Boo - Green beans

Day one of green beans was not as successful as Madelyn's other solid food adventures. The face she made was not pleasant and we only got through half of the serving. Hopefully she grows to like them a little more each day as the week progresses.

Perhaps we'll go to a yellow/orange vegetable when she's done with the green beans.

Water baby

As soon as Dr Brandon cleared Madelyn for swimming and sunscreen, it was imperative that we make our first family trek to the swimming pool.

Her buddy, Gray, and his parents were going to the pool, too. So, the six of us headed off together.

Madelyn is living up to Kerkhove and Anderson family traditions of being a good little water baby. She splashed and smiled and laughed and talked and even had half of her lunch bottle at the pool. And, when a little boy jumped into the pool and splashed the three of us, it didn't phase her one bit. She just made a funny face and then kept on enjoying herself.

Now that we're members of the parent club in our neighborhood, I completely get and appreciate all the family friendly touches especially those at the Puddle Jumper pool with all the water features and zero-depth areas. I know Madelyn appreciates them, too.

Hopefully Uncle Jerky won't be too disappointed that she hasn't mastered the cannonball...yet. The summer's not over.

Happy 6-month birthday!

I can...

...sit up by myself.
...eat solid foods (rice cereal and oatmeal).
...recognize Mom and Dad (and Sadie and Felix).
...roll over from back to front and, sometimes, front to back.


I can remember what I was doing six months ago tonight but I can't remember life without you. Happy six-month birthday, Madelyn.

Thank you, Luke's mom

Luke is one of Madelyn's buddies at daycare.

Quick tangent: There are three or four little ones in Madelyn's class all within one month of each other -- Ethan, Luke, Ollie, and Madelyn. Addie used to be Madelyn's best girl friend but her family moved to Boston. Ethan and Ollie are really good on their tummies but hate sitting. Luke and Madelyn are semi-pros at sitting but don't really like being on their tummies.

Back to the main story.

The other morning when I was dropping Madelyn off, Meghan (the morning instructor) and I were discussing the crinkle boxes and how they're so popular. Meghan mentioned that Luke's mom gives him crinkled up wax paper at home and how it's the perfect toy. First and foremost, it crinkles. Secondly, it's non-toxic. And third, the wax keeps it from getting soggy after having been played with (and stuck in one's mouth) after a while.

We don't have wax paper but we do have parchment paper. Tonight, I gave Madelyn a crinkled up piece of parchment paper...and the rest is history.

By the way, she had her Cindy Lou Hoo hairstyle when I picked her up from daycare today. Apparently, she's "our favorite little girl" so I guess that means she gets fancy hair-dos from now on.

Petite Picasso

They do a fair amount of arts and crafts at daycare. I'm always impressed with the different things the babies can make with a little assistance. So far, Madelyn's made a flower for me for Mother's Day, a card for Griff for Father's Day, a butterfly, and a fabulous painting not to mention the countless going away and happy birthday cards she's signed (with her footprint).

What impresses me more, however, is how she never comes home covered in paint. Every once in a while I'll spot some paint on a foot or on her sock...now I know their secret.

That big smile and the paint on her belly are priceless!

Rice cereal - Day 2

By popular demand...video of Madelyn eating rice cereal.

Her first venture into solid foods was on Sunday -- Father's Day. Lucky for us, Father's Day fell right in line with our schedule so that we could commemorate Griff's first Father's Day accordingly.

My new favorite picture

Thank you, tummy time.

Splish-Splash Friday

Fridays at daycare during the Summer are Splish-Splash Fridays. We had to make sure Madelyn's swimsuit fit her so she could participate today. It's a little big but works just right for the splishing and splashing of little hands and feet in cookie sheets filled with water.

We were told she was a good little participant. (That's no surprise.) She happily kicked her feet in the tray and splashed the water all around. Next up -- butterfly.

Big-girl chair

We caved last weekend and bought Madelyn a high chair.

After realizing that sitting in her bouncy chair near the table during dinner was no longer sufficient -- she wanted to be up at table level with us -- we got the old Anderson chair down from the garage. To a little girl without good sitting muscles, the wooden chair wasn't very comfortable.

Her very own high chair is a hit. Even though she looks tiny in it, she sits nicely during dinner. More importantly, she'll be all set to start solid foods in a few more weeks! And, the Anderson chair will go back to Grammy's house so Madelyn has a seat at the table for dinners at Grammy's.

33-ounces!

That's how much Madelyn ate yesterday.

Poppie thinks our quart-a-day gal has a hollow leg. Honey and her teachers at daycare think she's having a growth spurt. I think she's determined to double her birthweight by her six-month birthday which is still a month away. As of Tuesday, she weighed 14-lb 1-oz so she's got another pound-and-a-half to go to reach that milestone.

Based on my estimate of the milk bricks we've accumulated in our freezer, at 32-oz a day, our milk would last another 12.19 days. If you've seen our freezer lately, your estimate may be higher or lower than mine but I'm guessing conservatively.

Either way, she's definitely growing and continues to be the happiest, most giggly, and talkative little girl around. For those of you out-of-towners that we'll see this weekend, we're happy you're coming/here and we'll see you soon. For the rest, we'll post pictures as soon as possible.