Would you like a good cry?

Sometimes you discover things that just pull at your heart. Right after I had Maddie I started following the blog of Matt Logelin. I found this blog through a third party's blog and was interested in it because of the title: Matt, Liz, and Madeline. I figured it might be a good read since they also named their daughter Madeline. Oh boy, was I in for a story. You can read his blog if you click on his name earlier in my post, I linked it up.

I won't give you all of the details here. But let me just say, I am so glad I read it AFTER I had my c-section. The blog is basically about this man's journey to raise his daughter after his wife passed away 27 hours after delivering Maddy through a c-section 7 weeks early. She had a pulmonary embolism that killed her instantly as she was headed down to the NICU to hold her daughter for the first time.

It has been 3 years since she died and the blog has become extremely popular. Matt has even written a book.

I pre-ordered it through Amazon and it arrived last week. I basically had the entire thing read in a day and sobbed the WHOLE time. It tells about Liz's pregnancy, Maddy's birth, Liz's death, and the year after. This is one strong man. I am not sure how many other men could have survived as well as he has. I love that he is extremely blunt about how hard it has been. Be warned, he drops the *F* bomb frequently, and I think he has the right to. He has made it his life mission to give his daughter the best life he can imagine. They travel constantly and he gives her once in a lifetime experiences. He is also determined to do things with her that he mom would have done, like go into trendy boutiques and buy super cute and super expensive clothes even though he would never shop for himself in stores like that. He is rather Indie.

Brad asked me why I was reading that book (aka why was I intentionally making myself cry) and I told him that it reminds me of how fortunate we are. I am thankful everyday that we are so blessed. I had an uneventful easy pregnancy, Madeline's delivery was late and the c-section was unexpected but it was complication free. We have lived with our beautiful daughter for 6 months now and I have treasured every moment. Reading stories like Matt's makes me remember just how lucky we are.

So, if you want to borrow the book I have it. If you want to go out and but yourself a copy, I recommend it. But just remember, I warned you. AND make sure you have a box of Kleenex next to you.

New Baby Cousin

Sophie Aliece Mannucci made her big debut on Monday, April 4th at 7:55pm

This was our first glimpse of her before she was taken to the NICU. She weighed in at 5lbs 14 oz and was 18 and 1/2 in long. She was about 4 weeks early but an amnio that morning showed her lungs were mature enough to allow her to be born.

It's amazing to hold a baby this small, it felt like nothing was there, and it made Madeline look HUGE! She was out of the NICU by Tuesday night and came home with Lauren on Thursday. She is just precious.

Gender Reveal Party

Tonight we headed over to the Wardlaw's for a party to reveal the sex of Baby Wardlaw #2. They had the technician stick the ultrasound photo in an envelope and then they passed the envelope off to Danielle and she made cupcakes for the big reveal. She would put a pink or purple candy in the middle if it was a girl and a blue or green piece in the middle if it was a boy. Bill and Brittney took the first bites and...

BLUE! It's a boy! :-) Congratulations Wardlaws!!!

We were wearing blue, I had a feeling this one was a boy. Check out Kaidyn's expression, she wanted a sister and was not excited about a boy at first.

PS-Totally stole the picture from Britt's blog because I didn't get my camera out the entire evening. Thanks Brittney!

6 Months Old

 Madeline Claire you are HALF WAY to your birthday!

At 6 months old you:

• Are eating more and more food, you have graduated to the Stage 2 foods and are LOVING it. You love fruits and orange vegetables, mommy has to be sneaky and mix some green vegetables in without you looking because you won't eat them otherwise. Thank goodness for the Stage 2 Mixed Vegetables.
• Are sitting up on your own for longer periods of time. 
• Play with your toys for extended periods, especially in the bath.
• Talk to us more and more, I am not sure what you are saying yet... but I love hearing that voice. 
• Recognize your name, when someone calls out "Madeline" or "Maddie" that head just flips around and you find who is talking to you. 
• Can't be fed while other people are in the room, you are too NOISY and have to know what they are doing. 
• Weigh 16lbs. 12.5oz and are 25 and 1/2 in long. 
• Are trying to wave, but it is just a giant arm flapping motion at this point. 
• Are learning to use a sippy cup. 
• Want so BADLY to crawl, you get up on your knees and just rock back and forth. It won't be long now.

 "Give me that piece of paper!"

 "What does it say?"

 "I can't read this yet."

"So I will just eat it!!!!!!!!!!!!"

6 Month Pictures

On Friday March 25th we went and had Maddie's 6 month pictures taken. She was a champ, lots of smiles and laughs. It was SO hard to narrow it down to our favorites. The "Hold My Memories" site the studio uses isn't the most user friendly but be sure to check them out, we have some great ones!

Click here to view the pictures from Click!

Who's that big girl?

Saturday evening we met my parents at Mark's Feed Store for dinner and look who joined us as a big girl!

Aunt Lauren got married!

On Friday, March 18th, Lauren and Justin got married. The date was supposed to be two weeks before, but health issues caused a postponement. Here are some pictures from the evening!

The couple speaking to the officiant before the ceremony.

The cake I got from Williams (yum!).

Emma desperately wanted Madeline to wake up.

She is finally awake, and in Great Grandma's arms.

Lauren and Justin saying their vows.

The new Mr. And Mrs.

Madeline and her Daddy, lookin all snazzy!

They are about to cut the cake, you can see Emma sneaking in for a piece too!

Madeline and her Mommy.

Madeline got to enjoy the bouquet also (don't worry it's fake)!

Lauren is ready to throw the bouquet.

Madeline says "Hi!"

"Don't look now, but I am ready to MOVE!"

Brother and Sister.

The new family.