Madeline is 7 Months Old & Her Hair is Wild!

Our sweet little girl is more than half way to a year old! Unbelievable! Her "verbalness" seems to have really exploded over the last month...a stream of constant babbling and talking is always coming from her no matter where we are. She really turns it on when she thinks no one is paying her any attention. She loves to be tickled, and she can really start giggling when her tickle spots get overstimulated. Madeline's little personality is just so happy-go-lucky and fun. Rarely, does she cry or fuss...if she is crying or fussing, then something is wrong. Otherwise, she's talking, smiling, giggling, & squealing in delight.

Madeline's schedule has finally gotten worked out, and it's great. She wakes up about 6:30-7:00 AM and plays in her crib until someone comes to get her for breakfast. She eats quite the hearty bowl of rice cereal and a few ounces of milk to wash it all down. About 8:30-9:00 AM, she starts to fuss a little, so I usually make a small bottle to settle her down. She may or may not want it, but she has her bunny lovey that she will snuggle with. Her morning nap varies from a 15 minute power nap to a full blown two hour nap. I never know, and I just go with it. During the week, we go to the gym after her morning nap, and she begins to kick her legs wildly when I put her into the carseat. She knows we are headed out to see her friends! She eats her lunch around 12:30-1:00, and she LOVES lunch! She will eat a full jar of veggie and a full jar of fruit and most times wash it down with a few ounces of milk. Around 1:30-2:00 the eye rubs and fussiness start to kick-in, and I simply put her in her crib with her paci and bunny lovey. She may cry for a few minutes, but most of the time, she goes to sleep. Her afternoon nap varies in length as well, but I usually don't get her out until about 4 PM. Late afternoon is when we read books, sit on the back deck if the weather permits, play of the floor, or have exersaucer time. Madeline eats a very hearty dinner at 5-5:30. Again, she eats a full jar of fruit and a full jar of veggie, some rice cereal, and some bottle. We never miss the opportunity to have bathtime around 6 PM because this little lady LOVES bathtime. She kicks, splashes, giggles, and squeals with delight, and she certainly doesn't mind having water poured over her head to rinse. About 6:30 or 7 PM, we take her back to her room to have her last bottle, and she typically goes to sleep quickly and easily. Our routine is easy, comfortable, and works for all of us!


Madeline LOVES: bathtime, to eat, to play in her exersaucer, to jump in her jumpy doorframe thingy, to snuggle, her feet, to give BIG kisses, her pink baby and bunny lovey, to sit up like a big girl and grab for whatever is in her reach, to gnaw on Baby Mum Mums (it's like a rice cake in stick form), to suck on whatever she can get her paws on (current favorites are remote controls, koozies, & crinkly wrappers), attention from her Daddy, to clap her hands together, going to the gym, to sit on the deck and look all around her, "Aunt Jen" (a very good friend of ours & the feeling is very mutual), and to play by herself.

Madeline is NOT A FAN when it comes to: being on her belly, so she doesn't roll over EVER even though she can, putting clothes on and off, having things taken from her when she's decided that's what she wants to play with, being held and entertained all the time, and making an effort to get toys out of her reach. [Madeline is very content to play with whatever is in her immediate radius, and she will not fuss for something out of her reach. She simply finds something else to play with. She's a little bit lazy. :) ]

Madeline can be very serious at times especially when she is in a new place. She will just study whatever is around her and take it all in. However, once she gets comfortable in this place, she will begin to squeal and talk to let everyone know she's in the area. When we are out and about, the most common remarks that strangers make about Madeline are: "She is so happy and good!" (for example, I was at the hair dresser for over 2 hours, and she happily played in her car seat NEVER fussing). And, the very most common remark make about her is, "Look at that hair! Can I touch it? Do you style it that way?" (OK, people, seriously, I am into clothes and hair, but I don't style my 7 month old's hair every morning!)

Madeline continues to be the light of our lives, and she has certainly captured our hearts. I say this every month, but I am still in awe that we have been blessed with such a sweet little girl.