New Year's Resolutions....

Happy New Year.....(close enough)

(I fell asleep in my rocker chair playing with my mom's baby rattle....I think I was praying for a new one of my own)

I would have updated the blog before now, but Mom and Dad were around more since it was Christmas and they didn't have to work. They require lots of attention, so I've been a little busy and haven't had the chance to use the computer.

(Santa's goodies)

Christmas came and went......it was pretty good though. I helped mom put out some cookies and carrots for Santa and his reindeer.......I made mom put the plate up high so the dogs wouldn't get the carrots since they like them so much. Then, I wanted to put milk in Santa's mug, but mom thought Santa was getting lots of milk from all the other kids and informed me he really prefers wine. Since I wasn't sure how much to give him I put the bottle in the mug and figured he'd poor himself a glass......can you believe it?!! He drank the entire bottle. I hope he make it to the next house okay. Anyway, the cookies and carrots were gone in the morning as well so maybe next year I'll leave some more. I think I heard Santa during the night around 2 AM....so I made mom get up to protect me....while up I had a mid-night snack and got a new diaper too.

This Christmas thing is pretty neat though. I got presents. I had to have help opening them, but they are all really cool. I even got my first John Deere tractor.....before Dad. ha ha ha

(I guess I went to X-mas mass)

We went to church on Christmas eve and arrived 1 hour early hoping to secure a seat. We were the 2nd, yes SECOND, family in the entire place. So needless to say we had our pick of seat. I really wanted to sit in the front row, but Mom and Dad made us sit near the back by the exit. I guess that was okay since I was extra fussy in my pretty Christmas dress. It felt like we were at church forever so I finally gave up and took a snooze.....that seemed to help. Mom and Dad said the 15 min. of mass they saw/heard was rather nice.

(I got a little tired vacuuming.....I'm not really into the chores thing)

Not much else is new here. I've been hanging out at home this week with Mom since she doesn't have to work. It's been a busy week though. She made me help vacuum.....I tried to eat my way out of the carrier and then gave up and took a nap...all while she was vacuuming.

Next week though, I'm going to daycare and going to meet a 9 month old boy.....perhaps a future boyfriend????? I better look cute for my first day. (Dad is nervous already about the boy)

(Dad and I were really excited the Browns won a game)

Okay, gotta run. Tonight is New Year's Eve.....lots of partying to do around here with mom and dad.

My New Years Resolution......

...learn to crawl

...learn to walk

...eat some real food

...travel to some new states

It's going to be a big year, but a good one....

Love Madeline

Back to work she goes...

Mom went back to work....so let the party begin.

It's been a busy 2 weeks in our household. Mom went back to work.....she said it has something to do with "bringing home the bacon"......I always thought you bought bacon at the store, but whatever. I'm still convinced when mom and dad go to work they are really taking naps. Since I don't get as much time with mom and dad during the day now I've decided to stay awake a little later and get up during the night to have my quality time with them. Mom says we can play in the evening and on the weekends, but the night time wake up calls are not necessary. That's her opinion.

Grandma and Grandpa G are visiting right now. They make great playdates when mom and dad are at work. Initially I thought it was funny to cry when Grandpa would hold me. I only did that for a couple days then I decided to be nice and let him give me loving as well. Grandma talks to me a ton and I think she's silly. I'm pretty lucky though, since they came out to play with me for 2 weeks I don't have to start day care until January. Lucky me!

We have all the Christmas decorations up. I really wanted Dad to put Christmas lights on the roof that said, "Santa Stop Here" but Dad said maybe next year. I'm a little worried though, because when I went to see Santa I got all nervous and didn't tell him where I live....hopefully he can find me. Maybe if I stay up real late and get up during the night on X-mas I'll flag his sleigh down.......I have to remember to put out some peanut butter cookies (mom says they are Santa's favorite) and carrots for Rudolph (mom says they'll go quickly, hopefully the dogs can't reach them because they love carrots too).

