Roll Over!

On Saturday, Maddie Kate rolled over from her back to her tummy. She has been rolling onto her sides for a while. This past week or so, she has been getting further and further over. Her little arm kept getting in her way. She finally figured out how to get over it.

She is so funny once she gets over, though. When you lay her down for tummy time, she will pop herself up and look around. When she rolls over, she doesn't seem to understand to do that. She just mushes her face into the ground and gets sooooo mad! When you flip her back onto her back, she immediately flips over again. This was cute, but is now getting a bit old. She is starting to get a little better about trying to push herself up, so hopefully soon she will not get quite so angry.

Bananas!

As many of you know, Meredith is not the best eater. She is getting better, but it is still a chore. I am determined to get her to eat more fruit and veggies. This week's afternoon snack is bananas. I have given them to her everyday at snack time just hoping that she will eat them. I did this a few weeks ago with grapes. We tried them everyday, and then one day she started eating them faster than I could get them to her.

Today, I decided to try to jazz up the bananas to see if that would make them more appealing. I put a little drizzle of chocolate syrup on them. Meredith licked every bit of chocolate off and did not eat one banana. Her face looks as though I gave her just a bowl full of syrup. It was seriously the tiniest drizzle. She made the most of what she got!

These look like thos bananas, but there is something on them. Maybe I will give them a try!

Those bananas are still yucky, but whatever mommy put on them is delicious!!!!

I think I am a little full of chocolate!

Oh goodness! Did I make myself this messy?

(yes I am still in jammies, it was one of those days)

Big Girl!

Maddie Kate is getting so big. She loves to sit up or stand in our laps all the time. I have never seen a baby that likes to be upright more than she does. Michael always jokes that if we could find something to hold her up at night, she could sleep like that. Today, I decided to try the bumbo seat. I wasn't sure if she would be able to do. But she is a big girl and she did just fine.

Hmmm.....I like to sit up, but I don't know about doing it on my own!

Ok, this is not so bad!

I really like to sit in this seat. Mommy tried to take me out to rest my neck, but I cried. So she put me back.

All that sitting wore me out. I took a nap with mommy in her bed this afternoon.

I am so peaceful in my swaddle. Sometimes, I like to break my hand out to suck on my thumb.

These Boots Were Made for Walking!

Mimi bought Meredith some rain boots. We put them on her this morning. They came up pretty high on her little calves and she could barely walk in them. She was so stiff legged, almost like that Seinfeld episode where Kramer tried to wear jeans. Michael and I both laughed so hard!

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Just some fun photos!

Why is mommy bathing me in the sink?

This is my new Halloween nightgown. Mommy and Daddy laugh everytime I wear it.
(I am thinking hard about going to bed!)

Are these skulls on my jammies?!?

Just doing a little tummy time with my daddy!

Nobody Puts Mere In a Box!

We stocked up on diapers the other night. After we emptied out the box that Madilyn's diapers come in, Meredith decided to climb on in. It was a tiny box. I cannot believe that she could squeeze herself in!

All packed up!

Ok, maybe I am ready to get out now. It is a little harder getting out than getting in.

There! I made it!!!

Trouble is Mere's Name!

Meredith is nothing but trouble lately. She is very strong willed and always knows what she wants. She doesn't care if it seems impossible, she will find a way to do what she wants.

The other day, she wanted my Cherry Coke. I wouldn't let her have it and put it up on the counter. After folding some clothes, I took them back to my room and laid them on the bed. I didn't even put them away, just put them on the bed and came back. In that short amount of time, Meredith got the coke. She pushed her high chair over to the counter, climbed up on the bar on the back, and grabbed it. She was sitting in the chair looking like the cat that got the cream!

And I did take it away, but not before I took pictures.

Mmmmm, this is as good as I knew it would be!

See Mommy, I wanted your drink and I got it!

Meredith always surprises me with what she is able to do. She loves to turn on light switches and the alarm. I always hold her up to the lights when we walk into a dark room and let her turn them off when we leave. Whenever we get home, I help her push the buttons to turn off or on the alarm. Well, I guess she decided that she was tired of waiting on me and decided to do it herself.

This chest makes a great step stool!

There, I turned on the light!

Dress Up!

Ok, this skirt is a bit over the top. Nana bought it for Meredith during winter, and it finally fits her. I thought she should get a little use out of it before summer is over. I think that it is so cute and frilly. I didn't know how Meredith would feel about it, but she loved it. As soon as she was dressed in the morning, she just twirled around. It was so cute that she immediately knew to do that. I guess she is a girl after my own heart!

Hmmm, Madilyn is playing in that neat gym. Do I keep cooking in my kitchen or do I go and kick her out?

Oh, Mommy turned on Caillou to distract me. My belly is full of mac-n-chees and it makes my skirt ride a little low!

Sitting pretty!

(Caillou works every time)

I love standing on the refridgerator door. Mommy always says "no no", but I say "yes yes"

Obviously, I am the winner!

Play Time!

I finally pulled the play gym out for Madilyn. She absolutely loves it. She will lay for at least an hour and just kick around. She has figured out how to grab the animals if she is close to them. She just looks and coos. It is so sweet!

However, this fun comes at some expense. Meredith does not like having to share this toy at all. She kicked Madilyn in the head the first time it was out. Everyone is okay, and Meredith has learned her lesson. The next day when Madilyn was playing, I looked over and Meredith immediately started rubbing her head and giving her kisses. I can't wait to see what happens when the jump-a-roo makes it's appearance.

