October 2014 fun, we love Halloween and fall fun!

 9-26-14 Sorry for the embarrassing picture sweetheart, but this was just too cute.  Learning new words and how to use the potty at the same time, that's our girl, multitasking.

10/30/14 - FUN with Aunt Katie!!!  Aunt Katie came over to babysit while Mommy and Daddy went to our old house one last time.  You had a blast; Aunt Katie read almost every book you own, she tired you out and you fell asleep in her arms! :)  Aunt Katie must have the magic touch.

Showing Aunt Katie your new favorite play spot in the cup board, good thing Daddy and I are leaving this empty for you to play in, doesn't look like we have much choice.

You LOVE to give hugs and hold hands.  You've always done it with Mama and Dada but lately you will walk up to friends of yours, grab their hand and try to get them to walk with you!  

 10/5/14 HAPPY 18 MONTHS MADELYN!!!!

We now have a 1 1/2 year old!  Super sweet as ever, smart, silly, and beautiful.  

*In the tub, before we splash you with water, Dada and and I count, "One...Two...Three," you've started to imitate that!  It sounds more like, "Ooom, oooh, deeee.."  but, point is, you get it, you're trying, and you're super smart :)

*Still dancing.  Dancing all the time!  You have now started doing a little bit of break dancing, dropping to the floor and spinning your legs around.

*Stats:  25lbs 33 inches tall, for being such a big baby you are becoming our small fry still wearing your 12-18 mo clothing
*Coloring and stickers are a new favorite interest of yours.  We have, "arts and craft station," as we call it; in the basement your pick nick table is set up with your paper supplies, crayons and crafts.  When mommy and daddy go down there to exercise you go to town on your crafts.  All we need to say is, "craft station," and you go running for the basement!
*Bed time routine is adorable, Daddy picks you up to put you to bed, you take out your pacifier to give us both kisses then cuddle up with your monkey.
*Still no hair cut and WOW Madelyn, your hair is beautiful, long, little curls at the end, just beautiful and it gets so many compliments.  We do pony tails, pig tails, little braids, Mama has lots of fun playing with your hair :)

School picture!  What the photographer was doing to make you smile so beautifully I wish I knew Madelyn.  This is the smile that lights up our days.

*cell phone on your wrist, courtesy of Aunt Kara..but, you know not to take calls during family time.

Fun at the park!  We take advantage of any time we can get to a familiar park, or explore somewhere new, Daddy loves going down the slide with you.  You love the swing, and anything new you can climb on and explore.

Big girl, often you insist on taking your bag, my keys, and unlocking the door yourself.  You still require assistance though sweetheart, seeing as you can't reach or turn the key correctly, but it's a start!

More hand holding with your buddies.  So adorable, if you have a friend that isn't playing, you run over and grab their hand to take them with you.  

"Hey mom, get a picture of this, it'll really make dads heart melt."  It sure did sweetheart, when I caught you carrying his picture around and hugging it while he was at work!!

10/11/14 First cider mill trip!!!  You picked up quickly on what to do, picking the apples with help from your big cousins Kenny and Lilly.  (You're only not smiling in this picture because you hadn't seen any apples yet).  

"I'll pick 'em, you eat 'em Dada!"

"Milk and a doughnut is where it's at, why didn't we start with this?!"

Halloween costume pic with your buddies from the March-ish Mamas!  You are all so cute and we are lucky to have so many good friends!

Zoo Boo here we come!!! We love the Zoo all year round, this was our first experience trick or treating at the zoo!  You loved it!  You got to see some animals, wear your costume and collect treats!

Cutest garden gnome I've ever seen.  You got so many compliments on how adorable you are sweetheart :)

"Wheeeee!" You squealed, smiled and waved every time we went past Dada!

"Dada doesn't feel that good Mama, I know he always likes it when you make treats so I'm going to make him cookies." 

Still trying to make the most of some nice fall days to get our fresh air and ride some local slides!

First timer!!  Your second Halloween, but, your first time trick or treating!! You did great!  The weather was cold and rainy, but you walked right up to the doors, reached for the bell (we helped you ring), and even said, "tic teee," a few times!  You got LOTS of candy that Mama and Dada have been enjoying :)

Our sweet little Gnome, such a big girl perfecting her trick or treating!

