Our First Easter With Maddie

Maddie started out the day in a cute dress, but Doug thought she was just too hard to hang onto so he changed her. He got this outfit for her right after we got our referral in December. Now, we're putting her to work in a Delta ad campaign! OK, maybe not just yet, but we think she'd be able to generate lots of business. We recognize that we're just a tad biased. LOL

Maddie in all her Easter splendor.

We had a wonderful Easter with family and friends. If you look closely, the tag on the bunny ears reads, "Made in China."

Grandma Karen came up from Terre Haute and our friend Keianna spent the night and went to church with us. Between Doug, Karen, and Keianna all fighting to hold/carry/play with Maddie, my aching arms and back got a much needed break! I didn't even realize they were sore until after everyone left this afternoon and I went to pick her up.

She fell asleep while I was feeding her last bottle this evening so I just sat and held her for a good long time while she slept. There is nothing sweeter than holding her like that. I make a conscious effort to enjoy every second with her to the fullest because I know that this stage is all too fleeting.

Over the past two weeks, Maddie has become very affectionate. She loves kisses and leans in often for one or many. She also loves giving eye-eye, ending with a smooch. For being such a wiggle-worm and roughneck, it' amazing how gentle she is when she is in a lovey mood. She also loves to give us hugs.

In the past few days she has taken the raspberry thing to a whole new level. She spits... not just a light spray, but she spits far! Today in church, the lady behind us was making faces at her so she blew raspberries and the spit flew over Doug's shoulder and I'm sure the people behind us got a shower! Also, to all of you who were at the same service we were today, my apologies on behalf of my noisy kid. She found her happy shrieks during the Easter service today and would not be quieted.

Progress in the past few days...

• Today she drank from a sippy cup for the first time and LOVED it. In the past she would protest rather loudly when we tried.
• We have made some great strides with her stomach problems. Since we switched her formula a week ago, things have worked themselves into normalcy... no more painful poops. We have even incorporated cereal back into her diet and she is fine!
• Grandma Jo and Aunt Cris fed her celery with Amish peanut butter. She actually bit pieces off the celery! (For those who don't know, Amish peanut butter has a different consistency than the regular peanut butter so it is not a choking hazard for babies.)
• Maddie is now feeding herself on a consistent basis. When we eat out, we order green beans or carrots or some other soft cooked vegetable for her. She picks them right up off her place mat and eats them. She can transfer small bits of food from hand to hand, and also from hand to mouth with little trouble. Some of it still gets away from her, but for the most part, she's becoming a pro. (Commercial break: Kids Table Toppers - these are adhesive place mats for kids. Peel & stick 'em to a table and your baby can eat right off the place mat. Or, in the case of Maddie, you don't have to worry if they decide to suck on the edge of the table because it is covered by the plastic place mat. When she's done eating, peel it off the table and wrap up the mess. Your servers will thank you for this... ours do!)

• I think she's teething again. Her drool from the past few days could drown a small animal. She also has a runny nose again... time to get more Boogie Wipes (OK, enough with the commercials already).
  

Maddie had a wonderful time with her Grandma Karen this weekend. Karen tried her darnedest to get her to say "Ga Ga" before she left today, but no luck. However, Maddie has started saying a few phrases repeatedly. One of them is, "Happy baby." When we read her favorite book, Baby Faces, that is the first page in the book. The first few times she said it, I thought I was just imagining things. However, she has said it often enough now, and quite clearly and happily each time, that I'm convinced that it is not just baby babble.

Mom, Dad, my brother Dave and his family, Grandma Karen, and our friends Susan and Keianna came over for lunch today to celebrate Mom's (Grandma Jo's) birthday and Easter. We had a treasure hunt for the kids this afternoon. Dad (Grandpa Daniel) obviously enjoyed the festivities! Even with all the noisy Graber kids in the living room, he kept right on sleeping.

Kianna helped get the treasure hunt set up last night and this morning. She's one creative cookie! The kids had a great time with the treasure hunt.

Sweet Cousin Libby loved her Easter Basket.

Daniel is quite the entertainer!

Speaking of entertainers, Libby and Audrey are also very good at holding a captive audience.

This video is a good representation of what Maddie is like EVERY time she wakes up - both in the morning and from naps. She always wakes up so happy. This definitely makes those 5AM wakeups on weekdays worthwhile. I can't imagine ever tiring of her wakeup rituals.

We continue to be so very grateful to God for all the blessings he has sent our way. Our daughter is such a precious gift, as are our family and friends. Thank you for sharing in our journey.

Much Love,

Beth, Doug, and Maddie