Happy Halloween!

Yesterday, we put Mady in her pumpkin onesie, her pumpkin hat and her pumpkin socks. It was her "pre" halloween costume. She looked so cute! Even though everything was a bit big on her (and it was all newborn sized), it was still so adorable. I think she enjoyed being a pumpkin for the day.

Smile for the camera!

Kickin on the couch

Doing her Thriller inpersonation

I have yet to upload pics of her in her Halloween costume from today, so be sure to check back...she looks so cute!

And from our family to yours, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

A pretty dress...

Frank, Mady and I went to the mall last night. It was Mady's first mall trip. We went to look for a christening dress for her to wear this Sunday. We found the cutest, nicest dress in Boscov's...i can't wait for her to wear it! I will post pics of her in it probably on Monday.

We also took her out to eat for the first time. We had to rush out the door when Frank got home so we could make it home in time to stay on our schedule (so she would sleep at night), so we did'nt get a chance to eat. So after we got her dress and got our rings cleaned and inspected, we decided to go to Applebee's. She was really good! She was asleep at first, and then about half-way through dinner she woke up, but she just sat there with her binky and looked around. She didn't really cry at all until we were leaving, then she fell asleep on the way home. All in all, it was a really good trip! It's much different going to the mall with a baby.

Mady's first big girl bath...

Since her umbilical cord fell off on Monday, we decided it was time for Madylinn to have her first big girl bath. We didn't actually put her OUR tub, we put her in her own little tub. She wasn't very happy about it at first, but she eventually relaxed. I think there still might be too much cool air hitting her and making her chilly.

We also didn't get out for our daily walk yesterday, what with all the rain and wind. I was hoping it would stop long enough for us to get a short one in, but it didn't. I think that didn't help her crankyness...walking puts her to sleep, and that's pretty much her late afternoon nap.

If Jesus were a woman...

Sunday night into Monday was a rough night for us. Mady was a bit, well make that a lot, fussy. She didn't want to go to bed until around midnight, and then she was up at 430am to eat, and then she was up at 815am for the day. And all day long, i'd say she slept about 2 hours total, she was just wide awake! Well, i took her for a walk, since she likes walking and being out and moving so much. We stopped over at the church so i could confirm our godparent choices, and i came upon a pleasant surprise. A bit odd, but exciting non-the-less. In December, our church is putting on a play...a passion play type thing, called "Through the eyes of the Innkeeper". It's basically the story of the birth of Jesus. Well, they like to use ALL real people, no dolls or anything. Well, guess who they want to play baby Jesus?!?! Thats right, our very own Madylinn Regina Grindstaff will be making her acting debut, and as baby Jesus! I know what you're thinking, she's a girl and Jesus is a boy...well, what if Jesus was a woman?! LOL. Frank said the same thing when i told him i already said yes. He said "People that don't know her are going to think she's a boy!" Oh well, i said. I think it's very neat that she will get to do this, and i (of course) will be THAT mom, the one who takes a million pictures. How many people can say their baby is Jesus?! :)

In other news, Mady's bellybutton cord thing finally fell off. I didn't think it would ever fall off, and then when i was changing her clothes yesterday morning, i noticed it was hanging on by a little thread..and then when we changed her diaper last night, it was off! Now we can finally give her a big girl bath...hopefully she'll like that more than the sponge baths she was getting.

What a weekend...

Well, it was quite a weekend, that's for sure. Friday night we stayed home and listened to the Mt. Carmel/Southern game on the radio. I told Frank to go to the game, but he didn't want to go alone, and it was too cold to take Mady, so there was no way i was going. It wasn't that bad listening to it on the radio though...we were warm, dry, and comfortable!
Then on Saturday, i had Line Mountain's football game. We were playing a team from Baltimore. They were supposed to drive up the night before and stay over and then leave after the game, so we changed the time from 7pm to 2pm. Well, i got there early to get everything ready and tape the guys, and it was pouring rain all day long...and i mean pouring! I was soaked going from my car to the school! But we were there and ready to go, and we find out that they didn't come up the night before, they decided to drive up that day because the weather was bad Friday night and they thought it would get better by Saturday. Well, we also find out that they are lost in Harrisburg...and this was at around 1:15pm...and they were a good hour away and didn't warm up or anything! So needless to say, we didn't start at 2pm, but 3pm instead. This wouldn't have been too bad, except that it was raining harder as the day went on. It was a complete mud bath, literally. The mud was ankle deep on most of the field, the sidelines were flooded out, and we were all soaked. And then the wind kicked in. We were wet and cold, not a good combo. And the game seemed to go forever because it was so wet and muddy everyone kept fumbling and stopping the clock! So the game didn't end until around 6pm! Standing in the rain from 2pm to 6pm is no fun at all! At least i got home in time to watch the Penn State game AND the Notre Dame games on tv.
Yesterday we took a HUGE step. We left the baby with his dad and step mom to go to the movies. I know, it sounds bad, but it wasn't for a long time, and we really wanted to see this movie. We went to see Saw 5...not exactly a kid friendly movie, lol. It was a good movie. It took all i had to not call every 5 minutes to see how she was. I enjoyed the movie, and i followed it, but i thought about Mady the whole time. At least i proved to myself that i CAN let her go for a few hours. I'm gonna need that in about 4 weeks when i have to leave her at a daycare for 2-3 hours a day.

Falling off...

So i'm still waiting for her umbilical cord to fall off. I know they say it could take anywhere from 1-4 weeks, but it doesn't even look like it's starting to fall off! At the hospital they told us to use a cotton ball and alcohol and to dab it a few times a day, but our pediatrician told us to NOT use the alcohol and to just keep it dry and it will fall off on it's own. I have read that it doesn't make a difference either way, but i'm wondering if i should start the alcohol, since it hasn't seemed to make any progress just yet.
We gave Mady a bath last night. This is another reason i can't wait for that stump to fall off...i can't wait to put her in the tub! She really doesn't like sponge baths at all. She likes the touch at first, but then the water cools on her skin and she cries, and i can't blame her. I think she will like it when she can sit in the warm water the whole time.
We are still doing really good here at home alone. We are really bonding. I'd like to think that she knows my voice and my touch, but i think she's too young yet...but in my mind she knows me. I can't believe she's 2 weeks old already! I have no idea where this 2 weeks went, it seemed to fly by so fast! She is growing up so quickly, lol.

More today than yesterday...

It still amazes me. I know it shouldn't, but it does. Everytime i look at Madylinn's face, i love her more and more. I didn't even think it was possible to love someone so much! Don't get me wrong, i love my family and friends, i love my dogs, and i love Frank with all my heart, but there is something about this little girl that just tops everyone (don't tell Frank). The way she looks at me when she's awake, i could sweat she knows who i am. I talk to her whenever she's awake, and i sing to her too (even though its bad, she doesn't know that yet, lol). I don't know if it's still the post-pregnancy hormones or what, but i still cry everyday because i feel so lucky, what with everything i have. I have the best husband, who would do anything for me and for Mady. I have the best family and friends. I have the 2 best dogs. And now i'm blessed with the best daughter ever. I guess that makes me a sap, but i can't help it. I hope all these extra hormones go away soon, before Mady is old enough to think i'm nuts.