Our trip to Costco

Brushing teeth

One of our nightly battles is brushing Maddie's teeth. I try everything I can think of. She uses a toothbrush that plays music and uses nice fruity toothpaste. I usually brush my teeth with her and sometimes she'll let me brush her teeth while she brushes mine. What usually happens, though, is Maddie hijacks the musical toothbrush and runs away from us. Last night Jon decided to try a new approach.

Jon: "Maddie, it's really important to brush your teeth. Otherwise your teeth might fall out" (realizing full well that in several years the plan will back fire when they do indeed start to fall out)
Maddie: Hands Jon the toothbrush and opens her mouth.

Now why didn't I think of reasoning with a 23-month old.

Christmas part 2

Christmas dinner with the Schneiders.



"I love carbs!!!"

ICE!

"When did we move to Northern Minnesota?" (The exhibit is maintained at 6 degrees)



Maddie on the children's slide

An abrupt stop on the carpeting.

Dad going for speed.

Phonebook

Earlier this week I used a phonebook on Maddie's chair to raise her up to our table. You may have noticed this in the pictures of us making cookies together. Well, this morning she opened one of our drawers to explore. When she found our check book I wondered what she was going to do as she ran to the table. She pulled the chair up to the table and climbed on. I assumed she was going to draw on the check book with a crayon until she pulled her plate closer to eat breakfast. That's when I noticed she was sitting on the check book.

I don't think she understood the purpose of the phonebook.

Good news

Jon bought me a pocket USB video camera for Christmas.

Merry Christmas

Maddie with her friends

Maddie with her dogs

Maddie with Pappy

... and Gramma

Presents

oooo, socks.

Present from Uncle Jon.

Mommy and Maddie got matching presents.

except Maddie decided she liked Mommy's vacuum better.

New tricycle

Maddie and I made cookies. I thought she'd enjoy unwrapping the Hershey kisses with me.

Oh wait, the kisses belong in the bowl.

Nope, the kisses are meant for eating.

so is the peanut butter. Mommy finished the cookies by herself.

Dressed for the Christmas eve service.

Christmas morning. Testing out her new drawing table and easel.


and her new table from Santa.



She loves her baby from Uncle Jeff.

Finally, a post! We have had a busy month and a half. We traveled to Cincinnati for Thanksgiving and then flew to Dallas two days later to see the Schneiders. A combination of those trips, Christmas shopping, and a toddler who only takes an hour nap lately doesn't give me a lot of time to blog.

Maddie is good and as active as ever. She's nearing 2 years old so I guess you know what her favorite word is. One night I was reading a book and asked her where the pig was. She pointed at every other animal on the page just so she could say the word "no" before she found the pig.

I had a long grocery list the morning after we returned home from Dallas. Maddie refuses to ride in the shopping cart but I was determined to convince her otherwise. She has walked around the store with me before and it's always a disaster and stressful since she's easily distracted. After trying for 15 minutes to put her in the cart, her screaming her protest,I finally give up and ask Jon to come home early so I can leave her with him. Maddie realizes when I try to leave that afternoon and starts crying and clinging to me. The conversation that follows is:

Jon: Maddie, if you go with Mama then you have to ride in the cart.
Maddie: Bye (turns around and walks away)

I guess she really does hate the shopping cart.