December

We crammed almost two months of activities into December this year, and I still feel like we left some out. It's been a satisfying, if exhausting, Christmas season, and Madeline was right in the middle of it. From family visits to holiday activities, we've been busy every day. And, unfortunately, Madeline was beset by several infections throughout the month. It was nothing too serious, but by the end of the month we were just ready for everyone to be healthy and to fall back into our normal routines.

Here are some pictures from this month:

The setup: Mom gets Madeline ready for her annual Christmas portrait. (See 2009 and 2008). Usually these sessions end up being about 20 minutes of frustration and sadness . . .

and about 10 seconds of "That's it!"

Madeline is growing to appreciate the byproducts of spending so much time cooking with Mommy.

We spent a fun weekend at Madeline's grandparents' house doing Christmasy things, like making gingerbread houses and decorating the tree.

Not too long after the Christmas decorations were out, we got our first snow of the season.

Madeline and I spent a fun weekday morning enjoying the Christmas sights at the Jefferson Hotel. We pulled up a bench near the huge tree and watched a performance by a girls choir singing holiday tunes.

We also spent a weekend visiting family in Roanoke, where Madeline found her cousins (and their toys) to be fascinating.

Mommy and Madeline read a book before bedtime at DeeDee's house.

After talking about Noah almost every day since his family's visit to our house this summer, Madeline finally got to spend some quality time with him during our stay at their house in Roanoke.

Madeline helps Mommy bake some Christmas bread.

Christmas morning was fun for everyone. Madeline got the yoga mat she had been asking for. . .

and some things she didn't expect, like this tricycle and helmet.

Later that day, the Christmas fun continued at Grandma Vera's house.

We wrapped up the month with another blanket of snow. Madeline's new snow hobby is making snowballs and throwing them at Daddy.

As a post-Christmas treat, the three of us went to the Children's Museum of Richmond. Madeline was blown away by the variety of fun diversions there, and by the other kids that swarmed the displays. I have a feeling we'll be going there more often in the coming year.

November

While we had a lovely Thanksgiving, and have spent lots of time over the past few weeks engaged in fun activities, the big story from this month was Madeline starting preschool. She's going twice a week and has loved it so far. Her teachers are impressed with her, too. She seems to like the other kids in her class, although they're all still a bit young to be making friends. However, she does have a way with the young boys in class, persuading them to fetch her book bag and jacket with nary but a soft word and a touch on the shoulder.

Holidays: After a fun Christmas last year, Madeline is really getting into the holiday spirit this time around. She loves checking out the store displays, listening to Christmas music, and preparing our house for the season. As we unpacked the decorations from the attic, she clasped her hands together and yelled, "I LOVE Christmas!" It's a great time to start family traditions, such as seeing the Christmas tree at the Jefferson Hotel, opening our advent calendars, hiding the Christmas elf every day, and stringing lights and decorations all over the house and yard.

Senses: It occurred to me that Madeline might not be familiar with the purpose behind some of the appendages on her face, and I quizzed her to get a baseline of her knowledge. After we discovered that ears were for hearing, we moved on to the nose. Here is the actual exchange:
Me: What is your nose for?
Madeline: To put your finger in!
Me: That's funny, but no. What's your nose for?
Madeline: It's where boogers live!
Me: (shaking head) It's for smelling, Madeline. Smelling.

Here are some pictures from the past month:

This is Madeline's preschool picture, which is posted in her classrom to help identify her personal backpack and coat hooks.


Madeline eagerly anticipates going to preschool twice a week. Here she's packed and ready to go, lunchbox and supplies tucked into her backpack.

Madeline spent a lot of time "helping" with the leaves in our heavily wooded yard this year. Although she spent a good amount of time sitting in the piles and kicking them around. . .

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she also helped with the actual raking, both with my rake and her own, smaller version.

We spent a lot of time outdoors enjoying the cooler temperatures. Here Madeline reacts to hearing a duck nearby as we played by the James River.

Madeline is becoming quite a hiker. This month we took hikes of up to a mile in distance, and she walked the entire way, navigating roots and rocks like an old pro.

