This week we celebrated my favorite day of the year...April 7th, the day God gave us His angel, Madelyn Grace Seda.
How did we get from this....
...to this?! God is Good!
Our first picture as a family of 3.
Robert looks like a baby here, then we are about to hit a run of less than well rested nights, ha! Surgery residency didn't have anything on this new little chica!
Meeting her Nana and Papa for the first time.
First official photo shoot in the hospital.
Headed home! Surely I put socks on the child before we went outside :/ (Well, she clearly survived if not)
First Week Photo, courtesy of her Daddy. Some of my favorites of her are ones that he has snapped.
Her first bed...Good old "Hootie" was the only way ANY of us got sleep!
Ok, well, the girl has always loved sleeping with someone, so there is that, too. Maddie has loved to cuddle from the day she arrived.
First doctor's visit. Awake and looking around as her usual. Maddie sleeps hard when she sleeps, but other than that, this kiddo has never been one to snooze when things were happening around her. I can honestly say I recall one church service that she slept through (must have been pretty boring, ha). I always remember seeing some Mama's holding a sleeping baby and thinking, hmmm, wonder when Maddie will do that?! Yeah, that day never came.
Bath times.
Our world has forever changed, for the better.
Three Words...My. Precious. Child.
I have thought a lot about this poem recently. You never think certain things will happen to you, and then they do. We have already seen several "lasts" these last few months. But, I have been lucky, in that I had some hint they were coming, so I truly cherished each of them. What, cherish diaper changing? Absolutely. For a while I was fighting to change a diaper! :) We have changed her last diaper...we have put her to bed in her crib for the last night (and yes, I laid with her in that crib to put her down)...and we have put away the high chair.
The only person that gets a diaper change around here anymore is Boo!
What I shudder thinking about are those that come and go without me having the forewarning.
The only thing that gets me through is recalling what my own mama told me years ago when I asked her what her favorite age was when we were growing up and she responded "I liked every age better than the last." I see that a lot with Maddie. I adore her and wonder how it could get any sweeter and then I realize that it does.
Maddie Lately:
What she's wearing: Maddie loves wearing accessories! You name it, bows are no longer a struggle, bracelets, check, necklaces, bring 'em on! Mama's loving it. She is so funny. On days we go to school she looks for bracelets, because she knows "no necklaces at Pimose, ONLY church!"
She can still wear a lot of 2T, but new things I buy a 3T. She is still in a size 7 shoe, but I am buying size 8s for spring time! And no more diaper updates, as you saw above, those are a thing of the precious past. We still put a pull up on her for night time, but every morning she wakes dry, so I know I will soon bite the bullet and not even use a pull up soon. :(
Notice the purse, it was full of bracelets!
I rest my case.
Even Daddy can get her bow in for school!
What Maddie's saying: She is a little polly parrot at home, which I love. Nothing makes me happier than hearing that sweet little voice. When are around people she does not know, however, she is very quiet, pensive, I like to think. My favorite phrases for the moment...and for the rest of my life I am sure, "Mama, I love you" and "Mama, you are my best friend" I mean, really? How does it get any sweeter?! We will be sitting there and she will put her arm around me and look into my eyes hugging me so tight that her little face presses against mine and then follow with that. Be still my heart!
Right now she has all sorts of little phrases. She calls Robert and I "Baby"..."Come on, Baby"..."It's ok, Baby". That girl. She also says, "Oopsie Daisy!" and "Siddy Goose!"
She LOVES singing. I hear her singing even when she is alone in a room playing. Some of her favorites:
Mama's Song -- You are my Sunshine (an oldie but a goodie)
Nana's Song -- I'll take a leg from some old table...(not sure of the name of that one!)
Papa's Song -- Where o Where?
Boo's Song -- Rock a bye Baby
Jesus Loves Me
Daddy's Song -- Twinkle Twinkle
5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
ABCs
What Maddie is up to: She loves doing puzzles, coloring and playing with stickers. She also loves playing with her dolls. She loves being their teacher (she lines them all up and reads to them). She has also really gotten in to Play-doh! She loves being outside...pretty much doing anything. Whether it is blowing bubbles, swinging, or having races with mommy and daddy. (Guess who always wins!) She also loves "cruising" in her car. I will admit, I cringe thinking about her turning 16, we have some big time work to do on her driving skills! But she is definitely a "safety sue"...she must ALWAYS fasten her seatbelt before she moves her car. She is very cautious in general. Let's just say she still holds our hands when she goes down her slide. Hey, I will be honest, she came by that honestly. There is a reason I have never had a broken bone!
