I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to teach Madelyn to sign "milk" and "eat" for I don't know how many months. I even bought a great baby signing dvd that she will not watch (but I guess it's good that she's not very interested in tv).
Last night as she was winding down for bed, I offered her more milk, and of course, like the little toot that she is, she wouldn't hold it. So I held it for her. I took it out of her mouth, and she looked me right in the eyes and said "more" while doing the proper sign. I was completely shocked because I've only shown her that sign a few times, and I had all but given up on the signing before she talks goal I set for us.
This morning Anthony was cutting up strawberries for breakfast and she walked right up to him, patted his leg, and said it and signed it again.
It's crazy how much she is picking up!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Little Stinker
She now climbs (or at least tries to) on everything. Last week we were lounging around before her bedtime - I was sitting on the couch and Anthony was lying in the floor by the fireplace. In an instant, I watched as she propped her knee up on the hearth and just pulled herself right up. I literally didn't even have time to tell Anthony to grab her. All I was able to get out was, "Ant...she's on the hearth..." Of course, we had to snap a cell phone picture while telling her no. :) Since then, she's gone back and climbed and tried to climb up there several more times.
(yes, I still have up birthday decorations -- 2 1/2 months later...)
She also tries to climb in the windowsills, on the legs of her walker toys, on the side of the tub before she gets in. She's always trying to get up and over whatever is in her path.
Another funny thing she did last week was figure out her rocking chair. She'll climb up, turn around, get situated and then rock herself. And then try to stand up, of course. I have a video I need to post of her doing this the night after she figured it out, and she was so proud of herself!
This stage is a lot of fun, but she is definitely keeping us on our toes. But we wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. She is SO much fun!!!
(yes, I still have up birthday decorations -- 2 1/2 months later...)
She also tries to climb in the windowsills, on the legs of her walker toys, on the side of the tub before she gets in. She's always trying to get up and over whatever is in her path.
Another funny thing she did last week was figure out her rocking chair. She'll climb up, turn around, get situated and then rock herself. And then try to stand up, of course. I have a video I need to post of her doing this the night after she figured it out, and she was so proud of herself!
This stage is a lot of fun, but she is definitely keeping us on our toes. But we wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. She is SO much fun!!!
Friday, June 18, 2010
A Piece of My Heart
I know I have to move on, and I have, somewhat. But a part of my heart died four years ago. I don't know if you can ever really move on after that. Four years ago today, I didn't get to say goodbye. I should have, though. I was there. I was almost there.
Friday, June 16, 2006 - I had LASIK that morning and spent the afternoon in bed dozing because of the pain and pain medicine. I woke up just before dinner and called my mom and dad and, as I hung up from one of them, I remember thinking, "I need to call her." But then Anthony walked in the door with dinner. We ate and I took some more pain pills and hit the sack.
Saturday, June 17, 2006 - Anthony and his PT classmates were heading to Camp John Marc for a week of volunteer work. I had a follow up eye appointment at UTSW that morning. My eyes were almost at 100%, and I was cleared to drive, so I dropped him off at school and I went to my appointment. Eyes were 20/15. Not bad. I went back to the apartment, had lunch, gathered up my things, the dog and headed south. There was no way Ant would be going to Meridian without me! I arrived safely with my new eyes later that afternoon, ate dinner with Dad and decided to hit the sack early. My eyes were strained from all the driving, and I just needed to rest. Guess I'll go see the family in the morning before I have to head back to the city tomorrow evening. Can't wait to tell them all about my new eyes.
Sunday, June 18, 2006 - Dad came into Andrea's room where I was sleeping with my awesome eye-protecting goggles on. I was sleeping on my sister's old side of the bed. I always slept on the side by the window because I was bigger and stronger and could escape easier should a would-be robber come through our window at night. Dad woke me up, which he never does unless he's going somewhere for a while, but he wouldn't be doing that on a Sunday. I specifically remember his hand on my shoulder, "Sweetie," I sat up, [something, something, something], "Nannie died." I literally thought I was dreaming. Goggles half on. Still half asleep. Not a dream, a nightmare coming true.
