Smiles

You have got to love the way that babies smile. There is no restraint, they just beam! I am loving my little goofy smiler and all of her grins. She makes me smile too.

A little lovin'

I really wish these hadn't come out so grainy. I guess my point and shoot can't handle the low light with it teeny lens. Remind me to somehow qualify for a free Digital SLR (maybe a Nikon?) Until that happens you will just have to take my word for it that this was a super cute moment that I was just glad to catch a bit of.

Can you tell that Maddie hero worships her older brother? She lights up when he plays with her. Better yet, Calvin loves to make Maddie happy. He shows her toys, pushes her in her swing (that's a little scary), tries to teach her what he thinks is important, and gives her kisses and hugs. Just the other day he put some of his dinner on a fork and took it to show her how to eat. It was quite the demonstration and so cute! I am so happy that they are doing so well together. I just hope that they can keep it up. I like the sibling lovin' better than the sibling rivalry!

First Day of Preschool

Would you believe that these are the best shots I got from Calvin's first day in Preschool? He thought it was pretty funny to hide from the camera - and it worked. We are doing a neighborhood co-op preschool and it has been great for Mr. Calvin. He LOVES going to hang out with his friends a couple of times a week, and every time I come to pick him up he comes flying out yelling, "Mommy!" waving his work at me and waiting for my praise. He gets it.

I am actually really impressed with how these last few weeks of Preschool have been helpful to the little guy. His language skills are improving, he suddenly wants to sing along with me or to CDs (I had been struggling with that one for awhile), and he runs around saying things like, "B, buh, buh, buh!" Kudos to his fine teachers - awesome job! I am so glad that we decided to be part of this.

The Dinosaur Museum

That was quite a hiatus to catch up on (or to begin catching up on!) In August we finally made it to the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point. It was $2 Tuesday so we only paid $4 to get in! We were lucky enough to get to meet up with Jen, Rick and the lovely ladies for fun-times. Calvin loved it! Between dinosaurs and cousins this was a great day. And lets not forget the $0.50 cones afterward. Goodtimes!

Kookie Kid

When I went to check on Maddie, during a nap, I found her in this comfortable position blissfully sleeping. I had to snap a picture before I fixed her.

Cute kids = Cute Photos

Last week we took the kids to get their pictures taken. It was kind of scary to take such a little girl to the photographer, but she did a great job. Calvin had so much fun! We were able to get a CD of the whole shoot, so we have a lot of fun photos to keep. I need to figure out lay out better on these posts, but this will do for now!
















I love this kid's kooky smile = ).

Madelyn Elaine Lambert

Here is the lovely newest addition to our family - Miss Maddie. I know that she has been here for three weeks, but hey, cut a new mom a break! Two kids keep me pretty busy. So, here is the story.
This is a child that did not feel the need to come. I was frustrated in the weeks before her birth because I had no indications of labor. I mean like none at all! I wasn't dilating, I wasn't effacing and the contractions were few and far between. Because so little was happening my doctor was unwilling to do anything (i.e. induce me if I went over my due date.) Fortunately, one day after the due date I had a bunch of contractions and I finally dilated to a one. We scheduled an inducement for the 23rd of June and my mom came out on the 22nd to take care of Calvin. The hospital called in the morning and we arrived about 10-ish in the morning.
They put me on the pit drip and checked to find me at a three! Woop woop! I think that I was probably headed into labor soon with or without the pitocin. After awhile the doctor came in and broke my water. That's when things really picked up. I had decided to try natural birth, but my contractions were really painful at this point - I was ready to cry. I decided to wimp out and I called for the anesthesiologist. He came right in and started to get me ready for an epidural, but as he was doing that I started to push! In pain and very stupid I let him him put in the epidural as I tried to hold back the pushing. I was shaking uncontrollably, and as I look back I am really grateful that the anesthesiologist was good enough to get me without hurting me.
The moment it was in I rolled over, they took the bed apart for delivery and two pushes later there was a screaming head and then a baby was born. Boy did she yell! I knew that child was alright from the start - you could hear it = ). So, I got an epidural, but I am not sure how much it helped! Actually, the pushing hurt less than the contractions before - I should have waited. I felt an awful lot of childbirth and then I still had to work off the effects of the drugs. Next time maybe my brain won't poop out at the last second.
Maddie was born at 1:39 in the afternoon: 6 lbs. 9 oz. and 20 inches long. Not only was this a lighting speed delivery, but it was a pretty nice recovery. Maddie took to nursing right away (bless her heart) and she has been a great little eater ever since. The hospital was worried that she weighed as little as she did, but she has made up for it with a healthy appetite. In fact, I believe that she weighed more than Calvin did at the two week doctor's appointment. She has been a great baby. She sleeps pretty well, for a newborn, and she cries only occasionally.
Calvin was very excited to meet his new baby. I was glad to see how thrilled he was at the hospital. It has been really hard for him, but I know that he loves this little girl. I just wish that I could spend more one on one time with him right now, he misses it so much.
The nurses at the hospital styled Maddie's hair into this lovely mohawk with bow. I thought it was way cute. Someone told me later that it was done with Elmer's glue. That would explain why it was so rock-solid! We love our new little girl and we are so happy to have her home with us now.