My Dear Madisen

It's been awhile since I updated you on my sweet Madisen.  And I need to write down this stuff before I forget. 

FAVORITES

Food --  Just about anything right now.  I'm having a hard time keeping her full.  But I would have to say that she loves cheese, grapes and Dora fruit snacks.  She will eat those anytime, anywhere and sometimes even at the same time.  Blueberries are a close second.  But really she is pretty easy to feed. 

She is getting pretty good at using a spoon, but doesn't prefer it.  I still can't put a plate in front of her because she always flips it over.  And I hate to admit this, but she still loves her bottle.  It's a big struggle between me and her to get rid of it, but I think I'm just now starting to win.  She only has a bottle when she sleeps, but there is no liquid in it.  But she doesn't care.  She'll take an empty bottle over a full cup any time. 

I constantly worry about her eating lifestyle.  Brent thinks I'm just stupid for trying to get her addicted to healthy foods, but I'm pretty serious about it.  He keeps telling me that she is not on a diet, but I don't see it that way.  I feed her those foods so she doesn't need to be on a diet later.  He is no help to me....he always gives her candy, chocolate, and soda.  Oh well....I guess I'm lucky that she is around me more than him.  I just don't want her fat like me.

Toys -- Madisen doesn't really prefer one toy over another...but I can say that she loves her books.  I really didn't push her into books at all.  In fact I kind of kept them on the shelf mostly because I was afraid that she would tear them apart.  But I can't keep her hands off of them, so I gave in and put them on a shelf so she can reach.  She loves her books.  More than I ever imagined.  There have been many many days that I can't find her and I see her in her room reading her books.  She is so cute about it too.  She'll sit with her feet out in front of her and the book on her lap just flipping through the pictures.  She never gets sick of old books either.  Her favorite book is "Dora" of course and she opens that one about 3 times a day.

Not long ago she loved to play with her ball.  But that doesn't seem to impress her anymore.  She likes to climb on things like her little chairs or pull things with strings like shoes.  Anything that is light and bigger than her, she likes to carry around.  She has 2 stuffed animals that are much larger than her and she likes to carry them around the room and then sit on them.

One interesting thing that she likes to do is sit on the floor right in front of the couch and throw her head back so it bounces off the couch cushion.  She'll do this over and over until her head gets dizzy. 

I have to mention that she loves to play with the dogs too.  She feeds them every day, puts them in their cage, dumps their water out and pulls their hair.  She loves the dogs and even tried to ride Einstein.  She even tries to get them to play with her toys.  She still can't "pet" them, she ends up just slapping them.  But they love her and it's so fun to watch them together.

She is just now starting to like music and dance.  But not often.  She loves to clap just to make noise and always does the "touchdown" signal to make daddy and I happy.

I can't forget to mention her "purse" which is really anything that she can put her arm through.  She carries it around like a purse.  Such a girl...

Routine -- She loves bath time.  I'm not sure if it's the water she loves more, or the being naked.

She also loves when I take her to the library.  She will run to every shelf looking for books.  She is even known by some of the librarians.  She loves to run up and down the aisles too. 

DISLIKES

1.  Brushing teeth although she loves to eat the toothpaste.
2.  Getting dressed.  She would much rather be naked.
3.  The doctor.  But what baby does like him?
4.  The car seat.  Never did and I'm afraid she never will.  Something about being strapped down.

MOTOR SKILLS

Madisen has always been advanced in her motor skills.  Right now she is running and climbing all over everything.  I guess that's pretty common for a 15 month old, but Madisen can also unscrew a cap, pull any lid off, open any drawer no matter the size or shape, open ziploc bags, jump over objects, throw a ball, unzip her PJ's, unsnap her onesie and put on her own clothes. And she loves to play with her mobil over her bed.  She can turn it on/off and switch between songs. I am constantly amazed at how smart she is.

SPEECH

Her is a list of words she can say right now

1.  Her most favorite phrase of all time is "ALL GONE."  She says this every time something is empty, leaves the room or gets thrown away or falls.  I hear "all gone" about a million times a day. 
2.  "nite nite"  She can tell me when she is tired.  I love it!!!
3.  " ba ba" Her bottle...she can't get rid of it
4.  "Dada" everyone is dada.  Even mommy and strangers.
5.  "Touchdown" I wonder where she learned that one
6. "Thank you"  She is just starting to say this so it's a little broken.  But she is getting better at it.
7.  "Mama"  She can say it, but rarely does

Words she knows but can't say
1. Shoes and socks
2. Book
3. go and come and bring
4. Throw away
5. Chair
6. Bath
7. Ball
8. Phone
9. Touch
10. Most easy body parts (eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tongue, feet, leg, arm, hand, belly)
11. High Five
12. Bye Bye
13. Hello

She is the sweetest most amazing baby ever.  I thank the Lord every day for the opportunity to be with her all day and raise her.  She is such an easy going happy baby.   She loves everyone and makes everyone happy to be around.  I really can't believe how lucky I am to be her mommy.