She Crawls!

at least, begins to! =)
This is especially welcome after her anemia diagnosis


Now that she's all tuckered out, Madeleine is trying to get some attention by 'talking', which consists of making "Blah, blah, blah" sounds. (Clearly, she hears Mommy the same way Daddy does, hehe!) She also does her Punk Rock Baby head-thing...

Enjoying Mimi's Presents!

Madeleine's Mimi (my mom) worked hard on two very special presents when she heard Madeleine had a rough doctor visit.
At the same appointment, we were told Madeleine had a heart murmur, & were referred to the pediatric cardiologist. Fortunately, it turned out to be an 'innocent' murmur ~ not so innocent for MY heart, but evidently has little/no effect on Madeleine. And our second piece of bad news was the anemia ~ again, TOTALLY freaked me out when i started researching it online (motor delays, etc. etc), but all seems to be well now, knock wood!!

ANYWAY, Mimi made Madeleine a Button Blanket ~ a soft, little, pink blanket with neat antique buttons sewn onto it. As you can see, Madeleine LOVES turning over the buttons & thoroughly checking them out.
The other thing Mimi made Madeleine is an adorable fur vest (with a beautiful pink lining)!
Here's Madeleine with her Feel Better Presents (of course, Big Sister Bobby had to check them out as well!)

Madeleine & Big Sister Bobby videos

Big Sister Bobby's favorite toy is one my mom (Madeleine's Mimi) made her. Madeleine's favorite thing is her Big Sister Bobby, so it's no wonder that Maddie gets a HUGE kick out of watching her big sister playing.
Here is a short video Sharkey took of Madeleine laughing while Bobby plays. (Note: the cameraman recorded it sideways.)


Here is a video of Madeleine being a good sister and Sharing her toy

(Sorry ~ Blogger is AGAIN having issues posting videos. i guess i was lucky to sneak one by!)

As you can see, Madeleine is quite happy to play with the toys within her easy grasp ~ truly Sharkey's girl, hehe! ;>




However, when she STILL wasn't crawling (at 10 months), I decided to start taking Madeleine to Gymboree...

Gymboree!

Last week at her 9/10 month check-up, Madeleine was been diagnosed as having (iron deficiency) anemia. We now give her iron drops 3Xs a day, and her blood will be rechecked in 3 weeks.
Perhaps the anemia is the reason she has been slow to start crawling (OR maybe it's the Michael Sharkey genes in her: why crawl when I can sit?!?!)
Whatever the reason, I've been taking Madeleine to Gymboree in hopes that she'll get a move on. ;>
However, in true Sharkey form, she resists (forced) attempts at getting her to move. :P
Her favorite things are the slide



Sitting in the little rocking chair (!)

and the bubbles!



MY favorite thing is playing Baby Soccer!

San Francisco Zoo

Sean, Kristin, Libby, & Charlie got us a family membership to the SF Zoo for Christmas. =)
We took Madeleine last week-end, and she loved it!
Checking out the polar bears w/ Daddy.


Looking at the tigers. (By the way, it turned out to be a GORGEOUS day!)



Random weird bird


Madeleine REALLY loved the lemur she got (for being a zoo member) ~ she STILL carries it everywhere!


And after a snack (note the tofu still on her chin!), we saw gorillas



Good times! Thank you, Sean, Kristin, Libby, & Charlie! =)

Miss Maddie meets George

After close inspection,


Madeleine decides she likes George a lot... just like the rest of us! :)

Playing with Mommy

Big Sister Bobby's Perspective! :O

Hanging Out with Daddy & Big Sister Bobby

Happy Holidays!

This was an especially exciting holiday season for us as it was Miss Madeleine's First Christmas and New Years! (Not that any of us stayed up for the actual start of the new year...)
We were thrilled that Maddie's Mimi and PopPop were able to come from NY, and that her Aunt/Godmother Wendy came from Tahoe to celebrate with us! =)

We took a scenic drive along the coast down Rt 1, and stopped for lunch at a GREAT seafood place (it's got to be good if I like the seafood!) Maddie was rather hungry, can you tell???

NOT happy her lunch is being interrupted for a photo-op, lol! :P


Now THIS is our idea of Family Fun... Happy Hour on the go! ;>


Madeleine opening (& enjoying) her FIRST CHRISTMAS PRESENT!




Mimi even brought a present for Big Sister Bobby, which she THOROUGHLY LOVED!! =)



So Spoiled! (This kid isn't loved at all, LOL!)
Maddie's Mimi lets her play all she wants with her Fancy Jewels! That's my girl!! =)



Miss Madeleine enjoys knocking them back at IKEA


Aunt Wendy carries "Old Fussy Face Phyllis" around IKEA ~ keeping her amused the entire time!!
Of course, daughter of mine, LOVED this FUR duster! ;>



NEW YEAR'S IN 'JAPANLAND'!
We were lucky to happen upon the New Years celebrations in "Japanland" (as Wendy calls San Francisco's JapanTown ~ I love the name Japanland, reminds me of Disneyland!!) Anyway,