Forgotten words

I forgot two words that Madison uses daily.... "thank you" and "cheese". For awhile she has said "cheese" anytime you get a camera or phone out or anything else that might resemble something that would take a picture. Tonight, though, she asked for some cheese to eat.

I keep thinking of words that Madison says that I forgot to list. Today on our way home a couple more popped into my head.... Bite (when she wants a bite of your food), gone (which she uses a d instead of a g), today she said more....

Miss Madison - A.K.A The Monkey

Madison is almost 16 months old. It's crazy how fast the girls are growing. She recently had her 15 month check up and was 19 lbs 10 oz and 29 inches. She is doing well and moving right along. I believe that she has hit all the major gross motor milestones that she will hit. The kid can climb on anything and everything, I mean everything!! She is such a monkey! She nearly gives her daddy a heartache though. She is learning so much and thanks to having a big sister learning some things really quick. Her vocabulary is getting much better and while she can't say a whole lot of words real clear, she can communicate really well. She is starting to put words together and form phrases... for example, she will say; "I got it" "Hi___ (insert mama, dada, ryry)" I done mommy" "Bye-Bye___ (insert a name). Those are the main ones but she will say things just out of the blue and usually just once or twice. Once she said "where daddy go". She tries to put words into sentences, but we can't always make out what she is saying. Her list of words that can she say is growing.... mama/mommy, dada/daddy, ryry, sissy, baby, ball, hi, bye, phone (but sounds like bone), juice, shoes, Ellie (our dog), banana (but you really have to know what she is saying), mine (her favorite word), mimi, papa, her newest that we heard her say tonight was Jimmy (Tom's friend that is staying with us). Then she has the words that hear once or twice and then never again. She is quiet the talker though and always acts like whatever she is telling you is very important. She is learning how to use crayons and other writing utensils. She loves her stuffed animals and babies. She mimics Ryleigh and tries to do everything she does, it's so cute. She picks up on things so quick, it's impressive! She likes to help put away the dishes and knows exactly where the silverware goes. She is starting to understand little things like throwing things in the trash, brushing her hair, putting toys away, etc. She can follow simple instructions.... like get a diaper if I ask her to, or her shoes, throw something away or get a certain toy.

She is the mean one though!! The kid has a temper on her and is so rough and tough. She has recently learned that she can scream when she isn't mad or crying and she insists on doing it all the time. And now that she has figured out how to really scream, her tantrums are even worse!! She is very headstrong and determined and doesn't give up until she gets her way or at least is able to push Ryleigh around for a little while. But she also has a very sweet side to her that I believe came from having a big sister who comforts and loves her all the time. She does a lot of same things as Ryleigh does to her and it's so cute. She adores her big sister and looks up to her!! I love the relationship that they have!

Ryleigh... our toddler going on teenager!

Ryleigh is such a big girl now!! I can't believe how smart she is!! She will be 3 1/2 next month and it's so hard to believe. She is the cutest, smartest, funniest 3 year old I have ever met!! She amazes us everyday and makes us so proud!! She is learning so much at daycare. Ryleigh loves her "friend" Jesus and that makes us so proud! The kid has a vocabulary like you wouldn't believe and uses it every second she is awake!! She loves to talk, she loves to tell stories and she loves to sing. She loves her baby dolls and pretending to be mommy. She is our little mother hen. She is very caring and nurturing and loves her little sister more than anything! She is so good to her and takes very good care of her. She is a great example for Madison too!! Some of things she is learning at daycare.... she count past 20 most of the time, she can count objects and if asked to get a certain amount of something she comprehends it and gets the exact number, she knows her abc's, she can trace her letters and her name, she can cut anything and everything on the line, she can draw her shapes and smiley faces, she knows her name starts with an "R" and recognizes it written out, she knows her letters when asked to look for them... the list could go on. I love her teacher and I am so glad that she learns so much there! She really does amaze us and makes us so proud.

She is 3 though.... she has her moments. She is, for the most part, a good listener, but sometimes struggles to remember how important it is to listen. She can be very hyper and out of control at times and throw some really unpredictable fits. She likes to say the word "no"... which is not tolerated in our house at all, so we usually have a bad moment when she tells us that and then rebels when she gets in trouble for it! BUT, even in all those moments, she is a pretty good kid. Below are some recent pictures.... they really show her huge smile!!

Oh, and she is totally into mommy being pregnant with her baby sister... she can't wait for her to get here!

