Santa Meets Madeline

Could someone PLEASE tell this kid that the beard is REAL?!?!? Love, Santa

Madeline at 7 Months

Sweet Doodlebug, you just turned 7 months old. That means you're closer to being a one-year-old than you are to being a newborn. Get me a tissue, please! At 7 months you: 

• Are still a great eater! You are drinking 4 bottles a day at 6 ounces each, but Dr. Barret told us at your six-month checkup that you don't have to take rice in your bottle anymore OR in a bowl! Yay! You were never a big fan of rice cereal. However, you LOVE eating your oatmeal (twice a day) and have pretty much tried every Stage 2 food that Gerber makes. You seem to enjoy them all and haven't refused any of them!
• Have started drinking apple juice (diluted with water) and love it! We're working on finding the right sippy cup for you. You prefer drinking from a regular cup, but Mommy and Daddy aren't ready for that yet!
• Are advancing as an eater. Dr. Barret has said that you can eat anything from the table that can be mashed - like bananas, mashed potatoes, etc. Your Mimi is VERY excited that she gets to feed you mashed potatoes during our Christmas dinner this week!
• Just started wearing size 4 diapers. They're a little big on you, but not much. You just finished off a box of size 3 diapers from Sam's, and I didn't want to have to buy just a few more 3's to tide you over. Daddy says your size 4 diapers look like control top panyhose...the waist goes pretty high on your tummy!
• Are wearing mostly 9 month clothes and a few 12 month clothes. Your 6 month pj's should have been retired a few weeks ago, but we still need them right now! We're hoping Santa Claus will bring your some 12 month pj's!
• Weigh 19.5 pounds today according to our rough calculations at home. You weighed 19 pounds 6 ounces and were 28" long at your 6-month checkup on December 3rd. That's 93% for weight and 97% for height.
• Are keeping us guessing with your teeth! You had a few restless nights around Thanksgiving when the only thing that would console you was a cold paci or teething toy. We see and feel some evidence of a couple of teeth, but they're not doing much. And, the faucet of drool stopped about 2 weeks ago!
• Are still doing well at taking regular naps! You have a morning nap and afternoon nap and sometimes an evening catnap. Your morning nap is the most regular. I still never know how long each one will be, but I'm glad you take them.
• Now go to sleep between 7:00 and 7:30 pm. You get earlier each month! You usually wake up around 7:00 am.
• Have mastered sitting up when we place you in that position, but yesterday (December 20th) you began moving yourself from your tummy to a sitting position all by yourself! We are VERY impressed!
• Still have your "pteradactyl" sound, but not as often. So very funny.
• Are still such a happy gal. It was hard for Mommy to get all her Christmas shopping done because people in the stores like to comment on what a smiley girl you are! I hate having to stop for people to admire you. Just kidding. :)
• Don't chew on your hands very much - usually just a finger or two. You love your paci.
• Have started petting Bond regularly. And...grasping his fur in your tight little fist because you like the way it feels. We're working on this...Bond is very patient. :)
• Are still mouthing things like crazy. EVERYTHING goes in your mouth.
• Sat in a shopping buggy without your carseat for the first time the other day. AND sat in a highchair at a restaurant without your carseat. It was a very interesting lunch. Madeline in a restaurant highchair = Mommy and Daddy taking turns eating a cold lunch.
• Still fit into your baby bathtub, but barely.
• Have acquired two additional nicknames: Helicopter and Scooter.You aren't crawling yet, but you can turn 360 degrees in the blink of an eye and scoot or roll anywhere you want. Usually toward the most dangerous thing in the room. ;)
• Love it when I "get you" by tickling your tummy and sides with my mouth like I'm eating you. You make the greatest cackling sound.
• Are still C-R-A-Z-Y about textures. Your recent favorite is Cousin Elissa's faux rabbit fur coat.
• Still have funny habits when you're drinking your bottle. Your free hand is always stroking the mouth/face of the person feeding you, but recently you've become fascinated with pinching my nose and getting kisses on your hands while you drink.
• Have about the same amount of hair. Still a lot for your age, and so pretty!
• Are losing the fascination with your feet.

