Sweetest things...

Some sweet, beautiful things....

• Seeing Madi say goodbye to her friends at school with a hug and sometimes kiss on the cheek
• Madi looking back toward her school as we walk away and she names friends and teachers
• When she holds our face in her hands and kisses us
• When she says "Bye mommy, love you, see you soon" before I leave her school
• When she says goodbye and that she loves us when we tuck her in at night
• When she runs to the door when Steve gets home from class
• When she was upset that Nala was crying when we had to give Nala a bath or wants to know why another child is crying
• When we giggle together at an "inside joke"
• When she talks to pictures and says what she is doing, as if she is talking to the person

More later,

The Abelsons

Madilyn's first dentist appointment is set

Being that Madi has all of her teeth, we set up her first dentist appt for March. We are excited.

Madi, almost 2.5 years

Madi's spatial representation (or symbolic thinking) is growing and strengthening. She can recall (as we walked into a restaurant) that the last time we were there she had a sprinkle cookie. She remembers friends and teachers name and lists them off. After school we ask her who was there that day and she names many of her friends. She knows every color and every body part. She remembers where we turn to go to school, and which direction we have to walk to in order to get to the park. Madi now initiates games and pretend play telling me yesterday that "Tiger is leaking". I asked her if we should change his diaper, and this led to a twenty minute game of the diapering sequence. She asks us to read to her, then she picks up a book and will either make up a story based on the pictures in the book she is holding and/or add in the words we are reading from our book to her story.

We saw cousins Abby and Brandon for lunch yesterday with Uncle Andrew and Kari. Then we played outside for over 3 hours swinging, looking for and petting dogs, and walking on Riverside.

Steve is back today from a one day trip to Montreal to interview for the high holidays. We cannot wait to hear if he gets the job!

More later,
The Abelsons

Florida Jan 2010

Bus Rides

We have continued our morning and afternoon bus rides to and from school. Madi loves being on the bus, says hi to people and then says to me "I said hi" and asks for more when we are getting off. Leaving school has been a challenge for Madi. She likes to finish what she is doing and she is 2, so it goes without saying she likes to assert her strength and independence wherever and whenever possible, so oft are heard the words "No mommy, leave".

On walks to the bus, or walking outside in general, the struggle is always allowing her time to see the little things in life that may veer us from the path we are on, yet get to where we need to be on time. Madi likes to stop and look at a fire hydrant, the moon which may be visible in daylight, an airplane, doggy, store front, etc. And while I admire her curiosity and while it teaches me to calm down, slow down, that schedules aren't always the end all be all, life is more important...we still need to be where we need to be on time because I am quite sure my boss would not appreciate "Madi was observing a cab" as a late excuse everyday!

We are astonished at how Madi has been changing and growing. She is so aware of people and things, even when they are out of sight and out of mind! She is a healthy eater, loves veggies and fruit and all sort of types of foods. Sometimes the small parenting "challenges" that come up get erased when we see all the positive she brings to our life.

Thanks for reading,
The Abelsons

Most recently...

We went to Florida for over 12 days for Winter Break with Aunt Joanne and the Abelson grandparents. It was so enjoyable to be together for such a long time. Steve and I loved being with Madi day in and day out.

Madi had a great time in the pool and especially on the beach, making sand castles, "cakes" and putting her feet in the frigid water (pics to follow). Some time in Florida was spent in Ounta Gorda, some days of the trip were spent in Naples. Every evening while we were in Naples we went to the beach to watch the sunset. Each night there was a group of guys who were playing their guitars by the ocean. Madi walked right up to them (the only child to do so each night) and asked if she could play their guitar (they let her do so, even with the $3000 Ovation guitar). She had a blast watching them strum and pick and then tried to do so as well after studying them. She has a musical drive, with a love of playing instruments and singing.

We saw Uncle Dan Monday evening after we got back from Florida (Uncle Dan was in NY on his way to Israel). Uncle Andrew and Kari came over to our place to visit as well.

Madi will be 2.5 on January 21st. She has exploded verbally and physically. She holds a pen with pointer and thumb and loves to write with pens above all other writing materials.

She loves to say "Look at me" when she does or draws something. She loves to copy what we are doing she also says "Stop it mommy, no laugh" when I laugh at something she does. She often looks us in the eye with a serious face when she wants to tell us something important. She plays her guitar while Steve plays his and she makes up songs, facial expressions and all (while strumming). After finishing her milk before bed she will hand us the empty cup and say "I go to sleep" and does so peacefully.

After her first day back to school we asked how her day was and she stated "I have friends".

Madi always finds the moon. She loves looking at the moon and finding it. It reminds us that it is the little things in lfie that bring joy to children and too often that joy is lost in adulthood drama.

She is a great girl to be around and we constantly remind ourselves how blessed we are to have a daughter who is healthy, growing and makes us laugh and appreciate life each day.

Abelsons