Madison's First Christmas

Just hanging out with the presents under our tree.

She was VERY into checking out this gift!

"Hmmmmmmm....wonder who this one is for?"

I just can't get over how cute she is!

Just had to get a picture of her little reindeer butt!

"Is it time to open presents yet??"

Merry Christmas from the Pepper Family!

I LOVE SANTA!

"A Santa just my size!"

"What do we have here Santa?"

She was really interested in this little moving Santa.

She was definitely a spoiled little girl.

"Hmmmmm....What's in here?"

Working hard at unwrapping her gifts.

"Who is that pretty girl looking at me?"

Enjoying one of her new toys.

She was REALLY into the ribbon and wrapping paper.

Kim, Me, Maddie, and Faye. Last year we had a photo much like this except Maddie was inside.

Checking out her loot from Santa on Christmas morning.

My First Christmas.

Mommy and Maddie ready to head to Grandma and Grandpa's.

Wide awake and ready to celebrate Christmas with more family.

Maddie enjoyed playing with her "cousin" Trenton.

Madison seemed to really LOVE her first Christmas. And what fun we had celebrating it with her. Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma Jill and Grandpa Randy's house. We celebrated the evening with Uncle Kevin, Great Granny, and Great Grandma and Grandpa. After a fabulous Christmas dinner Maddie began to dive into her MANY, MANY gifts. We can easily say she was a VERY spoiled little girl. :-) She eventually became bored with the opening of the presents and found that the wrapping paper was far more fun to play with than the toys, clothes, and radio flyer wagon that she got. We ended the evening going to our Christmas Eve service at church. Maddie was definitely a little trooper as the service didn't start until WAY past her bedtime. She quickly fell asleep in the car on the return ride home.

We woke up Christmas morning to our stockings filled by Santa. We also had a short visit from Grandma Jill, as Santa had also stopped at her house and filled even more stockings. I know, I know....what a spoiled child?!?! Well she only has her first Christmas once so we really had to make it a special one.

After Maddie had checked out what Santa had brought her, we headed over to Grandma Kathy and Grandpa John's house to enjoy more Christmas festivities with John's family. There were a total of 20 of us there enjoying a fabulous dinner and each others company. Maddie enjoyed playing with her "cousins" Trenton (9 months old) and Shae (2 years old) while others enjoyed playing Ping Pong!

It surely seems as though Christmas came and went so quickly this year! And what fun it was to celebrate with our little girl. We look forward to the many Christmas' to come.

5 Months Old!

She is so full of JOY!

Lucas just hanging out.

Maddie wondering what kind of toys Lucas has over there.

Snuggle and feeding time with Auntie Andrea.

Mommies and babies.

Opening up a Christmas present from Lucas. She was more interested in the wrapping paper than the gift. Maybe next year! LOL

Things have just been so busy lately that I have been unable to post for a bit, but on December 20th Madison turned 5 months old! I just can't believe how big my baby girl is getting. She is still working on rolling over on a regular basis and attempting to sit up on her own. I don't feel like it will be long and she will be sitting like a big girl. She does her "crunches" VERY often lifting her head up off the ground in every attempt to sit up on her own. Going to have to get a picture of her doing it sometime as it is just too cute. She loves playing and interacting with anyone that will give her the attention. ALWAYS smiling, she is the center of attention everywhere we go!

On the 20th a few of my close friends and I got together for brunch and to do some Christmas baking. Madison thoroughly enjoyed playing with her buddy Lucas who is a month older than her. They exchanged their first Christmas gift and REALLY love each others company. I can definitely see a good friendship in the making. LOL.

Pediatrician Follow-up

Getting all weighed in! 11 lbs. 12. oz.

Just checking to make sure that grandma was still standing there!

Four months, 3 weeks:
Weight: 11 lbs. 12 oz. (5th percentile)
Length: 25 inches (50th percentile)
Head circumference: 15 3/4 inches (5th percentile)

Today was Madison's follow-up appointment at the pediatrician's. Because she was not gaining weight fast enough we were to return to this appointment to check up on her weight gain over a period of two weeks. She weighed 11lbs. 12 oz. - up 6 oz. from her visit two weeks ago. Still in the 5th percentile, we are to continue supplementing with formula and begin feeding her rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula as many as 3-6 times a day. The pediatrician also recommended that we start giving her other solids (ie pureed fruits and vegetables) to help to increase her caloric intake.