She does not really care much for playing on her own, let's just say when she says we are her best friends, she means it...she loves playing with us!
She's our little shadow, but we love it!
Here is is watching her favorite, Snow White. The first movie Maddie has ever sat through!
So you think all those ruffles above get pressed on their own?! How I wish I had a little ironing fairy.
What Maddie is eating: Maddie's favorites of the moment are "Fench Fries", pickles, celery, and still on the list -- CHEESE and MONGOs! I would say that for the most part this girl has my taste buds. I know her stats below may not look like it, but this girl is a good little eater. She does not eat a lot at any one time, but if you cannot find her, look in the pantry because that is where she will be! She is our little snacker, not that she got that from anyone around here. :)
She is also the best little Barista in town! She knows how her Mama takes her coffee that is for sure and she helps me every morning!
STATS:
She weighed in this AM at 28.8 lbs (so much for my theory of my scale weighing a little heavy!)
Height: Just over 3 feet, see for yourself.
Maddie's First Interview: (I wish I could write it how she says it)
How old are you? 3! (she actually says it, "TEE!)
How old is Mommy/Daddy? 3 / 3, too
Where do you live? Keller, Texas (Kedder, Txas)
Who is your best friend at Primrose? Ella/Hazel (She says it just like it's one name, too)
Who is your teacher? Ms. Armstong
Who is your best friend? Mommy and Daddy (Smart girl)
What is your favorite color? Pink
What do you want to be when you grow up? Doctor
Birthday Events:
Her birthday was on Thursday. It was a perfect day. She got to sleep in late and we went to school late, because before school we had to get ICE CREAM for the birthday girl's school party. I even got off in time to eat ice cream with her. She wanted to sit in my lap while she ate and while the class sang to her. Oh, my little sidekick, how I love her.
The big 3!
Guess this is her big girl smile :/
We need one thing...and Mama got to push this giant thing around, hey, anything for the bday girl!
I picked her up early and headed to the park to feed the ducks and play. Does life get any sweeter than that?
All along she has been saying she wanted "PIZZA" for her birthday, but she decided otherwise so we headed to DQ for "Fries!" that night. We then headed home and opened presents. She even got to stay up late, what a day!
She didn't as much notice her new bedspread at that point, ha.
Work out clothes and heels, ha.
We talked to lots of people that love her, too on face time. Especially these three cutie pies. Isn't this the cutest picture, pure happiness!
Because someone so special deserves more than a day to celebrate, the celebration continued into the weekend!
Birthday Breakfast.
We headed to the FW Zoo.
Rock Star parking for the Bday crew.
These two are always full of giggles.
We went to the Zoo last year around this time. Maddie was much more interested this time. She loved all the animal...wanting front row views of each, which of course we were able to get. It was the perfect day for the zoo. 70 degrees and no crowd!
I had the best view of all.
Sleepy day. This is what we looked like when we got home from our outing!
Parrots!
Carousel time!
Yeah, Mommy does not get on things that go round and round. I had a hard time even watching them!
Finally, PIZZA...and pickles and fries, man what a bday dinner.
We finally finished her big girl room, too!
Someone was very excited. Me, well, a tear or two may have been involved.
Finished Product!
I guess no more of these AM shots. :(
I will be honest, not every moment, or even every day is picture perfect. There are days when I know this has to Robert's child (haha) You know, you think certain things will never happen to you, aka, your child throwing a tantrum in Target just when you think you have the perfect child and you have this parenting thing down...and then they do. And unfortunately, I know that is likely not a last.
But, in the end, I would not trade one of those days if it meant life without this child.
It is going to be a good year, I pray daily that God continues to bless our baby girl.
Whether it's looking at the pictures above, or seeing this on my way to round, I have no doubt that I have so much to be thankful for.
Sunday Photo Shoot.
I wanted to find a field of Texas Bluebonnets, but, no such luck, so hey, we improvised!
Not bad, I might say.
