Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Month twenty one letter

My (not as) little Maddy,

Today you are 21. Twenty-one months, that is. This month there hasn't been a lot of blogging. It's not that you aren't doing new things daily, or that there isn't anything that I want to chronicle. It's just that my limited writing ability is being stretched to the maximum trying to capture how completely awesome you are.

How can I explain in simple words how hilarious it is to let you choose part of your breakfast? I chose peanut butter on toast and milk. You grabbed pears in a jar (ok) and sweet pickles (um...). And you ate every bit of the stuff you chose (and very little of the toast). And when you finished the pickles, first, you looked around in confusion and called out "Pick-os! Where ARRRE you?".

Or the way you light up when you get the chance to have juice! Your face contorts into something that can only be called a grimace, but we know it's your face of absolute and overwhelming joy!

Or how much you love "UPS!" - to go upstairs and play in our bedroom. You look at books, both your books and ours, and whatever is in our drawers and watch shows on the computer and feed the dogs their treats and crawl around barking and panting like a dog.

Or your frightening infatuation with The Wiggles. Thank you whoever invented a PVR! We are able to have a constant stream of "Wigg-os!" on the TV. And a constant stream of Wigg-os songs running through mommy's head. Catchy little ditties, them Wiggles make.

Or how adorably friendly you are. You are always saying hello to everyone and everything. HAI BUS! HAI MOON! HAI TREE! HAI LIGHT! Or HAI to the people walking through the mall or at a store. You have so much life and happiness in you, it's infectious. Being near you, a person that doesn't know long term fear, or anxiety, or meanness, or sadness is inspiring. The thought that one day, someone, somewhere will hurt you and burst this bubble of innocence scares me. But until then, I have your simple joy in things like pointing to "big bug" and playing in the bathtub with your plastic "pec-i-lan" and the sounds of a "hepi-coper" in the sky.

Another thing that has been holding me back from writing more is a struggle I am having, whether or not our family is missing someone. A second child. You are so perfect for us, Maddy, that it scares me to think of trying for another. There is no way I could be lucky enough to have 2 kids as awesome as you. And you love the focused attention of the both of us. Would a second kiddo take too much away from you? But after the years of fighting and rivalry are done, would a second kiddo, a sibling, give you so much more? There would be less money and space and attention to go around but I always swore if I had one, I'd have two. I didn't like being an only child, I ached for a sibling. But your daddy, he loved being an only child. Which would you take after? I just want a crystal ball, to see the future and learn what is the right choice. For us and for you.

Happy 21 months my girl! Halloween is almost here, then Christmas, then you are 2! In a blink you will reach that milestone. And I am loving every speeding second of my time with you.

Love always and forever,

Mommy


Saturday, October 15, 2011

Pictures that should have been added to the last post but I didn't get around to it and now it's too late

Pretty descriptive title, so let's just jump straight to pics!!

 Pigtails! I love how they look, but Maddy hates how they feel. Guess who wins in the long term? 

 Still short term! Yum yum hummus.

 At Prairie Gardens, three generations together! 

 Trying SO HARD to keep her happy on the train, with the bad sounds around. 

 Maddy and her "PUMKEEN!"

 Running on a beautiful fall day.

 I love this kid so... 

Daddy and Maddy. And an outhouse :)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

So much to be thankful for

Saturday we had our Thanksgiving family dinner, at my parent's place. A friend of Neil's came too, and the 6 of us had a great time eating and visiting and being thankful. Mom outdid herself yet again, and the food was wonderful. But the highlight, for me, was Maddy. She was funny and happy and sweet and a little running machine. She was so perfectly Maddy!

It's hard for me, sometimes, to believe that Maddy is my daughter. And the pessimist in me keeps waiting for something to go wrong... She's healthy and happy and growing well (so very very well). As an aside, I popped her on my parent's scale. 31 pounds. At 20 months. Within a few months (just after she turns 2?) we'll have to switch her carseat, it's only good until 40 pounds. I truly believed it would last until she was at LEAST 3. More like 4. Kiddo is a grower. But I keep wondering how I could be so blessed to be Maddy's mom. I feel like the luckiest woman alive to get to have the honour of raising her.

