I Love Winter

Madison is 22 months old!

I love winter. Well, I guess I should say I love winter outer wear. I couldn't live in the ice and snow, but I do want to be in coats and scarfs as long as possible. As a mom, this is my favorite time to shop for Madison. I just love looking that that little face peeking out of a hat! And seriously, is this not the cutest winter coat ever?! I am very smart when it comes to price tags and refuse to pay ridiculous prices for a kid that grows like a weed. I found this jacket at TJ Maxx (my all time favorite store) for $19.99 and about flipped that it was Madison's size. Yes, I did buy it when it was still over 90 degrees in Texas. I was so proud. We pulled it out today for our first cold winter (fall) day. A high of 57 in Texas is cold, people!  Our neighbor told her how much she liked her new coat and she twirled  to show it off. I am pretty sure we could be on those Maxx-anista commercials!

Say Cheese, Please

"Cheese!"

I remember a time when Madison was around 9 months thinking that I'll never be able to capture her sitting still again. Photos were so hard. Before you'd have the chance to click she'd be off to something else. She still doesn't sit for the photos, but if you're quick enough and ready at the moment, she'll pause, "cheese" on command ad then go off to something else. You have about a 4 second window! It really is so funny. She can be doing just about anything and if you say, "Madison, say cheese." She'll pause, put her teeth together say, "cheeeeeeese" then move on. If she knows you are taking the photo, she'll them come to you and ask to see the pictures. She loves to look at her self on the camera, the phone, the flip camera, the mirror, etc.

So vain.... ha ha

Rainy Day Shopping

Push.

Pull.

Crash .

Madison is really the only baby I've been around. Based on what I know and what I've seen, she's one of the busiest babies that I have ever met. Nothing stops her. We are so thankful that we have a big backyard. We take her out there as much as possible to let her run laps and tire out! :-)

I love rainy days and hate the rain. However, Madison loves being outside, so she plays no matter what the weather is like.This rainy weekend didn't slow her down (does anything?)  We put her in a jacket and let her go to town. She pushed her cart out of the house into the yard to "shop, shop" and was very entertained. Oh, don't we all wish it were that easy? 

Off to School We Go...

Madison started "school" in August. At 20 months, she was ready to carry her backpack out the door like a big girl. She started the school year one week before I did, so I went with her and Jason for the first three days of drop off. She screamed and I cried like a baby all three days. On day four daddy and Madison started their normal routine and she happily said "bye-bye dada" at the door and went to play with all of her friends. Jason very kindly let me that know that it was just me- and she was fine! She's been just fine at drop off every day since.
We go to the Denton ISD daycare for staff kiddos and so far we have been really happy. The enrollment is consistent, so these are the same kids that she has been with since the infant room. It's fun to know all of them and hear them say, "Madison's Mom" when you walk in the door. We have been lucky enough to LOVE all her teachers thus far. This year is no exception. Ashley and April are fantastic. Each week is a new theme, with endless supplies and ideas at their fingertips. I mean, college graduates with early childhood degrees at the daycare? Wonderful.  They send out a Shutterfly update a few times a week with photos, so it makes you feel good to be able to see all the fun your kids are having. Madison has learned so much and her vocabulary has just taken off like mad. We are happy.
She comes home so tired every day and likes to name all her classmates that she played with that day.

On this day she headed upstairs to get ready for bath and night time and made it up four stairs before she laid down and said "night-night."

Needless to say, her year is better than mine. I'm the one counting down to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break, and to another summer with Madison!! :-)