Ooooh, what are these lights and animals?

Oh, I can grab this bird!

Meredith Just Being Meredith

Meredith has such a little personality. Today, she was just into doing her own thing. Every time that I would try and take her picture, she would run away, scream, or just ignore me. This afternoon, I decided to just take some action shots of her being her.

This little outfit she has on is so cute. Michael's neighbors from Illinois gave it to us. Meredith was the same age as Madilyn is now when we got it. I just remember thinking that she would never be big enough to wear it, and now here she is. She is just getting so big.

taking a stroll

get this off of my neck

Mommy tried to brush my hair, but I took the brush.

Ooooh, what can I find back here?

Wait a minute, I found something.

It's my yardstick/vacuum.

(Meredith likes to push this around on the floors like a vacuum. She has a play one, but this is apparently better.)

I had turned Caillou on for Meredith. He is like her drug. As you can tell, she only gets to watch him in short amounts. I think she could watch him all day if I let her. You might even get lucky enough to witness a mini-tantrum at the end!

Tummy Time!

We have been practicing our tummy time in the afternoons. Madilyn is getting really good at holding her head up for a few minutes. Today was really not a good example. She was apparently too milk drunk (see post below) to even hold up her head. I just love when she is on her tummy though because she makes the cutest noises. That is really what the video is for, so that you can hear her little moans.

On a side note, you should NEVER do tummy time after a bottle - we just learned that the hard way!

Milk Drunk!

In the afternoons, Madilyn has started taking a fairly long nap (and it is at the same time as Meredith's!!!!!). However, once she wakes up and flashes all of her smiles at you, she is HUNGRY! She goes from cute, sweet, smiley Maddie Kate to screaming her head off. It is a little bit funny how upset she gets. It is almost like she is so mad that you let her get this hungry. I have learned to have the bottle ready to avoid it. Today, she must have been extra hungry because she drank all 4 ounces in 7 minutes. She didn't even stop to burp. After she finished, she couldn't even hold her head a little bit straight. She was seriously "milk drunk"!

That was a good bottle!

Fat and Happy!

Seriously!

Naptime!

Madilyn is just so cute and sweet when she wakes up from a nap. Now that she is really smiling, she gets so excited when you look over the edge of the pack and play at her. Meredith just loves when she hears her start to move around. She runs to the room, climbs in the chair beside the bed, and peeks over at Madilyn. Sometimes she tries to poke her, sometimes she talks to her, and sometimes she just runs around in the chair.

I just woke up and I am so happy to see my mommy!

After she unswaddles me, I have to stretch out my arms!

Oh, that feels so good to stretch!

I have been asleep a while and now I am starving!

I guess if Mommy isn't going to feed me, I'll have to eat my blanket!

This is what I get to see most days when she wakes up now. It is one of the best part of my days!

Play Date with Olivia!

Lauri and I have decided to start getting together on Thursdays. That gives us a chance to get out and see an adult, and it gives the girls a chance to get to play together. They came over here this week, and for our first get together, I think it went very well. Lunch was a little nutty, but other than that it was all good. I cannot wait until all of the girls are big enough to play together.

Here is Miss Olivia!

(I just want to bite her, she is sooooo cute!!!)

Madilyn and Olivia
(this is pretty much the extent of their play)

They are just too cute. Madilyn always looks so serious, and Olivia looks like she is a bit milk drunk!

Meredith giving Olivia a kiss!

(It was just a really quick kiss, but it totally looks like Mere is laying one on her!)

Doctor's Appointments

Meredith and Madilyn had their 18 month and 2 month well baby check-ups today. It went pretty smoothly. Everyone is growing good and doing really well. Mere had to get one shot and then the flu shot. Madilyn had to get 3 shots and an oral vaccine. Thank goodness Mimi went with me. It got a little crazy after the shots with both girls crying.

Meredith

weight - 21 pounds, 6 ounces (15%)

height - 32 1/4 inches (45%)

head - 46.2 cm (45%)

Madilyn

weight - 9 pounds, 11 ounces (10%)

height - 22 1/2 inches (40%)

head - 38.9 cm (25%)

Meredith loving Madilyn

I just thought that Maddie Kate looks so cute in this outfit!

After she got some Tylenol, she was a happy girl!

18 Months Old!!!

Meredith Grace.....you are 18 months old!

What you are up to these days:

*you are 21 pounds, 6 ounces and 32 1/4 inches tall

*you wear size 12-18 month clothes

*you wear size 4 diapers

*you drink milk, juice and water (and if you can get your hands on a coke, you will drink that faster than I can blink!)

*you have 12 teeth and are about to get 2 more

*you play so well by yourself, and get mad if you Mommy interrupts you

*you love Cailou and Elmo's World

*you still eat hardly anything (we are amazed that you survive!)

*you still don't say many words, just jabber jabber jabber

*you completely understand everything we say to you though

*you have started throwing serious tantrums

*your laugh has changed again, it is like a real little kid now, but still the sweetest noise in the world

*you sleep 8-8, and still take a 2-3 hour nap in the day

*you are just happy ALL the time (unless we tell you no)

*you love to be scared

*you have such a sense of humor already

*you are a girly girl - you play with my makeup, jewelry, bows, really anything that screams girl

*you may be girly, but you love toy cars

*you are Daddy's girl

*every day Daddy and Mommy are amazed at just how perfect you are

*we love you more than words

Now that Meredith is a "big" girl, she hates to sit and have her picture made. This is just a sample of what it was like to get the picture at the top...