Maddie continues to be a VERY active and happy little baby girl. I think she is just burning off so many of the calories she takes in with all of her activity. She's just going to be a petite little girl!

Meeting Santa

YEAH SANTA!

Yesterday we were finally able to take Madison to meet Santa for the very first time. She was in a pretty good mood that day so it seemed to be the perfect day for pictures with Santa. As we were standing in line waiting on Santa - he was taking a break to feed his reindeer - Maddie was smiling at every single person that she met eyes with. I can't tell you how many people commented on how adorable she is! We are definitely proud parents to have such a beautiful little baby girl on our hands.

Maddie seemed to do pretty well when it came her turn to sit on Santa's lap. She wasn't too sure about the photographer swinging this lighted thing around her head to get her attention though. He took lots of different shots and in the end - after 32 pictures - she had told us she had enough. I think pulling on Santa's beard was the sign that she was finished with this photo op. LOL. Guess she just wanted to make sure it was real!

Maddie's First Christmas Tree!

The perfect Pepper Family Christmas tree!

All bundled up.

It was a lot of fun to get Maddie all bundled up to find her very first Christmas tree! It didn't take us long to find the perfect tree. Looking forward to getting it all lit up and decorated for Christmas!

First Taste of Rice Cereal.

Yummy, yummy for my tummy!

"Why do you guys have to take so many pictures? Can't a girl eat in peace?"

Open wide.

"Keep it coming, mommy."

At Madison's 4 month check up last week, the pediatrician told us we could begin introducing rice cereal into her diet. Not really as a meal substitute, but as a practice for when she will be starting on other solids. We weren't sure as to how she would respond to eating off a spoon or the taste of the rice cereal. Despite the mess, it was fun to watch her as she really seemed to enjoy it!

Happy Thanksgiving

Eye-balling that delicious turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Pepper Family.

Lovin' that turkey butt! Cutest turkey ever!!

Gobble, gobble till you wobble.

Not sure what the weird look on her face is all about, but it's cute anyways! LOL.

I know, I know...these Thanksgiving photos are a little late. It's better late than never though, right? My brother took these photos on Thanksgiving at my parents house and I just got them from him. We really enjoyed a FABULOUS meal and quality time with the family. Grandma Jill did an amazing job cooking the wonderful meal. It's always a great time getting together with the family and so fun to continue to make more memories with Maddie as she has all her "firsts."

4 Month Check-up

Growing at her own pace! 11lbs. 6oz. (remember to deduct an ounce for the diaper)

Four Months:
Weight: 11lbs. 6 oz. (5th percentile)
Height: 24 3/4 inches (50th-75th percentile)
Head circumference: 15 1/2 inches (5th- 10th percentile)

Yesterday was Madison's 4 month well-child check-up. Unfortunately it didn't go as well as I had hoped. She continues to gain weight, but not as much as the pediatrician would like her to be gaining. She fell off her growth curve of the 10th-25th percentile for her weight and is now in the 5th percentile. She weighed 11lbs. 6. oz. The pediatrician recommends that we now start giving her at least two bottles of formula a day along with continuing to breastfeed between those bottles. I am a little bummed about this as I wanted to just strictly breastfeed as long as possible, but of course I am willing to do whatever is needed to be sure that Maddie is getting what she needs. The pediatrician is not overly concerned at her slow weight gain because she is meeting all her developmental markers as she should be. The pediatrician actually says that Maddie is ahead of the game a little bit with her social skills and rolling over (on occasion). We will return in two weeks for a weight check to see that she is continuing to gain weight. If needed the pediatrician told me that we might draw some blood on her to make sure everything is as well balanced as it should be.

We were also given the go ahead to start Madison on some rice cereal. Can't wait to test it out with her tonight to see how she likes it and how she does eating with a spoon. I can't believe that it's already time to start our little girl on some solid foods.

At the appointment, Maddie also received a number of vaccinations. Five to be exact - all combined into two shots and one oral vaccine. As any other baby would, she cried immediately upon getting poked but was immediately comforted when I scooped her up afterwards. The whole rest of the day she seemed to be a bit affected by the shots. All she wanted to do was sleep in her mommy's arms. Anytime I would attempt to put her down she would just cry the saddest cry. It's alright though...as I LOVED the snuggle time with my little girl. Today she is in much better spirits and back to her usual squealy, happy self.