The following hours are a blur. Dad left to tend to the police, the justice of the peace, the funeral home. I was at the house by myself. Pacing my old bedroom. Called my Mom. Tried to get in touch with Anthony. My sister was there in an instant. Tried to call my best friend Leigha. Tried to call Anthony again. Tried to call my eye doctor because my eyes were killing me and I knew the flaps they cut on my cornea were about to become dislodged. Became lost. Overwhelmed. Collapsed. All those calls, and the one I didn't make on Friday would be the one that would still haunt me four years later.
Finally got in touch with Anthony. My mom was there as quickly as she could get in her car and speed down Highway 22. She drove me to the Camp. I stood outside the dining hall and died a little in his arms. The dining hall where I used to sit and roll silverware. I told her all about it and she and I had some good laughs about my adventures. The dining hall where we had our wedding reception. Our local wedding reception because we wanted our families there. Where I specifically remember stopping mingling to go put my arm around her and hug her. I have a picture of that moment. It's one of my most treasured pictures of my wedding day.
I have a picture. I have her pearls. I have letters from her. I have a little girl who has her (and my) big brown eyes and almost shares her birthday. But I also have the guilt of knowing I could have said one last goodbye. I was there. I was almost there.
No need for comments on this post. Sometimes writing is my therapy.
Friday, June 16, 2006 - I had LASIK that morning and spent the afternoon in bed dozing because of the pain and pain medicine. I woke up just before dinner and called my mom and dad and, as I hung up from one of them, I remember thinking, "I need to call her." But then Anthony walked in the door with dinner. We ate and I took some more pain pills and hit the sack.
Saturday, June 17, 2006 - Anthony and his PT classmates were heading to Camp John Marc for a week of volunteer work. I had a follow up eye appointment at UTSW that morning. My eyes were almost at 100%, and I was cleared to drive, so I dropped him off at school and I went to my appointment. Eyes were 20/15. Not bad. I went back to the apartment, had lunch, gathered up my things, the dog and headed south. There was no way Ant would be going to Meridian without me! I arrived safely with my new eyes later that afternoon, ate dinner with Dad and decided to hit the sack early. My eyes were strained from all the driving, and I just needed to rest. Guess I'll go see the family in the morning before I have to head back to the city tomorrow evening. Can't wait to tell them all about my new eyes.
Sunday, June 18, 2006 - Dad came into Andrea's room where I was sleeping with my awesome eye-protecting goggles on. I was sleeping on my sister's old side of the bed. I always slept on the side by the window because I was bigger and stronger and could escape easier should a would-be robber come through our window at night. Dad woke me up, which he never does unless he's going somewhere for a while, but he wouldn't be doing that on a Sunday. I specifically remember his hand on my shoulder, "Sweetie," I sat up, [something, something, something], "Nannie died." I literally thought I was dreaming. Goggles half on. Still half asleep. Not a dream, a nightmare coming true.
The following hours are a blur. Dad left to tend to the police, the justice of the peace, the funeral home. I was at the house by myself. Pacing my old bedroom. Called my Mom. Tried to get in touch with Anthony. My sister was there in an instant. Tried to call my best friend Leigha. Tried to call Anthony again. Tried to call my eye doctor because my eyes were killing me and I knew the flaps they cut on my cornea were about to become dislodged. Became lost. Overwhelmed. Collapsed. All those calls, and the one I didn't make on Friday would be the one that would still haunt me four years later.
Finally got in touch with Anthony. My mom was there as quickly as she could get in her car and speed down Highway 22. She drove me to the Camp. I stood outside the dining hall and died a little in his arms. The dining hall where I used to sit and roll silverware. I told her all about it and she and I had some good laughs about my adventures. The dining hall where we had our wedding reception. Our local wedding reception because we wanted our families there. Where I specifically remember stopping mingling to go put my arm around her and hug her. I have a picture of that moment. It's one of my most treasured pictures of my wedding day.