I'm officially 3 months old now. I love to sit up and stand.....really those are my favorite things to do. Mom and Dad say they'll have to baby proof the house sooner than later.....little do they know I'll break through any "baby-proof" item they install. They're in a for a true experience raising me. ha ha ha

Have a Merry Christmas filled with lots of love from the Ho-Ho-Ho man.....that's Santa!

Madeline

So close and yet so far away....

Look at me....I'm trying to roll over....easier said than done. But I figure once I master this I'll be ready for the Olympics......

Did I mention I can almost sit up and I love to stand holding on to things.....Dad and Mom say baby-proofing the house may come sooner than later.

Love -
Madeline

BAHA

Amazingly Madeline is giving me the opportunity to update the blog...I'm guessing it's a one time thing.

Today was a fun day. Madeline got her BAHA hearing device. It was so funny to see her reaction to the BAHA once it was in place and turned on. Her eyes got very wide, she looked around and then cried. Our audiologist said that is a common reaction. After a minute though she was looking around and listening with stereo sound for the first time.

It's a slick little device. The audiologist had Jeremy and I put it up to our heads as well so we could hear the different. Amazing, is all we can say to describe it. The BAHA is programmed specifically to Madeline's hearing so it should allow her to have close to 100% hearing with the device on. It turns out Madeline is the first person in the entire USA to get a white BAHA; it's a brand new model so they are still being shipped around the world. They felt bad that her white device hadn't arrive by today, so they provided us a free headband which holds the BAHA in place. So until next week we have a loner BAHA, but it works just the same.

I'm sure we'll have some fun putting it in place multiple times a day as Madeline's little hand like to tug at it already.

Overall, a great day.

Road Trip....

....to Iowa for my Baptism and Thanksgiving.

I experienced my first major road trip.....14 hours to be exact. Everyone always complains about the drive across NE Colorado and Nebraska, but I didn't think it was that bad......granted I slept the entire way except when we stopped so I could eat, get a diaper change and fill the car with gas. It was a busy trip so I'll try to highlight the "big" moments.

We first went to Iowa State University. Mom said it was important for Dad and I to see the school and meet CY, the mascot. We got to meet lots of Mom's old co-workers and hang out for a day. It was lots of fun and actually rather funny......mom said I shouldn't tell anyone but I watched her eat an entire buttermilk pancake.....it was the first time she accomplished this and said it took 10 years of training. Dad was impressed and I just watched in disbelief. As a reward, she earned a t-shirt. To say Mom's a good-eater is an understatement.

When we were at Iowa State we got to meet a really cool girl named Kristin who has Microtia too. She was really nice and very informative. Heck, I liked her so much I didn't cry once when she held me.

Then we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Kiefer's house. It was nice to get out of the car and stretch. We got a there a few days before everyone else because I was getting baptized on Sunday, Nov. 22. The night before the baptism mom and dad learned that there was a family baptism gown which she and all her brothers were baptized in.....so instead of wearing my new dress, I got to wear the gown. Grandma and Grandpa Gacnik and Mckenzie came to my baptism as well. Uncle Tom and Aunt Mary are my Godparents so they were there too. Mom says I was a good girl for my baptism. Amazingly I was awake the entire time and didn't cry once. What a trooper! The baptism was okay.....it was a like a mini-bath where they only watch my hair and then put some smelly oil on my head. I was hoping for a dunk-tank but mom and dad chickened out. If you want to know more about that, just ask mom or dad for the details.

Uncle Matt and Dan and their families all came in town Monday night. It was the first time in 5 or 6 years that all of the kids had been together for a holiday. A rare occasion and I like to think it's because of me.....they probably wanted to meet me and see if I was going to be heart-breaker like dad says.

We had a fun week. The big kids worked in Grandpa's Workshop using their imaginations and building a boat. The dad's got to split wood for Grandpa. It was rather entertaining. I, however, focused on diaper blowouts and extreme spit-ups. I thought that was more fun. Mom and Dad took me to the John Deere Tractor Museun and I got to sit on my first lawn mower with dad. Then mom said I had to learn how to milk a cow.....I didn't have the heart to tell her it was a fake cow.

