Catch!

James is becoming more and more of a little boy - getting into cars, legos, tools and bugs. But he is especially getting into sports. I don't think he understands the concept of any sport yet, but he definitely gets the idea of playing with a ball and even the idea of competition. Last month it was basketball and throwing the ball into the hoop but now he has moved on to catching a ball. And he wants to work on it constantly.

The poor dogs are constantly teased with the games of catch, they are just waiting for the right time to swoop in and grab the ball for themselves.

Madeleine does not care at all, it's amazing that she sleeps right through all the cheering and barking though! 

Even though Madeleine is already two weeks old today (eek! how did those first two weeks go by so fast??), I still cant believe she is so small. Its just so hard to believe that James was that small - and now he is think running, jumping yelling little boy in just two short years. Looking back at his old newborn pictures we can confirm that he was indeed that small... but it really just seems impossible.


This is James at two days old. So small and sweet!

And here is his little sister at two days old - just as small and sweet :) Thinking back to how James was as a newborn, there are many similarities between the two but also many differences. Madeleine talks in her sleep - constantly. It took us a few nights to figure out that she wasn't really awake, that she was just babbling. She also makes the best faces, James was always so peaceful when he slept and a super calm baby. Madeleine... not so much. My mom calls James dramatic but I have a feeling that Madeleine is going to be even worse. When she is awake she is either making faces or trying to figure out what is going on. Never just happy to be held, always needs to see whats around her or is yelling to get attention. And not crying like babies cry, but this yell - like "look at me, look at me!". James is still loving on her. The newness of having a baby around has worn off but he keeps talking to her and trying to get her to play with him. Tonight he was teaching her how to count to 20. The best part is that every morning and every night he gives her a kiss. He still just calls her baby, but Madeleine is a hard name, so baby works just fine. 



One of her more comfortable sleeping positions.



Yeah, not nearly as peaceful when she sleeps as James was - but way more entertaining! 

July 4th

On July 4th, one of our neighbors organized a block party. Since moving in two months ago, we have been able to meet a lot of our immediate neighbors but certainly not everyone on the street. We know that there are lots of young families with young children so we were really excited to be able to go and have been looking forward to this for weeks. However, I was still in the hospital with Madeleine and could not go - but John and James went and had a blast - good food and great people (but there was a keg, so I'm sure John would have had a great time regardless!). One of the families brought out their slip and slide and John said that once James figured out what was going on, he just kept going and going. There is a 8 yr old boy who lives across the street who took James under his wing and showed him how to run and slide and cheered him on every time he got farther than a foot. 

I wish I could have been there, but it was also great that John and James were able to spend some good time together before we brought Madeleine home the following day. It was such a great time that everyone has already started planning next years July 4th party, I will definitely not be missing that one!

Family of Four

We are now officially a family of four! I know it has not even been a week yet, but already John and I can't imagine our family without Madeleine. She is absolutely perfect, just like her big brother. When James was born, we could tell right away that he looked just like John (and anyone who saw James as an infant can agree that he was John's spitting image) But as far as we can tell, Madeleine doesn't take after either one of us yet. However, when she was born, she was screaming and pitching such a fit that my delivery nurse commented that she had my personality ;) But really, it was almost 4am and I had no drugs... so I think I was allowed to be a little cranky. Just saying. After that, she calmed down and has been the sweetest thing. Sleeping and cuddling and being precious. We are soaking up this time with her now because before long she is going to be a chasing James around - it goes by way too fast!

We had a wonderful hospital stay, but after being on bed rest for almost a week before she was born - I was ready for some freedom. Plus, I can only take so much of the hospital food without going nuts. We were able to get home and get settled before John picked James up from daycare which was perfect. We weren't sure how he was going to respond so we wanted to make sure we could give him all of out attention. Turns out, he fell in love with her just as fast as we did. I think that might change once she starts playing with his toys - but for right now, life is good.

James kept thanking me for bringing home his baby. He cant/wont say sister or even try to say Madeleine, just calls her his baby.

Thank you to everyone, we are really blessed to have so much support and love in our lives. 



She's here!

Bright and early yesterday morning at 3:46 AM, Madeleine Sue was born. We are still at the hospital but couldn't wait to share our wonderful news. I'll post more once we get home and settled.
Thanks to everyone for their wonderful thoughts and prayers.