6 Month Post- September 24, 2010

We had fun taking her 6 month pictures. As you can see, she loved the paper and did not want me to take it away  (hints the picture of her screaming). Madeline is her Daddy made over. She is very social and loves to go and then crashes. She does not want to miss a party!!

She loves our cell phones and remote controls. She is usually holding the cell phone while I talk on speaker. The other night Ben told me to quit changing the channel and it was Madeline. She talks constantly and laughs a lot. She loves looking in the mirror, loves watching the dogs play and loves tons of attention. If we turn our attention on something else (not sure why we would) she will make a loud, screeching noise with a big smile on her face. I am sure she is smiling becasue she knows we are about to focus on her.

She has been sitting up for a few weeks now. I would say her first time to sit up for along time without assistance was during the Arkansas vs. Georgia game, which was September 18. Sometimes she gets tired and this happens....

She still sleeps in our bed everynight and is getting a lot better at napping in her crib. She will not sleep in her swing anymore and really does not care to be in there at all. Loves to have her face, head and eyes lightly rubbed as she is falling asleep. Sometimes she will start laughing, but keeps her eyes closed. She is very, very ticklish.

Like I said before, she wants to ALWAYS know what is going on. She will not go to sleep in my arms unless we are in bed or in the chair in her room right before nap time. Other than that, she does not want to be held like a baby, she wants to be up looking around.

Foods she has eaten: Rice Cereal, butternut squash, pears and mango. Not a huge fan of solids, but it is getting better.

She likes school. Ben was picking her up the other day and he could hear her laughing before he opened the door. She was sitting in a seat looking and listening to Ms. Liz talk to her. They said she talked and laughed all day.

She has gotten to be so much fun this last month. I have loved every moment since she was born, but the saying is true that it just gets better and better.

Her hair has grown so much and she is growing like a weed.

The biggest change I would note is that she talks all the time and has gotten very strong.

We love you baby girl!!

Baptism

Last Sunday, our sweet baby girl was Baptized. I also realized it was the 6 month anniversary her coming home from the hospital. Perfect timing.

Sunday was a joyful day!  Madeline was very talkative and active right from the start of the church service. She talked the entire time (even during the very long announcements) and was yelling singing with the choir. Madeline talked while the pastor was walking her around and showing her off to the congregation and she let out  a little fuss during the actual baptism, but overall she was perfect . Everyone said she had personality. I was worried about her because she had been teething and her gums really bothered her last week. I wanted the special time to be perfect, little fuss and all it was perfect. The church gave us a DVD and Ben and I watched it last night. Ben and I were grinning from ear to ear, we were so proud for our girl.

We  appreciate everyone making it a special day for Madeline! She was surrounded by so many family and close friends and we missed the people who were unable to make it but appreciate you letting us know you were thinking about Madeline! Little Miss Addison kept giving her sweet kisses.  I cannot wait to see Addison interact with her little brother once he arrives in November.

By the end of the service and greeting everyone, my cheeks were sore.  I have smiled this much since the day Ben and I got married.  Just for the record, I would have smiled more the day Madeline was born, but I was too tired! It was a very long day!

On to the celebration........

What I learned this morning....

We woke up this morning and our indoor thermostat said it was 65 degrees, not sure what the outside temp was but it was cold. I bundled Madeline up and we headed out on our walk. I learned there is nothing better than a baby all bundled up! We put footed pjs on her, a crocheted hat/ flower her Great Grammie made, coat , blanket and headed to the park.

So excited about the weather!!

Meeting Uncle Coke, Golf and Game Day

One of Ben's best friends arrived Thursday evening for the big weekend and he got to meet Madeline. She was a FLIRT and flashed him the cutest grinn everytime he looked at her.

Not sure what the guys are looking at...

Madeline on her way to the bath

Ben and John on their way to golf bright and early the next day. I expected them to be up late the night before, but they were both in bed by 10:15 p.m. Man, times have changed since our days in D.C. together.

The Boys on their way to the game. Sadly, they did not come back with that big smile on their faces. Ben said the game was awesome even though we lost and he has never heard the stadium so loud! This was John's first time to an Arkansas home game and was impressed with the Hog Call..... I was impressed with John walking out dressed in an Arkansas shirt.

Madeline woke up right before the game started so she got to do her first hog call at kick off!

Happy Fall Y'all

We are so excited about Fall! On Monday, we kicked off the fall season early, Madeline played while I made applesauce! I made one batch for Madeline without honey and put honey in the adult version. I am eating some with my breakfast as I type and froze Madeline's. 

We are starting our HUGE weekend today. One of our very best friends is coming to stay with us for the weekend so we are cooking out tonight. Two of Madeline's fake uncles (best friends) are coming into town this weekend (John Coke and Chris and Whitney Russell) and we are sooooo excited about them meeting Madleline. John and Chris pampered Pucci in D.C. so I know they will go gaga over Madeline!! Hopefully, Mr. Coke is on his way right now!

Tomorrow more friends and family start arriving in town for the game on Saturday and Sunday  is Madeline's Baptism and luncheon. Oh yeah, Madeline turns 6 months tomorrow!

