Something to make you laugh!

Just a few video's to enjoy over the weekend.  We've been meaning to upload these for a few weeks now.  Hope you enjoy them as much as we have!

Fall is here...

We have had a busy past few weekends....

Two weekends ago we had Derek's sister's wedding in VA. We were so lucky to have mom and Richard come for a long weekend to help with Madelyn since both Derek and I were in the wedding. It was a fun weekend and great time celebrating Whitney and Andy's special day. Madelyn was a trooper, though she had a few meltdowns. I think the weekend was a little overwhelming for her between being away from home, Derek and I being away from her a lot and then being passed to so many people. She still was such a great girl and looked adorable in all her fancy dresses thanks for her Nana! The weekend had many good laughs and stories:)

This past weekend we got to take Madelyn to her first pumpkin patch with some good friends. We were able to get some really cute pictures of her with the pumpkins. It also was the first cold day in NC which made it really feel like Fall. As each holiday approaches they are so much more exciting now that we get to share them with her:)

Today was Madelyn's first day going with me to Mooresville. She now goes to a lady who lives right by school each day. It is really nice to have the extra time with her in the morning and getting to see her right after school! It however makes for some chaotic mornings trying to get all of us up, packed, ready and out the door by 7am! 

We are looking forward to the next few weekends not being so busy and getting to enjoy some rest and relaxation time! Hard to believe it will be Thanksgiving and even Christmas before we know it!!! Every month we reach another milestone for Madelyn and it amazes me how quick she is growing. She will be 4 months in just over week. We will go back to the Dr. the end of this month for her 4 month appt. I am anxious to see how much she has grown! Some of her new tricks are; rolling from side to side, putting her feet in her mouth, giggling. She also has found her voice and at times will talk VERY loud. She has gotten really good at her tummy time and holding her head up. 

All pretty for Aunt Whitney and Uncle Andy's wedding!!

Nana and I at the wedding

Such a happy girl

family picture at the pumpkin patch

The cutest pumpkin!!

The small things...

The past two weeks have by far been a big adjustment for our family. I had only 4 days to get set up and ready for my new class and Derek's Y was launching a new afterschool program that has been a lot of work and stress for D. To top it off I ended up with a high fever over 100 and had to go to Urgent Care due to having mastitis, which is very painful! Then the girl who works for Derek went into labor and on maternity leave causing Derek's work load to become even more stressful. Even with all the craizness I am loving being back at South Elementary! The hard part about our careers is both require a lot of work outside of work and trying to find the balance now since Madelyn is our new priority. I keep telling Derek as hectic as life is right now I just don't want us to get so stressed with everyday life that we don't enjoy these moments. As yesterday was Madelyn's 3 month mark I realize each month goes faster and faster. I love fall and am so excited for us to enjoy all fun fall things with Madelyn.

Madelyn has changed so much in the past few weeks. Here are some of her new tricks....
1. We heard her first laugh! It was the cutest thing ever and she has only done it a few times but a big milestone for her. We are looking forward to her starting to laugh more often. We will try and get a video of it.
2. She now grabs and hold her toys. Of course most end up in her mouth.
3. During bath time she has learned to kick, so bring your pancho as it tends to be a wet one.
4. This week we have found her sucking her thumb. We will see if it sticks but seems to do it everytime she sleeps.
5. She officially no longer can wear her 3 month clothes. This past week I packed up a bunch of things that don't fit her anymore. I must admit I let a lot stay in her closet long after it didn't fit her because it made me sad she was getting so big!!
The most amazing thing about Madelyn is how the smallest things can make our day. No matter how stressful life is or the amount of things Derek and I have on our to-do list she makes us realize what really matters. She can always melt our stress away and amazing how something as simple as a giggle, coo or smile can mean the world to us. She is one amazing baby!

Here are a few pictures from the past week :)

3 months old!!

Happy Girl!

My new skill of holding my toys :)

Getting better at tummy time

Sucking my thumb!

Back to school...

This past week has been one crazy week to say the least. Last week I was given the opportunity to return to my old school which I was very excited to accept. This past year I have talked to Derek several times about how much I miss teaching and now with Madelyn I realize how teaching it the most ideal schedule for a working mom. Of course with her being born in June this was not the summer to try and get back into it and I thought maybe next year I will try. However, the school I used to teach at had high numbers in Third Grade and wanted to bring in another teacher to lower the class sizes. Talk about meant to be. They called last Thursday and I started today. Though as much as we were thrilled that it worked out it made a very crazy household. We had to rethink our daycare plans. Originally as we had said Madeyln would go with Derek to the Y daycare. However Derek works south of our house and I will now work North. Therefore, it doesn't make sense for her to go there anymore as it would take me almost an hour to get there from work. So now we are in the process of finding care right near my school.

Of course as with all first time moms it has been really hard to go from spending every moment of everyday with Madelyn to the transition back to work and being away from her. I have had several break downs of crying to poor Derek. I know it will get easier and am so happy I know will get breaks and summers with her :)

Derek and I have been going crazy trying to adjust to everything. It seems when we used to be able to get ready in 45 minutes for work now takes like 2 hours with Maddie. I have also realized how much I will have to tote with me every morning. Anyone who is a teacher knows how much you already take to and from school and now I will also have; Maddie's daycare bag, her cooler of bottles, my pump bag, my cooler for milk storage and a baby, lol!! I should have strong arms here soon! Sorry this is a short post and promise to updater again soon. 

Ready for a day out shopping

Such a big girl in her bumbo seat!

Loved napping on Aunt Gracie

The cutest VT Cheerleader

Family picture before Derek and I went to the game

Maddie talking to the lights!