I have a picture. I have her pearls. I have letters from her. I have a little girl who has her (and my) big brown eyes and almost shares her birthday. But I also have the guilt of knowing I could have said one last goodbye. I was there. I was almost there.
No need for comments on this post. Sometimes writing is my therapy.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
14 months
We're up to month 14, can you believe it?! Time flies.
Madelyn continues to learn and grow and develop into such a fun and sweet little toddler every single day. This month, she figured out the word no. We're having to say it to her more often these days, and she was pretty quick to pick up on it.
A: "Madie, do you want some milk?"
M: "No."
A: "Well, do you want some water?"
M: "No."
A: "A snack?"
M: "No."
A: "Do you want to go play blocks with Mommy?"
M: "No."
A: "Do you even know what no means?"
M: "No."
I think she does sort of grasp the meaning, though, because she's recently started shaking her head no and pushing whatever we're giving her/doing to her (like brushing her teeth OH.MY.GOSH.THE.HORROR.) away. She also tries to say nose, which also comes out as "no." She loves to copy us when we say "No, no," which is pretty funny. She copies a lot of what we say, in her own little way, of course. She'll also mimic me when I say "tickle, tickle, tickle!" or "ta-ta-tortilla!" (to the Chia pet song). While she's a pretty big talker around the house, she is very shy around strangers, or even family, when she first meets them sees them for the first time in a while.
She loves to speed walk, stick her tongue out, make silly sounds, make a silly, quinty eyed silly face and to be tickled. We've recently discovered that her ticklish spot is actually on her thighs, and we normally have a good tickle fest every evening. :) She is also into everything. All the time. Go, go, go... And she's also gotten a little attitude. She will do the fake scream/cry thing if we take something away from her, but thankfully, she's easily distracted so we can give her something else. :)
This month it also hit me just how much she understands. Although she doesn't talk or sign back to us, she will follow our directions (most of the time) if we ask her to take a toy to Daddy or bring me a toy...I recently posted video of Anthony telling her to put a toy on her head - that was the first time we'd even tried to teach her that! She has also started offering to share her food, but she seems to understand when we tell her "no, that's for Madie," and she'll put it in her mouth.
Speaking of eating, she ate a second vegetable this last month (gasp!). She downed a few bites of corn, so we'll be working that into some more dinners. The girl cannot get enough fruit or meat. While we were on vaca, she stopped taking her occasional nighttime bottle, too. Guess we can pack those up for a while! She also cut her 4th and final (for a while) molar. She's up to 12 teeth!! Oh, and she likes to bite now, but only me. I can't figure out what's up with that...
Speaking of vacation, I left her overnight for the first time last month, and it only took me 13 1/2 months. She did just fine, but I missed her like crazy.
I'm looking forward to getting her official measurements at next month's check up. The girl is growing crazy fast! That tiny little 7 and half pounder that used to nap on my chest now stretches from my shoulder to my thighs!
Here are some of our recent pictures.
I love this pic. The house got quiet one evening as I was trying to get dinner on the table, and I found these two just hanging out watching out the front window. I know Zoe secretly loves her little sister.
Sweet girls. :)
This is her sweet smiley face.
This is that goofy squinty-eyed smile.
What can I find?
I'm not doing anything Mom. Well, not until you turn around...
Overall, life is good and love is plenty in our house. We are truly blessed.
Madelyn continues to learn and grow and develop into such a fun and sweet little toddler every single day. This month, she figured out the word no. We're having to say it to her more often these days, and she was pretty quick to pick up on it.
A: "Madie, do you want some milk?"
M: "No."
A: "Well, do you want some water?"
M: "No."
A: "A snack?"
M: "No."
A: "Do you want to go play blocks with Mommy?"
M: "No."
A: "Do you even know what no means?"
M: "No."
