Happy Birthday Madilyn!

Yesterday, June 28th, 2009 we officially celebrated Madi's 2nd birthday!

What a fun year it's been! It's crazy what a difference just one year makes. Last year Madi wasn't walking yet, she had just started saying her first words, and had barely any hair! 

Since then Madilyn's become quite the big girl. She's learned to walk, run, jump, climb, dance, read (by memorization), count (to 20), whine, talk in full sentences, sing, use utensils, drink from a sippy, and then a cup (definitely prefers the sippy still), put on her shoes, and climb up and walk down the stairs by herself.

She's also mastered her shapes (including a recent favorite- octagon), colors, animals, and most letters of the alphabet. 

She has about 10-15 songs (mostly primary ones) that she knows ALL the words to and loves singing them for us!

Her favorite activities are still: reading, drawing, coloring, and building.

While she loves her necklaces, baby, and pink "sparkly" shoes, she's also big into cars, trucks, and balls.  

Madilyn is quite a serious little girl. Here's a few pictures from her 2 year photo shoot (BIG thanks to Melissa)! Notice how Madi only cracked a smile in ONE of the pictures!  

Along with her serious side, Madilyn also has her cautious/ sensitive side. She always seems to anticipate things before they happen and begins crying before she needs to.  For example, when the sky is dark and cloudy, Madi immediately begins asking about the rain and thunder. She has this weird love/ hate relationship with thunder. While she seems to be fascinated by it, she hates to be left alone if she thinks it's going to thunder. I can't even walk up the stairs without her or she'll come running, hysterically crying (to the point of shaking), screaming that she hears thunder! But then she's fine when I'm right there with her.

Madilyn has finally grown quite fond of nursery, she is now doing better with strangers, and can happily say goodbye to mommy when I have to leave; but she still does NOT like the doctor. Well, I guess I should say she doesn't like the doctor when the visit is for HER! I took her in for her 2 year check-up today, and WOW- what a nightmare! She walked back all happy and then saw the scale. I spent the next 45 minutes with a clingy, crying child!  ARGH! Luckily she recovers quickly. We got in the car, I gave her a snack and drink, and then she began talking about her trip to the doctor- like it was a great experience or something . . . "I went to the doctor mama. I got an owie on my finger."  Ya, she had her finger pricked and two shots in her left arm, but that was at the very end of the visit. So who knows why she felt like she had to cry through the entire check-up! 

We sure do love our little girl. I look forward to this next year and all the things Madi will continue to learn and do. 

This picture is significant for only one reason: Madi is actually eating!

Happy Birthday dinner!

Blowing out her candles.

Enjoying her second cupcake! Yummmm. . . . 

Thanks Madilyn for another fabulous year!