What's Happening?

When Madeline turned 2 years old, I decided to stop doing a monthly update & pictures for a variety of reasons. However, I still plan to update as needed, and perhaps in more of a Mommy, Daddy, and Madeline update instead of just Madeline. We've been in our "school routine" for a few weeks now, and things seem to be settling in nicely. As much as I hate to see the hot, humid, carefree summer days become a thing of our past, I was ready for some structure, cooler weather, and football around here. Going to school three days a week has provided that order that we were all craving. I'm more productive, more organized with my time, and less fly by the seat of my pants which keeps me from having too many mini nervous breakdowns. :)

Madeline "snugglin with Big Baby & Baby" ~ notice the bracelet around her ankle & her silly hat

Madeline LOVES school which I suspected she would. I think she'd really love to go five days a week, but I just can't wrap my brain around sending her five days a week. She's only two, and I feel like she has her whole life to go to school five days per week. Not to mention, I love being with her on Tuesday and Thursday. We love her teachers, the social interactions, the structure, the simplicity of the learning, and making new friends. All in all, it's been a wonderful experience for us. Madeline has always gotten out of the car in the carpool line with no trouble, and she's always telling me about what she has done at school. However, a lot of what is being said to me is still a little bit gibberish, so I do a lot of nodding and inferring. Her teachers report that those first few times, Madeline would stand back and observe the various activities. She would not participate at all nor would she disrupt what was happening. I think she was just taking it all in. Now, I get reports of good participation with little to no coaxing. Her behavior at home reflects some of the things they do at school such as cleaning up her toys & putting things back where they belong without being prompted, using her manner words even more consistently than she already did, speaking more clearly, wanting to do things "by myself!", and being proud of doing something all by herself ("I did it!!"). I think this particular teacher and Eric & I have very similar values, rules, and expectations for Madeline, so in a sense we are all reinforcing the same things day in and day out. As a mom and former teacher that just makes me all giddy.

I'm still laughing at these two pictures of Madeline "snugglin".

Madeline seems to wax and wane in the terrible two department. I know she's my child so I am extremely biased, but she is a good girl 90% of the time. She listens well, uses her manners, uses great table manners, and is generally very pleasant to be around. We can take her places, and she will behave as she should most of the time. When she's bent out of shape and ready to throw an irrational tantrum, then it's on, and it's awful! But, I have to report that those times are really not as often as they could be...she knows this Mama will walk away in a hot second when she acts out like that. Of course, she tests the rules like any other child, but those times are also becoming less frequent because she's realizing that the rules are the rules regardless of the day, where we are, and what we are doing. We've picked our battles and stuck with them even in those times when we've thought, "Really?! Is it worth it?" We have to remind ourselves that yes, it does pay off in the end because Madeline knows when we promise a consequence, we keep our promised consequence as much as we may want to back down on the inside. Not to mention, she knows Daddy and I are on the same team, so although she may try to whine/cry/appeal to the other parent, she gets nowhere. I have truly learned the value of my parents' old saying, "This hurts me just as much if not more than it hurts you." Eric and I discipline in the moment as needed, and we've just learned not to let other people's ugly looks & judgements bother us. I am happy to say that we do more praising than punishing these days, so somehow, someway we've done what we think is right for our family.

Typical post nap routine ~ reading Fancy Nancy books, playing with Baby & Kitty in bed while she waits for Mommy

We're officially moving Madeline to the big girl room starting in October. We've been taking baby steps (perhaps too small of baby steps) because of Eric's crazy travel schedule, starting school, and the room just now being completely decorated to Mama's satisfaction. Madeline is such a creature of routine, and I wasn't ready to throw so many kinks into her little routine at once. (This Mama is not so good at drastic change all at once either.) She's finally adjusted to "Daddy's working" (ie LOTS of overnight travel), and she's adjusted to her new school routine. So, I think I am ready for the transition, and I think she's excited too. She loves her big girl room, and she's spent a great deal of time in there playing, reading books, and rolling around on the beds. Once we tackle the big girl room, I think potty training is on the horizon. Madeline loves the potty, and girlfriend can sit on there forever reading her books. So far we've not had one single drop of anything go into the potty, but Madeline definitely has the "potty procedure" down pat --- sit on it and talk and read and talk and read, use a "napkin" (most people call it toilet paper), flush, & wash hands. Her diapers are starting to remain dry for longer periods of time, and she's had a few times when she's informed that "a stinky is coming". Unfortunately, I have not been able to seize those opportunities to stick her on the potty, but believe me, when I can, I will, and maybe it will click! :) Not to mention, she loves "undies", so I think she'll enjoy picking out some special "undies" when the time comes.

A rare moment Madeline is sitting still complete with her fuzzy slippers, Big Baby & Baby, a snack, and smoothie. Another rare moment is being allowed to eat & drink in the den like this...no spills though!

Daddy has been traveling a lot getting his accounts settled, giving presentations, entertaining customers, and just being the hard working Daddy that we love so much. Unfortunately, lately a lot of the travel has trickled into the weekends too, so Madeline and I have had a lot of time together. We get into a pretty good groove when Daddy's not home, so it makes the time go by faster. Unfortunately for Daddy's wallet, this Mama and Madeline do a lot of shopping, but it sure is fun! :) We've set up a few playdates with some new friends from school on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, so that has been fun for us both...a little Mama-to-Mama time & a little play time for Madeline.

As for me, in between eating my new favorite food, Honey Crisp Apples (seriously, for as many of these that I am crunching on, I need my own tree in the back yard!), I find lots of projects to keep me busy especially when Eric is on the road. I get these crazy second winds at night, and I burn the midnight oil doing all kinds of crazy projects! I do love to organize & clean out, so it's not really a chore in my mind. However, I think the official pregnancy nesting has begun ~ two of our three attics are cleaned out & reorganized, Madeline's winter clothes are organized and put away in her new room, the newborn clothes/burp clothes/receiving blankets have been laundered, folded, & put away into the nursery, sale shopping for some essential nursery items has been done, a ginormous load has been dropped off at the Goodwill, Baby Girl's baby book has been started, and the downstairs guest bedroom closet has been cleaned out & reorganized ~ just to name a few of the projects I've checked off my list. I've even ordered a Christmas stocking for Baby Girl #2, a toy bag to match Madeline's, and her little bag that I take to and from the gym that will keep her essentials. Yes, I am that over-the-top-busy-bee right now! :)

Madeline yelling out the window, "Ms. Lisa!!! Where are you?" while we wait in the carpool drop off line.

As a family, we have many busy weekends ahead of us with some football game adventures, entertaining friends, and a few have been set aside as "family time" to just relax. We're staying busy, getting ready for little sister, and enjoying the cooler temperatures around here.