Madison Jane Birth-3 months

A lot has happened since my last post, and I mean a lot! I had no idea how much time and attention a baby requires, but even in my spare time I find myself watching her every move. Cody and I took a baby class and they told us we would become expert 'baby watchers' and it is true! Madi has brought so much joy and love into our home and Cody and I are so privileged and humbled to be able to raise her. We love her so much!

Here are some of the highlights of Madi's first few months:

Last Preggo Picture- December 29, 2012

I was admitted to the hospital on the morning of December 29 and while we waited my mom flew in from Utah, we played card games, watched the Hunger Games, and did a lot of laughing :) 

21 hours later Madison Jane Mangum was born at 5:17 am on December 30, 2012. She weighed 7 lbs 4 oz and was 19.5 inches long. She was born with a head full of brown hair, just like her mama :) 

Three Generations

Madi wearing the same outfit that I wore home from the hospital when I was born. 

Happy New Year! Madi's first holiday at one day old. She looks thrilled ;)

Madi came home from the hospital two days later on New Years Day.

Wearing her ballerina outfit that Aunt Mindy made. Mama says she is going to be a dancer, daddy thinks she'll be a golfer :)

We were fortunate to have my mom stay with us after Madi was born. She was a huge help! I don't know what we would have done without her singing Madi to sleep and giving her her first bath- I had no idea what to do!

One Week Old

This week consisted of lots of doctors appointments. Madi was born with jaundice, but was able to get it out of her system before she had to go under lights.

Madi went on her first walk outside this week and slept through the entire thing :) 

Cody interviewed for a fellowship this week at Salem Hospital in Oregon.

When Cody got back we all went to see the iconic giant Minnesota cherry spoon and then we had to say goodbye to grandma, we wish she could have stayed :(

Bundled up for our walk

Cherry Spoon

Madi and her grandma- one of the first times she smiled :)

Two Weeks Old

This week consisted of more doctors appointments and lots of sleeping. She had an appointment with a cardiologist for a heart murmur that turned out to not be a problem.

Madi now weighs 8 lbs 13 oz- she has gained 1.5 lbs in 2 weeks!

This week Madi managed to throw up, spit up, pee, and poop on mom and dad.

Cody was offered the fellowship in Salem, Oregon and we will be moving there this summer!

 Three Weeks Old

Madi slept for 7 hours through the night- it was a miracle!

Madi got her first toy- an activity gym

 Yes, this is Madi's natural hair, we don't put any gel in it!

 Stretching after sleeping for 7 hours!

Madi loved her new toy so much that she fell asleep :)

Four Weeks Old

 Madi now weighs 10 lbs 3 oz- she is a chunk! :)

She lifted her head up for the first time.

Madi went to church and wore her first dress.

 Madi's first dress

Five Weeks Old

 This week Madi wants to stand up with her legs straight.

She loves going to the laundromat to watch the dryers.

We put Valentine's hearts on the window that twirl when the heat turns on, Madi loves to watch them.

Six Weeks Old

 Madi now sleeps through the night for 10 hours! 

She has started to smile and coo.

We went on our first of many trips to the swimming pool with our friends from church.

 Madi celebrated her first Valentines Day.

 This girl loves to sleep! Especially at night :)

 Ready to swim!

Happy Valentines Day!

Seven Weeks Old

This was a big week for Madi, she went on her first trip to Utah and flew on an airplane for the first time. My sister Melanie came home from her mission and we were able to fly out for her homecoming and to introduce Madi to the rest of my family. She did great on the plane and was so interested in what was around her that she didn't take her nap. Madi got to meet lots of new people this week including grandpa, uncle Ryan, and aunt Melanie. We also had two baby showers thrown by my wonderful friend Megan, and my aunts Terri and Jackie and cousin Brooklyn- thank you! While we were in Utah Madi also discovered the mirror; I'm pretty sure she doesn't recognize herself, but she does see a cute baby on the other side :)

On the airplane

 Aunt Melly

 Grandma

 Grandpa

Uncle Ryan

 Baby Shower for Madi

All dressed up for Melanie's homecoming

Found the mirror

Eight Weeks Old

This week Madi was still in Utah and enjoyed lots of shopping and her first photo shoot. My cousin Brooklyn took her pictures and did an amazing job! Please check out her website  

brooklyncarter.com 

 Madi also started holding her head up well and found her fist, which she likes to now stick in her mouth. 

Madi went on her second plane ride and did well until the landing. I gave her a binky to chew on to help with the pressure in her ears, but she had the hiccups and kept spitting the binky out so she cried for a few minutes. The ladies sitting next to us were impressed that she did so well (minus the landing) :)

At the airport saying 'goodbye'

Nine Weeks Old

Madi had her two month old appointment this week and had to get shots :( She hated them and wasn't herself this week- she is usually smiley and happy, but this week it was tough to get a smile out of her. We are dreading the next round of shots :(

Madi is now 22 inches tall, weighs 13 lbs 7 oz and when comparing her weight to her height she is in the 100%- we have a chunky baby! :)

Ten Weeks Old

Daddy went on a trip to Chicago this week so Madi and mommy kept busy by taking Madi on her first trip to the Mall of America, her first time to the zoo, and our weekly swimming trip with our friends. 