Busy busy busy girl!

Madelyn you have been a BUSY girl.  Our home was put up for sale in July and after only a few showings it was sold!  With all the house hunting and changes going on you have been such a good sport, still our sweet smiley girl.   

*Favorite activities; DANCING, reading, and putting puzzles together.  You have gotten good with your shapes puzzles, and animal puzzles, although you still like to hide pieces under the couch; I always know where to look when a piece goes missing :)  

The world is your stage sweetheart, although your preferred stage is the kitchen floor and the top of your slide, these make the best dance floors :)

Madelyn and Izzie <3  You have gotten very good at saying her name!  It sounds a little like, Dizzy, but she knows what you mean.

Your little cousin Tyler turned 1, and you were ready to party!!!!  You guys are good buds, he likes to watch you run around and teach him things.  You may be older but he's catching up to you in size and pretty soon he will be running after you!  Not sure what to think about the look you both decided to give in this picture....you guys look pretty tough...

Between Tyler, Madelyn and all the balloons, the day was filled with lots of, "Ba, Ba, Baaaa!!"  This means, balloon as well as ball in their language. 

There is no denying that you are beautiful Madelyn.  Some fun facts about our super sweet, smart girl:

*  Some of your new words, purple, turtle, Ellie (your best friend), Tina (your babysitter), and baby,

*  Instead of saying, "please," it comes out as, "me," so you frequently run around whining, "meeeeeee;"  You also call your pacifier a, "me,"  I think this started because your dad and I called it a P....either way you are pretty cute running around saying, "meeeeee."

*You love to help with the laundry, you put away your clothes and the towels, you also like to load the wet laundry into the dryer. 

*You like to show us where things go, or where you want something to go by pointing, tapping the ground, etc.  Example:  every day when you brush and floss your teeth, Mama pulls out your little stool to put in front of the sink, you insist on tapping the rug to remind me where it goes every time, while (sort of) saying, "right there."  When we get your socks out, you sit down and tap your feet, and when I change your diaper, you also point to where that goes...wouldn't want that going on the wrong spot...

*You can show us your, and our, eyes, nose, ears, hair, mouth, feet, hands, knees and elbows!!!  Such a smart girl. 

*Random, but you love Kix cereal.  If I ever need to sneak away or finish doing something that's my trick Madelyn,  I give you a handful of Kix.  But I don't dare let you see the box if I'm not going to give you any, so packing them for outings, getting them at Kroger or trying to have some myself are tricky.  They are definitely, "kid tested, mother approved."

You can go down the slide all by yourself at the park!  You also love to help Mama vacuum!

9-1-14 Family trip to the zoo!   This trip included your first ride on the train and carousel!  You loved the train until we got to the tunnel...it was dark and a little spooky, you were very brave but held onto Mama tight! 

"CHOOOO CHOOOOO!!!"

Riding on the carousel was fun, but a lot more fun when Daddy got on the camel and rode with you!!! You smiled and waved as you went round and round!

Saturday mornings with Dada are fun, you get to be goofy and Daddy always shares his eggs with you!

You were enjoying your dinner and talking with me as I worked in the kitchen, then you were very quit...I looked over to see my silly sweetheart going incognito in Mamas glasses.  

After a long day of painting the house in Sterling Heights we will be staying at while we continue to look for our home,  Grandma made us a nice dinner and you played with Evan and Tyler.  Daddy and Grandma painted your room!  It looks very nice and we can't wait to fill it with all of your things!  We have been going over there almost every day lately, you enjoy playing with your toys there while Daddy paints, and Mommy cleans and puts things away! :)

You two sure got all dressed up for a casual dinner, cuties. 

After playing in the tub with your cousins, you put your pjs on and snuggled with Grandpa Dan and let him practice his reading skills.

Madelyn,

The last few months have been quite an adventure.  On September 3rd, 2014, Mommy and Daddy's 3 year anniversary, we closed on the house that Daddy has had for 10 years, Mama has lived in for almost 5, the house we brought you home to and you have grown up in so far!  

Next month you will be switching schools, you will make so many new friends and learn new things there, it will be different but we know you will love it and be happy there!

All of these new things and all of these changes are good things, and we do them for you sweet girl, we love you very much!!

Xo, Mama and Dada