Craft day!

So, today I am trying my hand at making a baby sling. Maddie is supervising...she's such a slave driver! Pics to come soon....if it all works out right! I got instructions from another blog site-- Www.slingyourbaby.blogspot.com.

Maddie is 13 days old!

Maddie took her first nap in her beautiful crib yesterday. We decided it was a good idea to practice... But I (for certain) am not ready for her to sleep alone yet!!

Thursday night, she slept all the way from 11:30 to 6... That made us a little nervous, even though it was great getting that much sleep!! We decided to set an alarm for 5 hours from her last feeding-- and wake her up to eat. Even though she didn't wake up crying even after that long, Tony & I don't want to starve her and stunt her growth!!

Uncle Dean, Aunt Ann and cousin Jessica came over yesterday to visit our little princess. Yes, we realize that is what it has come to-people come to our house to visit HER... ;) We were so glad to see them! Maddie was great-I think she redeemed herself from Aunt Ann's first visit... After just a couple days home from the hospital, I'm not sure our little gal (and us!) had learned enough about each other to be nice for visitors yet! Now, after 13 days of practice, the three of us have gotten down a routine and feel a lot more comfortable, which I think Maddie can feel--and it helps relax her too.

We were given some super cute hats/bows by Ann and Jess. They are selling them for a great cause in the Woodlands next weekend!

Can't wait for her to wear this at Christmas!

Tony decided it was time to take a few more oranges from his tree. He really has nursed his two orange trees through the seasons. One--the mandarin--has yet to produce anything, but in all fairness he DID cut it to the ground last year. The satsuma gave us about 10 oranges this year. We lost some along the way, but he managed to keep about 7. We ate one last weekend and it was great! We picked 4 yesterday and haven't cut them yet...





Last pics-we tried burping Maddie a different way, and Tony thought it was too cute...

She looks a little like a boy in this fishing outfit.... :/

All stretched out and sleepin'

Tony's first "little girl" peeking out the window...

What a big day! Maddie and I slept in the guest room all alone last night, and it went great!! She woke up at 4:30 and 7, then daddy came to the rescue for diaper duty at 7:30.

Since I ripped my last contact on Monday, I went out to the eye doc at 10 today. I was so nervous about leaving Maddie at home, but I knew Tony would do a great job with her. She was sleeping like a baby (haha) when I got home! The eye doc went GREAT--I got a years worth of contacts for FREE! (Well, pretty much. 200 allowance form my insurance and a 100 rebate from the eye doc!) What a great day! Here's the only pic of the day (so far...)

She's in her Mommy's little pumpkin outfit from Aunt Lisa! 

Yesterday was another good day! Tony and I slept in the guest room again. He slept like a rock... and I woke up twice to take care of our little gal. Tony woke up right on cue at around 6 to volunteer for a diaper change and a little playtime. It was a pretty good night!

We went on our first little walk today! I looked like a ragamuffin... but we had a nice time.

Trying the baby backpack...

Laughing because she's too small to be comfortable...

Daddy decided not to torture Maddie anymore...Going for the stroller!

Gettin' all adjusted.

Man, it's sunny!

Raggedy lookin' mom taking the stroller for a drive...

More pictures from Tuesday:

Guess who is always behind the camera?!? 

LOVE those tiny toes!!!!

silly little grin...

Soooo.... Today was a good day. :) Tony and I spent the night with Maddie in the guest room. I'm a nervous wreck when it comes to letting her sleep anywhere but in my arms, so Tony came and kept me company while I let her sleep in her pack and play for the first time. She looks so tiny in there! For some reason, I have this irrational fear that she is going to stop breathing while she sleeps, so I feel a constant need to watch over her. Last night, we put her down around 12:30 and she was a little restless until 2. Then she woke up at 4:30 hungry and needing a diaper change, then the same at 7:30. She's a pretty good sleeper once she falls asleep! Tony took over after her 7:30 feeding, and I got to sleep until after 10! I felt so well rested, which was GREAT. All day today she has been wonderful. There was a tiny incident of projectile spit-up... but I guess those episodes happen with babies from time to time!

Tony has become a chef extraordinaire! He's always been a great cook, but I think these days at home have let him "explore" his skills a little bit. He made chicken noodle soup tonight. YUM!

He's got a turkey working now. He made one last year for Thanksgiving that was a-mazing...and I think this one will be yummy too! While he was cooking, I was playing...

I love you THIIIISSSSS much!

Yes--the outfit says "daddy's princess..."

Baxter is warming up a little...

Investigating...

Right at this moment, 8:15pm, Maddie is swingin' and Daddy is eating ice cream. We're watching How I Met Your Mother--and all very grateful for our sweet new family. Tomorrow might be a big day--we've talked about making a trek out to Sugarland for lunch. Eek! 

Ok...so it's been a while, and a lot has gone on! We are now the proud parents of a tiny baby girl, Madeline Grace! She has just changed our lives in amazing and incredible ways that we never imagined. Today, she is a whole week old!! We just can't believe how fast time is flying by already. She's just a perfect little angel. She's sleeping in 4 hour chunks most of the time, and is a very good eater!

This weekend, Grandma Sheila and Grandpa Steve (who have no grandparent names yet...), along with Uncle Jay came to visit. They just couldn't get enough snuggling! They were a big help--I got to sleep in my own bed for some of the four hour chunks that Maddie slept. Normally, I'm too nervous to leave her alone to sleep. I'm a protective mama for sure! One good thing that mom (Sheila) did today was to get me out of the house for an hour! We went to Wal-Mart (oh joy.) to copy our pictures from the hospital photo shoot. They turned out GREAT!. Here are some of our favorite pictures from Maddie's first week with us:

Maddie's awesome custom crib setup!

Last pic with the belly!

One happy daddy!

Just minutes after being born! Look at those bright eyes!

She loves pink!

Mommie and Maddie!

First family pic...

4 generations of girls!

Her "going home outfit" courtesy of G-ma Sheila!

Her first non-hospital outfit...still in the hospital.

So much love!!!

Daddy and Maddie snuggling at the hospital.

She liked the car ride home!

All snuggled in for the ride.

One more toy to add to the bunch! And it wiggles!

Thanks for the cute ducky outfit, Dimitra!

Daddy and Maddie... Chillin' on the couch.

Mom ready to meet her little girl!

Great nurses at Women's Hospital!

I had a reason to look a little rough, right?

Mom loves this picture...

Heyyyyyy...

Feelin' safe in Daddy's hand!

Wink!

Yummmmmm!

All in pink!

Mom and dad heading home from the hospital. What an eye-opener!

All set to go!

Daddy looks tired...

Mom made this hat! (Steph's first completed crochet attempt!)

Another pink pic!

All snuggled and happy!

Maddie's first tutu!

Baxter loves the zebra boppy!

Mom's contractions right before I was born. Eek!

Look at my duckies!

Happy Grandparents and their awesome grandkids!

All wrapped up in my ladybug blanket.

Ppfppfppfppft!

This bow is too big for my head...but it's cute!