We are at the Beach!

We just got home from our beach vacation with Maddison's Grandparents, Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins on my husbands side.  Then we hopped in the car to go to the beach again with Maddison's Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin Sarah pie on my side! We had such a good a time.  This was Maddison's first time in the pool and on the beach.  The beach was a little tricky having her crawl around and hope to not get sand anywhere.  The house we rented in Sandbridge, Virgnina Beach was a little dirty to say the least.  I mopped it five times but black siffer pads everytime , so I gave up and daddy carried Maddison bascially everywhere for 7 days.  I think we are all glad to be home.  It might even stretch to say Saturday was one of the best days of my life, Home Sweet Home!  I do feel like Maddison missed out on much of her therapy being carried so much, but we will make up it for this week!

My First McDonalds!!!

Maddison's Speech Therapist is trying to get me to get Maddison off of all baby food!  I love the baby food and the vitamins it provides.  I worry if I take her off, will she get enough GOOD STUFF? Shoot, she is actually still on baby formula!  So slowly but surely I have been introducing pancakes, waffles, soups, saltines, toast, and graham crackers.  Of course when we eat dinner she get some of our baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, and different breads. 

BUT TODAY:  She had her first French Fry from McDonalds. Everyone who knows me knows I love McDonalds!!!  I let her taste my cheeseburger too.  Seems like she is a big fan, That's my Girl!

Calendar Girl

Maddison was choosen to be in the Northern Virginia Calendar!!  We are so excited!  When we first had Maddison, we received a calender.  I remember looking at it, thinking about it, and wondering what our life was going to be like.  Was is going to be like the people in the calendar?  Will we make it through our month long NICU stay?  Where will we go from here? Will people still look at us the same? We received so much information it was overwhelming, but the canlendar was just pictures and smiles.

When my teenage daughter hung the calendar on her bedroom door, I was very happy.  To me it meant that she had accepted the diagnosis, and she would follow our lead.  I know it was just a calendar, but it was so telling with the children's smiles and laughter, that the future was not only bright but happy!  How true it turned out be!

July 06, 2011

Yesterday Maddison did a really great job drinking out of the cup that has a cut out on one side.  I was so proud of her.  We have worked so hard for her to drink out of a cup!!! Getting the straw down is the next obstacle.  Everytime we reach a goal, it seems like 5 more are added. 

We are working on teaching her Mooo.  She has the lips down but not the noise. 

We didn't go to the fireworks, it was supposed to rain and I thought it would be to noisey for Maddison.  There is always next year!

Almost 16 months

It seems as though I am skipping alot!  But I wanted to catch up to TODAY.  I would like to Blog daily about Maddison and her achievments. 

So today is a typical day for us!  It's Sunday!  I got up with Maddison and fed her a bottle. I love her still being on the bottle.  She is still having a hard time with a cup or straw.  I know her and I know she will get it.  I have bought every cup there is and tried everything. Slowly but surely she is starting to show interest.  No hurry though, I'm not rushing her. 

Currently she is learning sign language. At first I thought this would truely hinder her speech.  But Dr. Gwanter informed my Ds children are visual.  Let her learn the easiest way for her.  I love that analogy.  Why not have any EXTRA skill anyway.  She could be bilingual and get paid signing in the future.  Currently she knows:

How Big is Maddison???  Then she stretches her arms big and tall. 
Eat, she does that perfect and brings her hand to her mouth, sometimes, a little harder than she should. 
More, she does her hands perfectly touching them together, while giggling adorably.
All done, she puts them down and out just like your supposed to. Smartest baby in the world or course!

For her words,
DADA which I think she knows it's her daddy
MAMA which I believe she knows is me because she says it when she is tired and crawling after me.
U U U U which is Up for when she wants me to pick her up.
WOWOWOW which is look at me, I'm great.

There is not a day or moment that goes by that I don't relish in having her.  I feel she is the perfect gift from God, and I thank him so often!