Any Given Afternoon

We are a weird bunch.

 

At least we can admit to it.

 

 

We like lazy afternoons, singing Christmas carols at the top of our lungs, and wearing special 'cleaning' aprons.

The kids like to ask me to take their picture and then make weird faces at the camera...or at least Madelynn does.

These pictures took NO prompting or suggestion...it's ALL her.

 

Like I said...we are weird.

Johnny is in Maryland so I am doing my best to hold down the fort. Honestly, it's a good opportunity to do some deep cleaning. It's also a bit refreshing that he will only be gone for a few days. Compared to what we are used to, this is a walk in the park.

 

Ooh, I just love her.

Allison and Alyssa are more into posing and acting like models...or at least they think they are acting like models. :)

 

Pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

Can you tell she is picking out her own clothes and doing her own hair? Stylish, huh?!



Ladies, lock up your sons!! These two are bound to be TROUBLE!

Even though their behavior hasn't been the best, I have seen an improvement since Taxi HeyHey and Snowflake have been here. That is always nice.

This is their best model pose.

Work it, girl!

Bwahaha...

Oh goodness!

Of course I tried to get a good picture of all three of them. 

This was the best one by far.

I love my silly gals!

Oh, Madelynn!

Madelynn, you are something else!

You hardly ever stop smiling and you have mastered climbing up things that are 4 times your size and then JUMPING off.

You keep me on my toes and force me to be an active, always evolving parent with a clean house. If I wasn't all of these things, you would terrorize me!

The fact of the matter is, I just can't get enough of your silly laughs and chubby cheeks.

Darlin', I love you so much I could just eat you with a spoon.

So it comes as no surprise that when these two little girls took your spot on the couch and wouldn't let you see what they were doing on Zoodles, you freaked!

I'm starting to see this more and more lately.

One minute you're my happy babe and next,

you are this.

And this. Sometimes this.

But usually this.

I don't mind.

I learn to live with it.

You see, I'm smart enough to know that it won't last long and soon my little Maddie Jane, girl with the constant smile, will be back soon.

And she always is!

I love you, Madelynn!

Madelynn Moments

Madelynn.

My baby. My almost 1 year old baby.

She is mesmerizing!

Her hair is still as red as ever...much darker than her older sisters. It is slightly curly and ALWAYS sweaty!!

We officially switched her over from formula to cows milk the other day. Partly because I was out of formula (Johnathon had the truck) and partly because my baby will be 1 next week. She took the change with ease and made the adjustment very well.

Madelynn now has 4 teeth...3 on bottom, 1 on top...with 2 more about to pop through.

She is looking like quite the grown babe lately!

99% of the time you will find her with crusty left overs from her last mean. It will be in her hair, on her cheeks, in her ears, and from the proof of this photo...on her forehead! She eats consistently every hour or so and even had her first bite of rice the other night. She did fantastic and held it all down.

We are offering her a sippy at every chance and it's very touch and go at this point. She likes to tease me and attempt to drink from it and the second I show a slight smile, she tosses it to the side!
Ornery!

I've almost got her schedule right where I want it. Bed time is between 7:30 and 8pm, but I would ideally like for it to be 7pm. She occasionally wakes once in the middle of the night and she receives a few ounces of water and drifts back into dreamland. I usually get my custom Madelynn wake-up call around 8am...perfect!! She lays down first at 10am for a two hour nap and then around 3:30 for another two hour nap. I have no problem getting her to gobble down her dinner and she squirms with excitement on bath nights.

Have I ever mentioned how perfect of a baby she is!!??

Nicknames:

Maddie Jane

The Madster

Maddie Mad Moo (Allison gave her that one)

Buttercup

I don't see walking anywhere in our near future. Madelynn is able to pull herself up next to something and cruise along it...the couch, a chair, the wall, her play yard. The truth is, Johnathon just isn't home enough for us to practice with her. It's hard to do on my own and I don't want him to miss her first steps anyway.

See her bruise from her shots last week? :( Poor baby!

Madelynn is so silly I can't even stand it!! She is the queen of funny faces and loves to jibber jabber all day long. She is talking quite a bit these days and will occasionally surprise me by knowing a new word. This is new to me as the twins didn't talk for a few more months.

Vocabulary: Dada, Mum Mum, Papa, Na-Na

Bobble (bottle), Up, Nigh-Nigh, bu-bu (bye-bye),

Bubba, Naw (no), Sta (stop)

I swear I caught her dancing today!! Sitting on the floor watching 'The Fresh Beat Band' she was moving her arms and head. It was precious!

I have begun to try to teach Madelynn right/wrong. I talk stern when she attempts to put something foreign in her mouth and smile, cheer and act like a complete idiot when she stands on her own or says a new word.

The following is her reaction after being told, "No, no Madelynn. Bad girl!"

haha

Last but certainly not least...

Thanks to her Nana, Madelynn is a wonderful kisser and will give you many of them upon request!!