What's new with Madeline - February 2025

Somehow, we blinked, and here we are—midway through February, with our sweet baby girl rapidly approaching the six-month mark. It feels like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital, and now she’s full of personality, curiosity, and all the giggles. I figured it was a good time for a little check-in on what’s new with Madeline lately because, let’s be honest, she’s changing by the day.

Madeline is absolutely in love with Tex. The moment he comes trotting over, her whole face lights up with the biggest smile. If he decides to get extra friendly and give her a few licks, she completely loses it in giggles. It’s the start of what we know will be a lifelong friendship, and Tex is handling his new role as her personal entertainer like a champ.

She has also recently discovered the joy of blowing raspberries. And when I say joy, I mean she is committed to the bit. Whether she’s lying on her play mat, getting her diaper changed, or just hanging out, she’s making sure we all know that she’s mastered this skill. We’ve even caught her doing it in the middle of the night when she’s supposed to be sleeping—because apparently, raspberries are more important.

Speaking of playtime, she’s all about her toys these days. Everything within reach is an exciting new discovery. She grabs, shakes, and examines each one like she’s conducting important baby research. If it crinkles, it instantly gets bonus points.

Mealtimes have become even more entertaining now that Madeline joins us in her high chair. She’s fascinated by watching us eat, looking at our food like she’s analyzing the menu and deciding what she wants to order. Though she hasn’t fully started solids yet, she’s very interested. And when she got a tiny taste of ice cream? That was it—she’s officially one of us. The little sample she had was enough to confirm that she is, in fact, an ice cream enthusiast.

She’s also taken a particular interest in Mom’s Stanley cup. If it’s within reach, she’s going for it, convinced that she can drink out of it. Of course, she mostly ends up just gumming the straw and looking incredibly pleased with herself, but she’s determined to figure it out.

One of our absolute favorite things right now is her laugh. While she’s generous with smiles, her giggles are next-level adorable. And if Alison is the one making silly faces or playing peekaboo? Forget it—she is in full belly-laugh mode. It’s easily the best sound in the world.

Rolling has become her latest trick. She’s now rolling from front to back like a pro, which means tummy time has basically been replaced with, “No thanks, I’d rather flip over.” She’s quick to show off this skill whenever we place her on her tummy, and it’s hilarious to watch her determination.

Sleep is still a bit of a mystery. Some nights, she sleeps for 10+ hours straight, and other nights, she’s up multiple times, fully convinced that sleep is for suckers. We never really know what we’re going to get, but either way, she’s keeping us on our toes.

She’s also absolutely thriving at school. Her teachers adore her, and she seems to love being there. Every day when we pick her up, we’re greeted with the biggest, happiest smiles—it’s the best part of our day. It’s been so fun watching her adjust to a new routine and seeing how much she enjoys being around new faces.

It’s wild to think that in just a few short weeks, we’ll be celebrating six whole months with this incredible little human. Every day, she’s learning, growing, and making us laugh, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.