July 4th

We decided to celebrate July 4th at Uncle Jim & Aunt Kathleen's bay house. Last summer, they bought this AMAZING house right on the bay that we have all been able to enjoy. What a blessing! Before heading down there, we decided to buy Madison a life jacket so that we could take her out on their boat.

We were actually able to get her into the bay for a little while and she took a boat ride too. She really loved the boat. She just didn't like the life jacket very much because it kept riding up and hitting her in the face!

Our 1st (but definitely not last!) Trip to the National Zoo

So, we decided to take Madison to the zoo in June. She absolutely LOVES animals. She has always loved reading books, but the ones with animals in them are by far her favorite. She tries to imitate the sound each animal makes. It is so cute when she attemps to sound like an elephant. Her daddy taught her how to make that sound and it is so funny!

So, we headed off to the zoo with Grandmom and Dillon, too! We had no idea how Madison would do in the heat all day (I think we picked the hottest day in June!), missing her morning nap. But, she did wonderfully! She was in awe of everything she saw and never made a peep all day to show that she was tired! She is such a flexible, easy-going baby.

The highlight of the day was definitely the elephant house. They were giving the elephant a bath while we were there and she was so amazed by it! Here are some pictures from our day:

It's Been So Long...

I feel the need to apologize for how long it's been since I updated our blog. Ever since Madison's 1st birthday, we've been so busy! The summer has flown by - I can't believe it is almost over! So, I thought I would try my best to catch everyone up on our summer.

Madison has changed SO much! Just looking at her pictures from her birthday reminded me that she not only LOOKS so much older now, she also ACTS so much older!

Let's start back in May. Whenever the weather was nice enough, Madison wanted to be outside. Then, Grandmom & Granddad bought her a very cool bike which made it even more great to be outside! She LOVES the bike and will let you push her on it all around the neighborhood. She even knows how to ring the little bell on cue! It has a great handle that I can steer and push with and I don't even have to bend over the whole time! This bike has definitely been a highlight this summer!

One of Madison's favorite places to go on her bike is to Gianna's house. Gianna is one of Madison's best little buddies. It only took Madison a few weeks to figure out exactly which house Gianna lives in and now when she gets outside, she points and runs straight for it! Here she is attempting to go and find her friend :-)

Knock Knock, Gianna.....are you home?

Madison's 1st Birthday

I write this post with mixed emotion.....This past year has been the most amazing year of our lives. Joseph and I can't even imagine our life without Madison. She makes our family comlete. She has so fulfilled every dream and desire we had for what our family would look like. She is the perfect fit for us in every way. So, as we celebrate her first year of life, we are so very joyful and grateful. But, even now, one month after her birthday, tears still well up in my eyes as I think about it. I can't believe one whole year has passed. The tiny baby girl I used to hold swaddled in a blanket is now so big! I still creep into her bedroom each night to check on her, kiss her, hold her....will I ever stop doing that? Part of me is so excited for the toddler years to come....part of me is so sad to have already passed through the infant stage of life. But, I know the best is yet to come.....

Celebrating her birthday was so much fun! She began walking just one week before her big day! I was really hoping she would! Of course, she still lacked a lot of confidence, so she didn't show off her new walking skills too much at her party, but did take a few steps. We had a party at my parents' house on April 19th to celebrate with family and friends in Harford County. And, the next day we celebrated at Danna's house with family and friends from Covenant Life. She was really the "princess" of the party - we had a princess theme and she played the part well! One disappointment.....she refused to eat her cake - both times! She still isn't interested in any type of solid food at all, cake included. I guess twenty years from now she'll be wishing she still didn't like cake :-) Here are some of the highlights. Thanks again Peter for taking such beautiful pictures of our baby girl and capturing important moments in our family's life.

(She REALLY didn't want the cake!)

So much to say...

Well, it has been SUCH a long time since I sat down to write about my sweet girly! So much has happened these last couple of months! She has changed so much and has learned new things everyday! Let's go back to Easter and start from there...

Easter was very interesting - for any baby's first Easter, you expect that it will be all fun, but for us it was quite different. Madison got very sick the night before Easter. We had gone out to dinner with my family and while at the restaurant, she started vomiting. She continued to throw up multiple times that night. For the first time since she was born, I was up with her most of the night. Poor little angel....she was in so much pain. Her body must've been aching badly because you could tell she just couldn't get comfortable and lie still. But, as any mother would attest, I didn't mind holding her tightly and soothing her through the night. When your baby is sick, all else stops....On Easter Sunday, she seemed a little better, but wouldn't eat or drink anything. Needless to say, we ended up having to take her to the hospital that night because of dehydration. Luckily, they were able to give her medicine to settle her stomach and then she was able to take in some fluids. The week following Easter was more cuddling, holding, soothing....she just wasn't her lively self.

She did, however, pick up a few Easter eggs during her first "Easter egg hunt" outside my parents' house :-)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Well, the next big event was going to Stride Rite for the very first time! I think I have looked forward to this particular "first" in her life for a very long time! I just couldn't wait to take her to get her foot measured and get her first pair of walking shoes. Madison's great-grandma wanted to bless her by buying her 2 pairs of shoes for her birthday. So, off we went - Mommy, Madison, Grandmom, and Great-Grandmom.

Once again, Madison surprised me. For some reason, she did NOT like getting her foot measured! She sobbed every time we put her foot on the metal measuring tool. But, we were able to get her the cutest little pair of white and pink sneakers and a pretty pair of white sandals to wear with all of her dresses this summer.

