18 Month. Dr. Visit

I didn't do it!

Chocolate cake on Dad's birthday. Yummmmmm!

Madeline is growing up way too fast! She is now a year and 1/2. Wow! She had her 18 month visit this week and the dr. said she looks great. She's still on the smaller side, but growing at a healthy rate. She weighs 23 pounds and is 32 inches tall. That puts her in the 30th percentile in weight and 60th percentile in height. The doctor said she's physically advanced but verbally delayed. He was concerned because she hasn't picked up new words since our last visit and wants her to go to a speech therapist. We're not sure how we feel about that. She understands everything and points to things. She also uses visual clues to get what she wants. I guess it doesn't hurt to get an evaluation. Everyone I know who had a child who didn't speak at the "right" time, turned out to be a late talker and nothing more. Time will tell.

OK quick video....this just makes us laugh

Great Day Out!

Where does the time go? It's so hard to believe that Madeline will be turning 18 months this week. Really? A year and a half? Wow!!!!! There is never a dull moment with Madeline around. She is such an attention grabber wherever we go whether it's a tantrum (unfortunately), a spontaneous dance, or a screech of happiness she turns heads. Maddie is going through the independence stage. She wants to do everything by herself...use a fork and spoon, get in her carseat, buckle herself up (with help), and run free. Every day is a new adventure and we wouldn't change it for the world. Look....a squirrel! Madeline discovered the squirrels in the trees and chased one into the bushes.

Look at that smile! Cute, cute, cute!!!!

Look Mom it's Dad!

Summer Pictues

Madeline's pool

Fun cooling off at the splash park. There are 2 free splash parks near our house.

So cute in her bathing suit. Wish she would leave her hat on.

Fun times at our community park

Typical reaction we get when we tell her "no".

More fun in Maddie's pool

Love my new zebra that mommy's friend Keleigh let us borrow

Daddy bought her the cutest rocking chair. She loves reading her books while sitting in it.

Climbing stairs is exhausting.

This is the basket Aunt Susan took a picture of me in when she was a few weeks old. I can't believe she used to curl up in this basket. Now she puts it on her head.

15 Month Check-up

Our little girl is growing up way too fast. I wish we could stop time! There are little things that I miss like holding the bottle (now she uses a sippy cup) and rocking her to sleep (she prefers to go straight to her crib) . On the other hand, tt's so exciting to watch her experience new things and to watch her grow and develop. Madeline had her 15 month dr. visit. He said she looks great and is developmentally doing really well. She is in the 25th percentile for weight and 30th for height. He said she is developmentally advanced (we knew that) in all areas except for talking, which she is on target. She's way ahead physically (we knew that too)

New favorites:
Music-Sesame Street's Greatest Hits
Song- Elmo's World and Sing a Song
Books-Leap Frog audio books
Activities: anything with water, dancing, Elmo, "coloring", bouncy balls, pushing grocery carts and strollers.
Milestones: holding crayon and scribbling, going down slides on her own, zippers,
using a spoon (messy though), going down stairs, following multi-step directions

Summer Fun!

It's hard to believe Madeline is 14 months old. Wow! This is such a fun time with her. She is growing up so fast. She started RUNNING this week! Watch out! It's getting harder to keep up with her. She is very active, loves to climb, and has very little fear.

It's been fun watching Madeline with other kids too. She is not AT ALL shy. She loves walking up to kids (especially the older kids) to hug them. At the park, some of the kids were a little rough with her and would push her or grab her. One little girl who was about 4 years old, kept hitting her! (BRAT!) I was ready to step in, thinking Madeline was going to cry. She didn't. She got a really angry look on her face then grabbed the girl's arms and squeezed really hard and pushed her back. The girl looked at me and cried. I said, "You are older and need to be gentle with her. She's just a baby. You are showing her how you want to play." The girl ran away.

Madeline is still a dancing machine. If there is music, she gets her boogy on. People stop and watch her when she starts dancing. It is so cute. She prefers to dance to techno and salsa (both types of music we DON'T listen to) When it comes on she gets down! She has lots of rhythm too. I showed my students her dance and they named it the Madeline. Anytime music came on, at school, the kids would say, "Do the Madeline!" and start dancing like her. So funny!

Being home with her this summer has been the best. I'm having so much fun with her. It's such a relief to be able to just be a mom and enjoy this precious time with her. She is such a sweet, smart, funny girl already at such a young age. Can't wait to see what's to come!



Oh Grandpa, you're so silly!

New pool-Madeline actually preferred to play with it inside, without water.

More fun in the waterless pool

Still loving my car! Madeline actually loves to push the car around and put things in it.

Random Pictures, Just for Fun!

Love this picture. It shows how much personality she has. All the grandparents together. Couldn't get my dad to look at the camara though. He kept looking at Madeline.

She finally cornered Bella, our cat. Madeline was thrilled. Bella? Not so much!

He hair is getting long enough for pigtails. So cute!

Love this picture. It shows how curious she is. She loves nature.