I never know which face I am going to wake up to in the morning.....

See her many faces here.

Madelynn turns 3!!!!!!

And ya'll are invited!!!!! click here

Rolling in the leaves

After this, she took one look in the mirror and cried....

I think she might have imagined something different....

Baking a Cake.

Madelynn's imagination has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few weeks. She can imagine almost any object to be anything else. This morning, she decided she was going to "bake a cake" in the kitchen. The cake being a pile of utensils and the oven a stool.

A few minutes in to her cullinary tasks, I realized we had not yet taken off her night-time diaper. Trying to peel her attention away from baking this cake was going to be a challanging and stratigic manouver. So, I decided to put what I thought was the "cake" into the "oven" and close the imaginary door to signal that the cake needed to cook for a while, giving us time to change the diaper. Well, little did I realize that the object I put into the "oven" was NOT actually the CAKE, and she hastily stomped over to the "oven", not saying a word, opened the imaginary door with dramatic precision and took it out, looked at me, flared her nostrils and shot daggers out of her eyes. I believe you have found your calling sweet heart...dramatic mime performance art.

Yum, Yum

Conversations with a 2 year old.

Madelynn has a toy stroller made for her dolls and stuffed animals, so she can stroll around the house. She likes to pretend she is going to Target. I walked by her this morning as she was trying to squeeze both of her butt cheeks in the seat....

Madelynn: Mom, can you push me in this?

Me: That's not for you silly, its for your dolls.

Madelynn: MOM!! can you push me in this?

Me: No, thats for your dolls.

Madelynn: MOM.....CAN.....YOU ......PUSH......ME.....IN.....THIS.....?

ME: NO!

Madelynn: Mom, is this for my dolls?

Me: sigh......

Walking at Sloan's Lake yesterday....

Madeynn: Look mom! Ducks!

Me: Wow. What are there names?

Madelynn: dramatic pause....Grandma duck and Craig duck.

Isle of Palms, Charleston, SC

Conversations with a 7 month old

Me: Truck!

Norah: uck!

Me: Truck!

Norah: ghuck!

Me: Truck!

Norah: huck!

Me: Truck!

Norah: guck!

Me: Truck!

Norah: phuck!

Sugar, Sugar

Eskimos and Butterflies

Its a ritual, our parting of ways. What once was a kiss and a hug, is now a long, sequential order of actions prompted strictly by our 2 year old. On they way out the door, bedtime, naptime, going to get the mail or using the bathroom...Here is how it goes, in sequential order..

traditional kiss, Eskimo kiss, butterfly kiss on the right cheek, butterfly kiss on the left check, small hug, small kiss, BIG HUG finale. Occasionally, and you never know when she will pull this one out, she will add a kiss on the forehead and a pat on the back.

When Matt and I are both home and we are putting her to bed, sometimes we will each lay down with her and snuggle on each side of her. We talk about our day and the fun things that happened and look forward to what the next day will offer. Matt will kiss Madelynn on one cheek, I kiss her on the other side and then we go back and forth faster and faster until we are both kissing loudly on each check reminding me of a Will Farrell movie, and she laughs and giggles until she barely breath any more......Then she says......AGAIN!!! AGAIN!!!!

Its days like that when I take a moment to notice where I am, who I am, and what I have. This is my family.....and I love it.

concentration...

This is new, uncharted waters if you will. Remain quiet, do not move, do not make a sound or this display of maturing human behavior may break and pre-toddler tazmanian devil ferver may re-surface. Fear of breaking that stream of attention, the mother approaches quietly and rather stealth-like with a camera to capture this fleeting moment forever. This span of concentration may only last 1 to 3 seconds. This cub will not need food or water for months after feeding her tiny brain with such patience, streamlined thought and focus.

my schmoopsy booobop bideldybumkins...

I've been spending so much time photographing everyone else's babies, I have neglected to photograph my own! Today, as Madelynn slept, I noticed that the light was perfect in our newly painted bedroom, Norah was in a particularly spunky mood and I broke out the camera for an impromptu photoshoot. I hope you enjoy her fat rolls as much as I do!!!

Conversations with a 2 year old.

Driving downtown.....

Madelynn: Look mom! A clock!!!

Me: OOOOOh, what time is it?

Madelynn: 48.

Me: Oh gosh, it's late, lets go home.

Madelynn: Ya, time for Whopner.....

( Last sentance ad libbed....to set the scene...)

Conversations with a 2 year old.

Madelynn: I'm Madelynn, not Madeline.

Me: That's right babe.

Madelynn: Tomorrow I'm going to be a car.

Me: Oh ya, what kind of car?

Madelynn: Red

Me: Are you going to be a fast car or a slow car?

Madelynn: Fast

Madelynn: But today I am a princess.

Me: Yes you sure are....

The grass is greener

The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you may be.

Where is Waldo?

or, Where is Madelynn?

we dont believe in baths....