Carving Pumpkins.

We were so excited to carve a pumpkin with Maddie this fall. In the beginning she really enjoyed it and by the end she really wouldn't go near the pumpkin. We've really had a great time doing all these fun traditions that we once did as children. Hope you enjoy the photos below.

Taste testing the pumpkin...nice job dad.

Making sure Colt is behaving.

Family photo in our Sunday's best :)

Scoop it up dad!

Fall 2008

It's been 2 months since our last blog! Yike. Time flies. This fall has been a blast and many changes with our little one.

She currently has 5 teeth and is always on the go. In the photos below, she is attempting to play in the leaves but unfortunatly they freaked her out.

Happy Halloween!

Today is Madelyn's very first Halloween. She was going to be a monkey until she grew out of the costume so now she's a mouse. She makes a pretty cute mouse. These pictures below are from her music class Halloween party.

The mouse quit crawling after 5 minutes because she was exhausted from the costume.

Trying to figure out how to pick up instruments with no fingers out.

Goofy photo but check out that the top tooth!

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Another tooth!

We are on our 3rd tooth! The front left tooth popped through and her left eye tooth is not too far behind. You can see it right below the gum line. Pretty exciting for Madelyn.

Things have been busy lately, I have been occasionally subbing. It's the easiest thing to do with our schedules. It's nice to decide when to work and when to not. I give so much credit to working moms. Making dinner when they get home and trying to find a little time to give to your child. Those few days working truly made me appreciate my days with Madelyn more. I couldn't believe how badly I missed her. I would be fine for the first half of the day but then it would just get to me. I loved coming home though to her two teeth gummy smile and her hugs and kisses. It made those days that much better.

We are looking forward to this weekend. We are having a Michigan verse Michigan State party. So far about 80 people have rsvp'd that they are coming. Fortunatly we have a tent with sides being set up (with a heater in it), a port-a-potty being delivered Friday, and 3 fire pits in the yard. Hopefully the better team wins. Go State!

-Love-
The Ramsey's

She crawls!

After many requests (mainly my mom) of wanting me to put up a video of our monkey crawling, I have finally gotten around to it. Enjoy!

Madelyn Dancing

When I was recording this video I didn't realize what song was playing in the background. Sort of funny!

*Not the best quality, video was taken on my camera.

And we're off!

I never really considered an "army crawl" officially crawling but it's what she has been slowly doing for a few weeks. She would slowly army crawl in a circle. As of Tuesday evening, my little monkey has been crawling on all fours still slow but moving. She is pulling up on all the furniture and walking along it. She loves (mainly chewing) all cell phones, dog toys (I try to hide them but Colt brings them back out), remotes, paper, computer buttons especially the on/off switch that lights up, electrical outlets, power strips, so needless to say I am busy.

Her naps are starting to shorten and she is spending some quiet time in the crib. She enjoys it and I enjoy small amounts of time to get things done. She usually takes a 40 minute morning nap and 45 minute-1.5 hour afternoon nap. I've been trying to cut out morning nap but it's really a hard thing to do.

I've started substitute teaching. Just to work when I can and Ryan isn't busy at work. We really want to finish our basement. It will be a slow work in progress but it will be nice to just start the project. We plan on adding a den with an adjoining playroom (that will turn into a pool table room in a LONG time), a half-kitchen, fourth bedroom, bar, and a full bath.

Happy Autumn to all!

-Love-
The Ramsey's

So much progress so quickly!

This past week has been such a monumental week for Madelyn!

She has figured out how to sit up from a crawling position (which she still isn't technically crawling but is doing a slow army crawl).

She has figured out how to wave.

She clearly says "dada" and knows what she is saying I think she is trying to say Colt at times.

And the best part...She is pulling up and trying to walk along furniture. She is standing in her crib and jumping like a wild maniac. She takes much longer to fall asleep now that she has figured out how to stand but it's ok, I like progress!

I can't believe how quickly she has grown. She is so much fun and definatly has her own personality. Also, her favorite foods is mexican foods.

We (Madelyn and I, daddy was busy at work) spent the past week in Lake Orion taking care of Evan and Merza. That was a job in itself. My mom is a Saint. We were lucky enough to see our cousin Haley and little Lydia (1 year old). Lydia and Madelyn got to spend a little time together. It's so cute to watch them interact with eachother. I could not believe how much just a few months make. Lydia is definatly a little investigator!

Madelyn also got to meet some very close high school friends of mine. It was such a nice time together. It's been about 6 years since I've seen them. I miss them a lot. Here are some pictures from our dinner at yummy Sagebrush.

Poor sick little baby

I was reminded last Thursday how truly lucky we were for Madelyn's sleeping schedule. Wednesday/Thursday night she awoke around 4:00 am screaming. We proceeded to wait a short bit see if she would just fall back asleep. After about 30-45 minutes of hard crying I went in and took her out and rocked with her. That work all 2 minutes so we brought her in our bed (which normally we would never do but I'm sure we all remember being sick and snuggling with our parents) and let her watch Noggin. That worked and after 30 minutes or so I placed her back into bed and she fell asleep.