The trip back to Colorado went well too. We visited some relatives, Leon and Heather and their kids and had lunch with them. Then it was on the road again. I traveled well but was happy to get home. So happy, I stayed up until 3 AM. Mom and Dad said that was "alot of fun" but I sensed some sarcasm in their voice.

This week I'm headed to the head surgeon for some more info on my hearing and I get my BAHA hearing device on Friday. I guess I'm excited for that.

This weekend is when the real fun begins.....I'm getting my first Christmas tree. I hope mom and dad let me put it in my bedroom....that would be cool.

Until next time -

Maddie Rose

(our attempt at a cousins photo....Caleb didn't want to do it)

My first field trip.....

I know I wasn't going to post anything until after Thanksgiving, but this couldn't wait. I got to go on my first field trip this past weekend. On Saturday the weatherman said it was going to snow.....alot....so mom and dad said we had to run a quick errand to stock up.

We went to Tipsy's World Liquor.....one of the largest liquor stores in the US supposedly, although mom and dad didn't think it was that big. I thought it was odd for my first field trip to be to Tipsys, I was thinking we'd go to the zoo or maybe the grocery store, but no we went to the wine store. It was a pretty fun trip really. I only wish mom and dad would have let us stay long enough for the free wine tasting at 5 PM, but they said it wouldn't be appropriate....and yet taking an 8 week old to the wine store was????? Anyway, I took a photo with dad to prove I was there.

I had some play time with Dad....he's funny. He pretends to eat my hands. He's silly.

I also had my 2 month picture taken on Sunday afternoon. I had been holding out but I finally gave in and smiled for one of my pictures. One of my pictures looked like I was boxing....I even had a stern look on my face. Dad and Mom said that was good one for the future wanna-be boyfriends....this would show them how I defend myself....anyway, I'm not allowed to date and get married until I'm 40 so I have time to practice my boxing.

That's all for now. Getting set for my big trip to Iowa. I don't know what's so exciting about the corn state.....I'll post once I get there.

8 weeks old today.....

Here's a quick update regarding "life on the funny farm" as I see it. I realize I've only been around 8 weeks but I've got this place figured out.....not to mention I've got mom and dad wrapped around my finger.

Since I last posted alot has happened around here. The white snow melted, so dad decided to mow the grass one last time before winter really strikes. I think he was a little confused on what he was mowing........check out the snow in the picture. I got a little laugh watching him try to mow snow.....what was he thinking?!











Mom hopes I'm a natural born athlete. So, she introduced me to her running shoes and jogging stroller. The first two times we went running, I looked around the first mile and then fell asleep. However, two days ago I decided to voice my opinion on this running thing....here's what I did.....I was good the first mile and a half to make mom think I was having fun, then I opened my mouth and began to cry as loud as humanly possible. So loud mom thought all the neighbors could hear. Eventually mom took me out of the stroller and carried me up a BIG hill while pushing the jogging stroller and listening to me wail. It sure was fun. Turned out the only reason I was crying was because I had a little burb.....ha ha....so mom now thinks I may not be destined for a spot on the Olympic Track team, but perhaps swimming. We'll see in a few months how that goes when I start swim lessons. They think since I love my bath that I'm now going to love swimming. (the photo of me looking like a cookie monster and the one with the pink jacket are from our "fun" runs)











Other than that, not much else new around our place. I went to the doctor yesterday for my 2 month check up and found out I'm growing like a weed.....well, sort of. Anyway, I now weigh 10 lb. 10 oz and am 22 inches long. I really haven't grown a ton since being born. Mom thinks I inherited something from her, her build. She says that I look just like dad and she only had the honor of carrying me around for 9 months. So, she's thrilled there will be another petite girl in the house. The appointment was okay and they kept saying how I'm doing great and was such a good girl, then this meanie of a nurse came in.......she gave me 3 shots and then one oral vaccine. Then, they wanted a blood test and another meanie nurse tried to take all the blood from my arm. No offense, but if being good earns me that, then I'm going to be bad next time. Now they decided I get to have an ultrasound in a month to check my kidneys. Mom promised there won't be any needles that day....I sure hope not!

