We made it through the first 6 weeks

It only gets better from here, right?

The past few weeks have really just flown by. Baby keeps me busy! That sweet little face though... also he does a 7 hour stretch at night which is pretty endearing. 

Lance managed the Home Depot workshop with all 3 girls. Super Dad!

Reagan took this gorgeous school picture.

Blade looked super dapper for his first full week of church. I thought no way could he be getting ready to smile at just 4 weeks old.

 But two days later he popped out these beauties!

He loves Aunt Meagan, too! Naturally. 

Madelyn nurses Bear and snuggles Daryn.

 And jumps on Mommy!

 Sweetest ever! She's kind of like a Sour Patch kid.

We finally made it to spring and the weather has been absolutely beautiful the past few days. We did a campfire on Saturday, in the midst of lots of yard work. 

Best big sister ever!

Another little Sunday outfit. He's so tiny and handsome!

Sunday afternoon was the perfect time for a walk in the park. So nice to be outdoors. 

Today I got to go have lunch at Reagan's school! It went smoother than I anticipated, and we were even able to stop by the book fair after where each girl got to choose a book. 

Maddie started chewing on hers before we even checked out. Thanks, girl. 

Madelyn turns 2

I can't believe little Maddie is 2!

She got to celebrate with a giant bandage on her face from hitting the cement pretty hard the day before.

She chose a cupcake themed birthday, so I made her a cupcake cupcake. 

And Daddy brought her flowers.

Her birthday fell on a busy weeknight but we had time for a little party after activity days, dance, and dinner. She waited patiently all afternoon to open her presents!

She's a little obsessed with her new butterfly book from Grandma.

 Her big presents from us were a tricycle and a basketball hoop! Both big hits (with her sisters as much as her). 

Time for cake! 

 Yummy yummy.

Side note: Blade also turned 1 month on Maddie's birthday! 8 lbs 11 oz, wearing newborn clothes and size 1 diapers, eats every 2.5 hours, naps like a champ during the day and doing 5+ hours stretches at night. Also clearly loves to smile!

The next day was Friday and we took the girls to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate Maddie. Turns out that place is more stressful than I remember when you have 4 kids. But the girls had a lot of fun.

We're so happy to have this strong-willed little lady in our family! Madelyn is speaking in phrases now, understands most of what we tell her, gets really attached to extended family, recently started loving nursery, thinks all letters are "O" or "P", mixes up all her colors, counts to 3 and then throws in lots of other numbers, loves to run and chase and jump and swing. She thinks she is very big and wants whatever her sisters have. She adores Blade and insists on "Blade, CHIISS (kiss)" whenever she sees him. She throws fits when she doesn't get what she wants (something her sisters never did at this age) but we are slowly starting to be able to reason with her. She wears 2T-3T clothes, size 5 diapers and size 5 1/2 shoes. She takes one long nap every afternoon and usually loves it, and sleeps 8pm-7am in her toddler bed. She likes trying new foods and is very enthusiastic about most things. She likes playing with barbies, legos, blocks, and the ipad and loves to look at books and color with her sisters. At her drs appointment she was 35 inches (80th%) and 29 lbs (90th%)- a solid girl! Happy birthday, Maddie!