A cute little onesie your Aunt Michelle gave you that says, "All I want for Christmas is my Auntie."

On that same note...

I am going to TRY to fill in missing holes in Madeline's blog since this is our "scrapbook" for now. So, when you see a post come through from October, you'll understand why!

Ahhh...Technology.

I just realized I can "fake out" my blog by changing the dates that my entries post. There are many things that I want to post about that happened between Madeline's monthly birthday posts, so...I'm going to go back here and there and "fix" the dates so that things stay chronological! Ha...love it!

Madeline at 6 Months

Our precious Madeline, you turned 6 months old on November 19th. Even though today is December 1st, I'm writing the info as if it's November 19th! At 6 months you:

•Are eating everything in sight - living up to your last name. You are drinking 4 bottles a day at 6 ounces each, still taking some rice cereal in your bottle in the morning and at night, just started oatmeal cereal in a bowl (and LOVE it), are about to start Stage 2 foods and still like all the other foods you've tried so far. We are SO blessed that you're a great eater!

•Are still wearing size 3 diapers. You've learned that it's fun to roll over onto your tummy when I'm changing your diaper. Mommy doesn't think it's funny!

•Wearing mostly 9 month clothes, but can still wear some 6 and 6-9 month clothes. You always outgrow your pj's faster than regular clothes, so your 6 month pj's are about to be retired.

•Weigh 20.5 pounds today according to our rough calculations at home (December 1st), but I have no idea what you weighed on your 6-month birthday. Sorry, baby! Mommy still hasn't remembered to weigh you on your month birthdays. That's only a half pound more than a month ago...hmm...we'll see what the doctor's scale says on Friday at your 6-month checkup.

•No teeth yet, but lots of drool!

•Are getting MUCH better at taking regular naps! You have a morning nap and afternoon nap and usually an evening catnap. I still never know how long each one will be, but somehow you seem to get the sleep you need!

•You usually go to sleep between 7:30 and 8:00 pm. The time change on November 7th hit you pretty hard, but I think you've finally recovered! You usually wake up around 7:00 am.

•Officially became a "sitter" on November 16th. Time is flying.

•Respond to your name almost every time you hear it.

•Still squeal quite a bit and have developed another sound that we call your "pteradactyl" sound. It's long, loud, and hilarious.

•Are still a happy baby. Your Aunt Michelle bought you a bib to wear during the Christmas season that says, "Always Jolly". That pretty much sums you up. :)

•Still chew on your hands, but not as much. You and paci have become big buddies. You only want it when you sleep and if you're upset.

•Learning more about Bond every day. You love to watch him walk back and forth in the kitchen when you're eating in your high chair. It's fun feeding an octopus.

•Still mouthing everything you can get your hands on. It cracks us up how you think you can get things bigger than your head stuffed into your little mouth.

•Are about to outgrow your baby bathtub!

•Still rolling like crazy, and can scoot backwards. Nothing forwards yet!

•Get cracked up over the most random things. Mommy or Daddy will say a silly word that will make you giggle like a hyena. That word will work for about 10-15 minutes, and then it's over. That word isn't funny anymore, and we have to find another one! It's worth it though. We LOVE to hear you giggle.

•Are C-R-A-Z-Y about textures. You're fascinated by how everything feels. You love stroking blue jeans, different couches, your clothes, the carpet, Daddy's beard, Uncle Phil's beard, and the list goes on and on. When you're drinking your bottle your free hand is always stroking the mouth/face of the person feeding you.

•Still have lots of hair - especially on top - but it's actually thinned a little bit around the sides. You still have QUITE enough to hold a hairbow in place though.

•Are still fascinated with your feet.

We can't believe you've been a part of our lives for 6 whole months! That's half a year! Wow. We love you more and more each day.

Photo taken on 11-22-10

Madeline LOVES Oat-fa-meal

In celebration of Madeline's sixth-month birthday tomorrow (can't believe I'm typing that!), we tried oatmeal cereal for a snack today. She loves it! MUCH more than rice cereal. She ate her oatmeal along with some peaches and she thoroughly enjoyed it. She is reaching and grabbing for things more and more every day - she wanted to play with the bowl of oatmeal SO badly!