I got a new toy. Mom found it on craigslist. I like it because it have 2 slides, 2 swings a walk-way, a rope climby thing and a playhouse. The only thing that would make it complete is a PINK swing. Why must everything be blue?! I'm a girl.











We're making our first road trip soon. We're headed to Iowa for my baptism and Thanksgiving. I'm going to meet lots of new people then and Dad says he's taking me to the John Deere Tractor museum......in case you didn't know, Dad loves John Deere and really wants a riding lawn mower.
In honor of Turkey Day here is my poem for you!
Turkey Red, Turkey Blue, Turkey says "I love you"

Okay - time for another nap.

Miss Maddie Rose

Trick-or-Treat.....

....smell my feet, give me something good to eat.....wait, I can't eat candy, I don't have teeth.

It was a busy weekend around here. Saturday Mom and Dad played dress-up with me again. This time they put me in something they called a "costume" that looked like a flower.....then, they took pictures of me and paraded me to our neighbor's, Bob and Shirley, house to show me off.....I'm convinced Mom and Dad are nuts, they like this dress-up thing too much. Everyone said I looked cute but I think they were being nice.....who in their right mind wears a flower costume around for fun? (I later learned some kids had it worse than me...they were dressed like pumpkins....really people, who wants to look rounder than they already are? ha ha)

Mom and Dad claim they dressed me up for Halloween, but I didn't get any candy. On top of that, they gave all my candy away to kids who kept ringing the doorbell during my evening nap. How Rude!!! Anyway, Mom and Dad thought it was tons of fun and they claim that I will love Trick-or-treating in time. I hope they are right. They already are discussing what I'm dressing up as next year.....can you believe they haven't asked for my input?!

(mom says this was my reaction when I learned they gave all the candy away)

It was a pretty good weekend overall. I got 2 new toys which I really LOVE. Both play music and one has colors that change when the song is playing. Mom and Dad say these are both good for me because they stimulate multiple senses.

(this is my reaction to getting 2 new music toys)

We are learning lots of new things about my hearing. A nice lady named Lynne came to the house last week and taught Mom and Dad lots of things about me.....is it sad that Mom and Dad are having a stranger teach them about their daughter? I find it amusing. Anyway, we learned about a different smoke alarm that has a strobe light with it and developmental milestones I should be at as I grow.

As you know, I have to work harder to hear. So when Mom and Dad are talking to me it's important they get my attention first by tapping me and talking to my good ear. Also, it's a little difficult for me to filter out background sounds. So little things like the TV, Music, Dishwasher and Washer/Dryer make it a little harder to hear when someone is talking to me. You'll have to be a little patient with me because I'm listening, it sometimes requires you to repeat yourself. Lynne did say smaller rooms versus lofty, open areas will be easier to hear in because sound bounces off walls. There was so much information to take in during the 2 hours Lynne was here that I had to take a nap.

This is a big week for me. On Friday I get fitted for my BAHA. Maybe next week we'll have picture of it.....this means I might have stereo sound.

Love - Madeline Rose

Snow....in Oct.

For those of you who thought we were kidding about the snow last week, here is a video of our back yard.

It's beginning to look alot like........Halloween?!?

It's about time you heard from one of the dogs regarding this new addition.....so it's Dibs as your spokesperson this week. I'm one of Maddie's guard dogs, along with Elvis and Sadie. Jeremy says you have to get by all of us to date Maddie and that won't be until she's 40 years old....a little over protective in my opinion.

I'm guessing you've heard about this Madeline character over the last 6 weeks since she's the "new kid on the block." At first I wasn't too sure about her because she cried and wiggled around like a stuffed toy. However, Maddie and I are now pretty good buddies. I like to steal her toys....specifically the cow stuffed animal. Julie always takes it away but I'm getting pretty good with my sneakiness.

