Reflections on the tantrum...

Yesterday, October 27, 2009, I went to pick Madilyn up from school. We had a pick up routine, I had been walking in, saying Hi to everyone, picking up our things, then leaving the room. Before this routine I would sit, she would play, I would chat with teachers and give her some transitional time. I realized, it wasn't working. By the end of the day she is exhausted, it set her over the edge to keep playing and then have me tear her away, it was better to leave and continue on our way. When I walk in she stops playing to greet me, so I used that as a way to leave the school since she had forgotten about playing by that time anyway. Yesterday, I neglected to keep this routine. I am unsure why I did this. Pick up did NOT go well yesterday, needless to say. She was flailing, crying, screaming, running from me, etc when we tried to leave the school. I could feel my blood pressure rising because even though I know WHY it was happening, to be unable to help her cope or deal with the situation is hard to bear. I don't want to "solve" everything for her, coping skills are necessary and she is entitled to get upset and not simply have me "make it better", but yet I was almost embarassed that I could not calm her down. Like I said, I know this happens at her age of development, but being cognizant is not enough for the physical reaction in my body to take place.

Thanks for reading,
Alissa

New happenings...10.26.2009

At bedtime the other night she put a hand on each of our shoulders, brought Steve and I close together and said "Mommy Daddy Kiss"
Puckers and points to where she wants us to give her a kiss
Babbles and puts in real details of things that we have talked about or things that she has experienced
She was tired and said "nite nite, stroller, mommy push"

More later,
The Abelsons

First Haircut 10.22.09

Madilyn had her first haircut yesterday. Her hair is very curly and dry, so it was tangling a lot. We took her to the salon Alissa goes to, they had child booster seats, child capes, etc. She did amazingly well. No tears. She let Alexa comb, wet and cut her hair. Halfway through she wanted Alissa to hold her so, Alissa got in the seat with her. We only trimmed the bottom to get the dead ends off. She was such a trooper! We think she liked being pampered and is probably pretty used to getting her hair done since Alissa has to wet it and put detangler in it each day so the curls don't knot up!

More later.

Madi is hilarious

What makes Madilyn so funny, is that she is starting to do things to get us to laugh, but also, sometimes, she does things naturally that are just so funny, and she doesn't know it.

For example, this morning Madi sneezed. At first I didn't say bless you because I was eating and wanted to finish chewing first. But then I hear "Bless you, Madilyn" She blessed herself!!!!

Alissa

Madi is hilarious

What makes Madilyn so funny, is that she is starting to do things to get us to laugh, but also, sometimes, she does things naturally that are just so funny, and she doesn't know it.

For example, this morning Madi sneezed. At first I didn't say bless you because I was eating and wanted to finish chewing first. But then I hear "Bless you, Madilyn" She blessed herself!!!!

Alissa

Updates 10.19.09

Madi wants us to kiss both cheeks (Steve always kisses both cheeks so when we don't she reminds us to do so)

I asked her to help clean up her toys, she left the room, I thought she wasn’t listening to me, instead she went to her room to clean up the books. Tries to sing “clean up, clean up, time to put the toys away”.

Sings ABC, twinkle twinkle, and counts without help, will just randomly do it.

Steve was carrying groceries, I was pushing her, she found a way to hold Steve’s hand even while he was carrying grocery bags.

Sings with Steve

Begs for Steve to bathe her so he can sing to her in the tub

Whenever Madi starts to whine or cry to get what she wants, we say in a calm voice with hand motions "Calm down, take a deep breathe, relax, use your words please" Now she says, with hand motions "calm down, my words" and then she will ask in a calm voice for what she wants.

At school she loves to take kleenex out of the box. We always tell her "One" and show her one finger and then after she takes the piece we place the box out of her reach. The other day in school she said "Kleenex, one" while putting up one finger, took one piece and then moved the box to where we always put it. She watches everything we do!

More later,

Abelsons

Twins game 10.06.09

What a great twins game last night...We won! We had all sorts of friends who are from other states call/text that they were watching the game too and were happy they were winning. At the end of the game Steve's Dean called to congratulate him on the win!!! Steve will be going to game tonight against Yankees to cheer on the twins with Andrew and on Friday with cousin Hal!

Steve got Madi a new book....http://www.amazon.com/Minnesota-Twins-101-First-Team-Board-Book/dp/1932530975/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254942029&sr=1-5

More later,
Alissa

Swimming 10-3-2009 and Apple Picking 10-4-2009

Madi has been asking to go swimming, and when she asks to go she even does hand motions. Madi had a great swimming class, she really enjoys jumping in the pool!


The pictures above are from Apple Picking with Madilyn's friend from her old school, Sadie.

Some words that make us laugh:

sis down=sit down
please (and says please after almost everything because she thinks she will get what she wants that way)
kahloh=tiger
sunny
bright
potty
soda
cossee=coffee
sone=phone
names most colors
loves to count things
meet you = nice to meet you
caytit=carrot
appooh=apple
Ann-Jan-Aunt Joanne
Anoo=Andrew (says uncle too)
Kaylee= Kari
plant

More later,
Abelsons