Landscaping the Back Yard

Here are some pictures of the landscaping I did in the back yard this week. This was my landscaping project for this year. I like to do one every year. Eventually the yard will look the way I want it to. I took the week off to do it and I'm glad I did. This project was a lot of work, but it was worth it, I think. It is still not totally complete. I need to plant a few more shrubs and flowers, but this gives you the idea of what I did and where I'm going. Everything here is new. It used to be all grass. I had to add everything. I added a few things last year, but 90% of it was done this week. Now I need to keep the dogs from peeing on my shrubs.

First Time Out Without Maddie

Friday was our first time out of the house together without Maddie since she was born. We went to see the new Indiana Jones movie. Doug's parents and Grandma came up to watch Maddie for us. We want to give a big thank you to them. The movie was very good. It met all of our expectations.

Maddie did very well while we were gone. She played and took a nap. She did not cry at all. I think Mom, Dad, and Grandma enjoyed themselves also. However, after having her with us all the time it seemed very strange not having her there. It seemed like we were missing something.

Memorial Day!

We had a nice Memorial Day. We met Doug's parents, Grandma, Joey, Lori, Allison, and Alex at the photographer for our family picture. She is located in a rural area, and there is a pretty pond by the studio that they color a blue/green. We tried a few shots outside by the pond, but the wind was blowing so badly that we are not sure how those pictures will turn out. We went inside the studio for a few more. I think she took some good pictures by the time she was finished. We can't wait to see them.

After the photographer, we went to Joey and Lori's where we ate lunch. Grandma Bell and Mom had made some chicken and noodles, vegetables, and rolls. Grandma Bell also made a butter pecan cake with butter cream icing (YUMMY!). She made us some sugar cookies to take home too. Maddie crawled around a lot while Allison played with her. Alex liked playing his Nintendo Wii. He is a very good Wii bowler. We had a nice visit, but unfortunately we didn't take any pictures to post on the blog. I think we were all pictured out from the photographer.

Memorial Day Weekend

We hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. We don't have much planned for this weekend other than getting together with the Smith side of the family for a big family picture on Monday. Afterwards, we are going over to Joey and Lori's for some food. Happy Memorial Day!

Sick Again!

After just getting over the flu, I (Doug) got a cold last weekend. It wasn't a bad one, but it was surprising. I hardly ever get sick, and now I got sick 2 weekends in a row! Well, I ended up giving it to Kris and Maddie. Kris started feeling bad Wednesday. Maddie was acting fine, but her nose was plugged. Wednesday night was not good for me. I work 2nd shift, and I'm nocturnal by nature anyway. I was up until 6 a.m. Wed/Thurs, and Maddie woke up at that time. Kris tried to feed her, but it is hard for a baby to nurse with a plugged nose. I sucked her nose out and used some nasal drops to break up the mucus. Maddie did not like that at all. Kris thought Maddie felt hot, and wanted me to take her temperature. We have two types of digital thermometers. When one thermometer read normal, Kris wanted me to take it with the other. It read normal as well. Kris thinks that there is something wrong with BOTH thermometers because she was sure that Maddie had a temperature. She thought that Maddie's body just felt hot.

Maddie was hot, upset, and probably not feeling well when she woke up at 6 AM. The nose aspirating and the temperature taking did not help things (just made her mad). We gave her some Tylenol to help her sleep. Sleeping did not come very easy for her though. She would fall asleep, but as soon as we put her down, she would wake up. We decided she needed her sleep more than we needed ours. I told Kris to go to bed because, being sick too, she needed rest. She said we should take Maddie in 4 hour shifts. I went first (from 7 to 11). Remember - I had yet to go to bed the night before. I took cat naps in a chair with Maddie asleep on my chest. I did not sleep very well.