I figure it's my job to tell you the scoop on recent happenings around our house. This past weekend Jeremy and Julie decided to go hiking around the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. I was rather excited at the idea of an outing until I learned that the 3 guard dogs had to stay at home. Something about "holding down the fort." I don't really think they were hiking with a baby.....I bet they were just pushing a stroller around on a nice walk. From the looks of the photo I think I'm correct.

Since Halloween is coming up we had to carve Maddie's pumpkin on Sunday. Do you have any idea how difficult this is? I don't......because Jeremy did the cleaning and carving of the pumpkin. Oh well, it looked challenging. After he was done I found out it is the responsibility of the guard dogs to protect the pumpkin in addition to Madeline. So many things to do.

It's been a crazy year.....seriously......first Madeline arrived and now yesterday and today it's snowed!!! Yes, it's October and we have over 2 feet of snow. Jeremy and Julie had to make a path for me to get outside for the bathroom. It's tough being small. I don't really like the snow much because it is so cold.....so I'm spending my day laying as close to the fire as possible.

I guess life with Madeline is going okay. Julie says she's never seen something so small create so much laundry.....and that's saying alot. Us dogs still get plenty of attention and loving......I think that's because Maddie sleeps so much. That's okay by me. Julie and Jeremy say one of these days I'm going to run from Maddie because she'll be pulling my hair and wanting to play dress-up with me for tea parties....I have no idea what they are talking about because she looks so innocent.

Okay - off to the fireplace to warm up....it's tough typing this update with such little paws.

Dibs the "guard dog" signing off -

It's October

Hello world!

It's tough being loved by so many. Grandma G. came to visit me last weekend. She flew on a plane....I'm not sure what that is but mom says it's like a big bird that carries people from one place to another....I now have to figure out what a bird is....hmm...

Anyway, Grandma gave me lots of loving and I gave her dirty diapers. :) She was lucky I saved the spit-ups for mom and dad. We couldn't play outside when she was here because it was really cold. It even snowed!!! We kept the weekend low-key and just stayed around home.

Dad and I have bonding time on the weekend watching the "Browns." He gets real excited to watch them....it's a good thing winning isn't everything because they've only won once. I just humor Dad by sitting with him in our jerseys and watching....sometimes I take naps too. I also haven't had the heart to tell him that brown is a color.....who uses it for a team name? Oh well, it's father/daughter bonding time and I guess in the next 50 years they'll have at least 1 good one. (it's kind of like mom's love for the Cubs....she and dad live by the moto, "maybe next year" for all the teams they love - Browns, Cyclones, and Cubs)

Mom and Dad finally took me for my 1 month photos. I was kind of tired so I slept through most of the photos but here are two that I kept my eyes open for. Actually, they took one of my wet wipes to my feet to wake me up.....so it wasn't very comfortable or optional to sleep then. Meanies, always picking on me.

Mom decided to play dress up with me on Saturday. She said the Cyclones needed some extra luck for their big game again Baylor. So she put me in some ISU gear and took about 30 pictures. I look pretty cute if I do say so myself. I know she's love it if I went to Iowa State University but I'm keeping my options open for now. (can you tell from the picture she was more excited than I?)

This weekend I might take mom and dad to the mountains......but only if they are good this week. I think Estes Park would be a fun getaway so we'll see what they think.

Have a great week - I gotta go because mom say's I need to play with toys other than the computer.

Love - Miss Madeline

PS. sorry the blog looks funny - Mom helped me with the photo upload and obviously she really knew what she was doing. ha ha

My 1 month birthday....

Most kids have cake and ice cream to celebrate their birthday, but not me. For some reason my parents thought a trip to the doctor's office would be a fun way to celebrate my 1 month anniversary of birth. Let me tell you.....I'd rather have had the ice cream and cake.

I guess I should tell you why we went to the doctor.....it has something to do with selective hearing, which isn't all my fault. I was born with normal hearing in my Left ear, which is great news. However, my right ear didn't develop all the way.......mom and dad call it my "Nemo" ear. I have an ear, it just looks different. But I don't have the canal that typically carries sound waves to the cochlear (that's what allows you to hear). So, today we went to an Ear/Nose/Thoat Specialist office and met with an audiologist to find out IF I could hear and IF I had a cochlear in my right ear. First mom and dad had to get me to fall asleep for the test. Then, they hooked me up to lots of wires which sense brain waves in response to the sound vibrations they transmitted. The first test confirmed I have "normal" hearing in my left ear. The second test confirmed I do have a cochlear in my right ear and with a special device called a bone oscilator I can hear "normally" in that ear as well.