Madi is doing so well holding her head up that we have started putting her in the bumbo to sit for a few minutes. She loves being able to see what is going on around her.

 

Read for some shopping!

 

Food Court/Rides at the Mall of America

 At the Zoo

 So happy to see daddy when he came home :)

11 Weeks Old

This week we all got to go to Chicago! Cody's parents flew from Wyoming to Chicago to attend an Orthopedic Conference and we drove down so they could meet Madi. Cody scoped out the area the week before and we were able to go back and see/eat some of his favorite things about Chicago. Madi saw a lot of the city from her stroller and we were able to shop, eat good food, and spend time with Cody's parents.

 We took two days to drive to Chicago and stopped in Madison, Wisconsin for the night. The next morning we took Madison Jane to Lazy Janes Cafe in Madison- thanks to Katie Houlihan for the recommendation! We loved the lemon scones :)

Madi in Chicago

 Madi with Pa and Nana

Madi loved watching Sports Center in her TV chair. If we tried to move her she threw a fit and was straining her head towards the TV.

Well that was quite the novel, but I couldn't resist sharing some pictures and milestones of Madi. We love our sweet little babe so much and can't wait to see what the next few months have in store for us :)

Week of the Honeydew (35, 36 weeks)

Baby Mangum is running out of room!

She is now 36 weeks and 3 days, that means only 25 days left until her due date! She is working hard on developing more fat and is taking up most of the uterus now. I can attest to that last part! She is definitely cramped, but it is fun to watch my stomach move when she flips over. At my last doctor's appointment the doctor had a hard time finding her heartbeat because she was moving so much. When we were done I had the jelly all over my belly because she tried every angle to find her heartbeat. 

35 weeks

36 weeks

Baby will be full term by the end of the week and could come any day now! So exciting! We can't wait to meet her! We also finally bought a car seat this week so we can officially take baby home when she arrives. My parents also bought us a glider which is now set up in the living room, ready for when baby needs to be rocked to sleep. We also packed the hospital bag and took it down to the car this morning, so I am feeling more prepared as the days go by. We can't wait until she arrives!

Baby Showers and Oklahoma

This past month has gone by so fast! Baby Mangum is growing right on schedule and as far as we can tell she is developing normally. This past month I was lucky enough to have 3 baby showers and I appreciate the generosity of so many friends and family members- we almost have too much baby stuff now, it's been a trick organizing everything! :) 

Cody and I were also able to drive to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving and were able to spend time with Cody's parents, his sister Mindy and her family, and his brother Jay and his family. It was quite the party! The boys got their fill of hunting, we went to the zoo, cleaned Cody's parents' storage unit and helped them pack for their move, had a baby shower, visited with each other, the boys rode horses, and of course we made some yummy food! We had a fun time and are grateful that we were able to see family.  

Work is going good- only 9 more days until I officially retire! It should be 10 days, but it snowed quite a bit yesterday (a friend who lives nearby said she measured the snow with a ruler and we had 11 inches). Since it was also pretty cold the roads were predicted to be icy so the school I work at called it a snow day and cancelled school today!

Cody's school is almost done for the semester! One more week and then a few finals and he will be done with his third semester, only one more to go! Cody's last semester doesn't start until the end of January which works out perfect because he will be able to stay home and spend time with our new baby, assuming that she comes on time. Although we wouldn't be disappointed if she came early :)

Here are some of the photo highlights from the past month:

MHA (Masters in Healthcare Administration- Cody's school program) Baby Shower

 I loved the invite welcoming our 'peanut'

Beautiful and yummy food. We had muffins, little croissants, fruit, and juice.

MHA ladies

 Our Oklahoma trip:

33 weeks-

Expectant mothers parking at the zoo

34 weeks

Mangum Ladies after the baby shower

Yes, at 5'4" I am the giant of the family

Cody said "do a funny face" and we all did the same thing. We must be family :)

Guess who had a birthday this month and is now super old?! That's right, Cody! 

Cody's new outfit and season 4 of the Mentalist- we are addicted to the show!

Matching baby dress and tie

New hair clippers

I also made a delicious cake (if I do say so myself) with a strawberry filling and cream cheese frosting, but I forgot to take a picture so you'll just have to image how beautiful and yummy it was :)

Happy birthday to my better half! I am so grateful for the past 5 years and am excited for the new adventures that are ahead of us! I love you!

Week of the Squash (31 weeks)

Hard to believe, but Baby Mangum will be here in 2 months! She is 16 inches long and weighs 3.5 pounds. Her brain is going through a period of rapid development and her arms, legs, and body are starting to fill out and look less wrinkly.