I think she does sort of grasp the meaning, though, because she's recently started shaking her head no and pushing whatever we're giving her/doing to her (like brushing her teeth OH.MY.GOSH.THE.HORROR.) away. She also tries to say nose, which also comes out as "no." She loves to copy us when we say "No, no," which is pretty funny. She copies a lot of what we say, in her own little way, of course. She'll also mimic me when I say "tickle, tickle, tickle!" or "ta-ta-tortilla!" (to the Chia pet song). While she's a pretty big talker around the house, she is very shy around strangers, or even family, when she first meets them sees them for the first time in a while.
She loves to speed walk, stick her tongue out, make silly sounds, make a silly, quinty eyed silly face and to be tickled. We've recently discovered that her ticklish spot is actually on her thighs, and we normally have a good tickle fest every evening. :) She is also into everything. All the time. Go, go, go... And she's also gotten a little attitude. She will do the fake scream/cry thing if we take something away from her, but thankfully, she's easily distracted so we can give her something else. :)
This month it also hit me just how much she understands. Although she doesn't talk or sign back to us, she will follow our directions (most of the time) if we ask her to take a toy to Daddy or bring me a toy...I recently posted video of Anthony telling her to put a toy on her head - that was the first time we'd even tried to teach her that! She has also started offering to share her food, but she seems to understand when we tell her "no, that's for Madie," and she'll put it in her mouth.
Speaking of eating, she ate a second vegetable this last month (gasp!). She downed a few bites of corn, so we'll be working that into some more dinners. The girl cannot get enough fruit or meat. While we were on vaca, she stopped taking her occasional nighttime bottle, too. Guess we can pack those up for a while! She also cut her 4th and final (for a while) molar. She's up to 12 teeth!! Oh, and she likes to bite now, but only me. I can't figure out what's up with that...
Speaking of vacation, I left her overnight for the first time last month, and it only took me 13 1/2 months. She did just fine, but I missed her like crazy.
I'm looking forward to getting her official measurements at next month's check up. The girl is growing crazy fast! That tiny little 7 and half pounder that used to nap on my chest now stretches from my shoulder to my thighs!
Here are some of our recent pictures.
I love this pic. The house got quiet one evening as I was trying to get dinner on the table, and I found these two just hanging out watching out the front window. I know Zoe secretly loves her little sister.
Sweet girls. :)
This is her sweet smiley face.
This is that goofy squinty-eyed smile.
What can I find?
I'm not doing anything Mom. Well, not until you turn around...
Overall, life is good and love is plenty in our house. We are truly blessed.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Trip to the DR
Things I loved about being on vacation (in the Dominican Republic)
Waves crashing for as far as I could see (and hear) in both directions
Eating my dinner hot, and before cutting up other little dinners
Ziplining through the mountains
A massage, and a free one, at that, because of a room mix up upon check in
Parasailing
Endless Boca Sunrises
French toast for breakfast 4 mornings in a row
Sushi, yes, Dominican sushi
Skype
Naps nearly every afternoon
Hot tub on the patio
No work
Coming home to my girl
Things I didn't love about vacation
Too many toddlers and babies strolling around the resort while I was really missing mine
Splotchy sunburn on day 2 and subsequent $17 bottle of (non-spray) sunblock lotion
Getting a week-long stomach bug/bacterial infection while we were there, even though we didn't drink the water - yes, both of us
Dudes in speedos and way more saggy boobs than I ever wanted to see in my entire life
Getting stuck and spending the night in the MIA airport on the way home
No Double X ;)
But we did have a pretty good time. Here's proof (in way too many pictures).
Day one, after the rain
Day two, on our way to splotchy sunburns
View from first room
Thank goodness for skype
:)
Geared up for ziplining through the mountains. Splotchy legs and all.
This is when I started to freak out. See that little dot in the lower left of the center of the picture? Yeah, that's a person.
But it wasn't bad at all.
Freaking hot and hard to breathe...
but fun!
We flew faster on the other cables than in this video. This was the 911 foot one, I think - the longest one there. We came in pretty slow at the end of this one!
We survived!!
