3!

While Madison would love to be 5 so she can ride a bus and go to school, she was pretty happy to turn 3!  We started the day by going to story time at the library and then we went to McDonald's for lunch.  Todd was able to join which was great.  She played with neighbor kids and picked chicken for dinner.  She ended the day with a cupcake. 

Madison is doing well in Michigan.  Our cul-de-sac is filled with kids and there are two girls close to Madison's age.
Madison enjoys a large array of activities.  She loves to play outside, read, play with friends, play games, and do art projects.  Some of her favorite characters are Mickey, Minnie, & Winnie the Pooh.  Favorite movies are Finding Nemo & Frozen. 
Favorite tv shows are Peg + Cat, Daniel Tiger, Thomas, & Curious George

Madison 3yr Stats:
Height - 37 inch, 49%
Weight - 35 lbs, 84%
Clothing size: 3T - 4T

11 Months

This wiggly little boy didn't want to sit still or smile for the camera. He did however, show off his new trick of pointing.  A lot of times while pointing he will say "this".  It's very cute.
Kaden has started to "sing" which is adorable.  If Madison or I start singing, Kaden will start to say "ya ya ya" like he is singing too.  He seems to be very good at copying sounds and noises with his mouth.
Kaden still doesn't officially crawl.  He prefers to roll but he CAN army crawl if properly motivated.  If I hold my iphone closely in front of him and move it back, he will crawl after it.  He also army crawls more on the hard wood and mostly rolls on the carpet.  He has just decided that he can get around faster rolling so he prefers to do that.  
I'm now starting to plan for the kids birthday parties.  The past year has gone fast and I can't believe he is almost one!

                                                                                 Buddies

                                                                            fun with mom

                                                         Under the coffee table, very typical         
                           

A few facts
Weight - 20.5 pounds
Height - 29.5 inch
Diaper Size - 4
Clothing Size - 12-18 Month
Sleeping - He sleeps from about 8pm until 7 or 8am.

left: Madison 11 months, right: Kaden 11 months

From a 2 year old's mouth

Madison's vocabulary and sentences have come a long way this year.  You never know what is going to come out a two year old's mouth.  Since I have a terrible memory, I wanted to write down a few funny/cute things she has said recently.

- Madison: "I want to go to fashion school.  I want to ride a bus."  Kristin: "What do you do at fashion school?"  Madison: "Sing songs."

- Todd: "Madison, you know I love you, right?"  Madison: "Yeah, I love you too.  Mom, I love you too."

- "I want to grow bigger, and bigger, and bigger!"

- "I want to sit here; it's nice and comfy."

- Kristin: "Madison, did you do that?"  Madison: "No, Kaden did.  He's a naughty boy."

- "It's really nummy, mom.  It feels good in my tummy."

- "That's a hopgrasser." Pointing to a grasshopper.

- Me: "Madison, did you finish your chicken?"
Madison: "Yes"
Me: "Are you fibbing?"
Madison: (looking confused) "No, I'm not fibbing. I'm Maddie"
FYI, she was fibbing.

- Grandpa: "I've got your number, Madison"  Madison: "It's two!"

- Me: "Madison, we have a problem.  You're ears don't seem to be working."
Madison: "A, B, C, D, E, F G... they work."
Me: "Ok, then you better start listening."

- After asking several 'why' questions in a row; Me: "I'm think we are heading down a rabbit hole."
Madison: "I want to go too!"

- Madison: "Bunnies eat carrots."
Me: "Yep, what else do they eat?"
Madison: "Waffles.  Bunnies love waffles."

I'm sure there are many more, but those are the one's I can recall at the moment.  I'll add more as they come.

10 Months

Kaden is 10 months old!  He had his top four teeth come in all at once and he was a trooper.  He looks all grown up with 6 teeth.  Kaden is finally starting to get up on his knees.  I have hopes that he may learn to crawl someday ;)  He really doesn't have any motivation to crawl since rolls everywhere.  He can get anywhere he needs to which means I have to be on my toes. 

Kaden loves his big sister and most of the time Madison loves him.  They have started to play really well together.  Madison loves to help me get his diapers or paci, make him happy when he is crying or read him a story.  She is not a fan of him when he pulls her hair which he does at every chance.  That boy loves to pull hair which has resulted in me sporting a ponytail everyday.  I'll gladly have mommy hair if it means I get to snuggle this little guy.

Kaden has started to say mama, dada, no, and he even barks at the neighbors dogs.  He doesn't talk as much when Madison is around, but if you get him by himself, he finds his own voice.

Kaden normally has a big smile on his face.  This month I was able to capture a few of his other expressions.

A few facts
Weight - 20 pounds
Height - 29.5 inch
Diaper Size - 4
Clothing Size - 12 Month
Sleeping - He sleeps from about 8pm until 7am.

left: Madison 10 months, right: Kaden 10 months

Story Time

Our local library has 10 week story time sessions fairly often so we decided to start going in January.  Madison LOVES it!  She sits up in the front so she can see and listens very carefully to the librarian.  They do songs, rhymes and read two books each time.  Then they get stamps on their hand and a craft to take home.  I let Madison pick out a book after each week.  So far, she has picked out a new Winnie the Pooh book every time... for 8 weeks.  This girl knows what she likes.  This also means I have read pooh books at home a few times a day, every day, for 8 weeks.  Good thing they have a variety of Pooh books.
The librarian commented to me how well Madison does and that she is the most attentive in the class.  There are 20+ kids some weeks so I'd say she is doing very well.  I hope this is foreshadowing to the fall when she is in school.  I have my hopes since she tells me literally everyday that she wants to ride a bus and go to school.  It's nice to see my wild and crazy girl calm down and participate/behave in this setting.  We look forward to many future story time sessions at the library!

9 Months

Kaden continues to be tall, but light.  He has two bottom teeth and is working on several on top.  He sits up very well and just started to get up on his knees.  I'm not encouraging him to crawl since I know my life won't be as easy.  He has learned to clap and does it often!  We are now in our new house and Kaden has adjusted well to it.  He is relaxed, happy and such a joy to our family!

A few facts
Weight - 18 pounds 10 ounces (30%)
Height - 29 inches (79%)
Head - 26.6 cm (88%)
Diaper Size - 4
Clothing Size - 12 Month
Sleeping - Kaden either wakes once (goes back to sleep after he gets his paci) or sleeps though the night.  This is MUCH better than the 3 times a night we were having.  He goes to bed between 8 & 9 and wakes around 7:30.

left: Madison 9 months, right: Kaden 9 months

8 Months

Kaden is already 8 months!  Sadly, he is not feeling well today.  He and Madison started the New Year off with croup.  It is terrible to watch him so sick.
He did, however, finally have a bottom tooth pop through!  He also is improving on his sitting without help.  He rolls EVERYWHERE!  He will follow you around the house by rolling.
Kaden loves to say "hi" and wave.  This is a favorite game to play with Grandpa.  He also learned to shake his head "no".

A few facts
Weight - 18 pounds (still!)
Height - 29 inches
Diaper Size - 3
Clothing Size -  9-12 Month
Sleeping - We have not improved much on the sleeping.  He wakes around 3 times a night.  We look forward to getting him back into his own room and bed at the new house in the next few weeks.


left: Madison 8 months, right: Kaden 8 months