Yep

OK...I don't really have any new pictures at this point, but I thought I would express my relief. NO no longer means both NO and YES. Madelyn has started saying yeah and yep (which is another one of those "cutest things evar").

Daddy: "Madelyn do you want something to eat?"
Maddy: "Yep."

Now I just have to work on what she actually wants!

The Bright Moments

So, I had another one of those moments tonight. You know...those epiphany moments that make you want to change your life (and hopefully actually do it).

Maddy is feeling a little sick tonight. She had a little bit of fever today and didn't feel too great this morning. But she made it through and by the time I went to get her from school, she seemed her normal self. Maybe a little clingy. Maybe a little tired. But my growing, surprising daughter nonetheless. We got home and had our dinner (a banana, green beans, and the juice from on of her mandarin orange cups...I ate the oranges, she wanted the juice). She danced to "Bad Boys, Bad Boys" as Cops came on. As I started watching some other inane television show, she began running around to the other side of the couch. I made to grab her hands, thinking she was going to keep running (like usual). Oh no...her little hands found mine and I was swooping her over the back side of the couch her giggling the whole way.

But wait...that's not the good part.

Shortly after putting her to bed and eating my own dinner (down the hall from where she was sleeping) I started to hear her cry. Not something unintelligible or daddy, but "mommy" (which, as you've probably guessed, is her mother as well as myself...I'm just going with it). So, in the spirit of a military general or the CEO of a major corporation, I made a plan before I went in. Well aware that she would be up until all hours of the night, I knew immediately that I was going to bring her out, sit her down on the couch with me, and watch the shows I recorded. Granted, she would be running around looking for things to do (read: things to get in to), but I wanted to be able to comfort her and make sure she was feeling OK.

So, here we are. Two minutes out of the bedroom. On the couch. I try and lay her down on a fluffy pillow so she can maybe think about sitting there with me until she feels sleepy again. Oh no...she's having none of that. She's on her elbows and knees, head down on the fluffy pillow, a small, sad, tired cry escaping her.

Here's the good part...

I pick her up in my arms. She looks at me. Slowly slides her head down on to my shoulder and starts breathing deeper and deeper. I have her little blanket over her and I'm rubbing my hand up and down her back while she sleeps on my shoulder. And I wonder to myself how something so small can be such a bright and shining point in my life.

That's the way to watch TV.

I Love You

I know we're working on the diction and getting her to understand meaning, but I was on the phone with Maddy last night and for the first time ever (to me at least), she said "love you." I don't know about other parents out there, but this is one of those times that I just felt like it had all come together. Does she know what it means yet? Probably not. But it means the world to me.

Diaper Optional Resort

OK...I was warned...I admit it. The last words her mother spoke to me: "I've found that the only way she'll keep her diaper on at night is to put pajamas on her." And knowing full well that my wonderful daughter had NEVER taken her diaper off in the middle of the night while she was at Daddy's house, I thought I was safe.

It was one of those "no nap" days and after going to the store for food and supplies (bananas and doggy treats), she was in her usual state (read: sleeping) about five minutes after getting in the car. I knew it was going to be one of those straight to bed nights when she didn't even wake up on the way in from the garage. I got her some milk, changed her diaper, and put her into bed with her shirt on and...duh duh DUUUUUHHHHH...THE DIAPER!

And what do you think I discovered this morning? My daughter, completely naked (no shirt either) and smelling like a non-alcoholic and cute bum smiling up at me from her bed. THANK GOODNESS she didn't feel like eating anything the night before.

Baby's aren't the only one's learning.

Halloween Finalist

Here's one of the top finalists for this year's "Maddy's Big Night Out." Click on the photo to see the rest of this marvelous photo shoot. As you will see, there were some "technical" difficulties with the head o the butterfly, so they'll either be worked out or we'll have to find another designer who will be able to work better with our model. Any volunteers? Please send a resume with all A-list superstars you are currently working with and all you have worked with in the past.

Maddy's Big Shoes

Just wanted you all to know that Maddy is now trying to fill my shoes. They look a little big on her right now, but I'm sure she's going to far surpass anything I will ever do. I don't know what the two of them are looking at, but you can see more in this series by clicking on the picture.