Here we are one month before our sweet girl turns TWO! First, I have to report that Madeline must've known that her Mama was at her wit's end with the behavior issues because I am happy to report that this month has been discipline free for the most part. Just the normal little issues that can be taken care of with a verbal statement or redirection. Thank goodness. This month has been quite the opposite ~ Madeline has been extremely well mannered using her please and thank you without being prompted, using "I'm sorry" if she steps on your foot or bumps something, saying "Excuse me" if she's walking through a tight space, and she's been extremely compliant when it's time to do something. Can you say REFRESHING?! Our next big thing to tackle is the interrupting with the "Mama! Watch me!" or just the "Mommy!!!" We do correct her if she's interrupting a conversation, but I don't think she quite gets it. In a matter of time, we'll be able to work on this fully. I don't know how long this little good behavior phase will last, but I'll take it. I'm not getting too comfortable with all this good behavior, but I'm certainly enjoying the lack of temper tantrums around here lately. Not to mention, this 100 degree weather is way too hot for logging in more front porch hours!
It seems like I say this every month, but Madeline's vocabulary, comprehension, and ability to string together words/short sentences astounds me. She busts out with the most hilarious words such as "posh", "exquisite", "oopsie daisies", and "scowl". I know she doesn't know what all these words mean, but she uses them frequently, sometimes correctly. I can mostly thank Fancy Nancy for this vocabulary boost. Books are still her favorite "toys", and she often goes off to her room or her sofa chair with a stack of books to read by herself. I think books are the perfect "alone time" for Madeline. She does this frequently when she needs a break from all the activity and/or people.
Madeline has really gotten into "playing" this month ~ she plays with her dolls talking to them, them talking back to her, and acting out these little scenarios. While she's coloring or riding in the car, I've noticed that she's started to sing or hum to herself. She talks to herself or her little animals non-stop, and from what I've observed, she seems to have some sort of imaginary scenario being carried out. She has started to play with her beach shovels, buckets, and bowls as if she is cooking. It's so cute, and I can't wait for her to get a kitchen to properly act out all of this cooking she does. Right now, her favorite thing to cook is eggs. I eat lots of pretend eggs out of a beach shovel. She's also gotten into cleaning. Before she would want to play with the broom, run the dust buster, or play with the vacuum, but this month, she needs her own dust rag and can of spray because she wants to do it too just like Mama. While I'm cleaning, she's happy to follow behind me with her rag and spray (lid on so she can't really spray it) and clean. She loves it, and it's pretty cute. She sings or just jibber jabbers away while she cleans ~ sometimes her efforts make my cleaned area a little streaky or not so straighted up, but I'm working on my OCD need to have everything perfect anyways. :)
Madeline has started to point to my little poochy belly and say, "Baby", but I'm pretty sure she doesn't fully understand this concept at all. When we ask her if she wants a brother or sister, she says, "Brother and sister." Yikes, that's a big order! Eric and I think she will be a fantastic big sister, but we have a feeling that there will be some definite growing pains the first few weeks. Sharing toys and items? Yes, Madeline is pretty good at that. Sharing any adult's attention? Nope, not so good at that one. Our little Madeline has quite an opinion on how things should operate in our house, so I'm sure she will have an opinion as to how her new sibling will fit into the family.
Madeline is definitely a girly girl as I mentioned in her last post, but it seems to have really manifested itself this month. She never, I mean never, leaves home without a purse filled with all the necessary items that every two year old needs. She's always wanting to have a say in her outfit and shoes. She loves to shop, and when she puts her purse on her shoulder, she always says that she is going to shop. When I ask her where, she almost always replies, "Target!" Most recently, she wants to "fix Mama's hair". It always looks just fabulous. Madeline continues to love to "put on makeup", have lotion rubbed all over her, have spray in her hair, and wear bracelets. Getting out of the house can be a bit trying these days, but who can blame a girl for wanting to look her best?
Madeline continues to be a snacky type eater (3-4 small meals instead of 3 large ones), but I'll take it since she's figuring out that Mama is not a short order cook. She can tell me what she wants most of the time, and if I make that for her, that's what she has to eat. If she changes her mind, well, too bad. We've had some hard learned lessons in that area, but I think these moments are making impressions on Madeline especially since I am able to be consistent with it. Her little mind is starting to wrap around the "house rules". As her comprehension continues to improve, I'm working with her on limiting snacks and letting her know that "treats" are only allowed if lunch and/or dinner were acceptable meals. If she doesn't have room for her meal, then she doesn't have room for a sweet treat is my thought.
Madeline's sleep has gotten back to normal, so the mattress on the floor within the crib has done the trick. I can feel comfortable that she's safe, and she can re-learn her boundaries. She knows if she pitches a fit and throws the loveys out, she's going to do without. It didn't take long for her to realize that once Mama leaves, Mama doesn't return until sleep time is over. I've come into her room only a few times to find the lovey, blanket, and/or paci on the floor outside the crib, and Madeline is "explaining" to me that she threw it out and didn't have it to cuddle with. Upon hearing her explanations, I feel sure that she's figured it out. Those episodes are hopefully a thing of the past, but I'm going to give it another month just to be sure. Her big girl room is just about ready for her to move into permanently, but I want this to be a positive big girl thing, so I'm not rushing it. I want all (most) sleep issues to be resolved, so that we can make a smooth transition into the big girl room/bed.
Madeline continues to be a snacky type eater (3-4 small meals instead of 3 large ones), but I'll take it since she's figuring out that Mama is not a short order cook. She can tell me what she wants most of the time, and if I make that for her, that's what she has to eat. If she changes her mind, well, too bad. We've had some hard learned lessons in that area, but I think these moments are making impressions on Madeline especially since I am able to be consistent with it. Her little mind is starting to wrap around the "house rules". As her comprehension continues to improve, I'm working with her on limiting snacks and letting her know that "treats" are only allowed if lunch and/or dinner were acceptable meals. If she doesn't have room for her meal, then she doesn't have room for a sweet treat is my thought.
Madeline's sleep has gotten back to normal, so the mattress on the floor within the crib has done the trick. I can feel comfortable that she's safe, and she can re-learn her boundaries. She knows if she pitches a fit and throws the loveys out, she's going to do without. It didn't take long for her to realize that once Mama leaves, Mama doesn't return until sleep time is over. I've come into her room only a few times to find the lovey, blanket, and/or paci on the floor outside the crib, and Madeline is "explaining" to me that she threw it out and didn't have it to cuddle with. Upon hearing her explanations, I feel sure that she's figured it out. Those episodes are hopefully a thing of the past, but I'm going to give it another month just to be sure. Her big girl room is just about ready for her to move into permanently, but I want this to be a positive big girl thing, so I'm not rushing it. I want all (most) sleep issues to be resolved, so that we can make a smooth transition into the big girl room/bed.
Madeline has started to point to my little poochy belly and say, "Baby", but I'm pretty sure she doesn't fully understand this concept at all. When we ask her if she wants a brother or sister, she says, "Brother and sister." Yikes, that's a big order! Eric and I think she will be a fantastic big sister, but we have a feeling that there will be some definite growing pains the first few weeks. Sharing toys and items? Yes, Madeline is pretty good at that. Sharing any adult's attention? Nope, not so good at that one. Our little Madeline has quite an opinion on how things should operate in our house, so I'm sure she will have an opinion as to how her new sibling will fit into the family.
Madeline is such a sassy, spunky, fun-loving, and sweet natured little girl. We're so lucky to call her our daughter, and we're looking forward to celebrating the big birthday in a month.
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