California

We just got back from a wonderful trip to California. We visited Disneyland and Balboa Island. We loved the sunshine and beaches but hated the traffic and crowds.

Madison got her first experience with sand. I was a little nervous she was going to try and eat it but she didn't. She loved it. She kept grabbing handfuls and letting it sift through her fingers. It looks like we might need to get a sandbox.


Balboa Island is a family favorite. We stopped at Dad's Bakery for frozen bananas and Madison showed she is a true Petersen and LOVED the banana. We almost had to get her her own because she kept eating ours.
Madi didn't get to go on very many rides but she did enjoy the ones she was able to go on. Her favorite was the carousel at California Adventure.

Jessie from Toy Story loved Madison and kept coming back to see her and play with her. Madison thought the characters were interesting and trying grabbing them.

My parents had a great time playing with their beautiful granddaughter. Here is my dad and Madi in the Nemo Submarines. I'm not sure who was more entranced by the fish.

On our last night my little sister McKayla wanted to sleep with Madison. It didn't last too long as Madison is a bed hog. She kept smacking McKayla in the face as she was trying to stretch out.

Six Months

Happy girl!
Madison is growing like a weed. We haven't gone in for her 6 month appointment yet, but when we weighed her ourselves she was 19.5. Yep, I've got myself a nice big baby. We can't get enough of her! At six months she is sitting up by herself and crawling. She still only has 2 teeth for which I am very thankful. They are two very sharp teeth.

She is such a great baby. We have had a crazy March and April is going to be just as fun. The beginning of the month Madison and I drove to Idaho Falls to spend a week with my family. My grandfather passed away and we attended the funeral and stuck around for a few days. We had a great time but, as always, it was hard to say good-bye. A week after we got back Jay's parents came to visit. We had a great time with them and Madison is going through grandparent withdrawls. She still loves books. She has a room full of toys but if she sees books or paper she will drop all her exciting toys and head for the books. We love that she has a love for books. Its great when the whole family (all 3 of us) are sitting around reading from our books at the same time.

She has recently found a love for big people food. She found some play food at my parents house and played with it for so long that I decided I should "borrow" some it so she could play with it at home. We've taken it with us to restaurants just so we can see what people say when we hand our 6 month old a hamburger and potato chips.

We pretty much just think she is a doll. She had just taken her sunglasses off in this picture.

Madison has made a few friends in our ward. This is her best friend Hailey. The adore each other. Hailey likes to carry Madison around and Madi thinks its great that she gets to play with the big kids. She has already had her first sleep over with Hailey and I am sure there are many more to come.

Five Months

My baby is now five months old! I can't believe it. She is SO big. I call her my Chunky Monkey. No really, look at her rolls! I love it. My back does not love it. She has two teeth now. Both on the bottom. She got them a few weeks ago. I couldn't get a picture of them though.

She found her toes. She thought they were cool for about a week now they are old news.

She still loves to read. We (Daddy, unless he is at work) read books to her every night but often she takes the book away so she can look at it on her own.

Four Months

Here is Madis four month picture. She weighs in at a whopping 15 lbs and is 26 inches long. I wish I would have gotten her 3-6 month clothes out earlier because some pants are already too short.

She LOVES to eat big people food. She likes her rice cereal but she really likes mashed potatoes.

All clean after making a big mess while eating.

Monthly Update

It's time for our monthly update. You would think I would blog more frequently now that I have an adorable baby to blog about, but I would much rather play with her.

Last week she discovered a new trick. She was playing on her activity mat and I was just around the corner making dinner. I stuck my head around the corner to check on her and she was gone. She had rolled off her mat and under the table. I thought it was just a one time thing, but it's not. She keeps rolling to new places. Yesterday at church she rolled over to a guys shoe thinking she could eat it. Don't worry, I grabbed her before she started gnawing on it. I'm already having to baby proof.

Madison LOVES to look at her books. She really likes book and will look at it for a long time, allowing me to get dishes done, shower or lets be honest, blog stalk. Madison and Jay love to play together.

Being a stay at home mom is so much fun. Madison helped me bake banana bread one day.

She thinks that she has to sleep in my bed, in my spot. Look how peaceful the two of them look.

Madison is now 3 months old.

Changes

A lot has happened since I updated my blog last...

My baby girl learned to smile.

Madison experienced her first snow fall. Look close and you can see her tiny little face poking out beneath all that fluffy warmth I have her snuggled in.

She turned two months.

I finished making her blessing dress just in time. Her father gave her a beautiful blessing.

Her first Thanksgiving. She looks so excited for dinner!

We moved. Jay got a new job and we moved to Hermiston, Oregon. It's a small town about 30 minutes from Tri Cities. Madison has done great and is adjusting to her new home.

And as I am making this post she has learned to roll over. She hates tummy time though so once she rolls over and is on her tummy she starts to get angry. Silly girl.

Halloween

For Halloween Madison dressed up as a baby giraffe. I must say she was the cutest little giraffe I have ever seen! Her cousin, Anilyn, also dressed up as a giraffe so we tried getting some pictures of the two giraffes together.

It is pretty hard to get two kids in one picture. Either Madison was crying or Anilyn was not interested. At one point Anilyn pushed Madison back to me and told me to take my baby back. It was pretty hilarious.

My Little Pumpkin

Isn't she so cute?

First Trip

Madison and I just returned from a long trip to Idaho Falls. The trip was long in dates but felt way too short. Madison had her first flight at just 3 weeks old. She did great.

While we were home Madison turned one month. I can't believe she is already one month old. She is changing so much everyday I don't want to miss anything. I feel fully justified in just staring at my daughter all day long.

I love being a mom. Madison is such a good baby. She loves to snuggle and I love to snuggle her so I never get anything done.
I am amazed at how much she has changed in just three weeks. Her hair has started to lighten and she is starting to fill out her skin. She is still skinny though, long and skinny.