A Little Peek

Most know, but for those who don't, I keep a journal for Madi that's filled with letters and blurbs from me about her milestones and her cute little traits. I've written in it since I found out that I was pregnant with her and I hope that one day when she's older, she'll enjoy reading about the wonderful little baby that she is/was. So, since she's about to turn 10 months old, I figure I would share with you the 9 Months section of her journal :) here goes.


- You sing in the car to the radio when your trying to go to sleep, and when Mimi is dancing you to sleep. Mimi LOVES that!


- The pool is one of your favorite places to be. You splash and giggle when it goes on your face. You push off of me and try to swim away!


6/1/11: Instead of playing with bags, you reach inside of them to fnd what they hold. I always encouraged you to look inside when you were younger but you never quite understood, until now. When I put on my makeup, you dig things out of the multicolored bag and have a blast with all the stuff :)


6/2/11: you reached for Uncle Michael today for the first time. He smiled so big because usually you hide your face and cry when he takes you.


- You've learned what "kiss" means. When someone tells you to kiss them, you lean towards them with your mouth wide open. And you'll "byebye kiss" just about anyone, haha. You also kiss the babies in your board books.


6/5/11: Kylie, Nonna, You and I were all in the livingroom today. Nonna and I were having a conversation and Kylie was trying to tell us something so she yelled over us. I yelled over her, jokingly, and you wanted to be apart of the fun so you screamed as loud as you could. It was so funny. Now when it's loud, you just sit and yell too.


- You can say Mimi, but it sounds more like mehmeh. And your starting to say "baby" and "papaw/pawpaw"


- You whistle when I tell you too! (smartest baby ever!)


- Your feet are too fat for shoes, of ANY kind!


- When you poop, you lay on the ground in the army crawl position. (I know you're going to kill me when you're older for publishing this on the internet, but it's just too cute not to share)


- You point now. Last night (6/23/11) I took you outside to see Pawpaw and he was working in the garden. You reached for him, hugged him and gave him a big kiss. Then you pointed at the back door to their house because you wanted to go see Granny. He almost had a fit, he thought it was so cute.


- You are always eating! Your favorite snacks are Graduates Lil' Crunchies Mild Cheddar "Cheetos." We go through several cans a week. Daddy thinks they're pretty tasty too (and cousin Cole)


- You dance whenever you hear music. You mostly just wave your hand and bounce. Nonna swears that you were a very religious woman in a previous life because you look like your holding your hand up to say Hallelujah. Beat It by Michael Jackson gets you really going :)


- Bathtime is arguably your favorite time of day.


- When I say "puppy" you freak out! (in a good way)

Photo credit: Melisa Thacker


-Miss Taylor

The First of Many

Yesterday was the first day of many that I had both Madi and my niece Kylie. Madi didn't wake up until almost 11am so Kylie and I had quite a while to brainstorm what we were going to do for the rest of the day. She decided she wanted to have an outdoor scavenger hunt first thing so we drafted a list of things like, "a leaf an insect has chewed on, a feather, a white rock, etc" and after Madi woke up and ate breakfast, we headed outside. It quickly turned into me hunting for the things and Kylie simply fetching them and marking them off of the list. I went and put Madi in her swing and told Kylie where she could find the remaining items on her list. She decided she was tired so we headed inside to get ready to meet Nonna at Chickfila for lunch. It was a complete madhouse! You couldn't walk in a straight line for more than 2 feet without running into someone. We finally found a table (with the help of a cleaning lady who gave us a helpful wink and head nod towards an emptying table). We all ate and headed back home.


While Madi took a nap, Kylie and I prepared the next activity. She wanted to do a Pirate scavenger hunt this time. I made a start card and clues like, Find the giant white vessel filled with water and connected to the ground (toilet) and, Seek out the enchanted box with moving pictures (TV). Eventually, it led to treasure (a box filled with paper money). It was actually pretty fun and it made Kylie think about household items in a very different way.

Outdoor scavenger hunt

Taking a nap after lunch

Asleep in the swing while Kylie swims

Little Gigglebox

How Far We've Come...

I just got back from taking Madi to her 9 month check up at her doctor. She's in the 99th percentile for her height (.762 cm), 81st percentile for her weight (9.389 kg) and 96th percentile for her head circumference (46.4 cm). The doctor bragged about her the whole time and said she was beautiful. No lie there! :)


It blows my mind to think how far we've come since she was born. I know it's cliche but it feels literally like yesterday when I strapped her sleepy little body into her carseat that, at the time, seemed like a toddler seat because it swallowed her. I had to hold her head so it didn't fall while we were driving because it didn't reach the side of the seat. I remember being so worried, about everything. I wanted to post a giant blinking sign on the roof of our car that said "NEWBORN ABOARD: STAY BACK 500 FEET." I wanted her to grow properly and be a happy healthy child. I was so unsure about the future then, but looking back now, I feel really good about everything. Madi is my little angel and she amazes me everyday. Often I look at her and wonder how the 6 lb 12 oz newborn could possibly be the same 20 pound baby I have now.


She's crawling 20 mph and trying her absolute hardest to get up on the couch with me. She sings and giggles and loves her Papaw. Madi loves music and anyone who will talk to her. She is everything I could have possibly imagined the perfect baby to be. Her twinkly little eyes melt my heart. I don't know where in the world I would be without her.


-Miss Taylor