Playdates, Getaways, and Tantrums

"Smile Madelyn"

Its been awhile since we've done a post, so I thought I'd post some pics from the last couple weeks. It's late and I'm tired, so this probably won't be the best post I've ever written. Dad does a better job at this than I....but we've been busy lately, the blog is falling behind.

Madelyn is 20 months and changing into more of a 2 year old everyday. The tantrums have officially begun. She is obsessed with putting on her own shoes and can do it most of the time. If we try to help, that will cause a big head shake with "Nooooooo" and possible tears. So if time allows, we wait , try to help, and hope that those shoes get on the right feet the first time. It's one of the small things in our days that is showing her new independence. She is also very insistent on choosing socks and coats, and of course, they never match. It drives me (mom) crazy.

This girl loves her dolly's. They now come with us in the car

Maddy & Will sharing his chair

Brooks and Maddy - more chair sharing

We took a weekend getaway to Leavenworth, a touristy town nearby. It was great to get out of the house for the weekend. I have to admit that Madelyn is not the greatest car-rider in the world and we definitely have a 2 hour time limit. But, she loved being in a new place and had a lot of fun playing in the park and exploring the town with us. We had one huge tantrum trying to get her in her stroller, as its a newer stroller and we haven't used it much. But later on in the day she was asking to get in it and playing with it! Dad was amazed at the quick turn-around in attitude about the stroller.

Dad & Maddy found the bookstore in town and look who got something.

Fruitstand with Farm Animals. How could you resist?

Stroller

Madelyn has had so much fun with her dolls lately that Mom bought her a dolly-stroller today.  She got huge grins an knew just what to do with it.  This is what you get when you ask a 20 month old to smile and the picture below is just her being happy.  

Meme&Pepe can now put Maddy to bed, for the first time last night somebody other than Karin or I put Maddy to sleep.  Thanks guys!  

She spends most of her time buckling her doll into and out of the stroller.  Speaking of buckles, Maddy can climb into her booster seat and buckle herself in when she wants food, crazy kid.  We gave up the high chair a few months ago since she liked sitting in the normal sized chairs so much.  She can feed herself well now and likes to use a fork and spoon.

Words and Hats

Hats have been a struggle since Madelyn was old enough to take off her head whatever we tried to put on it.  Much to our surprise she will ask for a hat before leaving the house now.  Everything is a phase with kids.

Not the most verbal at times but new words keep showing up so I've tried to write down everything that she can say: "Hi, Mum, Dah, Kitty, Dogee, Bowl, Ball, Cereaaal(Cereal), Mor, Apple, Pear, Quack-Quack, No-No-No, Brooks, Co-Co(cookie), Cheeeeeese, Sip(sippy-cup), Sit, S%$#, Poop, Uh-Oh, G0-Go-Go, Roooowlleeeeeeeow(kitty sound), Birrr(Bird), Fish, Eeeeeeaaaaahhhhh(goat sound), Hahahaha(panting like a dog), Hat, Mummumdahdah(used to say, meaning Mom & Dad), Show(Fifi and the Flowertots, groan...), Tras(Trash - taking out the garbage), Bubbo(says whenever she farts - meaning bubbles - came from the bubbles in the tub she blows with her farts, one of the finer joys in life I might add)"

Words that we would like to hear soon, Please, Help, Meme&Pepe, Potty and maybe some sort of word or sign for thanks.

Still eager to help around the house, she still likes to take out the garbage everyday, maybe I should start an allowance.  I tie up the garbage bag, open up the baby gate and she'll drag the bag all the way out the the garage with a big grin on her face.  She will also drag her step stool into the laundry room and help load clothes into the washer.  Unloading the dishwasher works about 1/2 of the time for us.  It does not sound like much but it's the little things that help sometimes.