On the way back, our guide picked a cocoa fruit, and this is the seed, the cocoa "bean." The outside tastes sweet, like a fruit. The inside is roasted and something. All I really remember him saying was that goes through some process and magically becomes chocolate.
Some of the typical houses along the road. :(
View looking out of the balcony of second room
Looking around the corner of our balcony to our patio!
Storms rolling in
Are we on the set of Lost?
We saw quite a few weddings take place. Andrea, Justin, Jason...who's next? We highly recommend a beach wedding and will happily attend.
This sign was a blast from the past (remember the Bob Barker sign)
Parasailing!
Make sure to dip the gringos in before we take off!
Holy schnikies we were high. And apparently about to be struck by lightening (it wasn't that dark, as far as I remember)
The pool was lovely, as were the drinks. :)
It spanned the entire length of the resort
The resort grounds were really nice
We thought these trees were pretty neat
My handsome hubby and me
I wanted to practice my shooting at night skills on the funny looking statue guys
I think this was the one night we stayed up past ten pm!
Sushi on the patio
I really loved this place
By day six, someone was a little tired of the self portraits...
Goodbye paradise. You were pretty awesome.
Waves crashing for as far as I could see (and hear) in both directions
Eating my dinner hot, and before cutting up other little dinners
Ziplining through the mountains
A massage, and a free one, at that, because of a room mix up upon check in
Parasailing
Endless Boca Sunrises
French toast for breakfast 4 mornings in a row
Sushi, yes, Dominican sushi
Skype
Naps nearly every afternoon
Hot tub on the patio
No work
Coming home to my girl
Things I didn't love about vacation
Too many toddlers and babies strolling around the resort while I was really missing mine
Splotchy sunburn on day 2 and subsequent $17 bottle of (non-spray) sunblock lotion
Getting a week-long stomach bug/bacterial infection while we were there, even though we didn't drink the water - yes, both of us
Dudes in speedos and way more saggy boobs than I ever wanted to see in my entire life
Getting stuck and spending the night in the MIA airport on the way home
No Double X ;)
But we did have a pretty good time. Here's proof (in way too many pictures).
Day one, after the rain
Day two, on our way to splotchy sunburns
View from first room
Thank goodness for skype
:)
Geared up for ziplining through the mountains. Splotchy legs and all.
This is when I started to freak out. See that little dot in the lower left of the center of the picture? Yeah, that's a person.
But it wasn't bad at all.
Freaking hot and hard to breathe...
but fun!
We flew faster on the other cables than in this video. This was the 911 foot one, I think - the longest one there. We came in pretty slow at the end of this one!
We survived!!
On the way back, our guide picked a cocoa fruit, and this is the seed, the cocoa "bean." The outside tastes sweet, like a fruit. The inside is roasted and something. All I really remember him saying was that goes through some process and magically becomes chocolate.
Some of the typical houses along the road. :(
View looking out of the balcony of second room
Looking around the corner of our balcony to our patio!
Storms rolling in
Are we on the set of Lost?
We saw quite a few weddings take place. Andrea, Justin, Jason...who's next? We highly recommend a beach wedding and will happily attend.
This sign was a blast from the past (remember the Bob Barker sign)
Parasailing!
Make sure to dip the gringos in before we take off!
Holy schnikies we were high. And apparently about to be struck by lightening (it wasn't that dark, as far as I remember)
The pool was lovely, as were the drinks. :)
It spanned the entire length of the resort
The resort grounds were really nice
We thought these trees were pretty neat
My handsome hubby and me
I wanted to practice my shooting at night skills on the funny looking statue guys
I think this was the one night we stayed up past ten pm!
Sushi on the patio
I really loved this place
By day six, someone was a little tired of the self portraits...
Goodbye paradise. You were pretty awesome.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Idol Baby
Madelyn and I started watching American Idol a couple of weeks ago. By "watching" I mean listen to them sing while she eats and I cook. Daddy is not home by that time on Tuesdays, so we have a good old jam session each week - just the two of us. I was rooting for Lee. She, obviously, liked Crystal much better (Crystal is singing in the background).
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