a few of my favorite things

after the "rat tail" post i realized that there are some other players in madelyn's life that i have not yet posted about and that just wouldn't be right.

"bear" the bear

madelyn will snuggle with almost any stuffed animal, piece of fabric, paper, stone, well - anything in order to suck her thumb before going to sleep, but there is one special animal that has a place above all others - "bear". madelyn has chewed most of his nose off and seems to have started on one of his feet. she definitely favors his ears, but will happily hug him whenever they are reunited. we keep bear mainly in the crib, but he does make a few appearances elsewhere in the house if she is feeling the need to have him join her after a nap. when playing in her room she will often try to pull bear through the bars and when that doesn't work she just holds her ear and sucks her thumb while standing next to the crib.

sticks and stones

it began with the sticks, but the obsession now is rocks! madelyn started gathering up all the sticks she could hold in one hand while playing at the park. she won't carry them in both hands for long, they have to all fit in her right hand. earlier this week she was in need of a distraction while i was working so i pulled some rocks that i picked up on the beach in san diego off my bookshelf. it is as if i introduced her to her soul mates! she carries at least one of them with her everyday from the time she first finds one in the morning until she gets ready for bed at night. she hold them through meals, walking around, while climbing, riding in the stroller, playing at the park, swinging, you name it and she does it with at least one, but most likely two rocks in her right hand!

vegetable steamer

another odd favorite is my vegetable steamer 'basket' (at least that is what i use it for). she opens the cabinets to look for it because it is kept towards the back of the cabinet. and now that she can walk, she has found that she can carry it with her. i think that this one as a favorite will be short lived because it isn't as mobile as her rocks. but i have kept it fresh by putting her rocks in it and closing it up so that she has to open it to get the rocks out.

and here she is holding her favorite of the rocks and bear while laying next to the kitchen table looking out the sliding doors at the dogs. she was already bathed because her dinner had gotten a little messy and matt and i were still eating so she was just hanging out waiting for story time. and she got herself into this position. it was funny because she was circling the table like a shark then found a rock, got bear and laid herself down while she waited. walking has done wonders for her patience!