I asked Brian to dress Madeline this morning after her bath so I could take a bath myself. This is what I found in the living room shortly after:

The many faces of Madeline...

She grabbed her toy!

Madeline with Great Grandpa:

Grandma took us to Panera!

She found her thumb!




I had to take the newborn "hammock" feature out of her tub. She's just too big!

Maddie and Daddy sunggling in the morning...

And I saved the best for last:

Such a cute outfit!

Rachel bought Madeline a present today... a Bumbo!

A poem I just wrote...

Dark circles under my eyes, I can't hide them anymore;
I take ownership of them as a proud mother.
Frustration clings to my unwashed hair as I rock a baby fussing still
as the hours creep into early morn.
I arch my back, thrusting hips forward no longer in passion,
but to balance the weight of a growing child in an effort to hold her
for as many hours as it takes to get the reward
of either closed dreaming eyes or a smile.
Yes, the smile of an infant-
it's one you've never seen the likes of before.
Her lips part and curl upward,
and tiny coos and sighs waft forth that could melt the hardest of hearts.
Some moments feel helpless as I, her mother, most weak and weary,
am unable to catch my breath...
But those eyes that see right through me,
those eyes that know me only as a child could know her own mother...
those piercing blue eyes remind this mother
of that overwhelming, steadfast, worth it all kind of love.

Testing mommy and daddy's new matress...

We're both clean!

Madeline with Uncle Levi:

Watching TV with Daddy...

Madeline is getting stronger! Here she is sitting up on mama's chest:

Maddie and Daddy:

Mama and baby:

Proud Grandpa: