Madeline is 1!

Our sweet Madeline is one! How is that possible? It seems like it was just yesterday that I was standing in our bathroom, not quite sure if it was the “real thing.” Michael had gone to get Connor up and ready, just in case and was starting to prep him that this might be the day that we got to meet his little sister. The labor progressed so quickly that we barely made it to the hospital before she was born. It truly seems like just yesterday that I embraced her in my arms and we all became totally consumed by her perfection. I remember the moment that Connor met her so clearly… his eyes sparkled and his face just glowed with excitement and love for her. We came home with our precious gift the next day and easily settled into our new family of four. Maddie has always had a quiet and content personality, which made her first year just fly by. Michael and I were more confident and relaxed this time around, which I think allowed us to savor each moment a little more. 

It’s really amazing how much a child develops and changes in that first year of life. Madeline has such a sweet personality. She lights up when one of us come into the room. She especially loves her big brother and is quick to laugh at his songs and silly faces. She is a snuggle bug and has this sweet way of clinging to you that just melts your heart completely. She’s beginning to give kisses where she leans her head in towards your lips. Man, it’s the sweetest thing! She has also started waving which is just the cutest thing! We noticed that Maddie had a tooth break through on Christmas Eve and it’s slowly making its way up. She’s been taking a few steps here and there, but then on her actual birthday, she began walking much more independently. She’s a great little eater! She eats pretty much anything we eat. She still gnaws on veggies and seems to enjoy snacks and meat best (especially turkey dogs and turkey sausage!). We’ve introduced whole milk in a sippy cup this week during her time at daycare (because I’m done pumping at work!) and she seems to be taking to it just fine.  Although when I got home from work yesterday, I tried to offer her the sippy cup instead of nursing her and she spit out the milk all over both of us! Weaning might be a slow process with her. She’s sleeping well… she’s usually asleep by 7:30pm and wakes between 4am and 6am to nurse. If she wakes early, she’ll go back to sleep until 6:30am or 7am. Over the last couple weeks, she’s dropped down to one nap. She is super easy to put down for naps and bedtime… we just give her a binky and her pink blankie and she settles in and gets herself to sleep… no rocking, nursing, singing, etc. required! Maddie has mastered climbing the stairs and will dart to them anytime we forget to close the baby gates. She likes cruising around the kitchen and will often open every cupboard, looking inside and maybe removing one or two items before moving onto the next cabinet or drawer. She seems to enjoy music and will often bounce or move her hands around to the beat. Bath time is fun and she often smiles when I get the water running in anticipation of a bath. We still bathe her in the laundry room sink, and she seems to like it a lot. She play with bath toys, frequently tries to stand up during bath, and cries when I get her out. One of her favorite activities is peek-a-boo.  In fact, she’ll often initiate this game with one of us…Hiding behind the drapes, around a corner, or lifting a blanket to cover her face. It’s absolutely adorable! She babbles often and has recently developed an attention-seeking scream. It catches us off guard since she’s such a quiet baby, but she is good at letting us know what she want. Maddie also points frequently with a quiet grunt to communicate with us. We’ve been working on signing with her, and she has signed “more” and “all done” a few times. She often signs  “up.”

Michael took Maddie to her 12 month well baby check up with Dr. Jain a few days ago. She weighed in at 21 pounds, 3 ounces and is 2 feet, 4inches tall. Everything checked out perfectly!

Maddie Girl, you have brightened our lives beyond belief. I often hold you and try to take in all of your wonderfulness… your sweet smell, your soft skin, your snuggly touch, and your content personality. You are my dream come true for my daughter. I feel like you and your brother are direct gifts from God to your daddy and me. Every ounce of you is perfect. I’m so blessed to be your Mom! I look forward to this next year, making memories with you and watching you grow and develop!