She has become quite the mover and loves to dance around right after I eat and when I lay down. Just when I think my stomach can't stretch any further, it gets a little bigger. I hope I don't rip in half! :) 

For Halloween this year we decided to invite Vanessa and Michael over for dinner in a pumpkin and pumpkin carving. Every year we make a hamburger/rice mixture that is then cooked in a pumpkin. After the pumpkin has cooked, you can scrape off pieces of the pumpkin to eat with the hamburger. Now that I am describing it, it doesn't sound so good but trust me it is! We also made bread in the shape of a mummy to go with our pumpkin. 

Dinner in a Pumpkin

Mummy Bread

After dinner we carved pumpkins while we watched 'Wait Until Dark'.

Cody and Michael hard at work

Vanessa and Katie putting on the finishing touches

Our finished pumpkins along with a baby pumpkin for Baby Mangum

Happy Halloween!

Week of the Squash (29 weeks)

So this post is a little late... Here are the updates from a few weeks ago:

Baby Mangum is now in her 3rd trimester! Her head is in proportion to the rest of her body and she is becoming sensitive to light, sound, taste, and smell.

Except for a nasty case of food poisoning, I am feeling good. I can tell that my body is a little sluggish and I get tired more easily, but it's nothing I can't handle :) 

This week was fall break at work, so I was very excited to have a 5 day weekend! A few weeks ago, one of my friends Vanessa and I spent a few hours at Joann Fabric and bought lots of material, buttons, felt, and puff paint to decorate some plain white onesies I picked up. I was so grateful for her help, I would have been in the store forever if I had to pick everything out by myself! I had been looking forward to starting my projects, but didn't find the time until this long weekend.

Newborn Onesies

0-3 Month Onesies (Valentines Day and St. Patrick's Day)

3-6 Month Onesies

Baby Skirts

Baby Hat

I had a blast decorating and can't wait to see Baby Mangum in her new outfits!

Week 2 of the Eggplant (27 weeks)

This week Baby Mangum's eye lids are starting to open and her retinas are developing. 

We got her bed in the mail this week and set it up right away! Since we will only be in Minnesota for 5-6 months after she is born and we only have a one bedroom, we decided to buy a pack and play for her to sleep in. When we move to our next mystery location we'll buy her a real bed to sleep in.

It's fun to wake up in the morning and see her crib in the corner knowing that she will be sleeping in there in 3 months!

As promised, I will now include pictures from a couple of weeks ago when my parents and brother came to visit us in St. Paul.

The crew arrived on Wednesday night and we went out to dinner at Baker's Square. Every Wednesday you get a free slice of pie with your meal and a few of us were brave enough to order the bacon pie. 

I tried some of Cody's pie. The pie was good as long as you picked the bacon off of the top.

I had to work on Thursday so Cody played tour guide for day. They visited the Stone Arch Bridge, Minnehaha Falls, and Como Park. I then joined them after I got off work and we ate at Muffuletta and walked around the Como stores. 

Stone Arch Bridge

 Minnehaha Falls- looking pretty sad with very little water

 Outside of the Como stores was a piano just off of the sidewalk. My dad played us a few tunes :)

On Friday we were all able to travel to Wisconsin to the Bass Lake Cheese Factory. Unfortunately we missed the motorcycle gang that passes through every year. Last year we just happened to go on this day and there were about 75 motorcycles parked out front. After we purchased our cheese we drove back to Minnesota and stopped in Hudson to look around and grab some ice cream. Then we went to pick apples at Afton Apple. We picked 3 1/2 bags of Cortland and Spartan apples and a few buckets of strawberries. We also went on a hayride and fed the animals at the petting zoo. Next we headed to 5-8 for a Juicy Lucy (a hamburger with cheese cooked in the middle). We finished off the night by going to see Avengers at the Riverview Theater. 

Hudson

Hudson

Afton Apple

Afton Apple

Hay Ride

Picking Apples

 

 Apples

 Petting Zoo

On Saturday we visited Downtown St. Paul. Our first stop was the Hill Mansion, then St. Paul's Cathedral, and a quick bite to eat before we went on a River Cruise. After the boat ride we found the home where F. Scott Fitzgerald was born and also the place where he wrote his first book. Ryan did some research and found out that one of the places was for sale, so we expect him to be moving here soon :) JK. We then walked up Grand Avenue and ate dinner at Cafe Latte. After dinner we headed back to our apartment and played games. 

 Our cruise staples: Popcorn and hot chocolate (not pictured)

The building where Fitzgerald wrote his first book

Sunday was a much needed day of rest! We made apple french toast and raspberry smoothies for breakfast and then headed to church. After church we drove to Woodbury and had dinner with my cousin Jen and her family.

Cody had classes on Monday, so I was the tour guide for our trip to the Mall of America. Baby Mangum was spoiled and now has a closet full of clothes :) After the mall we picked up Cody and headed to Target Field to watch the Yankees and Twins play. 

 Mall of America

 Yankees vs. Twins

Yankees vs. Twins

It was a packed vacation and we were all worn out by the end, but it was fun to spend time together exploring the Twin Cities. Next time they visit my parents and Ryan will be meeting Baby Mangum!