Top Ten of 2010

I'm participating in the Top Ten of 2010.  Let it be known that I am not a photographer in any sense of the word.  I need to take fifty photos if I want one to turn out good.  So, even though these are not particularly good photographs, they are my favorites because of the subject matter.  (It was hard only choosing ten from the past three months.  I can't imagine if I had a whole year's worth of photos to choose from.)  

 Eric snapped this on his phone minutes after she was born.  I like how her eyes are open, and that you can see how calm she was.  As soon as she heard my voice she stopped crying and looked around the room.  He sent it to everyone in the waiting room so they could see what she looked like.

 This was Madeline's second day on earth.  Look how small her head was!!!  And her face was still all smooshy and scrunched up.  

Our first family photo!  I have a framed photograph of Eric and I looking at Ellis Jane sitting on my bedside table.  This one is very similar, but we're happy and healthy in this one...almost exactly two years later.  

   We still have that same pumpkin, but it looks much, much smaller next to Madeline these days.

 They gave me a framed copy of this photograph at my post-baby baby shower.  I love the mischievous smile on her face.  What is she dreaming about?  

 This was one of Madeline's first ever real smiles, and we captured it on film.  She puts her whole body into her smiles.  Her whole face just lights up.  

 This was taken on a Monday afternoon after Eric got home from work.  I escaped to take a shower, and when I came back into the living room, I found the two of them sleeping together on the couch.  I love the death grip he has on her so she wouldn't roll off him.  

Poor Maddie will be so embarrassed by this picture someday.  It looks like she tossed off her mittens and is making snow angels on the floor.   

 Madeline LOVES her baths.  She's such a happy little girl in this picture.  

This one cracks me up.  She looks like she's exhausted and stressed from opening all her presents on Christmas morning.  

New York, We Love You

Madeline had the pleasure of traveling to her Nana and Poppy's house in New York for the first time this week.

In case you haven't heard, New York had a killer blizzard last weekend.  We had been planning on going down on Monday, but due to the snow, and the fact that we now have a mini human to worry about instead of just ourselves, we had to push back our traveling plans till Tuesday.

Madeline is a lucky girl because she got to have Christmas twice!  She got so many wonderful presents.  The generosity people have shown us is amazing.

Each year, his family exchanges what they call "Ha-Ha" gifts.  My favorite part?  Eric's father writes a poem for everyone, which he reads before each person opens his Ha-Ha gift.  Then you have to try to guess what the gift is based on the poem.  This year Madeline got her first poem and Ha-Ha gift.  It was a Little People Nativity Set.  How freakin awesome is that?!

She's also lucky because she got to meet her Great Grandpa.

Four generations.  Amazing.

The Maddie Bear had a great time hanging out with her Nana and Poppy.  They're a lot of fun, and I know Madeline is going to have wonderful times ahead of her.

We're already making plans for another trip....

15 Weeks

 Weeks fourteen and fifteen have been very busy for Madeline.

She had her first Christmas!  

She experienced her first snowstorm!  

She visited New York for the first time! (More to come.)  

And tonight, she'll say goodbye to 2010!

Our little baby is getting so big!  She's more alert than ever.  She'll actually look at the pictures in a book when someone reads to her now.  She's holding her head up very well, and she's able to sit up with only a little support from us.  

Eric taught her to make a sad face.  It's very cute.  She pouts her bottom lip out and her eyes get watery.  Then she smiles and sorta laughs because she's just faking it.  Every time she looks at Eric she does it.  He needs to be careful though because the other day her fake sad face turned into a real sad face, and she started howling.  

Watching some Sesame Street

Her sleeping has been going smoothly.  She was very fussy on Christmas Eve, but other than that, she's gone to bed pretty easily every night this week.  Last night and the night before she went eight hours between feedings during the night.  Pretty awesome for Mumma!  Let's hope she keeps it up when I go back to work next week.  

We're entering a huge transition in our little family.  Madeline and I will have to get used to a new way of life.  It will be extremely interesting to see how this transition to daycare and work goes.  

So long, 2010.  It's been real.  Here's hoping 2011 will be just as great.  

Baby's First Christmas

'Twas baby's first Christmas, when all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even Dizzy Cat's mouse.
The baby was nestled all snug in her bed
While visions of wine and cheese floated in Mum and Dad's heads.
The presents were wrapped all under the tree,
Some socks for Eric and a pair of boots for me.
And Maddie got another silly hat,
While we forgot to buy anything for our poor little cat.

 When over the baby monitor there arose such a clatter,
We sprang up from the couch to see what was the matter.
Maddie was crying, all covered with tears
No Silent Night for the Witts-Linsners this year.

When, what to my wondering ears should sound,
But the alarm clock buzzing way too loud.
The night had passed oh so quick,
It was time to open Maddie's first gifts from St. Nick.

Away to New Hampshire, we flew like a flash
To visit our family, and remember Christmases past.

For the promise of joy, everyone came,
And we whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.
"Hi, Hollie!  Hi, Owen!  Hi, Pat, Eric and Jon!
Hi, Walter! Hi, Martin! Hi, Katie-Belle, and Dawn!
Oh, there's Bob!   And look, there, it's Grammy!
Who will bounce Maddie-Bear when she's gets' crabby."

The tree- how it sparkled!  the children- so merry!
Katie's cheeks were like roses, Maddie's mouth like a cherry!

We drank lots of wine, and put food in our bellies,
Till they shook, when we cackled like bowls full of jelly.

Maddie was chubby and plump, our sleepy little elf,
Who refused to sleep in spite of herself.  

So we thanked everyone for the wonderful gifts that they gave,
Then sprang to our car, giving Dawn's Baby Jesus a wave,
And away we flew to get Maddie to bed
Baby's first Christmas had come to an end.

But I heard them exclaim, ere we drove out of sight,
"The girls' team will win at Cranium tonight!"

Go Elf Yourself

Our little elf.

Dancing with Madeline: Holiday Edition

Madeline was being a little bit of a fuss pot today, so we spent a lot of time dancing.  It was very festive at our house today.  

14 Weeks

 I've sat here typing, staring out the window during the hot summer days when I was pregnant, at the changing leaves when I was overwhelmed with caring for a newborn, and now there's snow on the ground.  Madeline is getting so big so fast.

She's still obsessed with trying to sit up so we've been putting her in the Bumbo.  She seems to like it. She looks like a little princess sitting in a throne when she's in it.  I like to sit with her and let her talk to me.  Our gal is such a little chatter box these days.

She's also become very interested in the television.  She likes to watch the news and ESPN.  A nice elderly couple in the building made us copies of Baby Einstein.  We tried one out with Madeline, thinking she wouldn't really be interested, but she loved it.  She fell asleep watching the bright colors bouncing across the screen.  Hopefully, we're not turning our baby into a couch potato.  At least she'll be around the TV less once she's in daycare.

Bath time is still a family favorite.  She's started kicking her legs like a frog while in her tubby.  It's really funny to watch.  She splashes the water all over.  I have to keep my hands on her so she doesn't float away.

Meanwhile, the Sleep Monster is getting his pink butt kicked.  Madeline has been sleeping really well the last few days. (Knock on wood.)  We put her down around 6:30, and she still doesn't fall asleep for good till around 10, but it's better than 1 AM like it used to be.  She's been taking her pacifier at night the last few days which helps calm her.  It's so funny how some weeks she won't tolerate it one bit, and others all she wants to do is suck on that thing.

 We're all looking forward to our first Christmas together as a family of three.  I know she won't remember it, but I will, and I'll tell her all about it.  Hoo-ray, Santa's coming to our house again!