Sunday Neil, my mom, Maddy and I went to Prairie Gardens, near Bon Accord, for an outing. The place is about 1 hour away, so we wanted to be out and on the road by 2 (since the place closes at 5). Maddy went down at 1145am for her nap, we expected her up at 1pm. 130 LATEST. And at 140pm we were all waiting for her to rouse. In the end, we went in and woke her. There is a reason we don't wake Maddy from a nap. She is NOT A HAPPY GIRL when woken up. She whined much of the way there (although we were on the road at 3pm!). She was fussy there. And the pumpkin cannon? That sound made her VERY unhappy. But the corn gun (which shoots ears of corn at a board). Well, that wooshing noise was HORRIBLE to her little ears and many tears ensued. We thought we'd distract her by taking her on the "train" (a tractor with sides like a train that pulled carts that kind of looked like train cars) through the fields. And she straddled my lap the entire way, head buried in my chest, crying and whimpering much of the ride. Crying into the cheap blue mardi gras beads we were wearing as a sign of having paid admission, which streaked her teary and snotty face a light blue... She did finally calm and was looking around, saying hi to the trees, when we stopped at the pumpkin cannon. And WHUMP of the cannon meant tears again. We got her in the stores and looking at "PUMKEEN!" and she calmed enough to smile again. Baba bought Maddy her very own pumpkin. A little green and orange gourd, which Maddy insisted on biting chunks out of... but she was very proud of carrying it around. And the rest of the afternoon was wonderful! Even the cannon and gun were tolerated after a little snack of cookies and chips and fudge.

These kinds of afternoons are what I want Maddy to remember about her childhood. There will be school and tests and chores and punishments. But when she thinks back to her early years, I want her to think of outings and fun and spending time as a family more than the not so fun stuff. My mom speaks of her regrets of my childhood, what she didn't do these things as much with me. She was concerned about being perfect (perfect house, perfect cooking and canning and baking, and caring for her parents and in-laws in the perfect way) that she didn't spend as much time just playing with me. And I am perfectly comfortable being a bit of a slob, with a weed filled garden, and bought cookies and only one kind of home-made jam...

However a new interest, which is Pintrest, has given me so many wonderful crafts and decor ideas for Maddy! I think this year she's a little young (and I am a little late) but next year we may just have a Halloween party because, seriously, some of the ideas are just SO awesome I can't help but want to do them all! But Christmas is the next focus - this is the year that we start to really establish traditions for our little family. I think there will be singing, since Maddy loves music. And good food, because there is ALWAYS food with us. But... advent calendars? Decor ideas? Do we have Maddy help put up the tree? Do we do it one night and surprise her?

Does anyone have any favorite Christmas traditions that they want to tell about? Any ideas on what we can do to make Christmas a time of magic and love and family for Maddy (not just about gifts)? Share-zees anyone?

(pics to come soon!)

Monday, October 3, 2011

Pictures!


It's been awhile since I have posted pics. Again, mostly because there aren't as many pics to post, with the whole camera fascination. Brought it out again tonight and it was ok! Only some screen-curiosity. 

 Biggest, Smile. Ever. 

 A new game - she demands to be let in her "crap" (aka crib) and then asks for all her teddies then buries herself in them all and burrows through. 

 Yup, LOADS of fun!

 Can you see our temporary art on the wall? I really love Magic Eraser.

Camera screen fascination. At least you can see her face this time...

Taken tonight. The blur on the bottom? Maddy was taught by her silly mom how to spray a water bottle. Silly mommy... 

 Looking at books. We still haven't figured out how to get Maddy to smile for the camera. It's either straight face or frantic joy. Both equally adorable to me but is there something in between?

Something in between! 

Yesterday was the first day we put Maddy in a booster seat at a restaurant, instead of a high chair. And it worked! She sat pretty still, as long as she was being entertained. My baby is no more. My toddler is growing at an amazing rate and every day is better than the last.