Mommy and Baby Presley

Baby Presley is doing great!! She is growing and becoming a very active little girl!! My pregnancy is moving right along. I will be 26 weeks next week!! I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going! My last dr appt was last week and everything looked great!! I have to do my glucose test before May 27 (which is when my next appt is). Then it's onto my 3rd trimester and I start going every 2 weeks. Ryleigh is really anticipating the arrival of her new baby sister! I hope to start preparing for her arrival and getting everything I need for her and switching rooms over in about a month or so. I am having just as much fun as I did with the first two girls when it comes to buying things for her. For now, I am just enjoying being pregnant for the very last time! I cant wait to meet our precious baby girl, but I also just want to enjoy the pregnancy!! I have posted the latest belly picture, taken at 24 weeks.

Daddy Update

I thought I would update on the whole gang since I know a few of you that read this do not have Facebook.

Daddy is doing terrific! He was offered a new job a few weeks ago. After much consideration, he decided to take the offer. He was offered the General Manager position at a new dealership that was opening up in Festus, Blackwell Motors. The guy who owns this dealership also owns two others. Tom took everything into consideration when making the decision and decided that the opportunity that this position held was too good to pass up. He has spent the last couple of weeks getting the dealership open, from scratch. Today was there first official day open as business. He hasn't made it home yet, but I am hoping (even with the crappy weather) that the first day went good for him!! We are very proud of him and he has worked hard these last couple of weeks and we know he will continue to do great at his new job. Stayed tuned for further updatews as he gets the dealership going.

Madison's Favorite

I answered these for Madison (with Ryleigh's help)

Color: Well I put her in a lot of pink and purple
Food: Mac n cheese
Fruit: banana
Vegetable: Peas
Breakfast Food: Chocolate chip pancakes
Drink: Apple Juice
TV Show: Dora
Movie: All she ever watches is Dora and Mickey Mouse
Book: Not really into books just yet
Toy: Baby
Shirt: She will wear whatever I put on her
Ice Cream: Chocolate I am sure
Cookie: Sandwhich cream cookies
Snack: Chips or crackers
Season: summer since she loves it outside
Animal: Dog
Stuffed Animal: Any of them... she is getting to where she loves to sleep and cuddle with them.
Singer: Elvis
Thing to do outside: Play, she would live outside if we let her
Sport: Well the only sport that goes on in this house is Nascar
Thing to do with Mommy: Cuddle :)
Thing to do with Daddy: Play and dance to Elvis

Ryleigh's Favorites

I copied this from Sarah's blog....

Color: Pink
Food: Turkey (this is what she said) But she also really likes sausage, corn on the cob, peas and mac n cheese
Fruit: Oranges
Vegetable: Peas
Breakfast Food: Waffles ( Also sausage)
Drink: Root Beer (she really doesnt drink it that much, but everywhere we go to eat she asks for it, places just rarely have it)
TV Show: Dora
Movie: Dora
Book: Bible (not kidding, that is really what she said)
Toy: Dora toy
Shirt: Pink one (who knows which one this is)
Ice Cream: Vanilla
Cookie: Brown (not sure what cookie this is)
Snack: Fruit snacks
Season: Hot
Animal: Froggy (hmmm, I would never have guessed that one for her)
Stuffed Animal: Froggy (she must be on a froggy kick)
Singer: Jesus love Me (that is what she said) But her favorite singer would be Elvis
Thing to do outside: swing
Sport: racing
Thing to do with Mommy: Run with me... hmmm, not sure that will happening anytime soon. lol
Thing to do with Daddy: Sing with daddy.... to Elvis of course!

A Collection of Ryleigh's Funny Stories

I know it's been awhile since I have updated the blog, but I have to share these funny stories before I forget. Then in the next day or so I will do updates on everyone.

A couple of weeks ago Ryleigh was looking out the basement door and starting saying "There is an alligator out there!" I played along. So she wanted me to come see the alligator. When I got to the door, I played the game and said "I think the alligator left." Ryleigh said, "No, he didn't. He is right there." And she pointed down to the ground where there was a LIZARD! It was so funny. I just thought she was playing a game... kind of like "there's a bear" game.

Then yesterday on the way home Ryleigh was full of funny stuff.... here are my two favorite conversations that took place.

We see a lot of horses on the way home from daycare and we usually have atleast one conversation about them. Yesterday she spotted the minature ponies at one house and says to me, "Look at those baby horses." I said, "Yes, I see them. They are cute." Ry: "Yes, they are. But where are the mama horses? Me: "I don't know." Ry: "Oh, I know where they are. Them went to Wal-Mart to get some foods!"

Shortly following that conversation, Ryleigh asked me for a piece of gum. I told her she could have a piece, but it was the only piece she was getting. She asked me why and before I could tell her why, she asked "Because it's bad manners?" I laughed and asked her if she was learning about bad manners at school and she said yes. So I asked her what bad manners were and she replied with this... "No farting!"