Cousin Natalie's Birthday Party

We made our first trip to Jim and Natalie's today for Natalie's 9th birthday party. Madison was fussy for a lot of the day. She is probably going through a growth spurt or something. It seems all she wants to do is eat. Getting her to sleep lately has been difficult. Natalie's party was great although we didn't have the chance to stay as long as we typically would. With a baby, we are learning it's all about how you can time things to get them home when they are supposed to eat...

Dance Party

Madison generally gets fussy at least a couple times a day. I've learned that she likes to dance and it generally calms her down a bit. So... at least once a day we dance together. Ryan took this video of us in action. Kind of embaressing but I guess it's real life right? ;)

Wesley and Madi Meet

Grandma Hug-A-Bug Cooley and Gram Crosson came down to visit baby Wesley today. Madison and I joined them at Tim and Sarah's and had the chance to visit with their new family and Uncle Al and Aunt Betsy too! Here are some pictures from the day. Overall, I thought it was a great one! Little Wesley is so cute. It's hard to remember Madi being that small even though it was just a few weeks ago. Compared to Wesley, she looks giant now!

Madison Goes Amish?

Actually it's just the Easter bonnet Grandma hug-a-bug bought her. She looked adorable in the outfit today. I laughed out loud at the hat when I dressed her though.

One of these things is just like the other...

Madison and I took a trip to the Wild Animal Park with Uncle Jim and Cousin Natalie. It was a great day. Of course, I was an hour late by the time I finally got Madison to finish eating, made it to the parking lot, walked up the enormous hill to the entrance (wow - I'm out of shape!) and successfully made it through the ticket line. Jim and Nat were just finishing the carousel as Madi and I arrived. We then saw the gorillas, took the train ride through the park, and saw an animal show. Crazy that it took 4 hours to do those things. Thankfully the park is close for Jim, Nat and us so we can go again soon. Natalie was a big help by pushing Madison's stroller and watching her in the bathroom while I washed my hands. She's a good big cousin to Madi.

So, the two things that are alike in these photos are Madison and the giraffe. Yes, it's true that Madison is in the 75th percentile for height so they are both tall but actually what makes them alike are their birthdays. Madison is just one day older than this baby giraffe.

One Month Old!

Today is Madison's one month birthday! She had a doctor's appointment and we learned that she is doing great! She's gained a whole 2 pounds since the doctor originally met her on March 3rd. She now weighs 9 pounds and is 21.5 inches long (2 and a half inches longer than she was at birth). She's average in weight (50th percentile) but she's a tall girl (75th percentile). Otherwise, she's doing well. The doctor says her immune system will be much stronger by 3 months of age but that after 2 months it's ok to take her into the office provided everyone washes their hands before holding her and that no one sick is around her.

Thank Goodness for the Moby!

I think Madi and I finally mastered the Moby this morning. I'm proud to say that I've showered, dressed, eaten breakfast, fed the baby twice, had coffee, and gotten the mail all prior to 11:30 am. May not sound like a huge accomplishment but any new mom knows that's not a bad start to the day. Being hands free really helps me be able to fix meals and get the little things done.

Welcome Wesley!!

Thanks to Aunt Betsy, I was able to meet the newest addition to the Crosson family yesterday. Wesley was born on Monday afternoon and Sarah and Tim let me come visit them in the hospital. Madison wasn't allowed in the labor and delivery ward so Aunt Betsy babysat her in the lobby while I visited with Sarah and Tim. I have to say - they looked so much more calm and collected than we were at that point in Madison's life. Sarah looks and sounds great and Tim was clearly a proud daddy! I am so excited for them. Tim took this photo of Wesley and me. He's so little and has the cutest cry - not shrill at all. Compared to him, Madison seems enormous now. It's hard to remember her being smaller than that. She now weighs about 9 pounds.

Mommy and Madi Time

Auntie Betsy Meets Madi

Well, Tim and Sarah had their baby this evening - Wesley Briggs Crosson. We are so excited to meet him and so delighted for Tim and Sarah. I told Madi that she has a new cousin to boss around ;) We also benefited from the whole experience by getting Aunt Betsy for the night. She came to stay with us tonight because the apartment she rented isn't ready until tomorrow. Madi's been fussy today but slept like an angel in Aunt Betsy's arms while Aunt Betsy sang to her.

Raise Your Hand If It's Your First Easter

Madi celebrates Easter by watching movies and kicking back with Mom

Madi and Mommy

Hello World

Four Generations

It's Grandma Time

Madison spends time with Grandma Crosson and Grandma Cooley

Madison Meets Uncle Greg & Aunt Carol

We didn't think Aunt Carol was going to let her go ;)

Madison Meets More Crossons

Uncle Greg, Aunt Carol, Grandma Cooley and Grandma Crosson came for a visit today. Madison had a chance to meet her great aunt, uncle and grandmother all at the same time. We took some great photos and had a nice lunch in Mission Valley with Jamie, Kelli, Michelle, Tim and Sarah. Tim and Sarah are still on baby watch and we are as excited as ever to get the call that Sarah is in labor.

Of course, the trip was bitter sweet since Uncle Greg and Aunt Carol took Kelli back to LA after lunch. Madi and I are definitely sad to see Kelli go. We will be on our own next week when Ryan is back at work. But, in two weeks Madison and I will take our first trip to Exeter with Grandma Cooley and Grandma Crosson to visit Uncle Greg and Aunt Carol and give Ryan a break from being a dad for a few days. He needs to catch up on his sleep and really focus on school before the end of the semester is upon us! I'm also looking forward to having a few extra hands around to help with the baby again when we go.

