Bunny Slipper Kickin

You try this... lay on your back and kick like crazy. I tried it and I can tell you, it is NOT for the faint of heart.

Yogurt is Nancy

Last night watching TV. A Yogurt commercial comes on...

Edith: Why aren't there ever any men in yogurt commercials?
Paul: Because, yogurt is girly.
Edith: What??!
Paul: Yogurt is a girl thing.
Edith: You eat yogurt all the time, what are you talking about?
Paul: I only eat it cause you give it to me.
Edith: You wouldn't eat it if I didn't give it to you?
Paul: Nope.
Edith: That's ridiculous!
Paul: I'm just sayin'... you won't catch me makin' any special trips to the grocery store for yogurt.

Travelling Companions

Madeline on her first airplane ride... such a big girl!
Madeline and I travelled on an airplane together to my hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, November 15th. My beautiful and amazing Grandma Vivi passes away on November 13th, 2008, and we went home to attend her funeral.

My Grandma Vivi has always been my favorite Grandma. From my very earliest years I remember spending time with her and my Grandpa John. She was the best cook ever, and for some reason she always made even healthy food seem delicious! I hated grapefruit until her. Our family also has a tradition (which is still continued today with my mom)... when it's your birthday, you go spend a weekend with grandma. She gives you $25 to spend on anything you want, and you get to sleep over at her house and have special one-on-one time. Those memories are some of my very cherrished memories.

My love of rainbows, puzzles, crystals, glass bottles and figures, art, museums, and learning are partly because of her. She is the kind of woman all women want to be - kind, loving, thoughtful, smart, and well-rounded. I will miss her terribly.

Watching my grandma Vivi as her mother passed, and now watching my mom as her mother passed away, and now being a mother myself, this eternal relationship between mothers and daughters has been made permenant in my mind. My mom and I have always had a very special relationship. From birth, she was my favorite person. I never liked being away from her, and she always made me feel happy and safe. Even to this day, if something is wrong or if I need advice or help with something, she is always there for me. She has always been a cheerleader and has supported me in every decision I have ever made in my life. Her hug always makes things better.

I believe the people we share our lives with are chosen companions. Sweet spirits we have known for eternity who will always be connected to us no matter what path our lives take. Among those travellers are those closest companions, who are with us through our most meaningful and personal life experiences - Our Grandparents, our Fathers, our Brothers and Sisters, and our Friends... our Husbands or our Wives... and our Mothers and Daughters.


Becoming a mother, and knowing that Madeline is my daughter has been one of the most important things that has happened to me in my life. Recently, that bond has been strengthened even more. I'm so glad she is my travelling companion.

2 Month Check Up

This morning was Madeline's 2-month check up with her pediatrician. After answering the 300 questions I had written down, her doctor said the same thing to me this time as she said to me last time,

"I can't find a THING wrong with her. She's just perfect!"

I agree with this.

Here are the stats:

At 2 months old, weighing in at 14 pounds 12 ounces and laying at 24 inches long, Ms. Madeline is in the 95th percentile on the growth charts for her age. Her head circumference in in the 75th percentile. I guess my breastmilk is working.

Madeline also got 3 vaccinations today. She was supposed to get 4 (we have to go back on Friday for one more shot, which kind of irritates me). The nurse that gave her the shots was a total beast. She comes marching in the room, no "hello baby!" or "it's gonna be okay little one *smile*", and immediately tells me to hold Madeline's arms for her. So I do. She proceeds to alcohol both little chubby thighs...
Oh man, you guys, it was awful watching my baby get shots. She was looking around all peaceful-like, smiling and happy... the beast pulls out this huge needle and digs it into her sweet little leg... you should have seen her face. She screamed so loud. She did one of those screams where you stop breathing for a few seconds... and THEN to be stabbed AGAIN! I almost cried myself. I had this urge to give Miss Beast a knuckle sandwich right in the kisser! The crappy part is we have to go back Friday to get another one because their fridge broke and the last shot she was supposed to get was ruined or something... sons-a-bidges.

That must suck though... having to stab babies all day.

Madeline's Monthly Message: Month 2

Dear Madeline,

Today you are two months old. I feel like I just had you yesterday - time has flown by so quickly. You have grown a lot also. We are slowly getting into a pretty regular routine. You sleep pretty well. You are usually asleep by 7:00 or 8:00 pm and you sleep until 12:30 or 1:00 am. Then MAYBE you get up at 3:30 am, sometimes you go until 5:00 am. Then - if I am lucky, you sleep another hour or so after you eat then and I can shower. I have found this will probably be the best time to do my meditation and exercising because you are pretty awake during the daytime.

This past Saturday you, me and your Dad attended our 2008 Baby Class Reunion, and you were seriously the biggest baby there. You were bigger than a little 4 month old girl that was sitting at the next table. You even won a prize - a very nice photo album, for being "The Baby Who Weighed The Most At Birth" - which surprised me a little. I mean, 8 lbs. 12 oz. is a good sized baby, but I've heard of babies being much bigger than that. It's cool though - we like prizes and presents.

