s is for sunshine

grandma and big pop gave madelyn a book about florida for christmas (i think?). i am pretty sure that it was intended to make her want to visit florida, but it is pretty dry for a children's book so matt and i didn't read it to her after she first got it. basically there is a historic landmark or endangered animal for each letter of the alphabet with all the background/history/definition sort of information in the sidebar - fun, right?

well this week, madelyn has decided (all on her own) that this is her favorite book. she gets it off the shelf all on her own (we even keep it on a higher self). i had to read it to her at least five times - in a row - at nap time before i decided that i couldn't sit through it one more time and moved on to another book (much to maddie's dismay). this is one phase that i hope passes quickly...

last night matt reminded me of another of maddie's new enjoyments - dancing to the washing machine. this was the first time he had seen her do it and called me over to take a look. i have been having her help me load and empty the washer and dryer lately - really, she is very helpful! and once the washer starts madelyn gets to dancing to the washer's rhythm! it is so funny. i don't know why i didn't think to video it before, but here is a little bit from last night. she is on her way to being done, but you get the idea. she just goes in to stand next to the washer and 'dance'. (excuse the clothes everywhere...)

and now for our latest childproofing dilemma - drawers. madelyn can open all the cabinetry drawers. luckily she isn't quite tall enough to see inside of the kitchen drawers yet so there isn't much attraction to opening them. but the bathroom drawers have opened a whole new world of small items to put in her mouth! she doesn't get much time in our bathroom, so it hasn't been too much of a problem. i did have to empty out the drawers in her bathroom though. so now she just opens them to take a look. what is great is that she closes them when she is done - well most of the time any way.

thankfully maddie turned around a disturbing trend in her napping today by sleeping a total of 4-1/2 hours today (morning 1 hour and afternoon 3-1/2 hours). i have been concerned (and worn out) because for about the past 4 or 5 days, madelyn has only been sleeping 2 - 2-1/2 in the afternoon (or morning) instead of her normal 4 hour afternoon nap. that long nap is essential to my survival. essential. it is when i get most of my focused work done and without it i am having to get up earlier and stay up later trying to get everything done - it was starting to wear me out. plus, madelyn needs that 4 hours of sleep a day. and without it she has been a cranky, fussy girl which is that much more exhausting. but like i said, things took a turn for the better today. wish me luck for tomorrow!

and last night went great in the toddler bed and so did her naps today. she didn't switch ends at all so there was no falling out. hopefully, one fall was all it took for her to learn that lesson. love.