1st Tooth, 1st play date & Sleeping in Crib!

 First Play Date with Sean (He's 3 weeks older) 

 Her 1st Tooth! 4.20.12 when I first noticed it 

 Sleeping so sweetly 

Slept through the night in her crib! 5.3.12 

Dear Madeline, 

Only 4 days into the month of may and you have experienced so many firsts! On sunday you got your first tooth and its growing so fast, its almost all the way through. People always talk about how horrible teething is but baby girl you have been great. The only thing that has changed is that you don't want to eat as much as normal but you have been in a great mood and sleeping really well so I will take it. You also had your very first play date with baby sean. Although you guys just laid there and stared at each other it was still very cute! I'm so glad that we have numerous babies that are your age for you to play and grow up with! Last night you fell asleep at 11pm and I decided to put you in your crib for the first time, and you didn't great! Didn't wake up until I had to go to work at 7:00am! I'm so proud of you little girl, your doing great! I love you baby! 

XO, Daddy & Mommy! 

Counting our Blessings

With March for Babies Walk only a week away, I have been counting our blessing and how bringing Madeline into this world was fairly easy. I was watching Giuliana & Bill a show on TV and their journey of going through several treatments of IVF, fighting breast cancer and now finally they will become parents through Gestational Surrogacy. I have to say I didn't know the difference between what Surrogacy and Gestational Surrogacy was until now. Gestational Surrogacy is an arrangement between the intended parents of the child and the woman who agrees to carry the embryo(s) made from the egg(s)  and sperm of the intended parents. The surrogate carries the child to term and is the host but is not related to child in any way. Before becoming pregnant myself or before I even thought about the process of becoming a mother I always thought it would be easy, that it would be no problem for myself to get pregnant and to carry a picture perfect baby to full term. Our dear friends the Bischoff's have opened my eyes to the struggle that many families go through to not only get pregnant in the first place but to carry the baby to full term with no issues. With both her children having special needs and having lost one of their daughters at 27 weeks I will continue to count the blessings that I have. Their 2 children are fighters and are doing so amazing, but thats not without weekly therapy and doctor appointments and countless surgeries.  

Remember to not take for granted what you have, because someone out there is struggling with something you consider easy. Here is a link to our March of Dimes Facebook Page, Please Donate if you can. 

http://www.marchforbabies.org/s_team_page.asp?seid=1775905

Xo, Matt, Ashlie & Madeline 

Growing up

                                                        You discovered your hands!!

                                                                  You love your Mr. Whozit!

Tummy Time! You actually lasted for about 10 mins! 

Baby girl,

 Although I just wrote you a couple day go about the changes that you have had in the last 3 months, I decided to write you again. You have now put your self on a schedule! This is how our day goes 730 you wake up & if there is time you lay in bed with mommy while you eat your bottle 930 you eat your bottle (5oz) & then we play for a little! You love your play mat and your mr who's it! 1100 you eat another 5oz then you sleep for 3 hours! 2pm you wake up and we play some more an eat another bottle 4pm you have your 5oz then take your afternoon nap till about 6 7pm you eat dinner with mommy & daddy then you play with your tummy time mat 9-11 you eat again & then your out for the night! Today your constipated so I have to get you some prune juice, poor baby girl.. But I did find out that nordstroms is giving us your Marc Jacobs changing pad we never got with our bag so that will be nice! I will post all your pictures tonight, right now your dreaming! Love you baby girl!


 xo Daddy & Mommy

Happy 3 Month Birthday!!

Happy 3 Month Birthday Madeline! 

Time Sure has flown by baby girl, every day we love you more and more. Your the easiest baby to take care of, you hardly ever cry only when you need something and you have been sleeping through the night since you were about 6 weeks old! This month you started to babble and you love having conversations with anyone who will sit and talk with you. We attempted to have you sleep in your crib but you only lasted about 20 mins before you woke yourself up. Your just not ready to be in their all by yourself.. or maybe its mommy and daddy who aren't ready for you to be in your nursery. Next month we go back to the doctor to see when we can start you on rice cereal, and you have your baptism. Can't believe your growing so fast! 

