Connect the dots

Last week I posted how Maddie had another ear infection. I say another, her first she had when she was seven months and now she is eleven, so it’s not like they are one after another. So back onto amoxicillin she went. That pink stuff goes down like a charm. All was fine and dandy for the 10 days that she was on it. Then came day 11 – all of a sudden, literally, Maddie started having little bumps on her hands and legs. When we changed her into her PJs that night she had hives on the insides of her legs. Poor thing! She has been taking some Benadryl to help with them but she really doesn’t seem to be too phased by it all. I was so excited for Sunday because I was going to dress Maddie in her new cute spring smocked dress and take some pictures. Well she wore the dress plus a ton of new hives that showed up on her arms, legs and face! At church we kept having to tell people “no, don’t worry its just an allergic reaction,” so that people wouldn't think I am parading my child around with chicken pox or something.

I still did take some pictures because she just looked so stinking cute! I love this dress!


Secretly I was hoping, prior to the spots, that I would be able to get some birthday card photos out of this. But, according to the pediatrician, these hives are going to be around for another week or so so I will have to find some other goodies to use. Like I said though, she is still in such good spirits but I can’t help but feel bad when I see her little spotted face!

Last night the hives on the inside of her legs were the size of quarters, I kid you not, they were huge. Hopefully tomorrow they will have gone down some. They are just big and red splotches on her teeny, tiny, little “powerful legs!”

Holy Moly . . . 11 Months!

I will try to fight back the tears while I make my last “month” post before my Maddie turns the big 1! Maddie here are all the fabulous things you can do:

- you are still a super sleeper through the night and still take two naps a day!

- you really do not like to be fed foods because you are a big girl and can feed yourself

- you love to eat scrambled eggs (southwest style to be exact), macaroni and cheese and mandarin oranges. you also are not afraid to try new things when put in front of you.

- you love, I mean LOVE to say “hi” and wave to people, especially men! I’m talking most of the W&L swim team and really any handsome business men we see out at lunch – she has been known do raise he eyebrows! we are going to have some long talks about this later!

- you have to make sure everyone sees you anywhere we go – you say hi and wave or stare at people until they see you and then wave.

- you are a speedy little crawler and move all over the house now

- you also cruise along furniture or anything else you get your hands on!

- you have taken a few steps on your own but prefer to cruise or “walk” while holding our hands.

- you say “mama,” “dada,” “hi” and a couple other things you recognize. for example every time you see you bottle it’s “buh buh”

- you still (as of the beginning of the month) have no teeth! your gummy smiles are the cutest!

- our favorite thing right now is to see you point to everything (I mean everything) to which you say “geah” and want to know what it is.

You are growing up so fast and I cannot believe that you are going to be one in a few short weeks! It seems like just yesterday I was starting up this blog for your arrival and finishing up the nursery! We cannot wait to celebrate your first birthday with friends and family, oh and cupcakes too!!

Pinky and the piano

We have some toys around here that make some noise. Correction, all toys make noise with the right drop, slam or smack. To add to our collection Maddie has a piano that really is pretty cute. It plays music or it does the “learning” (blah) activities too so Maddie can learn her colors, which she already knows by now, duh! Anyways, another cute thing about our piano is it hooks up to the TV so you can play along. We love to do the animal sing along because it shows all the animals and the sounds that they make. I’m pretty sure she just loves to see me dance and make the sounds but hey, I can do a pretty good sheep sound – not to be confused with the of a goat though.

Here’s my little pianist


Did I mention you can dance too? Maddie loves to do the “diaper drop.”


”Slop, slop, slop, that’s how a piggie eats!”


Mom, enough with the camera already!


And of course, what post would be complete without some Santa pictures?! Maddie loves to read and one of her favorite book is Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? It is such a fun book, I love Eric Carle. Apparently Santa loves the b0ok too!

