Late Night with Madie Fi

Madie's got a bit of a cough, caused certainly by a post-nasal drip. It took her until 9:15 to fall asleep, so when I went in to check on her before we went to bed at 10, I felt horribly torn: do I wake her now and take her potty or hope she'll make it through? Mike said he gave her a bunch of water before bed and she didn't use the bathroom after, so I did get her up. Then I rubbed some lemon and lavender on her chest and we headed to bed.

I didn't stay in bed long because my other child wouldn't settle down--let's just say I think I'm going to be in for a 10 pm feeding--so I got up, ate some toast, then went in to check on Madie. She'd been back down for about 20 or 30 minutes and I hadn't heard a peep--including a cough I might add--so I assumed she was asleep. Nope! She sat right up and greeted me as I sat on the top of her toy box by her bed.

Madie: "I'm awake."
Me: "Yes, I see that. Why, honey? I thought you were tired."
Madie: "No, I'm not tired anymore. I'm a little bit awake."
Me: "Well, yeah, I know. But ya know, hon, you're sick, and you really need your sleep. You don't think you can lie down and go back to sleep?"
Madie: "No. I want to come out. Why were you making lunch?" She was going off of hearing me warm water in the microwave for tea.
Me: "I didn't have lunch, I just had some tea." I didn't mention the bread...
Madie: Leans over and climbs onto my lap.
Me: "Do you want a song?"
Madie: "The Mumma song." ("Baby Mine" from Dumbo, which she has recently taken to watching.)

I sang the song, then a couple others. Throughout them all, she is nuzzling me. This is her ultimate sign of affection: she rubs her face all over mine and kisses me. (It makes singing very difficult.) Finally I told her it was time to go back down.

Madie: Whispering "I'm not done with your arms." I couldn't help but laugh!
Me: "Oh? Well, I'm sorry but you really need your sleep, and so do I, so I think my arms are done."

She did go down a couple minutes later and has slept well the rest of the night. She's such a sweetie. I'm excited for her to be a big sister, and I know she's excited too. Now that we've moved all of Finnegan's clothes, bed, and even a little rattle into the nursery, I think she's starting to understand it more. She sees that whoever this Finnegan is, he uses a lot of the same things she does and has an actual place. She's been practicing like crazy on her dollies. She diapers them (fairly well, I must say), rocks them, puts them to bed in the bassinet and closes the door, telling me to "shhh, because Dolly is sleeping." If we're in the car (without Kaleb), and a dolly is tagging along, she insists I put her in the other carseat. She's very responsible about all of this, and I'm sure will continue to be so--at least until Finn is big enough to start taking things of "hers." Hopefully it will help that I started months ago to declare pretty close to everything in the house as mine in an effort to get her to relax about Kaleb using some of the toys. Madie owns very, very few things in this home, as does, according to her, Dad. They can be paupers together, I guess. 

The Madie Diaries

Swimming:
The days have been warming up a bit more, making the pool a more desirable activity. Mal and I have decided not to enroll Madie into swim lessons until the fall, when things start cooling down a bit. Our main goal this summer is to just get her excited about going in the pool, build her confidence in the water, and make her somewhat independent (enter water-wings). We go just about every day after I get home from work. She is almost to the point to where I can let her go, but she doesn't quite want to let go of me. Pretty good for a weeks work. She isn't the type that will jump two feet in. She is definitely a 'baby steps' type of person. I think it's helped that we bought her some pink goggles, pink water-wings, and a couple of new swim suits. She's styling. That's the most important thing, right?

Dolly:
Madie is always thinking about brown and yellow dolly (named by their hair color). Lately, we have been getting a lot of things put together for Finnegan's arrival, and every time she sees a baby car seat, baby bouncer or a pacifier (today's examples), she immediately assumes they are for her dolly's. "Can I use that pacifer for dolly?" as she intently blinks up at us. She is always looking out for their well-being. It's cute.

Commando-eering:
Lately, Madie has refused wearing any panties to bed. Why? We will never know. It's just another one of her odd but funny requests that we play along with. 

Anatomy According to Madie:
I have been naming all of Madies tickle spots after random food items. Her neck, for example, is known as 'cottage cheese'. Her stomach is known as 'tripe' and her calves are 'corn on the cob'. Its really fun to hear her say "No! Don't eat my cottage cheese!"

The Past Little While

I was about to write up another pictureless post when I noticed I had a couple already in a row. If you're not in my family, perhaps you are more interested in my thoughts on some subjects than you are in seeing pictures of Madeleine--perhaps. If you are in my family, you're laughing at me right now for even thinking such a ludicrous thought. So, here are some pictures of what we've been up to the last few weeks.

A couple of weeks ago for family home evening we walked to a nearby park. The evening was cool and the park shady, which after a few hot days was refreshing.

Dada eats Madie's "corn-on-the-cob." 

A most unflattering picture of me heavy with child, but Madie pushing me was just too cute so I'm putting it up anyway.

At the top of a little knoll we spotted a bunny. It was just sitting there in the grass getting a snack. It stayed for some time--in fact, it outlasted Madie's attention span, which, if you've ever heard her throw a tantrum, is remarkably long.

