New Years Eve 2014

My mom offered to babysit for New Years Eve!  We went to a lovely Indian BYOB place and had a wonderful dinner and split a bottle of red wine we had been savings since our trip to California in April 2013 (when we got engaged).  We were back by 9:30.

Maddie's schedule is off by about 3 hours and we could not get her to stay asleep!  I ended up bringing her to the basement so we could watch the New Years Eve Countdown.

Madeleine's 8th Week

Some pictures from Maddie's 8th week.

Maddie's First Bulls Game

We got season tickets to the Chicago Bulls basketball team this year (sharing with friends).  We couldn't get a sitter for this game vs the New Orleans Pelicans, so decided to bring Maddie and be "that couple" who brings a baby to a sporting event!  Maddie did great! She fell asleep on the car ride there.  After we parked, I strapped her into my baby carrier and we walked to the United Center.

We made it in time for the starting lineup!  Maddie did great!  She would startle every time the crowd cheered but otherwise slept for the entire game.  I had to get up a few times to walk around if she stirred but she quickly fell back asleep.  She didn't wake up until about 5 minutes left in the game and were able to stay for the entire game.

And the Bulls won 107 to 100!

Visiting Bak Bak

We went to visit Maddie's Bak Bak (Vickie's Pau Pau) after Christmas as she was unable to come to dinner.  She hadn't seen Maddie since she was 2 weeks old!

Maddie's First Christmas (Part 2)

More photos from Christmas, courtesy of Vickie's Uncle John

Maddie's First Christmas

Merry Christmas.  Maddie wasn't able to open her presents so we helped a bit.

 

6 Week Checkup

We visited the doctor for our 6 week checkup and 2nd round of immunizations.  The doc said she looks perfect.  Maddie weighed in at a hefty 10 lb, 13 oz (75th percentile).  She's gained roughly 50% from her lowest weight (7 lb 3 oz - 1 week after birth).  Her head circumference is 15 inches (also 75th percentile).

She was measured at a length of 23.5 inches (99th percentile).  Yes, she's a long baby!  She's already outgrown all of her newborn cloths and some of her 3 month clothes are starting to get tight.  We start her training for the 2032 Olympics this summer.

Maddie was really upset by the 4 immunization shots.  The needles were adult sized and went into each of her thighs.  Ouch!  She's been on liquid Tylenol for the last couple of days to help her cope with the pain/soreness.

Below are some cute smile pictures that have nothing to do with the doctors office..

Santa Claus and Xmas Train

After much research, we pinpointed the one and only "real" Santa in the greater Chicago area.  He was biding his time until Christmas at an upscale mall in downtown (The Shops at 900 N. Michigan).  We heard horror stories of it taking 3+ hours of waiting for the honor to sit upon his plump lap.  So, of course, we had to go.  How could we miss the Christmas tradition of spending half a day preparing Maddie, packing bags and loading kid gear (bags/car seats/strollers) into the car, braving the cold weather and traffic to go to the worst place in the world (Michigan Avenue 2 Days before Christmas), parking halfway up a skyscraper, taking the elevator to the 8th floor, walking through 3 buildings and then taking the elevator down to the 3rd floor, and then standing in line with other people's bratty kids as they ignore them by staring into their phones?  Oh joy!

The wait wasn't as long as advertised and the line moved quickly.  The people in line behind us had kids 9 and 7 years old and had gone to see this exact same Santa every year.  It was their second attempt to see him this year as they had a fake/substitute Santa over the weekend.  I'm happy we came on a day the real Santa was here.

Santa was a cool character, personable, and joked(?) that he was actually a homeless guy they found at the last minute.  He also mumbled something about kids pooping on him all the time but I didn't quite hear him.  I'm not sure why he brought up poop.  Perhaps Maddie took a crap on him.  Who knew Santa had a sense of humor?

Below is a picture of Maddie with Santa. 

I also wanted a crying picture, so I did what any good dad will do and stalled Santa until Maddie broke down into a tantrum.

Here's the whole family in front of the giant Christmas Tree

And here's a picture of the Christmas Train in our backyard from last week

Social Smiles!

Madeleine has been smiling socially the past couple of weeks but they have been hard to capture.  I was able to snap a couple quick pictures this morning!  Taken today, almost 6 weeks old.

Baby Shower Onesies

We had a onesie decorating station at my baby shower in August.  Here are pictures of Maddie in all of the onesies!

In-House Photo Session (12 Days Old)