Basketball

We went tonight to see Ronnie play some basketball since Bridgewater was in town playing against Roanoke. It was great to see him play for his college team! Ronnie, Donny says that you played very well. I would say this too but I was mostly watching while trying to watch Maddie, and change her, and feed her. She says you did a great job too! Can’t wait to see you this spring!

Maddie ready for action!


Ronnie!!

Mama’s Day Out

Well, it was more like a weekend or so. It has been the first time I have ever been away from my little bean overnight! But, it was well worth it because I went down to Charlotte to see Rick and his team swim in their conference meet. Rick did really well and improved on his already speedy times. Here are a few pix captured on my weekend away! Also a bonus, Melinda came in from ECU so we got to hang out too!



A little huggin’ action going on . . .

One of the other teams assistant coaches had a purple mohawk! Which was awesome! I suggested this for W&L’s coach for next year.

Intense and ready for the relay!
More hugging!


Congrats to Rick and his other teammates who swam so well this weekend!

Bringing the sink bath back!

I won’t bore you with details, but yes we have been bringing back the sink bath. Maddie has been rockin’ some serious diaper rash, only to be compounded by stinky diapers. So when the poop comes – into the sink we go. She loves it, and really who wouldn’t? The other day we did wash our hair too, it was just easier!

Yes, that is my coffee creamer in the background.

Ohh bubbles!




“hi”

“ta ta” makes it all better

Yup, Maddie is under the weather again. She has her second ear infection. She woke up in the middle of the night burning up, 103 to be exact. She kept trying to fall asleep on me on the couch and I just laid there sweating! Poor thing. She really is a social butterfly and loves to say hi to people. Even at the doctor’s office that morning, I am standing at the counter scanning the insurance card etc, and Maddie is waving and saying “hi” to all the “well” people there. We were the only sickies. Santa was at home to greet us when we got back. Nothing cheers you up like a little “Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus right down Santa Claus lane . . . ”

Do we look a little tired??

Yup, the bow is still there. I think the purple looks nice!


Kisses for Santa!

A little thing us Smiths like to do . . .

. . . party that is! I remember when Donny and I were first dating and I went to a family birthday party for the first time. I remember thinking it would be the immediate family and maybe a couple other people there too to celebrate. Well, I didn’t realize that the immediate family, of just the Smiths, would be about 25+. Yes, you read that right. Well this past weekend we celebrate Mimi’s and great-aunt Becky’s birthdays! Maddie was really in the celebratory mood and was a real entertainer. Oh, and in case you are wondering, “ta ta” did come and do some sleigh rides.

Mimi being serenaded by the crew!


Candles! Maddie is into it!


Becky’s turn! Yes this is the “other side” of the table.



Maddie trying to show off her “so big!!”



A party wouldn’t be complete without a little after-cake jam session!

Jack rockin’ out!

Hairdresser

I joke when Maddie wakes up with some kind of crazy hair that she has been playing “hairdresser” in her crib. Seriously, I am not joking. And apparently Maddie isn’t either.

In her defense, she is trying to wave to you all . . .

Ok Mama, here it is!

Have you met my bestest buddy?

He may be out of season. He may be small and bounce up and down. And he may sing the same song over and over again . . . but Maddie loves him. I’m serious people, Maddie loves Santa! Aunt Melinda picked this out for her for Christmas (duh), and Maddie has gotten kind of attached. He now has a “bed” which he rests in at night. It’s an old wipes box complete with pillow and pink blanket. The “bed” also doubles as his “sleigh.” If you even think I am joking, I have the proof in the pictures. Maddie and “ta ta” go for sleigh rides all the time! Maddie really does love her “ta ta,” he has gone to the grocery store (when we are sick and not feeling well), he has gone on car trips, and an occasional birthday party or two. Here are some sleigh rides around the house. Let me know if you want to come over and join in, I can get a bigger box!

And you thought I was joking…

Did I forget to mention Santa wears a purple bow? Yeah, that’s because the red holiday one, dare I say it, really is too big for him!



Kisses!