Marvelous Madelyn Archive

October 28, 2011

Pumpkin Patch Kid

by Madelyn Friedman in Baby's Babbles, Marvelous Madelyn

Last week mommy and daddy took me to this place they called a punkin patch. I guess it’s part of this holiday thing…Hollow Weenie I think? Something like that. Uncle Kevin came with us and Lisa too. Daddy brought his big picture-taking thingie, the Dee Esselar I guess? He and Uncle Kevin were snapping away, but he kept complaining about bad light and shadows and stuff like that. I don’t know what he was whining about. I think I look pretty darn cute.

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Anyway, the punkin patch was pretty cool. There were all these different sizes of punkins, from really small ones like me to really giant ones. They were all this really interesting shade that I’ve never seen before. The only real colors I know are pink, yellow and green because I hear mommy talk about them all the time in my room. The punkins weren’t pink or yellow, but they were kind of something in between only brighter. Daddy was using the Dee Esselar to try to take all these artsy pictures of the punkins, except I thought the whole point of that thing was for me to be in the pictures. What’s the point otherwise?

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This place even had a petting zoo with goats and sheep and duckies, but mommy and daddy said we couldn’t go inside to see the animals. Maybe they’ll let me get closer and pet them when I’m older. From a distance they just reminded me of my brother Princeton. As for the punkins, daddy picked out two of them to take home – a little one for me since I’m still small, and then a bigger one for mommy and daddy.

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I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with this thing though. Daddy told me that when I’m older I can help him carve it, but that seems kind of silly. Mommy said she likes punkin pie and that does sound pretty good. But then she didn’t even use them to make the pie. They just got put outside on the doorstep and then she made the pie from a box of powder, just like my formula. Why did we even have to go to the punkin patch if they have this stuff in a box? Parents are so weird.

So this Hollow Weenie thing is only a couple of days away. I keep hearing all this stuff about dressing up and looking so cute, but that seems like every day to me, so I don’t really understand what’s special yet. It sounds like I get to see my friend Brielle on Hollow Weenie though, so that should be really fun. She’s older than me so she can show me what I’m supposed to do that day.

Every day is something new for me but all I really care about is eating and sleeping so I don’t know what all the fuss is about. But I guess the punkin patch wasn’t so bad. It was fun being outside and checking out all the colorful stuff there is to see. I bet it will be way more fun when I can walk around and pick stuff up. I gotta get on this moving around thing. Maybe Brielle can help me when I see her. Last time I saw her she said she was thinking about crawling soon. I hope she does so I can see what it’s like. Hmmm…now I can’t wait for Hollow Weenie.

Comments (1):
  1. Mimi
    10/31/2011 9:45 AM

    Have a fun 1st Happy Halloween 2011! You are going to look so adorable dressed up in your 1st costume.
    Love, Mimi

October 27, 2011

Shots All Around

by Alison Friedman in Marvelous Madelyn, Mommy's Musings

One of these things is not like the other: DTaP, PCV, IPV, Tequila.

They’re all shots, but the last one will be foreign to Madelyn until her first college party. The first three, however, made an appearance at her 2-month checkup in early October.

She had her regular physical first and checked out great.

She was calm and content the whole time. No whining, no fussiness, no discomfort. Our happy little Madelyn was more than pleased to be weighed and measured and pressed on and poked at. Easy shmeasy.

She probably thought she was getting out free and clear of any trauma, but what she didn’t know was that life was about to majorly suck. I felt like I had betrayed her with a happy-go-lucky morning on the doctor’s butcher paper table, but truth is, she was about to get butchered.

Her 2-month vaccinations started off with a taste of rotavirus vaccine. I imagine it doesn’t take like sugar and chocolate, but I’m sure it was a welcome change from formula and she lapped it right up.

I clenched my fingers as I knew the worst was yet to come. I saw the tray of three Band-Aids and three needles and held my breath in anticipation. Madelyn just hung out at the table, her big brown eyes looking around, with twitches of smiles coming from her happy mouth and then WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT THE $&@% WAS THAAAAAAAAAAT (I imagine Madelyn to swear in symbols).

She let out an immediate shriek like I’d never heard. In fact, I bet Princeton heard it at home, not because dogs have freaky deaky high pitched hearing, but because it really was just that loud. She was startled three times by these needles and she screamed so loud with each prick, I swear I could see her lungs coming out of her mouth.

I’ve often heard the shots are worse for the mommy than they are for the baby, and while I certainly didn’t enjoy watching my daughter get traumatized by modern medicine, I knew it would be temporary and that, in the end, it would be good for her.

Good thing is, unlike her mother, she recovers well. Madelyn stopped crying after a few minutes and then slept the rest of the day away. She was a cuddler, which I selfishly enjoyed, and I made sure to comfort and soothe her the few times she woke up a little irritated.

