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)