After trying on shoes, she got to ride in the cars outside the store. While getting new shoes would be the best part of any girl's day, that was probably not the highlight for her! She loved riding in the car! She refused to sit down - she HAD to stand up to enjoy the ride (and believe me, when she gets an idea in her head, you can't change her mind :-)

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Throughout this entire year, my family has so sacrificially served me in so many ways. Many times a month, my mom and grandmother (sometimes bringing along my Aunt Pam) have come for the day to babysit Madison so that I can substitute. They never complain about how early they have to get up or how much traffic they encounter coming and going. They joyfully come and spend quality time with their favorite little girly. This has been such a blessing to Joseph and I, as it has allowed me to make a little extra money each month while not having to worry about the care Madison is receiving. Believe me, she gets spoiled :-)

Thanks Mom, Grandmom, and Aunt Pam! Madison adores you all!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------So, from about 10-12 months, Madison "discovered" many new favorite things....

KEYS - she LOVES them! And, she knows the difference between real ones and play ones.

OPENING CABINETS & DRAWERS - there is a particular fascination with opening the ones she shouldn't get into - cabinet locks are on their way....

READING BOOKS - she could literally do this for hours - she especially loves turning the pages. The cutest thing is when she walks over to you with a book, points to your lap, then flops down, like she's saying "please read this to me mommy." Then, when she's done reading the book and turns the last page, she signs "all done, " gets up, finds another book, and starts the process over again. It is so cute. Her favorite books are board books (because the pages are easily turnable), books with flaps, and books with surpises hidden behind things. She knows exactly where to look and exactly where to pull the flaps.

SWINGING - we were out walking recently and discovered the "tot lot" by our house for the first time. Words can't really describe the joy she experienced on her first ride in the baby swing. Each time the swing went back, she would throw her head back and scream in excitement. She just giggled and giggled and wanted to keep going and going and going and going.....It was hard to get her out of the swing! She really loves being outside so we both can't wait for summer!

PRETENDING TO BE LIKE MOMMY - she mimics many things that she has seen me do. For example, she picks up her telephone and puts it up to her ear (backwards) and says "ha" which means "hi" in her cutest little voice.

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I must throw in just a few random pictures that truly capture her sweet spirit. Whenever I am tempted to get frustrated with her or frazzled by a crazy day, I can always look at these pictures and remember what a gift she is. Precious girl....

All day long, she wanders over to the glass door and looks outside. She waves at passing kids, dogs, pretty much anything. But, her favorite time to be by the door is when daddy is leaving for work. She stands there waving and blowing kisses until his car is long gone. It is just so sweet.

Our Lil' Terp...

That is what we used to call her before she was born. She looks so cute in her Terp sweatsuit - she'd make a cute boy too :-) She has really gotten a "mind of her own" lately - she definitely lets you know when you do something she doesn't like. She is "cruising" along the furniture and loves to walk around holding on to your hands.

Doesn't she just look so mischievous in this picture?! I always wonder what's going on in her head. You never know.....

Something new everyday.....

Things have been crazy at the Apolenis household. Madison if FINALLY feeling better - she was sick on and off since November. She turned 9 months on January 22. I can't believe it! In just three short months, she will be one! As you can see from the picture above, she LOVES her baths! Now when we walk into the bathroom she lunges for the tub!

After her bath is over, we usually spend some time playing together. She loves rolling around naked on the changing table! Look at those scrumptious little rolls :-)

I love babies in hats! She is just too sweet. She loves being in her crib - day or night. She loves going in it when she's tired and she loves going in it to play. It's her little place....

These past few weeks have been FULL of new surprises. She cut her first two bottom teeth the day before she turned 9 months. At her nine month checkup she weighed in at 19 lbs - still in the 50th percentile. She is 50th percentile in weight, height, and length - you can't get much more perfect than that! She crawled across the room for the first time on the same day she got her teeth! It is such a cute crawl, too! She moves in a slow, thoughtful way, and her hips wobble back and forth.

Another new skill she learned is how to pull up in her crib. She loves standing now that she figured out how to do it! Just this past week, she began waving bye-bye, clapping, and doing "so big." She also knows the sign for "all done" now so whenever she doesn't want anymore food, she vigorously waves her hands back and forth and purses her lips - too funny!

I'm sure the next couple of months are going to be tons of fun as she learns new things each day!

Sweet Moments...

I was standing by Madison's crib tonight watching her sleep. What an angel.... I can't believe how the time has flown - one minute she's swaddled up like a little peapod and the next she's sitting up independently playing with toys! Tears were just rolling down my face as I reflected on the past 8 months. What a joy she has been and what excitement and fulfillment she has brought our family. Words can't describe the love I feel for her. And, I was reminded what a precious gift she is - entrusted to us - how good God has been to us to give us such a sweet little person - a gift we don't deserve. How grateful I am for sweet moments like these below.....

Madison's 1st Christmas

Our good friend Peter took some amazing photos of our family and our baby girl right before Christmas. She is so much fun at photo shoots because she is always smiling! Thanks for capturing such wonderful moments, Peter!

She had her own Santa hat with her name embroidered on it and lots of "Christmas clothes." She was very festive all season long!

We spent Christmas morning at Grandmom & Granddad's house opening TONS of presents! Madison's favorite part was, of course, the shiny wrapping paper! She did a great job opening each present (with the help of mommy) one-by-one. Christmas has been a great time for us to reflect as a family on how good the Lord has been to us! Madison brought us so much joy during the holiday season. What a blessing she is - the best Christmas present ever!