We call it "oat-fa-meal" in our house. Alan and I have joked about this since we were newlyweds. I remember clearly watching the evening news with Peter Jennings in our tiny little apartment in Austin where we lived when Alan was in law school. It was during the winter and Jennings was commenting on how oatmeal sales were escalating because of the cold weather. Only he didn't say "oatmeal", his tongue got tied and he said "oat-fa-meal". He didn't correct himself - which we thought was funny - he just kept on going. We've called it oat-fa-meal every since. Probably more than you wanted to know, but I shared it anyway. :)

Madeline Meets Santa

Much to her Daddy's dismay, Madeline ran into Santa at the mall today. He was apparently on break. He came up to Madeline while I was browsing at a kiosk and started talking to her! I told him we were planning to visit him soon, but he said I could go ahead and take a picture with my phone. She wasn't scared or anything - hope it stays that way!

Look at Me!

I am declaring today as the "official" day that Madeline sat by herself for the first time. She's been practicing the past couple of weeks, but today's the first day I actually tried to take a picture of her. She lasted long enough for me to take a picture before she fell over, so that makes it official in my book!

Leaning....

Leaning...



STRAIGHT! for a few seconds anyway...  :)



In Memory of an American Hero

I learned on Saturday night that a sweet, sweet man went to be with Jesus. Mr. Ned Smith was one of the most amazing people Alan and I have ever had the privilege of knowing. A Godly servant, husband, father, teacher, and true American hero. He will be missed dearly by many, but most of all his precious wife of 66 years, Betty.

I was blessed to work with him during my time as the Office Administrator for our church's student ministry. Ned taught Sunday School to 9th grade boys at Green Acres Baptist Church for over 40 years! To think of the many lives he touched over the years is mind-boggling. Every time Ned came through the office, he would say hello or goodbye to me in a different language. It was always fascinating to me. I will always have fond memories of that. I will always remember the stories he told us about the war and about his return to Normandy Beach many years later. It was incredible to hear these accounts first-hand. I know that he STILL sometimes awoke with nightmares about his experiences. I never knew all of his military honors until I read his obituary.

I know when Ned awoke in heaven, he heard, "Well done, good and faithful servant".

Auf Wiedersehen, Ned! Until we meet again!

Funeral services for Ned Smith, 86, Tyler, are scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Green Acres Baptist Church with Dr. Mark Dance, pastor of First Baptist Church, Conway, Arkansas, officiating. Burial will follow at Cathedral in the Pines cemetery under the direction of Burks Walker Tippit Funeral Home.

Honorary pallbearers will be students from Ned’s Sunday school classes from 1962-2004. Ned was born in Granite Falls, Washington to the late Orie and Juliet Smith and passed away peacefully on November 6, 2010.

He served in the U.S. Army during WWII with the Third Army Explosive Ordnance Unit. He was a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, earning the Purple Heart, Bronze Star with valor, Good Conduct, European Campaign and European Army of Occupation medals. His life memberships include the Battle of the Bulge Explosive Ordnance Disposal Chapter, where he served as chapter president for ten years, and the Disabled American Veterans.
Ned volunteered his services to many of the youth of the area, educating them on the history of WWII with his personal collections. He was also a taxidermist and carried mounted birds so the youth were treated to the beautiful birds and amusing stories.

Ned was a faithful member of Green Acres Baptist Church where he was deacon emeritus and taught Sunday school for 42 years in the ninth grade boys class. He retired from La GLoria Oil and Gas after 31 years of employment.

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Betty E. Smith; son and daughter-in-law, Ned Lindsey Smith and Donna; sister, Eleanor Mildred Smith; grandchildren, Heidii Godbold and husband Jason, Jimmy Youngblood and wife Susan, Ellen Shankles and husband Scott, Shannon Smith, Jason Smith, Linnea Malone and husband Tim, Bettne Ross; great grandchildren, Claire Juliet Godbold, Jake Godbold, Rosemary Youngblood, Zachary Youngblood, Jonathan Youngblood, Abigail Grace Shankles, Simon Shankles, Maddox Malone, and Austin Ross. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Betty Jane Smith Craig; brother, Elmer M. Smith; sister, Elsie Sola; and grandson, Jonathan David Smith.

