Look Who’s Talking!

Miss Maddie has officially begun talking and by talking I mean saying full sentences (sometimes up to six and seven words). I really took notice at the beginning of December when she started putting three words together. For the longest time she would get frustrated and start yelling “IMO, IMO, IMO”. We had no clue what she meant by this, until recently when the “IMO” has turned into “I want ___” Her wants and needs are now being verbally requested and this makes things so much easier on us! We can understand pretty much understand anything she says now! I will never forget as we walked into the doctor’s office a few weeks ago {right before Christmas} and she said clear as day “Doctor said no monkeys jumping on bed” I looked at her and was completely taken off guard. Yes, I have been singing this song to her nonstop for weeks, but for her to just say it out of the blue was incredible! She seriously surprises me every day with the things she says and remembers. I know she is my own, but I have to say she is so smart!

I wrote down at 18 months that she had about forty words. I would think that this number has at least quadrupled. And to think just a few months ago I was worried about her lack of language. Well, my child has proved me wrong…WAY WRONG. I have to say my favorite thing she says is “I love you” which is more like “luh you”. Also just today while we were walking up the stairs I started to count and then all of the sudden she took over and counted 4-10! We have a talker and this mommy couldn’t be more proud!

Potty Training is in full swing…

It is hard to believe that another month has almost come and gone in just a blink of an eye. After the busy Christmas season, we have laid low for these past few weeks, mostly just leaving the house to go to the gym or grocery store. At the beginning of the month we really started to focus more on potty training. Maddie has showed more readiness lately, so we have decided to give it a shot. A friend of mine gave me a little pink frog potty to use and Maddie has seemed to respond well to it. We have a potty ring for the big potty that she has sat on here and there in the past, but I think the floor potty works better for now. She has gone many times on the potty these past few weeks, but it has been taking forever (even if it has been HOURS of staying dry). But after she goes, she stands up and squeals like crazy and yells “I pee pee on the potty!” I get just as excited as her!

At the YMCA where I work out, they have encouraged me to bring Maddie in a pull-up so she can go to the potty with the “big kids.” Yesterday was the first day that Maddie wore a pull-up and when I picked her up she had a ‘potty heart’ that they made for her for just sitting on the potty. Maddie carried that thing around and kept telling me all about it. She seemed so proud of herself, so right after the gym we headed to Target and picked out big girl underwear {Minnie Mouse!} I put them on her after her nap and she was so excited about her new underwear. She looks so grown up! I kept telling her that she has to keep Minnie dry and that we pee pee on the potty. She wore them all through dinner and then we sat her on the potty and within 5 minutes she went! About an hour later (right before bed) we sat her on it again and sang her ABC's and sure enough she went again! I was shocked to say the least. This morning as soon as she woke up I put her in the underwear and it has gone remarkably well! She has gone three times so far today (with only one #2 accident…but hopefully she will catch on to that soon) We have even gone on a walk and played outside in underwear!

The plan is to put her in underwear while we are home and sit her on the potty every 30 minutes or so until she gets the idea. Hopefully wearing big girl underwear will keep her motivated to stay dry and learn a little quicker. It sure would be nice to save a little money on these crazy expensive diapers. I don’t know how long this process is going to take, but regardless, I am so super proud of my almost two year old!

Twinkle Twinkle!

We took Maddie to see the Roper Mountain Lights last night.  We figured she would enjoy seeing all the light displays and we were right!  There is a place that you can get out and walk around.  You would have thought this child was five years old!  She was prancing around with her hands in her jacket pockets and trying to be miss independent.  She was talking a million miles a minute and didn’t want to be held at all!  She kept saying “twinkle twinkle” at all the lights and telling us what each display was.  Watching her look at all the lights I could just see the sparkle and joy in her eyes!  We just love taking Maddie places and having her experience new little adventures.  When we got back home Maddie told Mimi all about what she saw.  She didn’t miss a beat.  She was saying “twinkle twinkle lights, duck, penguin, Santa, Christmas tree, train”.  It was amazing that she remembered everything!  

Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year!  Gabe is off from school for two weeks so it has been great!  We spent a couple of days before Christmas in Charleston with Gramma McCoy, which was really nice.  Maddie was just getting over an ear infection, so her sleep was way off, but we managed to get through it and had a fun time.  We traveled back to our house on the 23rd to take care of the last minute things.  Omi and Pop-Pop came up again this year, which is always so nice!  Christmas Eve was a whirlwind of cooking, chasing after two kids, and lots of chaos, but once again we managed to get through it in one piece .   When Maddie was happy, Carter was fussy and when Carter was happy, Maddie was not.  So that made for a crazy night of trying to exchange gifts, since we would not see Natalie, Ryan, and Carter on Christmas day.  Once all the presents were under the tree we couldn’t believe our eyes-I have never in my entire life seen SO much stuff.  I think we may have gone overboard for these two babies!  Nonetheless, Maddie had a great time tearing into her presents-we didn’t even scratch the surface of the stuff, because we saved most of it for Christmas day!

When Maddie woke up on Christmas morning we took her downstairs and the look on her face was priceless.  She ran right up to her cozy coupe and then not even two seconds later she spotted the kitchen and bolted right for it!  She immediately started to cook for all of us!  So much fun!!  We spent a couple of hours playing with Santa toys and eating a nice breakfast.  We then headed to Christmas morning church service and once we got back Maddie ate lunch and went straight to bed for a long nap.  She didn’t wake up until 4:00 and that is when we finished opening up the rest of her presents (and ours, too).  By the end of the day, we were all so exhausted!

I can’t believe Christmas is over!  It went by so fast this year!  Now we are gearing up for a birthday party.  I have not planned anything yet.  We will probably keep it small this year.  I seriously can’t believe that my baby girl is going to be TWO!!!

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and will be blessed for a fantastic New Year.  I know I am excited to see what this new year has in store for us!  Here are a few pictures from Christmas.  You can check out more here Christmas 2011

 

 

Yay Santa!

It is the beginning of December and we are in full holiday swing.  Our house is almost decorated and we will be getting our tree in the next couple of days.  I am busy wrapping presents and working on Christmas cards.  I am doing pretty good by staying on task this year and not waiting until the last minute.  We took Maddie to the library for a fundraiser to see Santa.  It was no mall Santa, but she was excited.  On the way there she kept saying “Yay Santa!”  She sat on his lap for the longest time.  She was never scared, but just sat and took it all in.  It was hilarious.  She never once cracked a smile, but we did get her to say “ho, ho, ho!” and hug Santa when we left.  As soon as we got back into the car she said “YAY SANTA!”  Yep, she was a little late on that one.  It should be lots of fun this holiday season with her.  I can’t wait to see how Maddie reacts this year to Christmas morning with all the presents!

 

Photo Card

Initially Merry Christmas

Click here to browse Shutterfly Christmas card designs.

View the entire collection of cards.

Thankful

Most days I get wrapped up in what I don’t have at the moment.  Our lives have been kind of at a stand still for the past four years while Gabe has been in Medical school.  We have moved several times and just have never felt settled.  Life right now can be so stressful and it is hard to just take a step back and realize that we should be thankful in what we do have.  I have a husband who works his butt off every day without getting paid then comes home and goes above and beyond to help out around the house.  I have an amazingly beautiful daughter who makes me laugh at the silly things she does.  I have a mom who is helping to support us while Gabe finishes up school by allowing us to live rent free and helps us with Maddie ALL the time.  I have a wonderful sister and brother-in-law and a gorgeous nephew who makes me so happy.  I have grandparents who are always there for us and an amazing family who I love dearly.  Not to mention great friends who I can always count on.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel.  It is getting brighter every day!  I am excited to see what the future holds for us.  Only three more months until match day {when we find out where Gabe will be for Residency}.  He is busy with interviews-he has two this week in Virginia.  I am definitely thankful for interviews, because that means a job for him soon!

We spent Thanksgiving in Georgetown.  What a wonderful weekend we had sharing with our family and eating lots and lots of delicious food!  Gabe fried a turkey again over the weekend and if you haven’t tried fried turkey you are missing out!  My Omi has officially said “no more oven turkeys EVER again!”  On Saturday we celebrated a Carolina football win against Clemson for the third year in a row.  We are THANKFUL for a win!