Every 10 minutes or so, I would wake up because Maddie was cutting off the circulation in my arm. My shoulder hurt so bad, and my arm was numb and cold. My legs also got numb from the way I had to sit with Maddie asleep on me. I tried to put her down about seven times between seven and eleven, and she woke up every time. Finally at eleven, I went upstairs and told Kris it had been four hours. She told me to try and put Maddie in her crib. When I did, she slept soundly (After all those times I tried to put her down and she would wake up!). As soon as my shift was over, she decided to sleep. Kris got to stay in bed, and I let the blood drain back into my arm and legs. I slept for 4 hours before going to work.

Maddie's nose was not near as plugged on Thursday. She seemed to feel better (although her nose was a little runny and she was hot a couple of times throughout the day). Today (Friday) she seems fine and only has an occasional runny nose. She seems to have a very strong immune system (most likely from the breast milk) and is able to get over sickness quickly. Maddie never did act like she was extremely sick, so it must not have been too bad for her. Not bad for her first time getting sick (and no sickness until 9 months of age - not bad either!)! Kris is still sick, but she is getting a little better everyday. Well, I'm off next week and am going to do some landscaping in the back yard. Enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend!

A New Addition to Our Blog - MUSIC!

In case you did not notice, we have added music to our blog. So, turn up your speakers and enjoy! If you don't like a particular song on our playlist, you can click on the next song and change the music. When you are viewing one of our videos, you can pause the music by clicking on the pause symbol on the music player. The music player/playlist is located at the very bottom of the blog (scroll all the way down). We will be adding more music to our playlist, so stay tuned. We hope you enjoy this new addition!

Maddie Standing Up

For about two weeks, Maddie has been pulling herself up in her crib & pack 'n plays and standing. She stands constantly now. Every once in awhile she will fall over, but she immediately pulls herself up again. She may be walking before we know it! Here are some cute pictures of her standing.

Maddie Annoying Bailey

Fun with Blocks

Mother's Day!

Mother's Day weekend turned out to be a very bad weekend at the Smith house. Kris and I both got the stomach flu. Fortunately, Maddie did not get sick. Kris started getting sick early Thursday morning and I got sick on Thursday afternoon. We are both just now starting to feel better. Kris did an excellent job taking care of Maddie on Thursday and Friday. She was exhausted from the flu, and I was no help at all. I hardly got out of bed either day. So Maddie and I wished her a VERY Happy Mother's Day today because she couldn't be a better mom!

Last night Maddie and I played in her play room for awhile. She enjoys it much more now that she is older and can crawl around. She has a circus train that she likes to chase around the room.

Maddie Chasing The Train

Happy Day!

Hello! Have A Wonderful Day!

Maddie and Her Puffs

Here are some pictures of Maddie enjoying some apple cinnamon and corn flavored puffs. She thinks she is such a big girl now. She loves playing with her suction cup bowl. She thinks it is really cool!

I WANT MORE PUFFS! NOW!

9 Month Check-Up

Today was Madeline's 9 month check up. She will be 9 months old on Friday the 9th! She behaved very well during her office visit. She weighs 18 lbs. 15 oz. and is 28 1/2 " long. Since her 6 month visit, she has gained 2 lbs 3 oz and has grown 2 inches in length. Her length for age is around the 75th percentile and her weight for age is around the 50th percentile. Of course, they did not graph her weight for length (what really matters), as doctors never do. That annoys me! I have been meaning to get out my growth charts and do it myself, but I have not gotten the chance. I will keep you posted. Anyway, during today's visit, Maddie had to get one shot (Hep B) and had her finger poked to check her iron. She did not cry or make any type of fuss at all. Her iron was very good (above 12.0). Dr. Cohen said she is in perfect health. He said she is doing great both developmentally and nutritionally.

We are going to start giving her some table food and finger foods. I will let you know how it goes. We already gave her a couple of Gerber puffs today. She wasn't quite sure what to do with them. I ended up holding each puff and letting her bite off a small piece at a time. She seemed to like the puffs and felt like such a big girl!

Finally, Doug recently noticed that Maddie actually has two teeth coming in (not just one tooth as previously reported). They are both upper middle teeth. It's about time! She got her bottom two teeth at an early age and has not gotten anymore until now. She is still chewing on her hands and toys a great deal, so she may have more teeth on the way!