The past couple of weeks prior to this last one were scorchers. So I emailed some friends one morning to let them know we were heading to the splash park. It was the perfect day for it--hot but not so bad the kids couldn't be in the sun for more than 15 minutes.

Madie had such a blast playing with the cups Jessica brought. One thing she loves most about shooting jets of water is how fun it is to hang her bum over one and let it soak her. Then she runs over to me every time to inform me that her "bum is very wet!"

A couple Saturdays ago--since Mike was out of school for a couple weeks--we went to the zoo as a family. I don't think we've done that since last year. Madie and I have been with friends and visiting family members while Mike's been at work, but we've have been just the three of us in a long time.  

An old--I mean old--tortoise. The keeper said he's about 120 years old and could live another 30 to 80 years.

 It was a great day for the zoo because all the animals were out and very active. I don't think we saw one enclosure that didn't have a visible occupant--we even spotted a lion off under a tree. It was awesome! He was roaring very loudly over and over--I don't know what was up, he was just lying under a tree--but it was cool!

Madie and I watching the tortoises.

 I always think it's funny to watch Madie observe a variety of animals over a short period of time. Unlike most young children--or even adults--she's far more interested in things like reptiles and fish than she is in the more popular things like otters and elephants. I think the only animal that beats them out are giraffes--she loves the giraffes.

Madie lookin' too cool in her shades. This girl has a serious celeb stare.

Parents Say The Darndest Things

Five things I never imagined in my wildest dreams I would be saying:

1. "You can cut the paper with your scissors if you promise not to put them up your nose again."

2. "Did you bite on this glowstick?"

3. "Please, only spit on people who want to be spit on." (Side note: supposedly there are people who want to be spit on.)


4. "Don't spit when you're angry. Spitting during the spitting game is one thing, but spitting because you're angry is not okay."

5. "Please, don't stick your head in the wheel well."

What's your craziest sentence?

Bully

We went to a splash park today with some friends. For a while we were the only ones there. The kids had fun running in the fountains and in the little streams. When I had decided we had about a half-hour left, some more mothers and their children came, mostly little girls in bright pink swimsuits. 

I was sitting at a table while my friend pushed her sons in some swings. We were chatting back and forth. I looked over now and then to watch Madie running with another little girl through an arch that shot water into it's center. They seemed to be having fun, and I was very pleased that Madie was playing with someone she didn't really know--that's rare at best. 

After they had been playing together for ten minutes or so, I looked over to see the little girl (who was quite a bit smaller than Madie--she looked about two) give her a good shove and yell at her. Madie stood there for a minute, probably trying to understand what happened. The little girl came up and pushed her again. She yelled at her and pushed her until Madie finally turned tail and ran to me. I heard the girl's mother say her name, but that was about all that happened: she wasn't called over for a discussion, she wasn't asked to say sorry, she wasn't even scolded. She just kept playing in the arch. 

Madie was, understandably, upset. Here was our conversation:

"Mumma, she pushed me."

"I know, I saw. I'm sorry, honey. You know what you should do when kids push you?"

She shook her head.

"You should look at them and say, 'Don't push me. I don't like it.' Can you say it to me? Let's practice."

We practiced that a couple of times. Finally she felt better and headed back to the arch. Honestly, this surprised me. She's usually so shy that if anything at all embarrassing or even just surprising happens, she doesn't go near it. But as she got close to the arch, the little girl turned on her again and ran at her with a horrible face, screaming at the top of her lungs. Madie turned and ran back to me. Again, the little girl received no reprimand. This time I didn't even hear her mother call her name! What was this woman doing?! 

I eventually convinced Madie to go back with me this time, promising her the little girl wouldn't do anything to her while I was present. I was right--the little girl laughed and played even close to us without ever turning on Madie. Madie was, of course, still wary, but she did have fun playing with me the last five minutes. 

Mike and I don't want Madie to be so shy it keeps her from doing things she likes to do. And we'd like her to learn to stand up for herself without needing one of us there all the time. This was her first bullying incident, so obviously I wasn't expecting her to go in with guns blazing this time around. And what the little girl did, albeit unacceptable behavior, isn't even what bothers me the most, it was the mother! If the bully and victim were switched, and I had seen it (like she obviously did), I'd have Madie away from that splash park so fast she wouldn't know what hit her. And I'd have her apologize. The first time. And if it happened a second time we'd be gone. (Hey, I'm all about giving second chances. Just not third.)

My Mother's Day

As I type this Mike is brainwashing Madie into using her new water wings the next time we go swimming. She likes them, but she has a tendency to suddenly change her minds about things when it would really be convenient for her NOT to, so she's sitting with him watching youtube video after youtube video of children with water wings.

This morning, I awoke to Madie calling out from her room because she was uncovered, and as I jolted awake--totally oblivious of date or time--Mike just about attacked me back onto the bed.

"Stay down!" he said.

I cluelessly obeyed--he's always welcome to get up with Madie--and five minutes later it occurred to me why he reacted so violently: Mother's Day.