Thursday/Friday night no more then 40-60 minutes of sleeping occured and she was happy and awake as could be. I figured it was teething. Around lunch time on Friday my gut told me to take her temperature and sure enough 101.8*. So I called our pediatrician...closed early on Friday. I called the next pediatrician and they got her in in an hour. We loaded in the car and headed over. Sure enough Madelyn has...tonsilitous, an ear infection in her left ear, and all top 4 teeth are cutting at the same time. She is on amoxicillion and doing well. She is such a great baby and loving girl. I'm especially loving all the snuggling she is giving me.

She doing really well and is such a trooper.

Here is Madelyn enjoying cartoons on Saturday morning in our bed.

Music Class

We started music class this past week and it was extremely successful. Madelyn really enjoyed herself. I took many pictures. I fear what her first day of school will be like if this is how I am now.
Picking out her clothes for music class.

Mad at me about something.

Taking an interest in the tambourine.

Madelyn enjoying Miss Angie.

Teaching Madelyn how to drum.

Madelyn Stats

Length- 29 and 3/4 inch (95th percentile)
Weight- 20 lbs. and 8 ozs. (80th percentile)

Army crawls...that's about it.

Our Family Vacation! Chicago.

Check out those two teeth!Very thirsty!
Awful bed head.
The doll she got from the Disney store in Chicago that she has to have with her. She loves Mary (from Monsters Inc.)
The Family photo

What a wonderful quick trip to Chicago. Our first night there we met up with Meghann and Brian. We went to a fun restaurant and enjoyed catching up. On Friday I took Ryan to Whole Foods. It's a little different from our local grocery store, the gas station. Madelyn had such a great time people watching and going for long stroller rides all over. She truly was an angel the entire trip. She was perfect in the car ride and slept till 7:00 am each morning (which might I remind you that that is 8:00 a.m. Michigan time). It was a great little get a way for us.

I just signed Madelyn up for a 12 week music class that starts in September. She does her thing and I get to meet other moms! Should be fun. I just am really looking forward to dance classes in a few years. :)

We are so excited for fall but know what is coming after. Winter, yuck! Tuesday is Mad's 9 month check up! I'll post some new info soon!

-Love-

The Ramsey's

Labor Day Weekend

What a wonderful and relaxing weekend we had. My mom and Evan were able to come to Harbor Beach on Saturday-Sunday and spend time with us. Ryan's 3 brothers Ross, Shaun, and Clark were also able to come home. We even were lucky, we got to meet Katie, Ross' girlfriend :) and spend some time with her.

Still no crawling as of yet. She spends some time on all fours, rocking back and forth but that's about it. She spends most of the day walking around the house hurting my back (from me hunching over). Still just two teeth, I don't feel anymore near. She's been sleeping like a champ (knocking on wood). Down around 7:30 and up around 8:00-8:15ish. No waking through the night. Yes, we know we are extremely lucky.

Evan starts middle school tomorrow. 6th grade. I can't believe he will be in High School in 3 years.

We leave for Chicago on Thursday. We hope to visit Meghann and Brian then to Carly's. It's Carly's Birthday on Friday so daddy is being nice and staying with Madelyn while I go out with Carly and others to celebrate. This will be a nice and short little getaway.

Love all and miss everyone. Hope all is well and keep in touch.

8 months and growing.

Madelyn's second tooth popped through last night. She has been working very hard on crawling. Look at the first picture on her bottom gum line, two teeth!

Finally-We have a tooth!

Last Sunday, almost a week ago, Madelyn's first tooth popped up. She hasn't slept well the last two nights so I'm thinking the other bottom one is pretty close. This teething thing I could really do without.

I will put a photo of the new tooth soon.

We got back last week from Petosky, MI on Walloon Lake. We had a blast. It was a nice little get a way for our family. Madelyn discovered that she loves french fries, ugh...

It's been awhile since I've written. We miss everyone!

Happy Belated 4th of July!

We are all doing wonderful in the Ramsey Family household. Ryan has been golfing up a storm and has a big tournament this weekend. He won it last year so we're hoping for a repeat. Everyone has been happy and healthy.

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July! We spent the week at the cottage and what a wonderful time we had. However, night number 1 we didn't get too much sleep. We learned that Madelyn would not and could not sleep in her pack and play. So night number 2 we went home and by night number 3 we brought my in-laws crib. She slept solidly after that.

Madelyn got to play with her cousin Lydia who is 10 months. She enjoyed watching Lydia move all around. Even though they are only 3 months apart I can't believe how much of a difference a few months make. It was neat to see the girls interact with each other.

Colt had a ton of fun at the cottage too! He has been limping pretty bad lately and the vet seems to think that it is his shoulder and he may have to go under the knife. We will find out soon from his x-rays. They say it was caused from either hunting or just his wild every day activity.

Madelyn is 7 months. She is truly a blessing and we are so fortunate for every waking moment with her. She will never know how much we love her. We only tell her 23094820394802930482309 times a day.

Madelyn playing in the laundry basket, distracting me from folding clothes.
Wouldn't you be distracted too?
Showing off on her new bike.
Showing off her walking skills on her tippy toes. Ouch!
Mommy making her stay little or atleast attempting.

More 6 Month photos