The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Burks Walker Tippit.

Betty would like to say “Thank You” to Park Place Rehab Center, particularly the East Wing staff- Shayla, Sheila, Candace, Claira, Tosha, Julie, John, Kim, Randy, Mark, Jeannie, Angela, Lola, and the kitchen staff. Also, Hospice of East Texas- Terri, Joan, and Chaplain Elwood.

Memorials may be made to Green Acres Baptist Church- College Ministry, or Hospice of East Texas.

Madeline at 5 Months

Madeline, you turn 5 months old today! At 5 months you:

 •Are eating less formula each day (4-5 bottles at around 5-6 ounces each) and eat 3 tablespoons of rice cereal. You are eating more solid food, so you aren't drinking as much formula.

•Are wearing size 3 diapers, and have for a while.

•Cannot wear anymore of your 3 month clothes and are wearing mostly 6 or 6-9 month clothes. I washed your new 9 month clothes this weekend and you'll start wearing some of them this week.

•Weigh 20 pounds today according to our rough calculations at home (November 8th - I'm posting this late), but I have no idea what you weighed on your 5-month birthday. Sorry, baby!

•STILL drool like CRAZY, but show no other signs of teething. I feel your gums every couple of days, but haven't felt anything yet. Dr. Barret says we'll feel your teeth before we see them.

•Still just take "catnaps" during the day. Every once in a while you'll take a LOOOONG nap...like 3-4 hours! Totally random and unpredictable when you'll do it, though!

•Go to sleep a little earlier now, between 7:30 - 8:30 pm and still wake up smiling between 7:00 - 8:00 am.
 
•Still enjoy holding Mommy's hands to pull yourself to a sitting position and then pull yourself up to a standing position.

•Are responding more and more to hearing your name - we will say your name and you will turn and look at us!

•Don't make your "razz" sound as often as you did, but you've developed a sweet little squeal when you get really excited. You're "talking" like crazy, and have especially deep converations with your Papa.
 
•Are still SO observant. Many people comment on how observant you are. It's pretty hard to feed you in public (with a spoon) because you're too engrossed with everything going on around you!

•Are still a smiley, happy baby! Daddy calls you Grinny-kins Chinny-kins!

•Are still giggling HYSTERICALLY when I wash your little hands and wash the rolls of your neck with a warm washcloth. I hope you will keep doing that for a long time!

•Aren't quite as fascinated with the ceiling fan anymore. Of course, you don't spend as much time on your back now!

•Still LOVE chewing/sucking on your hands. Sometimes a thumb or a finger, but usually your whole fist.

•Are more and more aware of Bond. One day recently, he hopped up onto the chair we were sitting in. I said, "There's Bond!" and you turned your head toward him and reached out your hand to touch him!

•Still mouthing everything you can get your hands on and grab onto Mommy's hair with your fingers sometimes. You have quite a grip, and it hurts sometimes!

  

•Still sit and play in a Bumbo seat for a while, but not for very long. You can play in your exersaucer now without us stuffing a towel behind your back.

•Can roll like nobody's business!!! You can get anywhere you want to going horizontally!

•Like grabbing both of your feet and pulling on them while you're on your back.

Love you, sweetiepie! This picture was taken on October 22nd, the closest one I have to the 19th. The Rangers were playing the Yankees that night in Arlington - you're doin' THE CLAW!

Madeline's Idea of Helping with the Laundry

A Three Hour Nap...A Three Hour Nap!

Madeline took a 3+ hour nap today! Woohoo! This is the first time she's really slept on her tummy as well. I think taking a nap after a nice warm bath helped, too!

 

Love those leg rolls and ruffle bottom!



Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!

Hello, world!

Just Because She's Cute

Tah-dah!

Contemplative.

Alan calls this her "tee-hee" look.

Trip to Abilene

We've just gotten back from a LONG but fun weekend! We were recently asked to speak on one of the panels at an orientation for prospective adoptive parents at our adoption agency, Christian Homes and Family Services, in Abilene. They had actually asked us to come for an orientation back in July, but Madeline was still pretty small at that time and the prospect of travelling halfway across the state wasn't very appealing. So, we were honored when they asked us to plan to come to their next orientation in October.

