What I am doing…Baylor

• I am learning to speak up for myself and fight back.  I have learned to hit and pull hair.  Mommy is trying very hard to teach me that these actions are mean, but I could care less.
• I love playing chase.  I am running pretty fast these days…go ahead and just try to catch me.
• I really enjoy kicking a ball with my Daddy.  Maybe one day I can be a punter.
• I am still rolling my eyes and getting LOTS of attention for it…so I will keep it up.
• I constantly say “Uh Uhhhhh” to signify to Mommy and Daddy that “NO I don’t want to eat that, and NO I don’t want to get in the highchair or stroller, and NO I don’t want to get dressed, etc.”
• I LOVE playing outside.  I take my shoes to Mommy and tell her “Shoes OUT,”  which translates to, “Put my shoes on already and take me outside NOW.”
• I love all things sweet and can down an ice cream cone in no time.
• I love being pushed in my cars…I love anything with a steering wheel.
• And yes, I still LOVE my Mommy SO SO much and when she is around, I want her to hold me all the time and never put me down.

What I am doing now…Madelyn

• I insist on wearing dress-up princess outfits everyday, but Mommy won’t let me…I tell her, “But Mommy, all I want to do is just be a princess, that’s all.”  I am often seen walking around the house in high heels and a leotard.  Mommy says that I am learning how to “work it” way too early.
• I am doing great with going to the potty…and I still expect a special treat every time I go, even if I just “poot a little bit.”
• I have learned how to draw stick people and Mommy and Daddy seem to be very impressed.
• My new favorite movies include E.T. and Jurassic Park.  I love to watch scary movies just like my Mommy did when she was little.
• I love running through the sprinkler and playing in the “restaurant grass” in the yard.  Daddy works very hard to make sure we have nice grass to play in.  I tell Mommy, “ I just have to take my shoes off so I can feel the grass on my toes.”
• I am still cooking away in the kitchen making cookies and cakes and all kinds of stuff.
• I had my dance recital and everybody was so proud of me.  I did my big turn and took a big bow at the end.  Mrs. Vicki says that I am very animated which is a good thing for dance.
• I still look for bugs any chance I get…if I see a rock, you better believe I am turning it over to see what’s under it.
• I cannot wait for summer because I get to go to Pennsylvania and the beach…and this is all I ever talk about these days.

Baylor: What am I doing?

• New words in my vocabulary consist of but are not limited to, “plane, cookie, pancake, ice cream, and Michael.”  Of coarse I will not say anything on demand…so don’t waste your time.
• I love to constantly tell Mommy NO and shaking my head at her.
• Sounds I like to make are a dog panting and emergency vehicle sirens.
• Like Madelyn, I also refuse to wear shoes.
• Mommy calls me a cookie monster because I LOVE COOKIES.  I like to go to the pantry door and grunt until Mommy opens it…then I point to the white fudge covered animal crackers with sprinkles and continue to grunt until Mommy gives me not just one, but TWO cookies…one for each hand of coarse.
• Like a dog, if I hear food packages being opened I will go see what is available for me to eat next.
• I LOVE bubbles.
• I throw temper tantrums that involve sticking my belly out as far as I can and arching my back until I fall over.
• I love going to Gymboree, but I don’t like to follow the teacher,s instructions.  I just like to do my own thing.
• For some reason, I hate taking baths now and cry the entire time I am in the bathtub.

Madelyn: What I am doing now…

• I have all kinds of new phrases that I love to say over and over including, “Its not a big deal Mommy,” “Stop freakin' me out,” “Oh boy, that will be wonderful (in response to the proposition of a fun activity) and “I am sorry Mommy, I didn’t mean to, It was an accident (after I have just done something I know was bad).” 
• My two biggest fears in life right now are totem poles with big scary teeth (any sort of tiki party decorations) and shadows.
• I spend most of my t-ball practices on the playground or playing in the dirt.  I only like to hit the ball and run the bases in no particular order.  I hate wearing my glove because it is too hot.   Daddy says I can be the DH and coach can just call me down from the playground when its my turn to hit.
• I refuse to wear shoes when playing outside.  Mommy warns me about stepping in dog poop or on roofing nails…but I could care less.
• I love having picnics with a blanket in the back yard and I would eat every meal this way if I actually liked to eat.  FYI, My favorite food right now is Jumbo Popcorn Chicken from Sonic.  I like to eat it right out of the container.
• Although I hate eating, I love to cook.  My specialties are cookies, pancakes, and meatballs.
• I love to celebrate birthdays and I can’t wait for the “Easter Birthday” that is coming soon.
• I love “helping” Mommy and Daddy with yard work.  I like to use my shovel to dig the dirt out of Mommy’s flower beds and dump it on the grass.  Also, I like to rip off Mommy’s flowers so that new ones will grow back.
• I love putting on make-up (as you will see below).  I like to paint my nails.  I am even trying to sit with my legs crossed like girls do.
• I still LOVE dancing and dance ALL OF THE TIME.
• I am still refusing to use the potty at my house and I insist on having a paci at night… “Diapers and Pacies are for GIRLS like MADELYN.”

