Madelynn's Experience with Baby Food

Yesterday we gave her baby food for the first time. We introduced her to peaches with some rice cereal.

I think it may be sour to her, but she ate the whole can over two sittings.

We also had her drink from her sippy cup.

She is such an amazing little girl. She has come so far, and continues to improve everyday.

It's Gone!

The gastronomy tube button was taken out on Wednesday afternoon. After 4 months and 15 days Maddie no longer has anything protruding from her tummy.
The doctor said it will take about two weeks to heal. We need to keep her dressing dry, and watch for infection.
Right now it just leaks about an hour after every feeding, but the hole itself is looking good.

Jenny Jump Up

The Jenny Jump Up box said the child had to be able to hold their head up unassisted, and they need to be four months. Madelynn is almost 6-months adjusted age, and has been able to hold her head up for a while. We decided it was time to purchase the jump-up. Madelynn spent the half hour lifting her feet to twirl around, and to use the jump-up as a teething toy. (The pictures are not the best because they were taken with my phone.)

Independence

Madelynn can hold her own bottle now. A big plus when we are running late in the morning, and she's hungry. She can eat in the car.

Her eyes are shut because of the flash.

The Great Teddy Bear Fight

Madelynn is finally bigger than her teddy bear. To prove it to the stuffed animal she decided to fight him.

At first it looked like she may be losing the battle.

Then she let out her little warrior cry,

and the bear was defeated.

The live action fight.

Anatomy of a Tantrum

A lot of people commented on how cute Maddie's tantrum picture is. I decided to post the photos in their entirety.Tantrums are not cute people!

Okay, maybe a little...

Introducing Solids: Rice Cereal

Our early intervention therapist, Becca, said it was okay to start introducing Madelynn to solid foods since she is 5-months old adjusted age.  She said to put it on a toy Madelynn likes to chew on so she will not get startled as she might by being introduced to a spoon and cereal at the same time.  We dipped her favorite ring in the cereal, and let her have at it.  She seemed to like it. 

 She was covered in it when it was all over. 

 I think it was a success though.  At her 9-Month check-up on July 2nd we will ask the doctor about introducing her to more foods.

Madelynn Rolls (One Way)

Madelynn is doing so well at hitting her adjusted age milestones. (While technically she is 8 months old, you can only expect her to be able to do 5 month-old things because of her prematurity.)
She can:
*Do raspberries
*Grasp objects
*Turn toward voices
*Keep her head steady while on her tummy.
*Scoot
*Smile spontaneously, and react to your smile.
*Make vowel shapes (the noises are not there yet because of the vocal cord)
* Roll from tummy to back: Yesterday while visiting Grandparents Hurst, Madelynn decided she would start rolling from her tummy to her back. I had left the camera at home, and was unable to capture the first time on film.

This morning we were doing tummy time and she did it again! This time I was ready with the camera.

This video is of her holding her head, demonstrating her neck strength.

Here is the roll! The camera work is unsteady because I was watching her and not the screen. Sorry!

Matthew's Tricks

We don't have a dog so we make him do things:

Matthew's First Birthday

(Matthew 4 days old, Matthew at 1 year 3 days)

On May 22nd the family gathered to celebrate the first birthday of Matthew. The theme for the party was baseball. With Darren being a die-hard Seattle fan, there was Mariner memorabilia around. Before the cake, and cupcakes there was a barbecue. While Darren was out roasting hot dogs, Matthew found Madelynn on the couch and wanted to play.

He later found his Daddy outside.

After eating, it was finally time to sing and let Matthew have at his cake.

Matthew and Maddie right before we sing.

He's not quite sure about the hat.

Maddie's not impressed. Sometimes, with the faces she pulls at me, I think she's a teen in a baby body.

He starts out slowly.

Very slowly.

After his parents put his hands in the cake, he gets the idea.

He didn't really eat a lot. He just put cake pieces in his bib pockets.

He's done.

After cleaning him up it was time for presents: