GOOD Morning!

Today was a good day...uneventful....and we are happy (even if this picture doesn't show it)!

Anyway, by now we are used to seeing the..."I'm in deep thought look".

Heartbroken...

Madison is really getting used to the routine of waking up, getting in the "shao waa", getting dressed and she even sits still to get her hair sytled. After she finishes her "baba", she grabs her backpack and kisses Grandma good bye and says, "I love you...bye bye Guy Guy....bye bye Guy Guy". The next part of our routine leads us through the garage into the car and we sing on the way to the school. Fast forward to the classroom.... On this particular morning, Madison takes me to the back of the class to show me the toys, after we play for a little bit, I start to explain to her that Mommy has to go to work now and Daddy will pick you up and you will have a good day. I bend over to give her kisses and part of my 'reassuring routine' and to my surprise she says, "SEE YOU!!!" and turns back to play with the toys! I stand there for a second thinking, "Did that just happen?" I repeat to myself, "SEE YOU?" Ok, Madison, I'll see you later.... [Character exits stage left with brokenheart in hand]

CAMA CAMA CHEESE!!!

I wasn't going to take any pictures today until Madison started saying, "CAMA, CAMA, CHEESE", as we were walking through the door this morning on our way to school. I had to keep clicking, because she kept posing, but she wouldn't look at the camera, until the very last shot (above)! Here she is POSING for the CAMA, saying "CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE!!!!"

Me & My MiMi

Wow! We made it through our second week of school and Mimi has really made me proud! She is learning and growing! Last night she said the vowels all by herself; she also recognized 'Dog' on the 'D' flash card and 'Hat' on the 'H' flash card and she's pronouncing the letters of the alphabet a little better everyday. When I took her to school this morning, she led me around the school and showed me where her nap mat was; where the musical instruments were stored and then she started dancing and singing for me. Madison loves music and really loves songs with heavy bass or drum lines (just like her Mommy does). She absoluetly adores the song, "No One" by Alicia Keys and makes me play it over and over and over and over again....and she sings along too...yes she knows the words! What an amazing child. She is truly the joy of my life and I expect GREAT things from her.

Getting Better at This!

On our way to school...
... and I'm so happy, so very happy...

...uh oh....in deep thought again!

Madison did really well this morning. She didn't exactly want to stay at school, but she didn't cry either! She sat on her cloud and did not try to follow me out. That was impressive, considering she was away all weekend, only attended on Monday and then school was out on Tuesday. This was her first day back after "Fay". I am so proud of her, she is truly getting better at this!

Schools Closed Due to Tropical Storm Fay

Madison did not have school today and she was very happy to stay home with GiGi.

First Official Day of School

Today was the FIRST official day of school for all Floridian children!

Last week we took Madison to school for the half day session so that she could get acclimated; I took her in at 8:30 and picked her up at 12:00 noon. Today I took her in at 8:00am and Daddy will be picking up his little angel at 5:30! That's a long day, but I m sure she will make it. I think she will start to look for me around noon because I always came while she was having her snack. I am so worried today...I think I've figured it out....my mommy is going to take me to school again today!
I look so concerned! If I keep this look on my face, maybe she will let me stay home with Grandma?

My Weekend away from School

Yippee! No School today!
"Everybody keeps saying that I look like my Mommy as a little girl with my hair like this".I love wear my Melting Pot hat when I watch the Backyardingans. I put my hat on because they have their cowboy hats on and we sing, "Yip, yip, yip, yip do the worm and polka!"
I love spending time with my Daddy watching the Backyardingans and eating grapes!

Sometimes, I just put on my hat and run around the house saying, "Hee Haw!"

We purchased Pizza as a Saturday evening treat and to our surprise, Madison got into the box and started nibbling away at a slice! We quickly removed the pepperoni's...I didn't mind! Boy did I do damage to that pizza!

Hmmmmm....it's good! Ok, that's enough, Mimi!

T.G.I.F.

Wow! Thank God it's Friday! If you would have asked me on Monday, I would never have thought that we could have made it through this week! I am especially proud of Mimi, she has really adjusted well to Pre-School. She's learned so much and everyday is a new adventure! She may cry in the mornings when I drop her off, but by the time I pick her up and get her home, she's showing us everything that she's learned during the day. This past week, our cousins Cameron, 10 and Courtney, 13 have been at the house during the day. After school, Madison gathers us all in the kitchen, including "GiGi" (grandma) and watches us closely to make sure that we are following her lead. First she marches in place and says "1...2...1...2...1..2..."; then, "turn-around...clap....clap....clap...."; next she puts her hands behind her back and says, "twist...twist...twist..." She then reaches up in the air and then reaches to the floor and says, "up...down...up...down..." If one of us stops for even a moment, she immediately comes over to us and gives us proper instruction!

We already see the benefit of putting Madison in pre-school. In just one week, she's really learned a lot. She's gotton accustomed to the routine fairly quickly; even her tantrum on Thursday showed that she was getting used to the way things were done. We are very proud of Madison. Have a GREAT weekend!

We made it through the week!

I was so very happy on my way to school today!

I am a big girl and I insist on carrying my 'heavy' lunchbox!
Oh no! We're going back again?
Ok, I think I can get into the swing of things as long as my Mommy is nearby.

Mimi's masterpiece...

When I went to pick up Mimi this afternoon, she was so proud of her artwork and she immediately handed it over to me!

Temper Tantrum

I arrive at the school half hour early, just to hear my child screaming on the top of her lungs! Many thoughts are going through my mind as I am slowly approaching the class room. All of the children are pointing at me and saying, "Madison, Mommy....Madison, Mommy!" She makes her way through the crowd, still crying, eyes squinted and arms outstretched wanting me to pick her up. I give the teacher a puzzled look and I lean down to pick her up and the teacher starts to explain that Madison is upset because they didn't go outside today ('sss-eyed' in Mimi-language) due to inclement weather. Boy was she mad! I was told that she threw herself on the floor and kicked off her shoes after being put to sit in a chair to calm down. So I pick her up and my mind is racing...what do I say...boy this is embarrassing...where is my mother when I need her....why couldn't Gordon be here right now....what do I say to her...why is this happening...I know they are watching me to see how I respond....how do I respond to acknowledge her frustration, but at the same time get her to understand this behavior is not acceptable....all of these thoughts are ruching through my mind and the same time. The teacher sits next to me and whispers, "I didn't know she had that in her...she is so cute, tiny and dainty". Meanwhile, Madison is getting louder and louder and the children are all observing her breakdown. So I bravely say, "Madison, this is not the way we behave when we are upset. We use words to express our frustration. " I go on to say, "You will not always be able to go outside; some days you will and some days you won't" ...You can't get what you want when you want it....who am I fooling? Well then I top it off with, "Madison, stop it! I will not tolerate this behavior. Come on we are going home!" Pretty good huh? So we head outside and the pressure is off (of both of us, I might add)...and we walk to the van, hand in hand......in silence. When we get home, I sit her down and explain to her that she's not in trouble and I still love her, but her behavior is not acceptable. When I ask her do you understand? To my amazment she shakes her head and says, "ok". I scoop her up, kiss her up give her her 'ba-ba' (milk in a sippy cup) and put her down for a nap! Whew, what a day! I am glad that is over....now off to work I go!

Third Day of School

" Mmmm.....bananas...bananas...mmmm...!!!"
I was very excited to get dressed, have my hair styled and get in the van, however....
...by the time I got to the school, I was very worried that Mommy would leave me there again! Oh no! "Grandma, please don't let Mommy take me inside again!"

After School Special

Madison was so excited to see her cousin Cameron yesterday. I took him with me to pick her up and she immediately held his hand as opposed to mine as we walked to the "Mimi Van". How cute is this picture of the two of them?

This is truly her "After School Special".

The Second Day of School

In the car on the way to school with a SMILE on my face!

Okay, I was here before, right? I think I know where I'm going....

The second day was a little easier on both of us, I did not cry and Mimi only cried for a couple of minutes. As we arrived at the school today, Madison said, "Hooray!" We walked to the door and as it opened, she walked right in. As she started down the hallway to her classroom, she realized what she was doing and she immediately did an about face and bolted for the front door! When she got to the front door, she looked at me and said, "No, come!" I somehow convinced her to go back inside and as her teacher greeted her and I made my exit, Madison started to cry. Thankfully she only cried for a couple of minutes and very quickly got into the swing of things!

Mimi's First Day of School

I am writing this trying to see the monitor through the tears. Why am I crying? Well, today was Madison's first day of school. I can't believe that this day has come! She is growing up so fast. Gordon, Annah, my Mom and I (the whole clan) drove her to the school. This picture looks like, "are you sure you wanna take me in there?" The first thing Madison did as she walked into the classroom was point at the chair and say to the teacher, "sit?" Then when she realized we were leaving, she turned away from the teacher and started to cry. We said our goodbyes and started to walk out and her cries got louder. We went into the welcoming area and then I started to cry! One of the teachers consoled me. I kept crying. Then one of the parents hugged me and said, "I know what you are going through. She's in a good place. She's gonna be ok". That made me feel a little better. Gordon was happy that Madison did not react the way he did on his first day of school, tearing the place up asking everyone in sight, "you see my sister Janice?" - then escaping from the class to go and sit on the rock outside the school with his red 'knapsack' on his back. Last night, Mom and I drove over to the school and sat in the parking lot and we prayed. We prayed that God would protect Madison and keep her safe. We prayed over the school and for the teachers. Gordon and I also prayed before we went to bed. That was comforting. I know that God will protect her. She is in a good place. She will be ok. WOW...our baby is growing up!

First Visit to the Library

Oh wow! This place is pretty cool!
Look at me on my tippy toes. I can bearly reach the table.
This book is good.
Okay, I'll put this one back!

Ahhhh...Dr. Suess...just right!