Two Months and Growing!!

Not mommy & daddy's little baby anymore....that is the bitter sweet thought to sum up the second month.  At her two month follow up she weighed 10 lbs 8 oz and measured 23 in long.  Her weight falls in the 50th percentile and her height falls in the 75th percentile!  Madelyn is growing up so fast and already proving to us that she's not a baby ;o(  Since we see her every day we barely notice the physical changes, but it's all the other changes that we can't believe.  She’s really looking around and taking in everything!!  From the continued friendly staring contest with Mr. Fan to moving her head toward your voice when you talk to her. Just so alert and aware of her surroundings. When we walk around the house, she's looking back and forth trying to look at everything we pass. She is also starting to make eye contact, looking right into your eyes and trying soooo hard to say something! Since the moment she arrived she is always sticking out her tongue.  When I stick my tongue out to her, I swear she mimics me and then giggles as though she laughing at how I can't do it right no matter how many times she has to show me.  It’s so cool.  She’s still breaking into great little smiles and starting to make more noises and coos. And she’s holding her head up even longer when you support her body or do tummy time.  Be sure to turn up your volume for the videos below.

Buddy and Juliette finally got to meet our new family member and come home from Nana & Poppy Tolle's house.  It went perfectly!  We actually sent Nana home with a blanket of Madelyn's to let them get use to her scent about 3 or 4 weeks earlier.  Then we introduced Madelyn at Nana & Poppy's house, which was a neutral territory.  They both kept smelling her feet, but immediately Buddy fell in love!  You could tell his excitement from his wagging tail and his big ears perked all up.  On the other hand, Juliette just walked off after smelling her.  It wasn't until later when Ryan picked Madelyn up that she perked up and ran over to give a closer inspection.  I think I even heard Juliette say "I didn't care when the lady was holding her since I don't prefer the lady anyways....but now I care".  Just kidding....sort of!  Well, we finally got the doggy doors installed and the fence put up, so the dogs were estactic when we got home.  And were immediately comfortable with our new family member.  Buddy is so adorable!  Any time that Madelyn makes a noise or cries, he runs over to her chair or swing or the gate to the room she's in.  I even catch him randomly strolling over to check on her throughout the day.  He was so cute on pizza night (which is his favorite because he loves pizza crust), he was sitting next to the dinner table but then ran to the bounce chair in the living room because Madelyn made a noise; then he remembered the pizza and ran back to the table, but wait-Madelyn made a noise so run back to the chair...it was so cute!!

So when do bad habits begin?  Some happen right around 2 months old!  So, when Madelyn sucks on her "binkie" - "bopper" - whatever you want to call it - she turns it sideways and ends up making a slurping sound.  One morning while I was getting ready, Madelyn was sitting in her bouncey chair sucking on her "binkie".  All of sudden I no longer hear the slurping sound and thought she fell asleep.  When I got done doing my hair, I look and to my surprise she was sucking her thumb!!!!  It was actually pretty darn cute!

While I was pregnant, I would sit and think about what she will be like and what she will inherit from each of us or our families.  Well, let me tell you what she did inherit.  One morning I got up early and was getting some house work done while I had a free minute.  When Miss Madelyn and daddy finally decided to wake up, they walked out of the bedroom with BOTH of them shrugging their brow!  Two little grumpy pants looking exactly the same which made me start calling her "Little Tolle".  More than ever I wish we had an on demand camera at all times so I could show you!

Madelyn's first Easter was filled with lots of good food (mostly for mommy & daddy) and lots of good family time!!  Here are some pictures to share  :o)