Maddy Things

Being pregnant again has really made me appreciate how Madeline has come, and how far I have come as a mother, in just these last 16 months.

Madeline can now point out when asked a cow, a zebra, monkey, elephant, giraffe, snake, pigs, bunnies, birds, and fish. She has several books with all of these animals in them, and it is her favorite game now - she absolutely gets giddy from the praise when she is correct.

She knows every single Sesame Street character, and can show you who's who.

She can call you that a cow goes, "Mmmmm." And a dog pants, not barks (she will stick her tongue out and everything). She will raise her arm like an elephant truck and try to make an elephant sound that sounds more like a fart.

She thinks farts are very funny. She will force herself to fart and laugh outloud.

If you ask Madeline if she is going to be a big sister, she will give you this huge grin that cracks me up everytime, but if you ask her if she wants mommy to have another baby, you will get a full body shaking no.

She has taken to walking on her tiptoes all the time now.

She is an absolute fish in the water - loves it. And as a result is a total Coppertone kid. White butt and all.

She gives big squeeze hugs, which I adore, and will give kisses without being prompted :)

She gets very upset if we don't play "her" music in the car and will point at the radio with a loud screech until the specific song she wants on is playing.

Madeline is absolutely fascinated with rocks. Anywhere and everywhere if there is a rock, she will find it and accordingly throw it, pick it up and throw it again, and again.

She is not shy at all, and waives hello to everyone she passes and flashes those big blues with an even bigger smile.

Yesterday, my aunt brought us an ice cream cake that said "Congratulations Mandy, Jerry and Maddy," and it had pink and blue flowers on it. Madeline devoured all the blue flowers and is now a permanently stained smurf.

She is so damn cute. I can't even put it into words, and I am just having a hard time imagining how I will contain myself if the new baby is half as much fun!

We went grocery shopping on Saturday, and Maddy was all about being a big helper. Everything I put in the cart, she grabbed and checked it out for a few minutes and then threw it back in... she had to make sure we were buying all the right things. And when she saw Shrek fruit snacks on the shelf, she freaked out by letting out the biggest, "OOOOOOHHHHHH," I have ever heard. She held onto the box through the rest of our shopping trip. Then, when we went to check-out she helped put all the stuff up on the conveyor belt, and clapped when we were all done. She waived good-bye to the cashier and gave her mama a big kiss on the way out! Now, if only she can stay this way....