Sassy speak

So Maddie has been cracking us up all week. She's quite the talker these days. She is speaking in grown-up sentences....or sometimes babble. It just depends on the day.

The big girl french braids mentioned in last week's blog. Her teacher is excited that Maddie's hair is finally long enough to braid. How does she get her to sit still for this??

Um, can someone get me out of this box? The horses aren't much help.

Tonight, when she became impatient with the taco-making that was dinner, she climbed into her high chair and stared at us like, "Where's the beef?" Then she said "Maddie got in her chair." I was impressed. Some days I can barely get into my chair -- in the morning, before coffee!

Tonight, she thanked Frank for giving her a bath. Wow! But after some vigorous teeth brushing, she said, "That's enough now!" This talking thing is pretty amusing!

Sometimes when she replies to a question, it's prefaced with "Ummmmm..." accompanied by a sneaky grin. You can just tell that the wheels are spinning in her little head and she's pondering her next words very carefully. It reminds me of when a teenager is caught tiptoeing in the door. "Where have you been?"
"Ummmmm....." Like that.

In case she was fooling us with all her articulate speaking, she also talked to us for 10 minutes during dinner with a straw in her mouth. This completely incoherent babbling was answered with with laughs and "OK."

In other news, the knitting frenzy around here has produced a third hat -- this one for Maddie. We think it makes her look like a European traveler. She likes it too.


No playdates this past weekend, but lots of cleaning and family time. We can't wait for Spring!!

Last week, Maddie came home with what we think was a Valentine's Day project from daycare.
We couldn't believe what her artwork said........really! We first thought Amy (Stella Dot's Mom) or Robin (Noah's Mom) had shared our blog title with Maddie's teachers and they were just being cute.

BUT, unbelievable as it sounds, they have never heard of our blog and call her SASSYPANTS!!
No kidding...

Goofball!

This past weekend, we went to see Grandmama and Grandaddy and Uncle David and Aunt Melissa. We only stayed for a day, but had a great lunch and played and relaxed.

We are constantly calling Maddie a "goofball," to which she says, "no goofball!" The game quickly escalates into " big goofball," "humongously huge goofball," "gigantomanic enormous goofball"....you get the idea. The bigger the words the bigger the giggles. Maddie really loves this
pretty fun game and it always gets a giggle from us as well.

She was in rare goofball form this weekend and wanted to show off her harmonica skills. She has really learned a lot in the last few weeks since she got one (and some other instruments) for her birthday. She knows to blow in the side with holes, blow in and out, and also sweep her mouth from side to side. It's harder than it sounds, trust me.

So Grandaddy found his old harmonica to jam with Maddie, and after she closed her mouth again, (Wow, he has one too!) they played for a while.

On Sunday, we had two (count 'em) play dates. First, Amy and Robin rescued us for 1.5 hours of freedom while Maddie played with Noah and Stella Dot at Robin's house. Thanks!! It had been a rough morning -- multiple time outs and a rough night before. She really is TWO!!

Then eat, nap and more play time at Stella Dot's house! We checked out all the neighbors' cool outside toys -- slide, big swing and even a trampoline!!! It pays to strut the streets. Maddie and Stella Dot also chilled in Stella Dot's crib (and by this I mean her actual bed not the latest MTV special) for a lot longer than planned. With so many things to cuddle, who would want to leave??

Poor Lemmy (Stella Dot's doggie) was forced outside for much of the visit, as Maddie still has not overcome her fear of all dogs -- even sweet harmless poodles!

Tonight, Maddie walked down the stairs holding the rail all the way. She also climbed into her high chair by herself! I think it's time for a booster seat! And she came home from school with french braids in her hair! What's next??

The sweetest words I ever heard

They weren't from a movie or a book. They weren't even from a Valentine's Day card or a handwritten note.

The sweetest words I ever heard were spoken last week.

Rushing around trying to get out the door and to work one morning, Frank and I were doing our usual morning things. I put on my shoes and coat and went to find everyone for goodbyes and kisses.

"Goodbye, Honey. [Kiss.] I love you. Have a good day!"

Where is Maddie? I see her running away from me. I finally catch her.

"Goodbye, Maddie. I love you."

I lean in for my morning kiss and I hear "I love you, Mommy."

"Oh my gosh. Frank did you hear her?? She said 'I love you, Mommy.'"

We both heard her alright. I leaned in again and cupped her little face in my hands. I told her how sweet she was and how much I loved her -- again.

Tonight, as we were putting her to bed, she said it again. My heart melted all over again.

Much better than a Valentine's Day card...

Birthday Bash - Part Two

I'm really late posting this but...
On Sunday -- Maddie's actual birthday -- we invited Janet's family for cake and Maddie time. We are not a big family, so there were only six of us plus Maddie. We opened presents in the morning, ate at Sweet Tomatoes (IS there another toddler-friendly restaurant??) took a nap (Maddie only) and opened more presents.

Wow. What did I forget? Oh yeah, we had cake in the afternoon. YUM!

Maddie received lots of nice toys from her Grandmama and Grandaddy, Oma and Opa and Uncle David and Aunt Melissa. Mommy and Daddy also gave her a few things. We are trying to tell her what a big girl she is now, but she conveniently forgets when it's easier to whine. No whining Sunday, though.

Did I mention that she also knows how to smile for the camera when we say "say cheese!" Guess she picked up that little skill from her buddy Noah. When she's really hamming it up, we can't even see her eyes!

The pics:

Cheez!

Janet, Frank and Maddie

Grandaddy Kelly, Maddie teasing Grandaddy, and Grandmama Kelly

Uncle David, Maddie, and Aunt Melissa

Bible story books from Aunt Melissa and Uncle David

A band in a box. Wow. Now we are rocking! Maddie tries the harmonica first.

Grandaddy and Grandmama fixed up this old toy chest. Hey, it's full of presents, too! Yay!


Janet's Aunt Odie sent Maddie a cool outfit.
Maddie immediately tried on the pants, um, as a scarf...

Make a wish! We almost forgot to sing "Happy Birthday" to her AGAIN this year!
Luckily, Janet didn't forget the obnoxious birthday headband with the felt candles!

A (very small) toy kitchen. I think she likes it!

Oma and Opa sent play-doh all the way from Germany. And this stuff smells good too! Uncle David even tried to use it to make a helmet for Maddie's doll. Really, Uncle David???


Only Maddie's second time with play-doh but she's showing Uncle David how it's done.



No birthday is complete without marching in rubber duck boots, right?