Madeline shows off her pigtails while Mommy gets her jacket zipped. Sometimes she likes having her hair fixed up, but mostly we're lucky to get a hairband on her while she's running around in the morning.

Madeline mugged for the camera while we waited for our dinner to finish grilling one evening.

Madeline and I headed to a local park when the fall leaves were in full descent. She was happy to find this colorful specimen. . .

and she loved sitting on the bench and watching the leaves rain down. She especially loved it when one would land next to her or on her lap.

Madeline participated in her first pageant when her preschool put on its annual Thanksgiving presentation. The kids dressed as turkeys and sang songs. Madeline seemed a little shocked to see such a large audience, but she made sure to clap politely after every number.

Madeline was an active participant in decorating the tree this year. I had fun letting her decorate, but I now have to explain to our guests why all of the ornaments are on the bottom third of the tree.

In addition to our two full-size Christmas trees, Madeline also got to decorate a small tree for her room. Let the holidays begin!

September/October

October is ending and I wonder where the two months since our last post have gone. It's been a blur of activity, ranging from vacation at the beach to fall mornings at the park to an illness that circulated around the house and hobbled us all for about a week. Madeline continues to grow at an astounding rate, having already filled the shoes we bought her a couple months ago with the intention of them being her winter shoes. Silly us.
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Preschool: The big development hasn't actually happened yet. We've been shopping for a preschool for Madeline. We started looking late - most schools begin in September with the regular school year, but we started our search in late October - and many of the programs were full. But we scheduled some informational visits so we could have a basis on which to judge schools. We were surprised when our favorite school called us a couple hours after our visit and said they would like to make an exception and include Madeline in their 2-year-old class. We readily accepted and she begins this coming Friday.

Madeline seems to be excited about the idea of preschool. She's not clingy - she hardly noticed during our visits when Lacey and I would leave the room to speak with the preschool directors. I think I will be more sad to let her go than she will! I have been lucky to be at home with her during the day for almost her entire life, so to send her off, even for a few hours two days a week, will be quite an adjustment for me.

Sickness: Madeline did not fall ill with her monthly sickness in October, although she did catch a sinus infection shortly after I was ill for a few days. We'll keep our fingers crossed for November - she's been sick every month for almost a year and I think she deserves a break.

Halloween: After missing Halloween last year, I wanted to make sure we made it up this time around. I came up with the idea of a pumpkin party, and we invited a few folks over to carve pumpkins and wear silly costumes. We decorated the house and had tasty desserts. Madeline had a great time (and maybe a little too much sugar) and we are all set to make the most of the holiday season that now awaits.

Here are some pictures from the past two months:


We spent a week in September at the beach - our first weeklong family vacation since our last trip to the beach two years ago. Madeline again got sick the day before our departure, but it was nowhere near as bad as last time, and we ended up having a wonderful trip. Madeline spent most of her time digging in the sand, since her small stature rendered her at a disadvantage when playing in the crashing surf.

Madeline found a hermit crab and was not shy about checking him out.

Every night after dinner we took a walk on the beach. Well, Lacey and I walked while Madeline sprinted madly across the sand. She ran and ran, using up her last bits of energy before bath and bedtime.

Occasionally she allowed herself to be caught long enough for a hug during her sprinting sessions.

Looking for pretty seashells with Mommy.

Sunrise walks on the beach were an invigorating way to start our days.

Madeline helped me wash my car on a pleasant fall weekend.

Madeline got her first real instrument - a ukulele from Molly and Bruce. She enjoys strumming it and singing "Buffalo Gals."

We spent a weekend on the bay during our annual trip to the boat festival at St. Michaels. Madeline and Lacey crewed a wee Punkin on a gorgeous morning. At 2 years old, it looks like Madeline already has an appreciation for relaxing on a sailboat.

On a beautiful fall day, Madeline shows off her injury from an unfortunate tumble.

Madeline has a silly sense of humor, as she displayed when she marched around the house under this "umbrella" - which originated as a plastic cupcake decoration.

