My BIG Girl

Maybe it's having such a little one in the house again, but Madeline seems like such a big girl now. She's talking up a storm, putting sentences & thoughts together like crazy, her imagination & play have exploded, asking endless questions, and acting more like a "kid" than a toddler. It's wild. It's fun. It's exhausting. And, I love her dearly.Madeline has been an awesome big sister over the last month. She's had very few outbursts regarding Amelia requiring more of my attention, and she's actually been quite helpful & understanding. Madeline loves Amelia to pieces, and I am pretty sure Madeline wants to fast forward about 6 months when Amelia can "do something". Right now, Madeline's famous question to Amelia, "You want to play with me, baby sister?" just gets answered with a squeak or a blank stare.

Madeline has been getting reports such as, "She has the best manners." and "She is so welcoming to our new friends in the class." from her teacher. We are proud of her reports. Madeline has grasped the concept of please, thank you, you're welcome, bless you, and other mannerly behaviors such as using a napkin or asking to be excused from the dinner table. She's learned some very hard lessons here at home in the manners department. Madeline loves people, and she engages in conversation with others very well for a two year old. She's not terribly shy especially in a comfortable setting such as her classroom. Unfortunately, we've had some not so glamorous moments at bedtime and naptime with her pulling all her clothes out of her dresser --- seven drawers worth of stuff to be exact. Clothes, socks, tights, jammies, etc. strewn about the room and piled in her bed. Yea, not okay with this particular Mama. Unfortunate consequences that had to be repeated. However, the second time around Daddy delivered the consequence, and that always seems to do the trick. Knock on wood, but we've not had anymore drawer incidents since Daddy's intervention. Currently, we're working on patience and interrupting adult conversation...this will take some time, but it needs to be a priority. Whew, tough concept for our Madeline.

Madeline continues to be a girly girl fashionista with a big opinion regarding her clothes, bows, shoes, and such. For the most part, it's not been much of a battle as she seems to like my taste in her ensembles, but I know our days will come when the Mama vs. Daughter fashion battle will occur. Madeline loves her glasses, jewelry, purses, perfumes, and make-ups. Luckily, she's okay with all the play versions of those things, but I foresee her wanting the real things in our not so distant future.

Our big girl makes us super proud, and we constantly find ourselves chuckling at the things she does and says.

Madeline had a special date with Daddy over the holidays to the Krispy Kreme. What a treat --- donuts and Daddy!