Our next step is to meet with the doctor in a month or two and come up with a plan for treating my hearing. I'll also have a CAT scan when I'm 2-4 months old to look at my cochlear a little closer. Then after I'm 6 months old I'll probably have a surgery on my right ear to make it look a little cuter.....hopefully I can still call it my "Nemo" ear since it's special to me. I guess we are also meeting with the audiology department for a consultation on when I might get my own "bone oscilator" so I can hear all the time with my right ear.

Mom and Dad were happy I was such a good girl at the appointment. I don't know what I did that was so special other than take a nap. Dad took a photo of me at the appointment so you could see all my wires. I guess I pulled them off a few times......they were something to tug on.

Overall, I guess it was a unique way to celebrate my 1 month anniversary of birth. My gift to my parents in return was a diaper blowout......now that's what I call fun!

PS. I'll add another blog update on Grandma G's visit, but I am kind of sleepy and headed to bed.

I'm 3 and 1/2 weeks now....

....gosh, I'm getting old. It's tough being a baby you know. It's obvious my mom and dad are first time parents so they are requiring lots of training by me....which makes me very sleepy. I've taught mom and dad the following things.

- I can "toot" louder than dad

- I can spit up what appears to be my entire meal after feeding and yet still fill a diaper...impressive I know! Sometimes I wait until mom or dad are showered & dressed for the day and after my next feeding I spit it all over them....it's a good laugh.

- I wake up every time mom and dad try to sneak a meal without me being involved....this now means I sometimes get to sit at the table and watch....they won't share yet, all in time I guess.

- I love "Married with Children" re-runs....they are on between 2:30 -5:00 AM in case you are wondering. The other day I stopped crying to listen to the theme song.

- I love the dogs and the dogs love me.....I get lots of kisses

- I love baths! I got my first "real" bath the other night and it was rather relaxing and fun. Mom and Dad say I'm going to be a real swimmer....I'm not sure what they're talking about.

- I now really like my swing....this morning we almost had an emergency when the batteries died, thankfully I had trained mom to have an extra set.

Mom and Dad are pretty cool. Dad makes funny faces and noises for me. I'm not sure why yet, but he calls it play time. I also love tummy time on Dad, except I always fall asleep during this. Mom says she thinks Dad likes Tummy Time more than me.....who knows. Mom's alright too. She's my dairy cow. Whenever I'm hungry I cry and like magic, food appears. It's great. Mom somehow gets showered and ready for the day during my naps, etc.

I have been out and about a few times. Last week I went to dad's work. I'm not sure what he does there but there were tons of nice people who held me. Yesterday I went to mom's work and got passed around like a baby doll. It's tough being cute and loved by so many. Everyone says I have chubby cheeks.....I think that's a good thing.

Mom says she takes a ton of photos of me because you all want to see me change and grow from week to week. Sorry there aren't any with smiles yet. I like being stubborn and only pull those out when the camera is put away.

It's going to snow this weekend. Maybe we'll get some photos of me playing in the snow. Also mom and dad say Grandma G is visiting this weekend. I didn't realize a kid could have two grandmas, 2 grandpas and so many aunts, uncles and cousins......so much to learn still.

Next week I'm celebrating the 1 month anniversary of my debut to this world. Check back for photos to see what I'm doing then. Okay, time for a nap....this typing stuff is tough for a new baby like me .

Love - Maddie Rose

Visitors

I had my first visitors. Grandma and Grandpa Kiefer came out to meet me and help mom out after surgery. They are pretty cool since they hold me and give me kisses.

Here's some pictures of their visit and me at almost 2 weeks old.....actually I was only 11 days old in these pictures.