Lazy Day

Around the Dartez house today...we are both still in our PJs. It is nice to have one of these days every now and then! I have gotten a little bit of work done and starting planning our trip to Disney World in March. I am so excited and I know Madeline will love it too! We are going to see all the Disney Princesses on the day of her cousins Carly's 5th Birthday! This morning we were dancing around to all the theme songs of the Playhouse Disney shows. I am determined to have Madeline reconizing all of them by March. She KNOWS Mickey Mouse and LOVES Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!!!!

Oh and I am thinking that yesterday was just a bad hair day for Madeline and not teething b/c yesterday afternoon and all of today she was in a much better mood. We talked to Aunt Missy and she kind of thought that it was not teething b/c no tooth has popped out yet. Oh well, I guess we will have those kinds of days here and there.

Here is a picture of Madeline sitting up like a big girl this morning in mommy and daddy's bed. She was so happy to not be laying down! She would LOVE to walk and talk right now!!!!!!!!

Oh, how we grow!

I think we might have the first little tooth coming out today. :( Madeline has not been herself all day. She cried a good amount of the morning and I had no clue why. Mickey Mouse was about the only thing that would make her happy...or at least not cry. We had our first Sign and Sing class and I couldn't decide if we should just skip it or try to make it in hopes that it would take her mind off her pain or whatever was bothering her. I decided to try it out and just leave if she was totally miserable. Well, I am kind of glad we went...first b/c I really like the class and secondly b/c the other moms told me that yep she is for sure teething and gave me some suggestions. She is sleeping right now and has been in a little bit better of a mood this afternoon. She was even laughing earlier when I was tickling her. She is so funny!

Here are a couple of facts about Madeline:
She is 5 1/2 months old.
She probably weighs about 17 pounds.
She wears anything from a 3-6 month old to a 9 month old outfit.
She just moved into size 3 diapers (crusers) last week.
We think she might have grown a little taller over night last night.
She likes to walk backwards in her Jeep.
She can sit up and shack a raddle pretty well now.
She is ticklish on her thins, her feet, and her tummy.
She LOVES really cell phones and remote controls.
Her chiropracter thinks she might be crawling by next week!
She LOVES swimming!
She is starting to understand the sign for all done (when done with breakfast, supper, and bath).
Her favorite place is in bed inbetween her mommy and daddy.
She takes a lot of her naps in the soother (Thanks Aunt Jeanne).
She loves listening to "her" music in the car...it is the only thing that will quiet her down in the car.
She doesn't really like it when daddy eats popcicles in bed b/c she can't have one too.
She has not found a food she doesn't like...green beans, peas, carrots, and squash.

Jeremy and I are just having a wonderful time with our little girl and watching her grow so fast. Before we know it she will be 1!

Pack the tent...

We are going camping!!!! Yep, we brought Madeline on her first camp trip this past weekend. Yes, tent camping...no electricty, no running water...well we did have both of those, but not anything to brag about!!!!! You will see pictures of that later! Friday night we decided we were going to try it, so we packed up our winter gear and Madeline's warmest clothes! Saturday we picked up some food and headed out to Huntsville State Park. It is just about 45 minutes from the house. It was a little muggy and hot when we got there, but soon got pretty cool. I think Madeline really had a good time! This was about the only thing that she can do that she hadn't yet. The next thing on her list is an Astros game! Hit! Hit! Maw Maw and Paw Paw...Season Opener! :)
When we got there mommy and daddy (mainly daddy) had to put up the tent so Madeline played on her LSU quilt for awhile. Daddy is so good at putting up the tent all by himself! :)

Madeline and mommy playing while daddy fixed up everything!

That is one HUGE tent!!!!! You can easily fit two queen size mattresses and two single ones in there and still have room! It is GREAT!!!!!Madeline playing in the tent while mommy and daddy unpacked everything! She really didn't like when the wind blow. I think it scared her a little. Poor baby! Thank goodness it stopped before bed time!!!!

Daddy and Madeline sitting in front of the fire She is actually awake. She is looking at the fire...she LOVE it!!!!

She had a little too much fun! ha She was OUT!

Playing in the tent.

Madeline and daddy bundled up in front of the fire:

This is the "shelter" and running water...hahaha I much rathered sleep in the tent then that thing!!!! Daddy poking at the fire!

Getting ready to go on our little mile and half hike.

Madeline and mommy at the trailhead!

Daddy enjoying the outdoors. He finally got to go on a hike!

Madeline LOVED looking at the birds and the trees!

She fell asleep half way through our hike!

This was the first time that she wore mittens and she was SO confused by them. She kept looking at them and trying to figure them out. It was pretty cute! :)

Madeline playing in the tent while mommy and daddy were packing up to go home.

Our view from the tent...it was SO pretty out there!!!

Carrots!!!!

Ok so I decided to start making all of Madeline's baby food. I started with carrots. It is really easy and fun too. I like knowing that she isn't getting a bunch of preservatives and chemicals. I boiled some baby carrots and then pureed them. Here are pictures from her first time eating them (Thursday January 21st)...didn't work out so well! LOLShe thought it was SO funny! Mommy did not!!!!!The next day I made a bunch of things...carrots, squash, and green beans. I am very proud of them! :)

Swimming!!!