So, we both survived her first shots, but in December, when we go back for her 4-month check up, she’s going to reunite with those needles again. And this is why kids hate going to the pediatrician!

The worst part about the whole thing is that she’s too young to leave with a lollipop from the front desk. But don’t worry — mama got her Dumdum.

Comments (1):
  1. K
    10/28/2011 9:49 PM

    She’s soooooo cute! Fiona can’t wait to meet her! One of these days….

October 11, 2011

Two Months!

by Alison Friedman in Marvelous Madelyn, Mommy's Musings, Monthiversaries

As of October 9th, Madelyn is now two months old and we are driving a pretty steady pace on the parenting highway with only a couple stop lights or lane changes here and there. I’d say we’re doing okay! Now that I’m much more healed, we are taking turns meeting all of Madelyn’s eating, sleeping, and diaper changing needs. Dare I say it? She’s a pretty easy baby with a lovely little personality. She’s not too demanding and we absolutely love being with her and staring at her every molecule.


This month, Madelyn…

  • started to smile! Be still, my heart! It’s the most marvelous thing my two brown eyes have ever seen!
  • began to coo! She makes these adorable little sounds and whether they’re intentional or not, I don’t care. They are freakin’ adorable and I swear we have coherent conversations and banter.
  • lost a lot of her monkey hair. She is less of an ape and more of a human being which is good for her future boyfriends. She was born with a lot of lanugo still on her shoulders, but it’s almost all gone now.
  • improved her tummy time game face by lifting her head at a 45 degree angle. She’s got strong head and neck muscles, that’s for sure. She doesn’t completely hate tummy time as long as we catch her in a good mood. We love when Princeton comes to lay with her on the tummy time blanket.
  • battled diaper rash! And it’s still going strong. We’ve tried zillions of products and executed all the methods. Her pediatrician now thinks the diaper rash is caused by her poops thanks to a change of formula. I tell ya, it’s always something in this household. So, we changed to “hippie diapers.” I call them hippie diapers because they’re all natural and free and clear of pretty much anything man-made. The worst part is that there’s no wetness indicator so we actually have to [gasp!] physically check to see if it’s a dirty diaper. But the best part is that these new hippie diapers are helping and hopefully the rash goes away and stays away thanks to going a naturale and changing her formula to accommodate her milk protein allergy.
  • went to her first services at temple. She enjoyed all the music during High Holy Day services and was less fidgety than most adults in there. Actually, she wasn’t fidgety at all. She just sat in her stroller and looked around or snoozed. Everyone remarked how good she was and we’re glad to know we can bring her to more services in the future. She’s basically a rabbi already.
  • grew some cheeks and chins. She’s looking a little more cherubic now and has these adorable cheeks that look chipmunk-ish. I swear she’s storing nuts in them for winter. It’s because of these cheeks and chins — yes, plural chin — that she might look a little more like me. Thankfully, she still has Bryan’s long and lean body and what nice Jewish girl doesn’t want legs and arms like that?
  • became a TV star. Well, she’s not getting her star on Hollywood Boulevard just yet, but the series finale of “All My Children” aired on September 23rd on which she played Erica Kane as an infant. There she was, her face at the very beginning of the show. She had 12 seconds of 100% close-up and looked great on television. It was really a hoot to see our kid on a TV show playing the baby version of the most famous soap opera diva. Insane!

At two months, Madelyn weighed 10 pounds and 4 ounces (haha 10-4, over and out, Roger) and measured 23 inches long. She’s on track developmentally and her doctor is happy with her overall health. And we’re just happy with her. Overall!

Happy 2 months, Madelyn!

Comments (5):
  1. Jan Glasband
    10/13/2011 8:04 AM

    YUMMY!!!!

  2. ashleigh
    10/11/2011 10:05 PM

    “she’s basically a rabbi already.” HILARIOUS.

  3. Mimi
    10/11/2011 8:35 PM

    Happy 2 Month Birthday, sweet Madelyn! It’ll be fun to see you fill out in that chair with each month.
    Love, Mimi

  4. Alison
    10/11/2011 8:31 PM

    Cathy, we TRIED to get Princeton into the picture but he was hiding under the crib. I think he was frightened of his Daddy who was running back and forth from the camera timer to the posing spot. It was kind of ridiculous. Princeton was like, “You guys, chill out” and wanted nothing to do with our shenanigans to get the perfect timer picture!

  5. Cathy
    10/11/2011 7:54 PM

    Friedman parentals, I am thinking it’s time for Princeton’s stand in to be fired….where is the real deal??? He is part of the family too!!! -____- And I used the REAL Hippie diapers for my lil Hippie, Bailey….cloth!!! Yes Di Dee Diaper service came to my Hippie Hut once a week, dropped off a fresh batch and hauled away the soiled. Her rashes went buh bye!!!
    🙂

October 6, 2011

Sleeping and Snuggling

by Alison Friedman in Marvelous Madelyn, Mommy's Musings, Princeton

It’s been a while since Born Friedman was last updated. The site is more like Sleepy Friedman. Ooops! Wake up, Blog! Time for action!