We headed out on Friday afternoon, October 1st, and made a pit stop in DeSoto (Dallas area) to visit with Alan's parents and to give Madeline a break and have a snack. Her Mimi got to give her her first taste of squash! We made it to Abilene later that evening, checked into our hotel, and had a yummy dinner at Red Robin. We wish Tyler had a Red Robin - we really love their burgers and steak fries. It was fun driving around Abilene and telling Madeline that's where she was born. It was hard to believe that it had been 5 months since we'd been there! It seemed like yesterday.

We had made arrangements earlier in the week to meet with Elizabeth (Madeline's birthmother) on Saturday morning. We picked her up at her apartment and took her to breakfast at IHOP. It was SO GOOD to see her and see that she was doing well. Needless to say, she was THRILLED to see Madeline. She hadn't seen her since she was two days old. We had a delicious breakfast and enjoyed catching up with Elizabeth and letting her spend some time with our precious baby girl. We keep in touch with her through e-mails and send her pictures often, but it was great to be able to let her see and hold Madeline again. We know it was good for her and she thanked us many times for getting together with her. It may sound weird to people not familar with open adoption, but to us it is SO GREAT that Madeline will be able to have some kind of relationship with her birthmother and know that her adoption was a positive thing. Elizabeth loves her SO MUCH and just wants the best for her, knowing that she was not able to parent Madeline. After breakfast we took her back to her apartment and headed toward Christian Home's offices.

The prospective adoptive parents started their orientation Friday afternoon and were finishing up a little after lunchtime on Saturday. Toward the end of Christian Homes' orientation, they have three different panels of people come in to speak: older children who were adopted through Christian Homes, birthmothers who placed children for adoption through Christian Homes, and adoptive parents who adopted children through Christian Homes. We were very honored to be asked to be on the last panel to share our experience with the prospective adoptive parents. We had sat in the same chairs they were sitting in back in April of 2009, and it was a great experience to be able to share our adoption journey with them and calm some of their fears and answer some of their questions. The other couple on the panel was actually one of the couples that shared with us during OUR orientation. It was great to see them again. Their little boy was just a baby when we first met them, and now he's a growing little boy! They live fairly close to Abilene so they are asked to be on the panel fairly often. They have a  great story to share because they had a failed adoption before they adopted their little boy. Unfortunately that DOES happen from time to time, and it's a good thing to let prospective adoptive parents know that although it might happen to them, God will bring them through it and definitely has a plan for their family.

It was a LONG trip back to East Texas. We made another pit stop in DeSoto to see Alan's parents again and to pick up Bond. They graciously "dog sat" Bond for us. We went on to Longview that evening because Madeline and I were planning to go to a luncheon with my Mom at my parents' church the following Tuesday. Madeline did GREAT on the trip. She's a wonderful little traveler! Needless to say we're very glad we have a minivan now. We practically packed Madeline's entire room to go with us on the road! Here's a picture of baby girl totally zonked out on her way home from Abilene.

P.S. - I know we've said it before, but we LOVE Christian Homes and Family Services. They are a WONDERFUL agency. Their slogan is "A Christian Home for Every Child".

Christian Homes and Family Services

Madeline and Her Feet

These pictures were taken at my parents' house this past weekend. It was around that time that Madeline really discovered her feet. Since then, she LOVES playing with them - especially when I'm changing her diaper! Sadly, she can't wear these cute pj's anymore. They had little chickies on them. They were one of my favorites!

Gran & GG

We are so blessed that Madeline gets to spend quality time with all of her immediate relatives. Here are a few pictures of her with my Mom (Gran) and my Grandmother, her Great Grandmother (aka GG) when we were in Longivew this past weekend. I love Madeline's onesie - it says, "Mommy and I agree. Daddy's Charming."

Catch Up Time!!!

Wow! I'm a little bit behind...we've been CRAZY busy! There's so much to write about! I'll try and catch up over the next few days.

