Swimming

Maddie took swimming lessons a year ago, last June 2008. She couldn't even walk yet! This summer we are spending a lot of time in my parents pool. (We'd be in it even more than we already are if they'd just keep it heated!! Brr!) I think she has forgotten everything she learned.

Maddie is quite excited about the water. Almost recklessly so. If we don't keep a constant eye on her she'll sink to the bottom, because she jumps off the edge without hesitation. We have tried teaching her to at least count to three first, but she gets to "Oonnneeee..." and in she goes! No patience, that kid. I wonder where she got that from. :)

She'll be in swimming lessons again the first session available after this baby gets here.

Can you find Maddie in the 3rd picture down? :)

Speaking of language..

Maddie has said what SOUNDS like the F-word a couple of times. We weren't sure, but it really did sound like it. She said it when we were riding in the car yesterday and it sounded like she said "F--- Me!" John figured out the pattern.. She would say it when he would slam on the brakes.

Guess who's in trouble now?!?!? And the answer is not Maddie.

Language

I find it fascinating how babies develop their language skills. Really, how they develop, period. And turn into functioning humans. I mean, how do you really TEACH such concepts as colors and numbers and math? It amazes me. Anyway, back to language. Here is what happened over the past few days that makes me just shake my head in wonder..

Maddie is talking. The other day she was spending the afternoon with my sister. She was playing with 2 plastic bead necklaces and they became tangled. Maddie started shaking them and swinging them around, trying to get them apart. She started to get a little frustrated and my sister, not knowing what the problem was, asked Maddie what was wrong. Maddie held out the necklaces to her and said "open?" The part I find neat is that although she didn't have the words for "please separate these two necklaces for me", she used the word she knew was the closest to what she wanted to get across. Open!

Then today as we were eating dinner, I placed Maddie's plate of chicken and peas in front of her. She pointed towards the kitchen and started saying "hook? hook? hook?" I didn't understand what she meant and told her so. She looked at me and said "Poon? Hook?" I understood then she was saying Fork! She clarified that for me by telling me the related tool, a spoon!

Isn't it just neat the way a baby's brain works??? I certainly think so. :) Tell me some of your own smart baby learning to talk stories!

Belly Picture!!

This is for Jen, since she asked so nicely for a belly picture. :)

A pregnant belly makes an excellent toddler shelf.

Check out those cankles!!!!! They're getting really bad now.. just like they did about a month before Maddie was born. That means baby #2 is almost here!

Mmm Pizza..

Someone takes after her parents..

And yes.. she ate nearly the entire piece herself.

Why I love my husband..

Last night at.. oh, about 3am.. I reminded my husband that the lawn mower guys were coming in the morning and there was still a big rubber swimming pool and a pile of dog poop from my sisters dog lying in the yard. I reminded him that he promised to take care of it. He said he would do it before the lawn mower guys got there. I utilized my best whiney voice and reminded him that I would toss and turn and wouldn't get a wink of sleep until it was taken care of. He said that the only way he would do it would be naked, since he was already in bed, naked.

Fine, I said.

So out of the bed and into the yard he went, naked. And moved our picnic table and pool and picked up pooh and toys and what-nots.

And then a neighbors window slammed shut. Hehe!

Angels

Husband: "I told you she was an angel!"

Because how else would she be able to fly?!?