maddie diary       spring 1999

up to two years old

this quarter
     - tantrums
      - singing
      - phone conversation
      - potty training 1

size
     - 34.5 inches
      - 29 pounds

activities
     - easter party
      - birthday party

interests

      - farm emergency
      - barney

Tantrums (4/2)
Maddie's had a cold or allergy recently, and she has been insanely demanding.  Any setback, and request unmet, and she's bawling.  Even legitimate alternatives (You can't play in the kitchen sink, but you can play in the bathroom sink) are met with immense frustration.

Family Circus Quip of the Month
We were in the back yard, and Augie made a pile-- I had her stand back and respect his space.
When he was done, she followed him inside.  I eventually went inside and found her following him with a diaper wipe.  "Change Augie".  I advised her against it.

Happy Birthday to the World
Happy Birthday is sung constantly.  in the tub, I am asked to sing Happy Birthday to every person she knows, followed by characters, followed by the cup and the shampoo.  She can sing it pretty well-- a little off on the notes, but the phrasing's pretty good.

Her First Phone Conversation
I called home from work.
Me: Hi sweetheart, what did you do today?
Her: Nonna and Poppa.
Me: Did you play?
Her: Yeah.
Me: Did you play with toys?
Her: Yeah.
Me: Did you play with dolls?
Her: Yeah.
Me: Did you play with Cody? (Note: Cody is a Barney character who has a psychosexual hold on her)
Her: Yeah.
Me: OK, I love you.
Her: Buh-bye.

Sharing (4/21)
We went to the playground yesterday, a few days after I talked to her about sharing.  She saw a kid in the sandbox and immediately ran back to the stroller to get sand toys to offer her.  Good girl.

Potty (4/21)
Yesterday, she before going to the playground, she asked to go to be changed.  When we got home, she said "Pee".  I found out that she meant she wanted to.  Excellent first step.

Swimming (5/10)
Louise had foot surgery, so I'm on the line for the swimming "lessons".  After three horrible sessions, where she wanted nothing to do with it, she tolerated it today.  It should be fun.

Family Circus Quip of the Month
She ran up to me the other day, saying "Oatmeal fall down!"  She sometimes gets into the cabinets, so I wasn't terribly surprised.  I went into the kitchen to find that she was referring to Augie's oatmeal-like vomit on the floor.

Talking (5/10)
Talking MUCH better now.  She's still more likely to say "dis" (this) instead of describing or calling it by name, but better.  She isn't terribly clear-- you have to listen for key words, strung together with wet-sounding nonsense.-- but she'll describe things, sing songs, recount events.
The other day, I was telling her a story about her stuffed bears, and she sputtered out, "Big Bear was present... bought him for..for..for me!" which was impressive, as I hadn't said anything about purchasing him.