Madeline, pointing at something that was probably very interesting, wore glasses on the afternoon after her pediatric eye exam. (Turns out her vision is just about perfect.)

As part of my "make up for missing last Halloween" effort, we went to an orchard in the mountains this year to find apples and pumpkins. Lacey and Madeline made an amazing apple pie and the pumpkin later became "Mr. Pumpkin," whom we greeted every morning on the front steps when we left the house.

Madeline loved exploring the rows between apple trees at the orchard.

We even took a hayride during our orchard visit.

Madeline and Mr. Pumpkin.

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Madeline helps mom in the kitchen. One of my favorite things about fall and winter weekends is waking up to whatever delicious aromas the two of them conjure up.

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The results of our Halloween pumpkin party. Mr. Pumpkin is the big one at center-left.

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Madeline dressed as Tinkerbell for Halloween. . .

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and even went trick-or-treating at a few houses before coming home and handing out candy to the other neighborhood kids.

August

August has come to a humid end and we look somewhat eagerly to the fall. While the multitudes of mosquitoes have driven us from our own yard, we have been active at the local parks, soaking up the warm summer days and exploring nature where we find it.

Sickness: Madeline's monthly sickness reared its head again in August, as expected, but was a bit worse this time. We took her back to the doctor and they suspect her tonsils may be to blame. If it happens again in September we'll go back to the doctor and they will make a determination at that point. Poor Madeline has been sick to some degree every month this year. Thankfully it usually only lasts about 24 hours and generally hasn't been much more than a high fever.

Big bed: Madeline made the move to a big-girl bed this month, and she has been very excited. She shows everyone who comes over and regales them with the details. And she's very good about staying in bed (see more below).

Make believe: For the past week or so, Madeline only answers to the name "Marta." Or "Doggy." Or "Princess." She has a vivid imagination and often assimilates situations from her favorite books into her own life. She also received a tea set from her babysitter, and she loves to share tea time with anyone who will join her.

Potty training: Several times this month, Madeline has been able complete the potty process completely by herself, from start to finish. The first time was a surprise - we just looked over and she had prepared herself and sat down without even mentioning it to us.

Whistling: Often when we ride in the car, Madeline is lost in her own little world of wonder, talking and singing and otherwise emptying the contents of her mind. At one point recently, I noticed a different sound coming from the back seat. I turned and saw Madeline, lips pursed, whistling. I watched her for a minute and realized what was happening, but when I laughingly mentioned it to her, she started to laugh as well, and the momentum was difficult for her to retrieve. She has tried again several times since, with varying success.

Some pictures from this month:

Madeline had a great time when the Hartsons spent a weekend with us. A highlight was the Maymont Nature Center, where the kids watched the otters and then picked up stuffed versions to take home.

Madeline finally got her hair cut. After scoping the place out a week earlier, she was excited to return for a trim from the hairdresser, Kim.

Our little artist knocked out a couple commissions - one of which proudly hangs in her dad's cubicle at work.

Madeline got her first bee sting, at a summer picnic this month. It was a small bee, and a small sting, so it became more of a curiosity than an ordeal.

At an early age, Madeline showed a penchant for jewelry. Her love of accessorizing has not diminished with the passage of time.

Madeline impressed me when she put together this drawing of a flower. For the first time, she deliberately drew it in two parts - the flower itself and then the long stem below. She's good at drawing circles (and calling it a sun) and other squiggles, but this was an instance that required some precision and forethought.

Madeline made the transition to her big-girl bed this month. She's very good about staying in bed - almost too good. She's so conditioned to being picked up when she's ready to get out that she won't get out on her own, even with the side removed. I'm sure she'll figure it out soon enough, but for now we're not letting on that getting up on her own is a possibility, even if it means that we deliver a book from the nearby bookshelf that she could otherwise easily get on her own.

Our little kitchen helper loves offering a hand preparing dinner. And she loves corn on the cob, so in this case, a win-win.

Maymont continues to be a go-to destination for pleasant days. This time we visited the Japanese Garden for the first time, and my little adventurer got a kick out of climbing the rocks beside the big waterfall.