Things have been busy around here as we are all figuring out our routine. Bryan is back to work and I’m mobile now, so the bubble of bringing-home-baby has popped and we’re livin’ life.

I hate to say it because I know it’s going to jinx everything, but Madelyn is, like, THE easiest baby ever. She should make a career of being a baby. She’s just so good at it! She’s a rockstar sleeper and is now snoozing away in her own crib. It was hard for me to say goodbye to her sleeping in our bedroom because it was a tiny benchmark that meant she’s growing up! But she’s taken to her crib well and once she starts to sleep, she stays asleep. It must be very tiring to be a baby because all she does is sleep! Madelyn also likes to sleep in her swing, her bouncer, and her bassinet, so she’s a very versatile sleeper. If she were a dwarf, she would definitely be Sleepy. Come Thanksgiving, she’s going to have us all beat with the turkey’s tryptophan side effects. Rip Van Winkle, you have competition.

Photo by Sara Marie Photography

Whenever Madelyn isn’t sleeping, she’s eating. And if she’s not eating, then she’s cranky! She rarely cries, but when she does, she means business! It’s taken some time, but I’ve figured out ways to calm her in a trial and error sort of way. She loves motion! I have a feeling this girl is going to be a thrill seeker or roller coaster fan. She likes to be rocked back and forth in her glider (Mommy likes it, too. Super comfy!) or bounced on my lap as I up-and-down on an exercise ball. I better get a terrific tushie from this activity! When that’s not enough, I sing to her! We’ve developed quite a repertoire of songs already. Sometimes we use inspiration from a Shirley Temple station on Pandora or sometimes we go basic with a capella tunes. Songs Madelyn likes: “Tomorrow” from Annie, “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music, “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, and “When You Wish Upon A Star” from Pinocchio. When she hears these melodies, she becomes fixated like she’s in a trance. Either that, or she’s trying to mentally escape my 3 a.m. singing voice…

During the day, Madelyn is my sidekick as we run errands, veg at home, or meet friends for lunch. We’re having a great time and we love when Daddy comes home. Bryan relaxes with her or feeds her so he definitely gets his Madelyn time after a day away at work.

And where’s Princeton in all this? He’s still reigning the bed, snuggling with us on the couch, and joining us in the car. No worries. Madelyn’s big brother is very involved and I even think he has a soft spot in his heart for her. I love that my children get along famously.

Comments (2):
  1. yvonne
    10/9/2011 6:30 AM

    Amazing! Madelyn is so cute! I think she’s really one of a kind 🙂 I really enjoyed reading all about Madelyn, especially the part that she loves sleeping a lot 🙂 Most babies sleeps most of the time but also cries a lot sometimes 🙂 Thanks for sharing about Madelyn, she’s adorable. I could imagine how really nice it is to have a baby girl as pretty and cute as Madelyn. I really enjoyed a lot reading your article, and btw, thanks for sharing those nice photos of her 🙂 I hope you’ll update us as she grows 🙂 Looking forward to it 🙂

  2. Sarah
    10/6/2011 11:17 PM

    Cutest baby puppy pics!!!!!

September 25, 2011

BabyFest 2011: Madelyn’s New Friends

by Alison Friedman in Madelyn & Friends, Marvelous Madelyn, Mommy's Musings

Madelyn got to meet some new baby friends this past week! Over the summer, there was an explosion of babies all around the time of Madelyn’s birthday. Hmmm there must have been something very romantic about last November and December… Anyway, in the first few days of September, a new friend and a new cousin came into the world and little M got to meet both of them this week.

Becky and George’s new baby girl, Día, will be the beautiful new dancer star in the front row of all the big numbers in future Simi shows. Her not-as-dancey pal, Madelyn, will probably take after her two-left-feet mommy and daddy who are always in the back row fumbling through Becky’s choreography. No rivalry there! BFF for life.

But for now, Día and Madelyn are enjoying babyhood with all the girly cuteness and the theater moms (all of ’em!) continue to gush.

And then, the next day, Madelyn’s cousin Ocean came for a visit and they even linked arms and schemed together about all the future trouble they’ll plan for the mommies, my cousin Jaimie and me. They began their commotion while making their entrances into the world because both Jaimie and I had the same last-minute c-section after our babies decided it would be much more fun and dramatic to hang out at the end and not budge through to the outside world. Thanks, kids.

Ocean was surrounded by women and he tolerated it well. Looks like he’ll have no problem being the class heart throb! He’s a cutie, for sure, and all of Madelyn’s girlfriends are going to want to meet her gorgeous cousin. We’re all going to have lots of fun times at Ocean’s Grammy’s house at the beach with all the other adorable kids and gushing grown ups.