He came in afterwards and slipped on his socks and shoes. He had told me the night before he was going to go early to his garden plot (at his work) and water the plants. He brought me back a handful of HUGE roses and irises. They're sitting in a vase Madie and I painted together a few months ago.  Madie just found out what a rose is (rather than just flowers in general) and she was very excited to see three enormous ones sitting on the table.

While he was out, I got up and worked on my lesson for Relief Society, which, I am happy to say, seemed to go well. I was assigned to give kind of an introduction/overview/informal training on the new visiting teaching standards. What I didn't want was to give a lecture, and hope I achieved that.

After Mike got back, he set to work making breakfast and I went in to get Madie up. I lifted her up and took her back to my bed with my amazing pregnancy pillow and we snuggled until she woke. Then we came out to find popovers just finishing up in the oven. I even allowed myself to eat one with strawberry jam. I haven't had anything like strawberry jam for months and months. We went for a good long walk when we were finished (after I got home, my hips told me it was really too long--I was sore for the rest of the day) and my blood sugar reading was fine. In fact, it's been fine all day, which I guess was God's gift to me today. Really, I couldn't have asked for a better one. It was great to be able to enjoy a sliver of cheesecake at the end of church and not worry too much about a spiked reading.

For dinner, Mike grilled some salmon and cooked up some roasted red potatoes with rosemary and some sautéed asparagus. Oh, it was delightful. Almost as delightful as the happy game of hide-and-seek we played after. (Video to come--but probably on Facebook.)

I love being a mum, and I am grateful to have had the mother I did. We haven't always seen eye-to-eye, but she's been a good example to me of what I hope to be and how to get there. I'm also thankful for my mother-in-law. She always makes sure to get me a gift--this year it's a cookbook from her ward, and I'm excited to try some things out!--but really, it's hard to beat the gift that is Mike. He's the kindest, and by far the most thoughtful person I have ever known, and a sense of humor to boot! So, thanks, Karen!

And thanks to all the women in my life who have stepped in as mothers (legally and informally) throughout my 25 years. You've all made differences--big and small--in my life.

First Timers

Today has been good. It was beautiful out--a little hot around dinner time but not atrocious once I sat down under the fan. Madie never took her nap, but she did have her quiet time (I require an hour, so she just plays in her room if she won't sleep), and after she came out we read some books she got with Mike at the library yesterday. It was nice to spend some time with just Madie while Kaleb slept. We usually only get a few minutes before she goes down or he wakes up, but today we had an hour or so.

It was a good day for trying new things: for supper I made a pineapple quinoa salad. I really liked it, even though it didn't have a ton of time to chill so it was still a little warm. I think if it was cold it would be the perfect summer dish, but warm pineapple is also delectable, so I'm really not complaining.

After dinner while Mike was making granola (oh the heavenly smell!!), I made my first batch of soap! It's a simple hand soap recipe I found on Pinterest--I'm trying to get away from excess packaging and chemicals around the house without going entirely broke. I found all-natural Tom's of Maine bar soap on sale at Target: 2 for $3.25. To make a gallon of soap it only takes one bar, a gallon of water, and a tablespoon of glycerin. HELLO! That is some cheap handsoap. Anyway, my part is done. Now I just let it sit overnight until it's the consistency of handsoap and pour it into a bottle. And speaking of heavenly smells, just a quick FYI: Tom's of Maine Olive Oil and Vitamin E bar soap smells incredible. I opened it and thought, "O, holy soap! Where hast thou been all my life?!" Just sayin'...

While Mike finished up his granola making (and vacuumed the floor--sweet man), Madie and I went out to the playground for some before-bedtime energy release. She climbed the biggest ladder entirely by herself for the first time, and the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth time. On our way back we broke out her new sidewalk chalk and colored on the top steps leading to our apartment. She thought that was pretty awesome. We finished up with a bubble bath and a wet kiss. 

Sleepless

I made my first blanket a few days ago. You see, Madie had recently received and become very much attached to a faux fleece blanket given her by my mum. Thanks, Grammy!

The fleece blanket (henceforth to be known as Soft Blanket) could keep a Chinese crested dog warm in Antarctica. It was great for winter, but now that it's not hitting freezing at night, Madie was waking up over and over again in the night, swamped in pools of sweat. 

Thanks, Grammy.

After getting up with her being too hot three or four times a night for a week, Mike and I had had it. 

"We need to get her a different blanket," was Mike's plea.

We tried wrapping her up in an afghan from her Great-Grammy Haskins, but it is now too small and would often come up off her feet at night. After waking up twice a night for a week with Madie's feet freezing cold, Mike and I had had it--again.

"What we need is a blanket that is light and big. You need to make it," was Mike's instruction.

So I took Madie to Joanne's--Kaleb tagged along, of course, wreaking havoc on the store and my nerves--to pick out some fabric. I think we're happy with the results.

Pink with white birds and black cages on one side, brightly-colored circles on the other. Both Madie's choices--the girl's got taste.

It's actually a duvet cover, so one end is open with a flap that folds over. In the winter we'll slip a thicker blanket inside and she can stay nice and snug all season long.

For now, we're enjoying full nights of sleep.