At the baby class reunion they had a lady from Kinder Music come and sing and teach moms and dads how to do certain activities with their babies. She was really weird, but you had a good time. You liked the bubbles - I thought. Your dad didn't think you liked them. You and I spent most of the class reunion outside the gym or in the ladies room eating and changing your diaper. You sure poop a lot. But it's okay - better out than in!

As time goes on, I can tell you really love your Dad, and I know that your relationship is just going to get better and better. You love the way he holds you... it's this weird crooked position he does when he's standing up, but it always calms you down when you are fussy. When he gets home and comes to say hello to you, or when we wake up in the morning and he leans over and smiles at you, you do this huge, open-mouth smile that says, "Hey! I know you! You are my Dad and I love you SO MUCH!"

You also love to sleep with and on your dad. I totally understand this. He is a very comfortable person to lay on. There is just something about him that makes a person want to say, "Hey you! Come over here so I can lay on you and take a nap!"

I still can't really tell if the cat likes you or not, but she has adapted to you being around. She follows you and I around the house and sits wherever we sit. She often licks your leg or sniffs your head. I think she has realized that wherever you are, there is sure to be some lovin' available for kittys too. I love when you scream all of the sudden for no reason and kitty is around - she does this look at you, with her ears flat against her head, that looks like she thinks you are psychotic.


Your health is great. Your rash that you had on your face has pretty much disappeared. We think you have a sensitivity to the laundry detergent so we bought some purex to use instead. It has no dyes, no fragrances, and is gentle. We also found some really great cream to put on your face for rashes and dry skin. It is working well.
You are a colorful, chubby little woman. You spit up a lot still though. We are working on that. I have limited my intake of sugars, dairy, and yeast products. Also, I am trying to spread out your feedings a little more. You love to eat and sometimes you will want to nurse almost every hour. When you nurse every hour for 30 minutes or so then you are nursing every 30 minutes sometimes. Lactation consultants, Moms, and doctors alike have all told me "YOU CAN'T OVER-FEED A NURSING BABY". I am not sure if I agree with this. At least in your case. Also, for some reason, it just seems my breasts won't stop making milk - not that I am complaining about this.

And now to talk about your poop...
You've also had an issue with your pooper, but we are taking care of it. It seems you were having some pain when you were pooping and have a bit of a sluggish bowel. Your poops were
coming out a bit slimy and you had some tiny dots of blood in a couple of your diapers. This scared momma to death. I am happy to say that you have had normal, neon yellow poops for the past week. Momma understands that your little baby body is new, and is still adjusting to the world. We have started doing baby massages each morning and I am working learning and perfecting energy medicine. There is an awesome routine called "The 5-minute routine" that gets your natural body energies flowing properly (I will post more later about this. It is some cool stuff!!).

I love dressing you up. You tolerate it for about 30 minutes and then start getting fussy. You really dislike headbands. You look so adorable in them though!! I'm sorry, but sometimes you just have to wear them for momma.

Smiles are now a regular part of your life. You smile all the time. You talk too. I swear you try to copy the noises I make to you. I say, "hello baby!" or "Hi Madeline" and you make similar sounds. It's awesome.

Another smiley picture - I can't get enough of it.












This past month you also experienced your very first holiday - Halloween! You went to a pumpkin patch with me and your dad and slept while we picked out your very first pumpkin. It was fun to be out together.

Technically we didn't pick the pumpkin, they were all layed out on the sides of the walkways... oh well. It was still fun.

I just want to be honest with you.

This is a Halloween onsie that your Grandma Suzi sent you. It was cute, so you wore it a couple times during October. I liked the long sleeves.


I decided that you would be a love bug for Halloween this year. Aren't you absolutely adorable???!






On November 4th, 2008 a very historic thing happened in this country. An African-American named Barack Obama was elected President of the United States. This is the first time in history that this has happened. This event has given thousands of people hope. Many, who before believed they couldn't do certain things because of their race, have a newfound belief that maybe all men and women really are created equal. It is a very exciting time, and it makes me excited for your future and the future of my grandchildren.

It is my wish that I will be able to teach you how to have faith in yourself, in God, and in other people. Faith that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. Faith that people will make good decision and do what is right. Faith that you have a purpose in this life and you will accomplish many great and wonderful things and touch people's lives. I'm not sure who first said it, but a great quote to remember is,

"Faith can move mountains. Doubt can build them."

I love you Madeline.

Love,

Momma

~*^*~*^*~*^*~*^*Smiles *^*~*^*~*^*~*^*~

Why Don't You Just Put Me IN A Diaper?

A tragic event has occurred. Unfortunately, Kitty upchucked a real wet and messy hairball in her shoebox this weekend (formerly known as the "safe zone") and we had to trash it.

This is the only kitty-sized box we could find in the house at this time - a Pampers swaddlers box. Kitty is a little embarrassed about having to sit in a diaper box. I know it's no yellow shoe box, but it will do until we can find her more comfortable accomodations.

Until then kitty can just sit on/in one of the other million places she sits every day - the couch, the chair in Maddy's room, Maddy's crib (No!), on the back of the leather couch, on our bed, in the windows, in our bath tub, on the dining room chairs, in the bassinet, on unfolded piles of laundry... I think she's gonna be just fine.