What better way to kick off the fall than with Friends, Family, great football, healthy baby girl and last but not least our sweet little Angel's Baptism. We have so much to be thankful for and sometimes I get caught up/ busy and forget. Thankfully, there are times like these to remind me of the important things in life and to cherish goods times with family and friends!

Speaking of Madeline's baptism. I got tears in my eyes last Sunday in Church thinking about it. So I am really, really hoping I do not cry!!!! I am such a cry baby in church!

I hope you all have a wonderful fall!!!! I plan on enjoying every moment of this joyful time!

Best Buddies

Madeline LOVES dogs! She thinks they are so funny and enjoys watching them. Yesterday was the first time I let her cuddle with Lulu and they absolutely loved it. 

We are working on being gentle right now. She likes to grab Lulu's hair and pull it towards her mouth, so I help her relase the hair and show her how to pet lulu while I am saying be gentle. Once she understands the concept of being gentle, we will bring Pucci into the mix.

Night Out and Daddy's Paci

Friday night, our good friends, Michelle and Brandon invited us to the Children's Safety Center Dream Big fundraiser. It is always hard to watch the video discussing the abused children that have been helped by this organization, but this year it really broke Ben and my hearts.  I wish there was not a need for organizations like this, but since the world can be a scary place, I am so glad there is an organization like Children's Safety Center to be an advocate for the children. If you want to learn more, click Here

Thanks Gran Dad and Gran Mommy Penix for coming to babysit! Thanks Michelle and B for an evening out, we had so much fun.

Saturaday, we headed over to Ben's parents for a pancake breakfast and to watch the Hog game. Hog's made me a little nervous towards the end of the game, but we ended up pulling it off. Hog's have a reputation of breaking their fans hearts at the end of games, but not this time!!! Come on Alabama!! (Christina, you are not allowed to post any Roll Tide comments! ) Some of our best friends, Christina and Jacob have a split household. Christina went to Alabama, Jacob went to Arkansas and now they live in Texas. I cannot wait to see  pics of how they dress Jack on Saturday for his first Arkansas vs. Alabama game. Maybe in just red with no mascots or writing!

While we were at his parents, Ben looked in his trophey case and found his old paci (nuk). He brought it down and Madeline had fun looking at a paci that is 32 years old!

I mentioned Madeline jeaggins ( so cute) on Satureday, but we had to have a wardrode change before we were able to take a picture. Diaper change + Jeaggins = not very easy

Perfect beginning to a Arkansas Game Day

I walked in the door from my walk and Madeline was dressed sitting in her swing. Ben put her in her jeggins and  said they are the cutest pants of all time. He said they are cuter than any pair of pants he has seen on TV or in a magazine. I cannot wait to get her out of the swing and see them on her cute body!

Update: Ben just got her out for a diaper change. The jeggins are size 12 months and fit this almost 6 month baby like a glove. So cute! I will post pictures later.

Random stuff on a Friday....

Since we were unable to attend my PBHS 10 year reunion last weekend, Madeline wanted to make up for it by wearing her Zebra outfit. Z-E-B-R-A-S, Zebras, Zebras are the Best! When I tell people I am from Pine Bluff they always assume I went to White Hall. When I tell them PBHS they are shocked! I loved going to school there and would not change a thing. Do I want to raise Madeline there, no, but I loved growing up in Pine Bluff.

Madeline and I headed to her school yesterday because I volunteered to help with school pictures. The lady kept saying Madeline smiles with her eyes and even said she smiles with her eyes more than with her mouth. Is that what she is doing in the picture below???? Just kidding, she looks surprised but I love how she is posing with her arm on the chair.

She still has the mohawk. A lot of people tell me they love how I style her hair. Really??? I love her hair, but I would not style it this way on purpose.

The other night we were were all in bed and I said Ben!, look at this hand (Madeline's).Ben looked at me and said yeah, it is a hand... He was probably expecting a bug based on how excited my voice sounded. It is adorable and I love the little snap on wrist (fat roll).

Madeline loves when I wear this necklace, it is a built in toy for her!

At her school the other day, I walked into her class room and said Hi, Addison and Addison quickly turned her head and flashed me a bright smile. Addison is a little younger than Lil'Bit, right then and there I knew we needed to start working on using Madeline's name more often. At home we seem to call her Lil' Bit, Baby Girl and Little Baby Boo Boo a lot more than Madeline.  I was talking to my mom last week and called her Lil' Bit and my mom immediately asked what I just called Madeline and said it sounded like Lil' B*t*h.

The other day I went to a consignment sale in Fayetteville and got some toys and a Bike Trailer for Madeline! Ben and I have been talking about starting to ride bikes and feel biking is something fun we can do as a family. Now, we only need bikes! We literally put the cart before the horse.

Madeline wanted to nap in her crib today! I tried her swing, then held her on the couch and the chair in her room and she would not go to sleep. I decided to put her in her crib and she turned on her side grabbed her security blanket, pulled it to her face and went right to sleep.

P.S. my little baby will be 6 months old next Friday. Where have the last 6 months gone? they flew by!!!