Big adjustments..

So going back to work has been a huge adjustment on my family and me. It has meant adjusting to new schedules, new persons, less time with Madden, more time on work, blah, blah... It has been really hard :(

I'm hoping that things will settle in and work out. I've been feeling very guilty about any time I spend away from Madden-- hence, no blogging. But, I think I need to get back into it again. It's something important to me and something that I love to do!

As for Madden, he is recovering from his first cold (snotty nose and all). He is tipping the scales at a whopping 17 lbs! I mean, this child EATS. He eats mostly sweet things, like his momma :) I think his favorites are pears and peaches, but he will down some oatmeal with mixed fruits!

He is also rolling over, both ways, which means no more swaddler :( He sleeps on his belly, when he sleeps, that is!! He clearly wants to be the center of attention, even at 3 a.m. and we are struggling to keep up!

We got him this fantastic jumper-oo thing that hangs from the door frame. He loves that thing! I like to make it into a swing and he things that is just hilarious. I am almost certain he will soon be crawling. If I turn my back for a SECOND, he has rolled and rolled under the coffee table or the bed, you name it.

Check him out....

Rocks himself in the rocking chair!


 Loves chewing wash clothes!


Rides like a big boy in the stroller!

Sorry, that was a scattered bunch of info, but I wanted to catch you all up! I will be back, soon :)



Chelsey

4 months..

Where has the time gone?

I am about to go back to work the end of August, and probably be a complete and total train wreck :( I hope I don't scare my Kindergarteners away!

Yesterday was our 4 month check-up. Madden weighs 15 lbs 5 ounces. Oh. My. Gosh. What a chunker!! The doctor gave us the o.k. to start some solid foods (even though I already have). So we gave him pears, which he gobbled up. 

 

And said, "MORE PLEASE!"

And then we gave him peaches, which he ate without complaint. Then..... We gave him bananas. And he almost fell out of his Bumbo with shock. He didn't care too much for them. I'd say the majority of them ended up on his bib. It was messy.

 Now, he is also starting to hang out in his exer-bouncer thinger. He loves it! He tries to stand up on his little piggies and he swats at the hanging toys and drools on the ones he can reach. It is so amazing to watch him grow developmentally. It's hard to believe that someday, he will be watching babies of his own :(

First real vacation!!

So, we took Madden on his first big vacation to the Outer Banks! He did great on the 5 1/2 hour car ride, which I am so thankful for! He wasn't very interested in sitting in the hot sun, even in his little tent. So, we spent most of our time taking turns hanging out with him at home or at the pool at our beach house. He liked to dip his feet in the pool, but didn't much care for his pool floaty. He was a trooper, especially being away from all the things he was used to.
He did love to look out onto the ocean during the evenings, after it wasn't so hot!


We also got some cute family photos taken-- just by our family. Check out daddy and Maddy :)

Time Flies...

My baby is getting so big! He is now three months old and counting... Ah! He loves when I kiss on his feet, he thinks it is so funny! He also loves the TV. He strains his neck just to catch a glimpse. It is hilarious and probably not very good for him :/

We went on our first big trip this past weekend to PA to visit my grandparents. They could not get enough of us chubby little cheeks :) My 5 year old niece also got to spend some time with Madden. She was so enthralled by helping out, especially changing pee diapers. She would say, "hold his legs!!" I miss her already, she was such a big help. Sigh... I need time to sllllooooow down!

Long time...

It's been awhile since I have blogged. Well, I have blogged on my teacher site, but not here. I have been so busy!! Faithe has been helping me with this teacher store business, so it has consumed A LOT  of my time. 

Madden is getting so big! He is already 12 lbs 5 oz! I cannot believe it. He has developed such an amazing personality over the last 8 9 (OH MY GOSH) weeks. I love when he wakes up in the morning and gives me the biggest smile ever. Then when I pick him up he stretches his back so that his little tooshy sticks out. :) It is the sweetest thing!!

We are taking him to the beach for the first time this weekend. I am so excited for him to meet all of our friends there! Plus, I am in huge need for some sunshine! I got him some sweet new shades for our trip...

 

He is so obviously my son :)

Love, love, & more love!

I'm so in love with Madden. I cannot imagine loving anyone or anything else as much. Last night, I was sitting on the couch after putting him to sleep and I realized that I missed him! I struggle to get him down for naps and bedtime everyday and then when he isn't right next to me, I miss him! Ah! What a crazy thing. Plus, he slept from 8:52 last night until 4:43 this morning! What a big boy!! I am just so sad he is growing up so fast. I know that I want another little one, but I can't imagine that it would be the same. I'd be chasing Madden around the house while trying to create the same bond with another child. Ugh... So much to think about. 

I have been doing a little internet browsing this week while Madden takes his naps and found something awesome you all need to check out!!

For every package you buy, Huggies gives diapers to a baby in need for a whole day!

I ordered two packs of these for Madden. I cannot wait to try them on him this summer!

