Maternal Instinct

I keep hearing stories about mothers who would KILL for their babies. And when telling me about that instinct, they always say it as if they need to announce a threat to me and anyone nearby who is even thinking about hurting their children.

This picture has nothing to do with the story, I just figured you would need
a picture of a cute baby to distract you from how scary my story is. 

so when madison was born, I waited to feel the same way. and it didn't happen. until tonight. 

Our apartment complex is really lovely... during the day. But it's not exactly known for being crime free. Cop cars will even drive by every few hours just to send a message to everyone in the complex. 

So when my back door started creeping open, I was convinced someone was breaking in. and I played out the scenario in my head: 

1. Push sleeping madison in her bouncy chair as far away as possible. 

2. grab phone, pre-dial 911. 

3. call buddy to serve his purpose in life and be a surprisingly ferocious guard dog. 

4. grab giant butcher knife. 

5. approach door. 

I'm still not entirely convinced that it was the wind, because what wind opens doors? But by the time Buddy and I, and the phone and the knife reached the back door, no one was there. Then I felt compelled to yell out "Gee, buddy, good thing no one was here, or I would have STABBED them!" 

I think the mama bear instinct is alive and well. 

ps - I accidentally dialed 911, and hung up right away. Then they called back asking repetitively if I was being held hostage. embarrassing. at least I know in the future if I'm ever held hostage that I can call 911 and hang up right away. 

we have a super chunky monkey baby.

Yesterday was maddie's 2 month checkup.

let me back track a little. Maddie is growing out of clothes like crazy. I can't think of a single newborn outfit she wore more than once, and she's even starting to grow out of her 3 month outfits. One day, in a fit of anger, I threw all of her clothes on the floor and vowed to only put her in clothes she hadn't worn yet so she would be able to wear them at least once.
It didn't work.

While we were in Oregon, she literally wore a pair of pajamas the first day there, and grew out of them by the end of our 5 DAY TRIP.

to say I'm a little peeved is an understatement. some days I threaten to stop feeding her. (I would never do that, don't call cps on me!) one of my friends told me to give her "shortening". haha!

But despite all of that, I was convinced that the clothing companies just make the clothes really small so you have to keep buying more. I love a good conspiracy theory.

So, imagine my shock when at her two month appointment she weighed over 14 lbs. That's a big baby! and then her pediatrician came in and was shocked, too! I asked him what her percentile was, and he said that he couldn't even tell me because that weight/height didn't even exist on his chart. She's literally off the charts. Not an expression.

So I looked it up, because not knowing her percentile was killing me. 

Height - 98%, weight- 99.99%

Mind Blown. 

Holly suggested to me that she will be a toddler by time she is 6 months old. I wouldn't be surprised. 

But the good news is that she's totally healthy. He even said that developmentally, she was looking more like a 3 month old. Yay! 

But with a face as cute as this, I can't be mad at her for growing so fast. Maybe she'll go into the wnba!

It's 2 am...

and I'm crocheting. I know I'll regret it in the morning (or in 3 hours when maddie wakes up for her feeding),
But it's been so long, and I'm loving curling up on the couch with a ball of yarn while watching saturday night live.


I know what you're thinking. I'm such a rebel.

Our first couple weeks

I've been so blessed to have Jeff here at home with me the last two weeks. Not only has it helped me with my recovery, but it has honestly felt like a vacation... a sleep-deprived one, but nonetheless, it has almost been like our honeymoon all over again, just getting to know each other as parents and falling in love all over again.

well, enough of that cheesy stuff.

We've become obsessed with taking pictures of Madison, so here they are. Our first week together as a family. 

Maddie's First bath. at first she liked it...

and then she didn't like it. 

all bundled up to go to the first pediatrician appointment

our attempt at swaddling. poor little worm. 

Then, yesterday Jeff and I decided to go to the park. But we didn't realize it would be so windy, so Maddie and I stayed inside the car while Jeff took buddy to go play in the snow. 

maddie was not ok with the cold.

buddy loved it. 

maddie and dad doing "skin to skin" bonding.

Buddy has been really sweet to Maddie. 

Learning how to care for a baby

Like everything else, I've been obsessing over little details and researching baby stuff that doesn't really matter.

But this was the best thing I've ever seen, and it's helped me learn so much, I thought you all would like to learn with me as well: