Madelyn's first month

Madelyn's first bath at 2 weeks old. You can tell she had a fun time.

Our three kids! I can't believe I have 3 kids. I am still getting used to it.

Hannah didn't like taking pictures so we all put on our sad face.

Finally able to get a decent picture. Thanks to bribbery of chocolate.

It has been a great month, well technically 5 weeks. Madelyn is 5 weeks today. It has gone by so fast. Madelyn slept most of the time. For about 3 weeks she slept so much we were worried about her. I had to wake her up every two hours to eat during the day. It wasn't a bad problem to have. Then she started to have more awake time this past week and isn't quite sure yet what to do with herself, i.e. she cries more! She is so sweet though and loves the attention from Brecklen and Hannah. I think she likes the chaos and noise. She sleeps through it and when they stop, she wakes up. She is gaining weight, but is still a little peanut. I just love to hold her. She isn't thrilled with the Baby Bjorn, I think because she's still so little. She prefers to just be held. Sh's holding up her head pretty good. But she has such a cute little head it probably doesn't take much.

Brecklen and Hannah just love Madelyn to pieces. Hannah has picked her up a couple of times. When Madelyn was 8 days old Hannah carried her off the bed and I caught Hannah walking down the hall with Madelyn in her arms. That was a little scary, but Hannah had such a big smile on her face and was holding her so carefully I couldn't get mad at her, but we did have a little chat. Two days later Hannah picked up Madelyn out of the co-sleeper(a mini-crib by our bed) and I found Hannah trying to pick up Madelyn off the bed again, only this time Madelyn was face down squirming to get her face off the sheets so she could breathe. That was even scarier. Thank goodness for that motherly instinct, and monitors, to go and check up on Madelyn. Time to put up the crib to protect her from her siblings who are trying to be helpful. Hannah has progressed. She knows not to pick her up anymore. She loves to hold Madelyn though. Everytime Madelyn wakes up Hannah asks so cute with a big smile "can I hold him?" We are still working on the concept of boys and girls.

My mother-in-law was here for the first week and Aric's brother and his family came to visit during that time. It was great to have my mother-in-law here to help. She kept the kids totally entertained so that I could take care of Madelyn. Plus the fact that I didn't have to do laundry, cook, or do dishes! It was great for Brecklen and Hannah to play with their cousins that they don't see often. My mom came to help out when my mother-in-law left and she stayed for two weeks. I think my mom was tired by the time she left. Two weeks with my kids will apparently do that. I'm grateful to these women for everything they did.

Brecklen is so sweet with Madelyn. He loves to snuggle and cuddle with her. It's cute to see all three of my kids snuggled together smiling and laughing. That's what life is all about.

This week Hannah had a mild cold. Actually so mild I wouldn't have even called her sick except for the fact she had a little cough. Hannah had a difficult time staying away from Madelyn. She loves to kiss the baby. So Madelyn now has her first cold.

The past five weeks has been great. It's been wonderful getting to know our sweet little Madelyn, and seeing that my kids love her too. Aric is a great dad and just loves Madelyn so much. It's cute to see him with our kids. I think we're both on a "newborn high."

My mom was impressed with how much Aric helps out. She said he "would make a great mom." Which then I replied "or he can just be a good dad." I don't think my mom is used to seeing a man help around the house. After all, times have changed. The other day he got out our hand-vac and vaccumed up enough rice to be dinner for the next night while holding Madelyn in the other arm. I told him he would make a great mom. But you do make an excellent dad :)