Day 2 of Daycare

Today I took Maddy for day 2 of daycare. And today? SO much harder. Maddy cried when we walked in there - she understood this is the room where she gets left. And even while I stayed there for 30 minutes, trying to reassure her, she would be happily playing then just stop and cry. Wail, like her little heart was breaking. Finally, I had to leave to make it to work. I walked out and Maddy started crying. And I had to keep walking. The awesome staff were quick to run over, pick Maddy up and distract her. They know what they are doing. But this first time mom? She's feeling a little lost.

I know it'll get better, I know it's the best thing for Maddy. But as my wise mom says, her head knows it's right but her heart feels like she's deserting our girl.

Today I called (again) to see how she was. The staff we reassuring and Maddy was doing fine, after a few tears this morning. When I called I asked about how Maddy was doing they called me "Maddy's mom". The years of being known as "Maddy's mom" has started. I thought it would feel foreign, like someone way more responsible than I am. But, when I heard it, I felt like it fits. There is a large part of me and my life devoted to being Maddy's mom. While it isn't my entire life, I love it being a large chunk of my life for now.

Maddy's outfit for her first day of daycare. And in case you are wondering, she's holding a tightly sealed empty jar of my anti-aging cream. She found it upstairs and has become a favorite thing to carry around.

No, I don't get it either.

Ba-a-a-a-a-a!

Seriously, how cute is this kid? But please excuse the spit... she's learning.

I peed

I couldn't wait.

And it's no. One line, no baby. Not pregnant.

My cycle should start right away.

And I still don't really know how I feel about it. Some relief, a lot of sadness.

I really, really, really loved that baby that never was.

More new for the nunu!

Maddy is once again (still?) teething. But her one molar is completely out and the other, on the bottom, is almost out. But there is still quite a bit of gum over the tooth. However, teething + a meh nap = GRUMP. Despite the grump she still does something new and awesome everyday! Today? It was JUMP.

For a long time Maddy has found jumping hilarious. When we jump near her, laughter. When we jump holding her? More laughter! And today, she jumped all on her own! Did she get much air? Hells no... but she thought it was crazy fun. She'd bend her knees and quickly straighten them. Sometimes one foot would leave the earth, sometimes she stayed firmly on the floor. But it's something new, something fun, something she figured out all her own. So much she's just... picking up on her own. I don't know what I thought, that I would have to teach her things like jumping? That it would take explaining, not just her watching us and figuring it out... but what it is, it is awesome!

Pics and pics and pics of Maddy!

It's been awhile since pics have been posted. So... happy Friday!

We got some sad news today (no worries, everyone is perfectly fine) so we had a pan of homemade brownies with icing and with wine and pear cider. And giggles with the Maddy, because that makes everything better. And with the giggles came the camera!

 Maddy up close (with smudge on her nose). 

 If you look CLOSELY at her bottom gums, you can see tooth number 4 on the bottom front and the the bumps of the 2 molars. 

This one? I just like how it looks photoshopped in from an old picture. And since I don't have photoshop (or any program to edit pictures) it's even more fun to me!

Plus, I can see a glimmer of the adult Maddy in the blur. 

Maddy at the front door, enjoying the start of spring!  

Nie nie Maddy and Roger. Nie nie. 

Hard...

Teething? She be hard.

But I have never loved anything more than this little girl.

This n' that

Tonight Neil and I are sitting, relaxing, computering and watching the Oscars. Someone won, and this someone said "To my daughter, who has taught me more than I could ever teach her". Those words brought tears to my eyes... the truth of them hit me at my core. The last 13 months have made my life make sense, my world is clear, my purpose realized. I am meant to be the mother to my most amazing little girl. I have already learned patience and priorities, what truly matters, how beautiful the sound of laughter can be and how much joy one small human can bring to life. This little girl? She is also possibly the only person in existence to wear bright red jeggings with flair and panache.  Well, maybe just wear them and look absolutely freaking adorable.

Tonight Maddy woke with a cry, and I went in to check on her. She was distraught because she was on one end of the crib and her Roger (teddy) on the other. Once Roger was in her arms, she nestled into my arms and calmed. And I held my girl, smelled the shampoo in her hair and sang her the lullaby I always do. And I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

No one held me...

And still she took 2 small steps this morning, moving towards baba. TWO small steps, not just the one.

TWO.

Still panicking here. Still so excited!

One small step for Maddy...

... one giant leap for bumps and bruises.

She did it. She stepped. Not walked (yet) but took one small step forward. She stepped. Forward. Stepped. Stepped. STEPPED...

I am so so so so excited and still so so so nervous about life with a (getting closer to) walking Nunu.

Someone hold me.

All she wants to do is... stand

The last few days I have been home with Maddy. And it's been wonderful to spend the time with her! I've noticed, now? All she wants to do is stand. Next to things, in the centre of the room, anywhere and everywhere. Today she stood a few inches from the water cooler. Then she decided she wanted to explore the water cooler... and she tried to walk forward to the cooler. She tried to move her feet and then got a little unstable and fell to her hands and knees and moved forward that way. But with her excellent balance, constant standing, walking along furniture or walking dragons... I know walking is on the horizon.

WALKING. IS. ON. THE. HORIZON.

It's been coming for awhile, but I am not sure I am ready for this. Not at all sure.

Toothing update

Maddy had 4 teeth and was showing all the signs of teething. Her 5th has broken gum (her upper right) and the other side is days from breaking too. Six teeth! And while the bottom 2 are close together the top ones (all four) are not. But it's adorable!

First word!

Today Neil and I decided that Maddy really has said her first word. She says mama and dada and baba. Sometimes to us, but sometimes just for fun. But there is one word she says and only says when the object comes around her.

Cheese.

Yes, our girl's first word is cheese.

She says it more like "chsssss" but she only says it when we pull out the little blocks of cheese.

Chssss.

Adorable!!

Stats update

Weight - 21 pounds, 9 ounces which is about 86 percentile
Length - 72.7cm which is about 78 percentile

Yes, the units of measurement are different, I went by what the clinic told me. Still doing awesome, Madds!

Oh no...

She CLIMBS now!

False alarm...

On the post below? False alarm. I wrangled the writhing Miss-Miss down on the change table and looked more closely. And? False alarm. No teeth nubs, just whiteness under the gum where teeth are likely emerging. But they are coming! Eventually...

More from me! Another first!!

I am a posting whore today... But there is more news to share!

I was sitting with Madds on my lap. I tilted her back and started blowing raspberries on her adorable little belly. She threw her head back and laughed and laughed! With her head back, I was able to see her top gums. And I saw TEETH! It's hard to see her top gums, but I am nearly 100% positive that there are 2 little nubs of teeth emerging.

More teeth, more standing, attempts at stair climbing... it's been a crazy day!

She stood! She stood!

I am exhausted. No clue why I am sleepy today but I can barely keep my eyes open. I grabbed a pillow and blanket and laid on the floor of the living room to rest. Maddy was crawling around me and pulled herself onto her knees using my hips, while watching TV (of course). As she stared at Voyager she straightened her legs and stood, while leaning on my hips! I am not sure she realized what she was doing... she fell to her knees and then stood again! Even in the end, as I cheered, I am not sure she got it - what she was doing. But I saw it and I am looking forward to seeing it again.

The toothy smile

If you look closely, on the bottom, in the centre and slightly to the left... there is her FIRST TOOTH!

Keyboard yum

On Sunday Madds and dada were hanging out together on the couch. Dada was showing Maddy his favorite video game and Madds was loving the images and randomly hitting the keys. Somehow Madds managed to kill dada's toon (her first WoW death!) and while Neil was telling me, he turned to look at me. He turned back to the laptop and noticed something wrong. There was a key missing on the keyboard. I grabbed Madds and Neil carefully stood up and we started searching for the key. After a few seconds I noticed Maddy was gumming something... Could she have? She could. She did. Madds somehow (in about 5 seconds) pulled a key off the laptop and was eating it. Well, key was removed and replaced and Maddy was a little put out her "food" was gone. Life with Maddy seems to be one heart attack after another...

Corner Girl (with gas)

Madds has a love for corners and tight spots. Maddy will always make a bee-line to the corner and snuggle in there. We lent our Bumbo to a friend who is expecting. The Bumbo used to block the space between the wall and couch. This morning Madds noticed the gap and was in there! She even moved herself backwards and got out herself.

The gas comes from the prunes for breakfast (our girl was a little backed up). And the prunes were a success!