We love you baby girl! 

XO Daddy & Mommy 

Almost 3 Months!

Dreaming sweet dreams!

Baby girl, you have grown so much in the last month I can't believe it. Your already almost 14lbs! Its amazing, when we first brought you home you barely filled out your carseat, you were so tiny. Now in just 3 months you have almost doubled in size! This month you have started to babble a lot which is something I love. We have conversations with you all the time and it seems like you understand what we are saying and you talk to us! The easter bunny came to visit you last week and he brought you a couple books, some toys, and a kick and play piano play mat! You love that play mat because all you want to do is kick your little legs. You've almost started to hold your head up, not quite but your getting there. Tummy time is something that we do with you daily, even though you don't like we have to do it sweetheart. Currently your sound asleep in your carseat hopefully dreaming sweet dreams! We love you baby girl & I will post more about your 3 months next week when its officially your month birthday!

goodnight moon.goodnight baby.

Xo Daddy & Mommy

2 months

This week you turned 2 months old and you don't look much like the newborn that we brought home. You are now the chunkest of chunks, weighing in at 12lbs 9oz (88%) which is great! Mommy loves your little tiny rolls! You did great getting your shots today at the doctors office and after you finished crying daddy said I wish I could go buy you a treat for how good you were. You have daddy wrapped around your little finger sweetheart! This month your cheeks have gotten fuller and your eyes have gotten so much bigger! Your also quite the talker, I can't wait till you say your first word! We have also started you on a schedule and your usually in bed by 8. Sometimes you fall asleep in daddy's arms and I just stare at the both of you and think how in love I am. People always say how beautiful you are.. and boy are they right! Your a beautiful little girl. You also started smiling alot this month, I love the little toothless smiles you give us! Although most the time you only smile for daddy, not so much for me.

I love you sweet girl. Happy 2 month birthday! xoxo

My Breastfeeding Story "Why it's not as easy as they say it is"

My New Favorite Blog that I follow called Milk Friendly

I couldn't even begin to tell you how many times while pregnant people would ask if I was going to breast feed. My answer would be well of course I am going to try but who knows how its actually going to work for me. Due to the fact that I was induced meaning my body wasn't ready to go into natural labor and I had to take petocin to start contractions, my breasts weren't ready to produce milk. Boy was that stressful.. I remember laying in bed on night #2 with a hungry baby, and I wasn't producing milk to feed her. So I asked the nurse what my options were and she said well.. you can give her formula but I highly discourage it. Made me sign a release form stating that I was told the cons of giving formula to my new baby, and that she might not want to breast feed once my milk came in because she had already been given a bottle. I literally stayed up till 3 in the morning staring at this form.. not knowing what I should do. Baby is fussy, I'm a new mom who wants nothing more than to breast feed her child and I can't. I asked myself over and over again.. why is this so hard.. I thought breast feeding was supposed to come naturally.. Well I gave in and formula fed my baby girl and guess what?! she breast feeds just fine! The lactation specialist said to me the next day, #1 goal is to feed your baby no matter how you have to do it, she needs to eat and don't feel like a failure if you have to give her formula. I have struggled with breastfeeding to this day and she's 6 weeks old.

I found this blog and I'm hoping its the answer to all my prayers, I emailed the author and she actually started texting me with tips on how to produce more milk. As of now we are having to supplement with formula because I couldn't keep up with how much she wanted and needed to eat. But we are now back to nursing 100% until she's full and no formula is the goal.

I have all these recipes for lactation cookies and an order to drink a TON of water and eat a TON of oatmeal. Fingers & Toes crossed that my supply will increase!

If only the "milk man" delivered.. & I've come to the conclusion I feel TERRIBLE for cows..

Xo Matt, Ashlie & Madeline