Happy baby:)

Today was such a good day! Madden was so happy and he was a great sleeper:) We got some new board books and we are so excited to wake up tomorrow and read them together!
You know, babies make cute faces. I never realized just how cute each one was before Madden! Even his sad faces make me love him so much more. I just love watching him look around and take in new things. I can tell he is going to be a smarty like his mommy:D

So thankful

We went to the dermatologist yesterday for Madden's birthmark. I have been on the edge of my seat to get to this appointment. (Just a little background, Madden was born with a two tone birthmark on the top of his head and all of  the doctors we saw at the hospital were so interested in it. When we went to his first doctor's appointment at 4 days old, she requested we see a Pediatric Dermatologist to make sure it was indeed just a birthmark). I am so thankful that it is JUST a birthmark and not something serious. I could have cried.  The derm was awesome and she made me feel so much better. And she helped us with his baby acne! What a blessing!

1 month checkup

Today was Madden's 1 month appointment. He weighs a WHOPPING 9 pounds 15 ounces. I can't believe how big he is! He is in the 50th percentile with weight, height and head circumference. I'd say that makes him pretty perfect! We are still waiting for his case of baby acne to clear up, it makes me so sad to see his pretty face all red and bumpy. And on top of that, we have our appointment with the pediatric dermatologist on Thursday to have his "birthmark" looked at. His doctor today kept saying that she was anxious to hear what the dermatologist would say about it. Seriously, freak me out some more!!! I can't imagine anything being wrong with him, I just could not bare to see him ever suffer.

On another note....
This morning when we were playing (while daddy was still sleeping), I was giving Madden big kisses and he smiled the BIGGEST smile ever! He loves his mommy :) Then, when I tried to show daddy how sweet he was when mommy kissed him, he started crying! Typical man-- only sensitive when no one is looking! I can't believe how fast time is flying. Pretty soon, school will be starting again and I will be going back to work! Boo.

Fussy Time.

Madden has developed his fussy time. This just happens to be BED TIME! Around 7 o' clock, which is when Faithe gets home from work, Madden starts to be grouchy and fussy. He will sit in his bouncy seat, but he whines every minute or so. Then, when someone picks him up to console him, it's all over. He starts fussing and nothing seems to console him but eating. It makes me so sad, because the only time Faithe gets to spend with him during the week is from 7-bedtime and when Madden is fussy, mommy is the only one he seems to want.
After fighting sleep for about an hour or two, he will fall asleep.
Last night we fell asleep in the living room and he actually slept a solid 3 and half hours before finally becoming noisy enough to wake me. He really doesn't cry at night, but fusses and grunts until I get him. He is quite the noisy baby. I need to figure out the schedule thing, but I think he is still to little. The peds recomment 2-4 months is mature enough to get a schedule going. Ah! That seems so close! I don't want my baby to grow up!

At least he loves his baths!

3 weeks old...

I cannot believe that it has been 3 weeks already. Actually.. It has been 22 days! That makes me want to cry. Everyday he gets older, it gets closer to the day he will be old enough to move away from me :( Obviously, I'm still an emotional roller coaster and being rather dramatic!
I tell you what, when this little guy is hungry it is the funniest thing ever! He bobs his head around and pecks like a chicken at whatever is there. He also growls like a little dinosaur while he is eating or when he gets excited about seeing the boob! I could just watch him do this all day, it keeps me smiling during those 3 am feedings!
Gosh, I could have six or seven kids if I could afford it. There certainly is nothing like it!

Isn't he perfect!?!

Madden West Andrews

What a whirlwind week. I went in for my induction on Thursday and after only 9 hours of labor and 7 minutes of pushing, baby Madden West Andrews entered the world. He weighed 7 lbs 3 oz and was 19.5 inches long. He has been absolutely perfect. I cannot even begin to explain what it is like to be a mommy. Although, I can say it is a lot more emotional than I thought it would be! I cannot believe that he will be a week old at 6:50 p.m. Check out his first week of life :)

It's Getting Close...

I have tried all the silly old wives' tales on how to evict your baby and realized that my doctor was right this whole time. They are just silly old wives' tales. Some miserable pregnant lady was constipated and decided to try her mother's secret castor oil recipe. Then WHAM! out popped her baby. It was only because the baby was probably done cooking and her body was ready for it. 

So here I am, two days from our induction, and I all of the sudden don't feel so ready. It's funny that I was pretty much begging this baby to come out last week, and now I'm not so sure... I cried pretty much all day yesterday thinking about having a baby and giving up my freedoms and my alone time. Poor Faithe, he insists that we will be able to spend time together while the baby is sleeping. He has no idea, but I applaud his efforts :)

Anyway, take a look at our sweet baby from the beginning to now....

 His first picture at 8 weeks :)

 Then, at just 14 weeks, I was surprised to see a very prominent feature!! This was also when his name was Talon...

 At a sweet 22 weeks! And then his name was Carter...

His first 3D/4D face photo. He was hanging on to his feet for dear life. And he might have been Cash here...

Now, here he is in my BIG belly at 39 weeks.

Actually, I think I am pretty fortunate. I only gained about 24 pounds throughout this pregnancy. If all goes well, all those extra pounds will just slide out with the little guy.