Remembering what sleep is....

This past Friday was the night Derek and I have waited for since June 18th! We put Maddie down about 9:45 and we were in bed around 10:30. Around 4:00am I woke up in panic. All thoughts went through my head as I grabbed our video monitor; did the batteries die, what is wrong with Madelyn, is she breathing, etc. As I grabbed the monitor there she was still in her crib just sleeping away. I figured  any minute now she would be waking up without a doubt so tried to stay a wake for a little bit. Next thing I knew I was waking up at 7:00am and still no cry from Maddie. It wasn't until 7:15 she finally woke up and successfully hit the big milestone of sleeping through the night for 9 1/2 hours!!! I can really say I forgot what those nights were like, lol! Much to our surprise she surprised us again on Saturday night and went down at 9:30 and slept until 8am!!! She has continued to sleep through the night since Friday so keep your fingers crossed that we are on happy, SLEEPING family from here on out :)

This weekend we had Derek's family in town for a couples wedding shower and cookout for Whitney and Andy. It was great to spend Saturday evening with great friends and family. Sunday we went to Derek's Aunt and Uncle's pool and attempted to see what Maddie thought of the pool. When her toes first hit the water she started crying, then after a few minutes of trying over and over she didn't mind her feet in the pool. We decided it was to cold to put her in all the way yet but can't wait for next summer when we can take her swimming!

We have been trying to finalize plans for Madelyn's care for when I return to work. Derek's Y is in the process of starting a daycare for staff children but the date isn't set for when it will be ready. They hope by the end of September. This of course is wonderful and she will be so close to Derek's office. However, this will put us in a bind for the mean time until it starts. We have been talking with a few different people to come to the house to care for Maddie. Today we selected the girl who will watch her for the 2 1/2 weeks until it is ready hopefully. We both really like her and she did great with Maddie. She is going to come for a few hours a few days before I go back to work to help ease the transition. 

Supporting Grandpa's work with the shirt he gave me!

Early morning family walk:)

Do you think I have to many rolls??

Seriously mom you are going back to work soon, does this new girl know how to give me milk??

I don't know about this Dad!

Attempt at family picture at the shower, Maddie loves her hands in her mouth!

Today Maddie had her 2 month check-up. She continued the trend of great weight gain, haha and now is 14 lbs! She is also 25 inches long. Her Dr. said she is off the chart in length! Of course it seems we are going to have a tall girl  but we all know it can all change and she may slow down later! She had to get two shots and an oral liquid vaccine. It was so sad to watch her scream and cry real tears! When Derek held her after to calm her down he had a wet spot on his shirt from all her tears:(

Before shots

After shots :(

All smiles:)

Tomorrow Maddie will be 2 months old. These have been the fastest two months ever. However, then to think back to her being born already almost seems like a blur that was forever ago. She has started to have such a personality. She loves to smile and now recognizes Derek's and my voice. We love smiling and talking to her and getting her big smile back. She is such a happy baby who loves to smile! She has learned a new trick in the past day. She has figured out if we lay her on her blanket and walk away or into the other room from her she will begin to fake cry. Then when we walk back over to her she smiles. It is like she is saying "ha it worked they came back" Of course this was perfect timing for her trick as her Dad is out of town this weekend on a bachelor party trip so I of course will be at Maddies beck and call, haha!

Last week my good friend Kara came to stay with us for 5 days. We loved having her here and she got a lot of time with Maddie As always I loved having the company and extra hands here. We have had a lot of visitors but Kara was our last one for awhile. It was strange to not have to rush and get the guest room ready for our next visitor. However, it will be nice for us to have some time as a family before I go back to work.

We found out this week that Derek's Y is definitely starting the staff daycare. They are working on getting all the licensing completed. We are so happy that Maddie will just be down the hall from Derek,s office. Though this will make the transition a little easier on me, I am so jealous Derek will get to go visit her whenever he wants. I have informed him we will be meeting for lunch often!

Maddie's new favorite spot to relax and nap!

Maddie with Kara, in her new cute outfit Kara bought her:)

First time trying out her bumbo seat!

Smiles!

One Popular Girl!

Miss Madelyn has become one popular little girl. I think the longest she has gone since being born is a week without going to visit or having a visitor to see her. This past week Aunt Sue, Elly and Kerra came to spend the week with us. It was so much fun and hard to see them leave. It was also very nice to have all the helpful hands. This week I started running again. With Aunt Sue here Elly and I were able to go to the gym almost everyday. I hadn't realized how much I missed running and it really made me feel like I had myself back to get a good workout each day. On top of that we of course did a lot of shopping, getting out around Charlotte and lots of snuggle time with Maddie. It has always been hard having my family far away but even harder now with Maddie. 


It seems in the past week Madelyn has changed so much. We all have noticed how she has grown and is getting so big. She also now really notices voices and laughs a lot when you talk to her. She seems to really laugh when her daddy talks to her. She also is a babbling machine. She talks to us all the time. The last new thing is how strong her neck has become. When we hold her she now can hold her head up and look around. We started the tummy time and she seems to only like it for a minute and then starts to get fussy so we will pick her up. Hopefully as she gets stronger she will like it more.


 With all the company we have had and how much we have had her out and about we are truly lucky to have such an amazing baby. She really only cries when she is hungry and is such a happy baby most of the time. There is nothing better than walking into her room at 3am so tired and then seeing her smiling back up at you in her crib. I am really struggling that it is August and will have to go back to work next month. Though I am extremely grateful to have 12 weeks with her I really don't know how I will ever leave her all day :( 

Snuggle time with Elly

I guess I will sleep so daddy can play these boring games!

All set for a morning walk