So we started swimming lessons on January 4th. Madeline loves being in the water, but was not totally sure about the whole going under thing at first. I only dunked her under 2 times at our first lesson. Maw Maw came with us and took pictures of us doing Ring Around the Rosie and at the end we say, "Ready, 1, 2, 3" and then we dunk them under the water. She freaked out a little and coughed a whole bunch the first couple of times that I did this.
She also is learning how to swim up to the steps, turn around, and sit down...criss cross applesause.This past Monday daddy was off of work and so he got to come and watch...he also videoed. Here are some of videoes of her. He is sitting in the watch room and so you can't hear what we are saying, but you can hear the other moms who are also in there with him.

Madeline getting ready for swimming lessons:Right before class started:
This is us doing Ring Around the Rosie:

Madeline swimming to the wall:

Motor boat motor boat go so slow, Motor boat motor boat go so fast, Motor boat motor boat step on the gas....kick, kick, kick, kick!!!!

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall...Ready, 1, 2, 3! Then we make thing fall forward like they are trying to get a toy out of the pool and fell in. This teaches them to fall in, turn around, and swim back to the wall.

This is a video of Madeline swimming to the instructor. She actually closed her eyes one time when we said, "Ready 1, 2, 3." She is learning what that means!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!! Go Madeline!!!! Oh and she is learning what kick, kick, kick means too. She does more of a butterfly kick then a normal swimming kick, but hey I will take it!

Eyes

Hi Eyes!!!!! This is what we tell her when she wakes up in the morning or from a nap. She is soon going to think her name is Eyes.

A while back Jeremy and I started saying either "We have eyes!" or "No eyes!" meaning she is sleeping or awake. Then we started calling her eyes. She is so cute when she wakes up!

Eyes sleeping November 20th.

Eyes waking up on January 14th.

5 months old

WOW I can't believe my little girl is already 5 months old! It really does feel like just yesterday we found out that we would be having a baby and now she has been with us already 5 months. Although then again I don't really remember life before she. She has been a complete join and so much fun!

Here is Madeline with her birthday cakes each month.

1 Month

2 months3 months
4 months

And today...sitting up like a big girl!

Cold

#17

I love/hate when Madeline has a cold.

Madeline started with a cold on Wednesday afternoon. I say that I love/hate this b/c I love that she wants to just lay on me all day long, but I hate it b/c she doesn't feel well. I could rock her all day long if she would let me and when she is sick she pretty much does. I spent a lot of my day doing this on Thursday and yesterday. Poor thing, I tried to get her play yesterday and she was just not into it. She worked up a smile for me, but I know she wasn't really happy. Poor baby girl! I hope she feels better soon!

Madeline had her first cold at three weeks old...we all three had a cold that week. No fun! September 1st Madeline and I laid in bed all day trying to recover!

Pacifier

#16

I love how cute Madeline looks with her pacifier!

We gave it to her for the first time on August 19th and she never really liked it!

Oh but in the last couple of weeks, that has all changed!!!! Now she has it in her mouth most of the time!!!!

This is the first time that she fell asleep with it in her mouth...December 20th.
She will take other ones besides the LSU one...but it is her favorite! Looks like Mrs. Tracey likes the LSU noonie too! Hahah

I love it b/c now she doesn't scream in her car seat as much and when we are changing her diaper. Ms. Blair was excited about that yesterday when she changed Madeline. We have a much happier baby...not that she wasn't before! We have been blessed with a good baby!

First trip to the Brewery and Winery

On the 2nd we went to St. Arnold's new building for a "tour." This was Madeline's first time to the Brewery and she was dressed to impress with her St. Arnold's T-shirt! Half pint! Mommy, Madeline, and Tracey at the Brewery. It is MUCH bigger and nicer then the old one. Oh wait, this was not Madeline's first time...she did go to the other one in my belly back in March! haha

Us with the owner...we had to show off the T-shirt!Madeline having a glass of wine at La Fuente Winery.

She had a little too much! haha

New Years Eve

We got back from Lafayette around noon on New Years Eve and got ready for all of our guest that were coming that night. Maw Maw, Paw Paw, Austin, Alec, and Camden met at our so they could follow us to the restaruant, Kobe. Aunt Jennifer, Dave, Gigi, Grand Pere met us there and then Aunt Missy and Carly showed up a little later.

Madeline dressed in her best at Kobe.
Calry, Alec, Austin, Camden, and Maw Maw at the table.
Daddy, Dave, Aunt Jennifer, Grand Pere, and Gigi at the table.
Maw Maw, Aunt Missy, and Paw Paw at the table cathing rice.Madeline dressed in her PJs and coat...ready to go watch some firecrackers. Outside watching daddy pop firecrackers.Daddy doing the thing he LOVES!!!!Madeline woke up just in time to ring in New York's New Year along with everyone else b/c they didn't want to stay up until our midnight. Everyone getting ready to toast to 11:00.Mommy and her baby girl on New Years Eve. We are ready to enjoy 2010 together!