November 5, 2011

Madelynn's Cupboard

Madelynn's Halloween Costume

I have more pictures to get from everyone's camera, but here are a few of Madelynn being a Punk Rock Princess.





Celebrate, Good Times, Come On!

Madelynn's 2nd birthday theme this yeas was "Rock Star".  Amber and I decorated the formal dining room with pink, purple, and teal decorations.  I think all of our hard work paid off when you look at the result.

















Every one visited for a couple of hours, and watch the toddlers play with one another. Madelynn and Andrew love being around each other.  At one point Madelynn found Andrew to be the perfect subject to practice applying lip gloss.







It was time for presents.



Afterward it was time for the cupcakes.  Andrew and Madelynn thoroughly enjoyed them though one cannot tell by Madelynn's face that she did.






It was an amazing party for an amazing little girl.  Thank you for all who came, and all who sent their love.




October 2, 2011

Testing...Testing...

We are having Madelynn's birthday party next week.  We decided to do cupcakes again this year.  I decided to practice making them this weekend so I can get the coloring right, and the icing technique down.  I also thought it might be a good idea to have Madelynn try one since we remember what happened last year:

Today  was a very different experience... It is amazing what a year can do for one's ability to hold their cupcakes.



September 21, 2011

Our Diva Is Two

While this must get annoying after each section of time that I write and post little re-caps of her journey, its therapeutic for our family...So get ready for a public therapy session:.

 Two years ago today Madelynn came in to this world unexpectedly and without much hope.  Prior to the C-Sections the neonatal doctors were prepping us for what was potentially to come our way.  The baby will not cry. You will not be able to see her.  Turns out she came out crying for all to hear (Her cord had yet been cut.) , and Jeremy got a chance to see her before the doctors whisked her away.  She scored a high nine on her Apgar test


The next five months were a blur of tests, transfusions, numerous surgeries, oxygen tanks, monitors (which she is still terrified of. So if you have a cell that makes sounds like a hospital monitor please silence it before you watch our child :) ) and touching/holding her in longer increments.  Madelynn came home 5-months to the day of her birth.
She was hooked up with Miss Becca, a PT, and learned how to eat, sleep, roll, scoot, and crawl. 

By the time she turned one her gastronomy tube was out, and she was eating solids. She had made her first road trip, was babbling, and pointing to shapes, people, and body parts.


At eighteen months she became a little person, and not our little baby.  We made a big move, and took her to Washington.  She has grown and developed by leaps and bounds.  We walks, runs, had her first hair cut, teaches Andrew bad habits, and is in daycare.  Pretty soon, save for her size, you won't be able to see signs of prematurity.


She is now 19 pounds and 30 inches. A far cry from the 1 1/2 pounds 11 3/4 inch baby that came into our lives.











Our life has never been the same.  Jermey has become the father he had always wanted to be, and I have become the mother I never thought I was going to be.  With all the heartache, the PTSD, PPD (yep been diagnosised with those....) we would never trade her or the experience for the world.   We love you Madelynn.  You will never know until you're a parent the love we have for you. Your are our light, and purpose.




We love you baby girl.

September 20, 2011

Madelynn's First Hair Cut

Just a day shy of her second birthday, Madelynn got a hair cut courtesy of her Grandma Anderson...Well, it's more like a trim.  Photos below:



September 10, 2011

My Little Diva

Enough said...


Walking!

She's done it!! Madelynn is walking.  After weeks of taking a step here and there, she has given up crawling and cruises around on two legs. 
The other night Madelynn kept getting in and out of her red chair, and was walking all around the house. There are videos at the end of the photos. 










Summer Photos

I've been trying to figure out how to incorporate some cute photos of Madelynn that didn't really have any purpose... I decided just to throw them on here and call it a summer collection.  She has grown so much in the short two months we've been here.  I am so proud of everything she has accomplished, and how far she has come in her little life.

Playing in the Grass - June
 Jeremy Had a Dog, Copper, and Bought Matching Jackets...
 Playing in the Motel Drawer - July
 Watching "Beauty and the Beast" in Bed
 Little '80s Outfit
 She Loves Bath Time

 I Know I'm Fat Again...But Madelynn is Really Cute
 Stealing Grandpa's Chair
 Madelynn and the Aforementioned Grandpa
 Back Again
 Our Country Pumpkin with Pigtails - August