unless you catch her when she's tired.


8. She's doesn't cry often. There are times when she falls or conks her head and I think it must've hurt and she's going to cry...nope, she just gets right back to playing! Mike says it's because she's a Smith.


9. She loves to be upside down. Grab her by her legs and hold on! She could hang like that forever!


10. She kisses herself in the mirror, her little baby, and her glow worm, but forget about trying to get her to kiss you. She won't kiss anything with a pulse!


11. She weighs 17 pounds, 11 ounces and is 70 cm, aka 27.6 inches long.
    
12. She generally isn't afraid of people. (I say generally because when she's extremely tired she is scared of men, just ask Brad Dennis :-D)
    
13. She just took 5 steps on her own! It's only a matter of time before I've got a rugrat running around.

Those are just a few of the things that make Madison who she is. And because I can't get my pictures off my camera and onto my computer right now, here are some pictures of her when she was 10 days old (taken by the wonderful Karlyn, andaphotography.blogspot.com)!