Flashback!

Tonight we attended the wedding reception (we skipped the wedding part, I didn't want to have THAT baby on the video) of an old friend of mine from dance, our mothers also work together, so it was a family affair. The best part was that it was held at the Culbertson West, where we got married almost 4 years ago. It was great to be back there after a few years and Madeline just loved all the sights and music. 

 Madeline and Grandma played and played. 

 She also chewed and chewed (Side note, we are working on our FIRST tooth)

 BIG Grins!

I had to have a family photo out in front of the house. This is where most of our wedding photos were taken, and I wanted to add a new updated family picture to the collection.

First Zoo Trips of 2011

We have had a Zoo pass in our possession for the last few weeks and have made it over for a visit twice. The first trip was with Chrissie, Amie, and Cammie (girl's day!)

 Ready to explore!

 I love that both girls are in sun hats with pacis, two peas in a pod!

This afternoon we headed back to the zoo with Daddy. It was the first nice day in about two weeks because it wasn't raining. It was a bit crowded because Glacier Run opened recently (the new polar bear and brown bear exhibit) but it was a great day to spend walking around outside. 

 Madeline went for her first official ride in a swing. I will let you decide if she liked it!

 LOVE the big grins!

 Brad has a moment with this camel. 

We were checking out the camel as well.

Easter Recap

Easter week was pretty busy around our house, it felt like we did something each day to prepare for the "big" day.

 Getting ready to dye eggs.

 The set-up

 Madeline had her own cup.

 Mom dyed, Maddie chewed.

 Action shot.

 All the eggs are in!

 Daddy was being silly.

 The finished product.

 Helping Grandma and Grandpa with the cookies.

 Our traditional lamb cake.

 Ready for Easter!

 Already going for the good stuff.

 Our little bunny.

 Clothes first, good girl.

 Beach accessories.

 She always finds the tag!

 Knows what to do with a book already. 

 All gone!

 Ok, let's eat the handle now. 

 Playing with all the new toys!

Family picture!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!"