Baylor: Mommy’s right hand man…

• I am walking all over the place now.  Sometimes I even like to march.
• I eat almost anything you put in front of me.
• I want everything that Madelyn gets no matter what it is, I want one too.
• I like to dance and sway my hips like Forrest Gump impersonating Elvis. (My Daddy says that is what it looks like).  I can’t help but bounce to a beat when music comes on.
• I love to hear myself talk into a microphone.
• I love to play basketball.  Mommy and Daddy hope that I am good at dribbling so that I can be a point guard, because that is my only chance at playing basketball. 
• I love riding my new tractor and pressing the horn.
• My favorite word is “Ma Ma” and I try to see how many times a day I can say it.  Mommy says I have probably set a record.
• If my Mommy is around, you better believe I want to be sitting on her hip.  I LOVE for my Mommy to hold me…who cares about her getting anything done, right?
• I love my big sister and love to try and make her laugh. 

Madelyn: Age 3 going on 13

• Mommy says that I am growing up to fast and that I am getting a sassy mouth, which is apparently not good.  My favorite sayings include, “Cuz, I want to,” “Now, you listen to me, (insert first name here),” “I’m not kidding, Laura,” “That’s okay, you can try better tomorrow Mommy,” “I love (insert unnecessary object from Target or TJ Maxx) and have to have it.  I NEEEEED it Mommy!”
• My absolute favorite food is BUTTER, preferably right out of the packets at restaurants if I can get away with it.
• I LOVE my new trampoline and am grateful for anyone who will sit outside in the cold garage and watch me jump.
• I am starting to pee in the potty regularly, but as for pooping, NO WAY…its still too much fun to watch Mommy and Daddy gag when they have to change a pooped diaper.  I say, “Don’t watch me I am pooping….okay…all done…change me so I can play some more.”  Mommy says that I should know better.
• I am getting much better at coloring and staying inside the lines. 
• I LOVE playing dress up and I am rarely seen in normal clothes around the house.  I love wearing high heels but sometimes I tell Mommy, “Whew Mommy, my feet need a break from these shoes,” as I kick of my heels.
• I love taking baths with Baylor.  He has “boy stuff” and I have “girl stuff.”  His is “funnier.”  I tell Mommy to get Baylor out first so I can “lay down and relax.”
• I still love going to ballet and I even paid Mrs. Vicki two pennies last week for teaching me, she said that was a first.
• Mommy and Daddy signed me up for T-ball this spring.  I can’t wait to play, but I really don’t like to wear a glove.
• I am working on giving up my paci because Dr. Lookadoo says it is ruining my teeth.  So for now, I only get to use it at night.

Catching up…

Wow, it seems like forever since I have posted!  I want to post a quick “catching up” blog before Christmas is in full swing. 

Baylor is 13 months old and growing like a weed.  I miss holding a little baby, but we sure do love a “big boy baby,” as I like to call him.  Baylor is…

• clapping for everything, especially after one of Madelyn’s stellar performances
• pointing to things he wants
• constantly teasing poor Bella
• shakes his head no to everything
• eating big boy table foods pretty well most days…this boy loves his peas
• sleeping pretty good most days and takes great naps which Mommy is very thankful for
• defending himself against Madelyn…he has learned to smack her, which we are trying to deter, but it is so cute to see this little guy stick up for himself
• taking a few steps here and there, but does not seem to be in any to walk hurry and neither am I
• This boy LOVES his “Ma Ma” and boy does his “Ma Ma” love him too!

Madelyn is almost three going on almost 13 with ATTITUDE!  This girl is something else!  She is her own person and VERY VERY confident in herself.  Madelyn is…

• constantly asking, “BUT WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY ?”
• saying, “BUT I DON’T WANT TO?”
• Her favorite saying is, “FIVE more minutes, just five more minutes.”
• she loves to report who got in trouble at school each day
• she constantly dances around the house and loves playing outside
• she loves dressing up and wearing her princess crown backwards on her head and wearing high heels
• she is obsessed with Cheetos and would eat them for every meal if I let her
• she loves to do EVERYTHING BY HERSELF!!! and that’s it!
• She constantly “needs” to go to Target.