The Bandas

Goal

I love it when Madi sleeps like this. I think it's the cutest thing. I'm

posting this picture to show how much bigger she's gotten since the first one we took of her in her pack and play

Madi bonds with Auntie Kelli

Madi will be so sad when Kelli leaves tomorrow. I think she thinks Kelli is her second mom at this point.

I see you...

Never Say Never

I have to admit, all the things I swore I'd never do as a mom are already catching up with me. The other day I caught myself licking my thumb and using it to wipe something off Madison's face. I stopped mid-lick and remembered how many times I yelled at my mom for doing this to me as a kid. I thought it was disgusting and swore I would NEVER do that to my kids. Funny how it catches up to you. So, did I stop? No way, it's so much easier than juggling the baby to get up and wash her face. Go figure... I am somewhat disgusted with myself though if that counts for anything.

The pacifier was another one. I swore I would never give one to my baby. I was of the belief that babies only cry to tell you they need something. I thought a pacifier would be stifling and it wasn't the right thing to do. I lasted less than three weeks as a mom without caving on that one. Sometimes babies really do just want to suck for no reason and sometimes you'll do whatever it takes to calm them down.

The last one has to do with the fact that I'm writing this from bed at 2:45 this afternoon. I swore I would never spend the day in bed with the baby. I even get cabin fever from being in the house for too long. Today I caved on this one. With all the lack of sleep we've been getting, I decided maybe we needed a day to rest.

Maybe one day Madison will read this and learn to never say never...

Practice for the Daddy-to-Be

Tim and Sarah are right on the verge of having their baby - Madison's cousin! We can't wait to meet the newest addition to the Crosson family and to watch Tim and Sarah become new parents! I am determined to make sure that Madi is as close to her cousins as the Crosson cousins of our generation have always been! Tim helped me carry Madison around in her car seat and held her at dinner. Good practice for the new daddy-to-be. Sarah is great with Madi too - needless to say, we know she's going to be an amazing mother. I really enjoyed being able to go through pregnancy with her and now I can't wait to share the new parenthood experience with both she and Tim.

Natural Parents

Karen and Cam with Madison at dinner. They are naturals for sure!

Our little Genius

Madi and I went out to dinner with a bunch of friends and most of the Crosson cousins. We told the waitress we had a 3 week old baby so she brought us an infant stand that held Madison's car seat and then set a kids place at the table with a menu and crayons. We all got a laugh out of that one. Of course Ryan and I know that Madison is going to be the smartest little girl ever, but even we have to admit she isn't advanced enough to be coloring pictures for us yet.

Beauty Sleep

Madi catches a wink on her daddy's chest before we leave for dinner.

Madi's First Enjoyable Bath

Kelli and I gave Madi a bath in the sink and she didn't seem to mind this one. She did poop inside of Kelli's hand as Kelli carried her to the tub. Otherwise, she was a little angel thanks in part to her pacifier.

Kelli feeds Madi

Kelli helped me out by feeding Madison a bottle and burping her afterward. This was Madi's first experience being fed by someone other than Mom.

My Pimp Hand is Strong...

Kelli, Ryan and I were looking back through the photos of Addie and Madi and discovered why it was that Addie started to cry. Madison was basically beating her. Poor Addie...

Addie and Madi... (and Artie Kevin)

Mel and Addison (Madi's first and best friend) came to visit and we snapped these pictures of the two little ladies. They are 3 and a half weeks apart in age and the differences between them are amazing. Addison is a few pounds bigger than Madison and has much greater muscle control. She also seems to be much more awake and alert and seems to have fewer temper tantrums. I was able to get one photo where it looks like both girls are crying but, in reality, Madison was crying and accidentally hitting Addison while Addison was a perfectly content little angel. The third "baby" in the first photo is Jason's childhood doll, Artie Kevin. Kelli and I thought it was hilarious that he had a cabbage patch kid so his mom loaned it to Kelli to bring on their trip down. We thought, in all fairness, that Jason's baby should be included in the photo with the other babies.

Kevin and Madi Meet At Last...

On Ryan's first day back to the office, he and Kev meet Kelli, Jason, Madi and me for lunch at Lolitas taco shop - our favorite little dive with the best carne asada burritos. Kevin and Madi finally met and we all got to enjoy a nice San Diego day on the restuarant's outdoor patio. Madison slept the entire time, of course...

Ryan Goes Back to Work

Yesterday was Ryan's first day back at work and happened to also be a Tuesday which is the night he has class until 10. Needless to say, it was a long time to be away from the baby. He talked about how much he missed her when we went to lunch and, of course, he even threw in the "oh, and you too, Sarah." I'm getting used to that these days ;) We ate at Lolitas which is this little dive Mexican place with the best carne asada burritos ever. We had to make sure that Kelli and Jason experienced some good Mexican food while they were here! Thank goodness for Kelli and Jason who were able to help me out with Madison during Ryan's first day back!

Ryan Playing House

Madison was being a cranky pants while we ate dinner the other night so, once again, we were on a quest to figure out what would calm her down. Thankfully we have hardwood floors downstairs so Ryan was able to put her in her stroller and "walk" her around the house. Kelli told Ryan it looked like he was playing house by walking a doll around the house so we took this video. Hey, it worked! She went to sleep and we were able to eat dinner together.

Jason and Madison

Kelli's boyfriend Jason has a way with Madison. We think maybe she has a crush on him. She spent over an hour staring at him today and he seemed to be all it took to get her to stop crying.

She is fascinated by him...

Madi meets Auntie Kelli