I'll start by summarizing the rest of the new foods Madeline has tried. As far as the ratings go, she gives a "thumbs up" to everything she's tried. She's never spit anything out or refused to eat any new food, so we're pretty pleased about that. However, we know her tastes could change any day! She has tried every Stage 1 food that Gerber has to offer except for plums. She definitely has some favorites. Right now they're carrots, pears, and applesauce. This blog is a scrapbook of sorts for Madeline, so I apologize in advance for posting so many pictures that might be boring to you!

Veggie #4 - Squash
October 1, 2010

Veggie # 5 - Sweet Potatoes
October 3, 2010

Fruit #1 - Bananas
October 5, 2010

Fruit #2 - Peaches
October 7, 2010

Fruit #3 - Applesauce
October 9, 2010

Fruit #4 - Pears
October 11, 2010

Fruit #5 - Prunes
October 13, 2010

Fun at the Fair!

It's somewhat of a tradition for businesses to eat lunch at the East Texas State Fair. You can get into the gates for free until 2:00 pm on weekdays. We have done it a couple of years and decided to go again this year. There were five of us this year, Alan, Marty (Alan's legal assistant), Lexi (our new part-time employee), Madeline, and me. They always have REALLY interesting things to eat! We saw chocolate nachos, chocolate bacon, fried brownies, fried pickles, fried BUTTER - actually just about anything fried!

Madeline sporting her first pair of blue jeans! I was trying to keep her little legs from getting sunburned because she can't wear sunscreen yet!

We ate at a new place this year called "Smokin' Like You Like It" because of a reccomendation from Joel Baker, a friend of Alan's who also happens to be a county judge. He has been to the fair to eat SEVEN TIMES this week, and has posted what's good to eat on his Facebook page.

"Smokin' Like You Like It". I had to get a
picture of the black and white pig!

The girls (excluding Madeline) got HUMONGOUS stuffed baked potatoes topped with barbecued brisket. YUMMY! Upon Joel's recommnedation, Alan got a Tamale Slammer and a Cowboy Mignon. I got a picture of the potatoes and our homemade cherry lemonade, but didn't get any other pictures of the food. Alan let us all take a bite of the Tamale Slammer and we all agreed that we should have gotten it. It was delicious! I can't remember everything that was in it, but it was basically a Frito pie made with tamales, honey bbq flavored Fritos (never seen those in stores before!), cheddar cheese, barbecued brisket, and a sweet bbq sauce. Sounds weird, but it was good! The Cowboy Mignon is basically a filet mignon on a hamburger bun with pickles and a sweet Vidalia onion sauce on it. It was good, too, but not as good as the Tamale Slammer!



Stuffed baked potato and homemade cherry lemonade!

Marty and Lexi



We went inside (for the air conditioning!) and walked around visiting the booths and other displays.

There's also a root beer stand that will fill your cup with ice-cold root beer, a root beer float, or a root beer freeze for ONE DOLLAR if you bring your cup back from a previous purchase. We keep our cups at the office and bring them back every year - it's a GREAT deal!

The Three Musketeers and their root beer!
 Lexi, Alan, and Marty



Veggie #3 - Carrots = BIG Thumbs Up

We ventured into the orange/yellow vegetable family today with carrots. Madeline seems to REALLY like carrots. She did well with the green beans and peas, but she was VERY eager for each spoonful of carrots and opened her mouth extra wide! We have a wittle wabbit in our family, which is good, because carrots are one of the few vegetables that Alan will eat!

Lovin' Carrots!

Later this afternoon, I had a "hairbow lesson" at the house of a sweet friend of mine. Check out Mandy's blog, Burkett Blessings, when you get a chance. It's GREAT! Hairbows are ridiculously expensive to buy! Mandy makes beautiful bows for her daughter, Mallory, and she graciously agreed to teach me how! Now I can hopefully make pretty bows to match Madeline's outfits. We'll see! Here is a picture of my first try. What do you think?

I had to take a few pictures of Madeline in her little red outfit today. It's the first time she's really worn red, and I think she looks great in it! She received several compliments from ladies today at BSF saying that red was her color. I will have to keep my eyes open for red clothing for her!

This is her "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE'S A RECALL ON SIMILAC?!?" face!