Baby Checkup

Sorry for the delay(s) in writing. Hopefully will have a chance to post some more pictures this week.

Madeleine had her 9-month checkup today. Highlights:

• She's 30 and 3/4 inches long. The nurse originally told Hannah that it was "off the charts" but wrote 97th percentile on the form. Whatever they say about the charts, all we know is that she's a tall girl.
• Her weight is 21 pounds 7 ounces - in the 90th percentile. Hannah and I have thought that she's starting to look taller and thinner lately so I guess this confirms our thinking since she's been in the upper 90s percentile-wise since her first checkup in January.

She got several shots -- including her last polio booster and her first of two flu shots. Hannah reports that she was non-plussed by the shots this time.

The doctor said that she is delayed in crawling (should be able to do so by now) but that many kids are late crawlers. He expects that she'll be crawling -- and possibly beginning to say words -- by 1 year (scary!!!!).

Also, he gave us a prescription for a new ointment to try to resolve the infamous and persistent red patch on her cheek. Can't wait to be rid of that one!

All in all, another good checkup for our girl. Let's hope our luck holds for the followup with the cardiologist next month.

Kiss the Baby!

Our daughter is beginning to understand words. She knows Mommy, Daddy, Madeleine, kick, kiss, and who knows what else. She also loves looking at other babies. So, if you put the verbal comprehension skills and love for other babies together with a mirror, you get our favorite new game - Kiss the Baby!

p.s. In case you're thinking that we're promoting narcissistic tendencies, don't worry - apparently babies don't recognize themselves in the mirror until they're older. Besides, there's already enough narcissism at this time of the year.

New Pix and a Madeleine Song

The family has been reunited again after another weeklong separation due to Daddy's business travel. We were supposed to go 9 days without seeing each other but Daddy had to skip his second business trip due to a nasty little bug he picked up at the end of the first one.

Still, before he was laid low, Daddy did have a chance to do some shopping for Mommy in Brussels.

And to sample the local fare in Warsaw.....

Looks like Madeleine snuck out and opened a hotel in Brussels without telling us.

Arranging the financing must have been easy for her since no one can say no to this face!

Also, with all of my travel, I've gotten rather bored with the (500+) songs on my iPod, so I'm always looking for new and interesting tunes. Last weekend, just for fun, I searched iTunes for "Madeleine" to see what popped up.

In addition to about 100 Cajun songs and a bunch of songs by Madeleine Peyroux (who I really like), I also turned up a terrific little song by an artist named Jen Cass. Despite the fact that she's from Ann Arbor, I purchased it. You can hear a sample by going on this website - going down to the second album - and clicking on the link next to Madeleine. My favorite line in the song is where the little Madeleine tells her parents that she can fly - since our daughter knows how to fly too!

Vacation Odyssey Photos

Eleven days, seven states and 2050 miles worth of family bonding time -- and Daddy still wishes he could be back on vacation with his girls.

We started off visiting Grandpa Bob and Grandma Kay in Maine, then went over to see Uncle George and Aunt Marian at their beautiful place on Lake Champlain in Vermont. After a quick stop in New Jersey to see our friend Bekah and her family, we had 5 days at the Nemacolin resort in Western Pennsylvania, where our friends Brian and Amy and the B family came over from Ohio to meet us. All in 11 days.

Whew, I'm exhausted just writing about it. But enough narrative. How about some photos?

Hannah and Madeleine sticking their toes into Lake Champlain.

Madeleine was a little too small for the child-sized life preserver - and after approximately 10 minutes of her boat ride on Lake Champlain, she expressed her desire to return to shore.

Grandpa Tom brought Grummy and Uncle Jack over from Ohio to see the little one.

The weather on the back porch in PA was great - a perfect spot for great-grandmother to hold the little one.

Throughout the trip, Mr. Ducky (our inflatable bathtub) was a constant and welcome source of amusement and relaxation for our pampered little girl.

And in honor of the Olympics, we have the gold medalist in judo from the 2032 Olympics practicing her moves in the silk pajamas Daddy got her in Beijing.

Put up your dukes!

Newseum Photo

More vacation pictures to follow, but wanted to post a quick picture from Hannah's camera phone of the girls' trip to the Newseum the other day. Hannah reports that the new Newseum was a little underwhelming but that Madeleine loved meeting the News Hound.

Maine Vacation

Madeleine is enjoying her first trip to Maine, where Grandpa Bob and Grandma Kay have a summer cottage. She loves all the sights and sounds of the ocean - the boats, the animals, Grandpa.....

Maine is a very special place for Mommy and Daddy too because they were married here 5 years ago this month! My, how times have changed.

Grandma and Grandpa were in their splendor because had both of their grandbabies in town at the same time for a few days, so Madeleine got to meet her cousin Taylor for the first time.



Ever since Daddy got to town, the weather has been miserable - but we've still had a great time and seen a few milestones. Madeleine took her first swing at a nearby playground - and, more importantly from her perspective, she sat in a high chair for the first time. As Grandma likes to say, "She LOVED it!"


She also went on her first shopping expedition in a shopping cart - to the local Target. Nothing but the best for our girl!

And, after 13 days apart due to Mommy and Daddy's travel schedules, we got to be a family again.

Baby loves having Mommy and Daddy together again.

Kissing Action Photod + Grandparental Visit Part Deux

More photos from the visit of Grandma Mary and Grandpa Steve a few weeks back - including historic action footage of Madeleine's first official kiss!

Madeleine and Grandpa Steve

With Mommy's help, showing Grandma Mary what Madeleine thinks of the newspaper.

Three generations of the family together

Action footage of Madeleine's first kiss!