notes on the kids

here is a run down of some little things the kids are doing right now...

madelyn
- whenever madelyn and i do something together she says, "this seems like a really good activity for just us girls to do".  i think that this is inspired by our conversations about it being okay for her to be the only 'sister' in our family.
- madelyn's recent catch phrases have been "what i just figured out" or "i have some bad news".
- she just loves, loves, loves to eat at a restaurant.  she will often say, "mom, i was thinking - maybe we should eat at a restaurant tonight."
- she has also decided that papa john's makes the best cheese pizza ever.
- reading is going really well.  she has several books that she can 'read' on her own and 'reads' words on signs while we are out driving.  i know that she can read more than she lets on because she really likes us to read to her, but i catch her when she reads something that she shouldn't or accidentally reads out loud.
- i had to explain "boyfriend" to her a few weeks ago because her friend at school said that he didn't want to be her "boyfriend anymore" and she was very distraught.  i had to explain that while she calls boys who are her friend "boy friend", most people mean one special boy they love when they say "boyfriend".  (she calls the girls who are her friend "girl friend" too.)  i told her that he is probably still her friend and it is okay if he isn't; sometimes there will be people who don't want to be your friend and there will be people that you don't want to be your friend - and that is okay.  i think they are on good terms again now though.

mason
- mason likes to jump/run out and say "boo" to scare you.  what is funny is that he has started counting (out loud) to 10 before doing so.  it is like he has combined hide-and-seek with peek-a-boo.
- mason's new catch phrase is "a long time ago"; whether it was a long time ago or yesterday or just a few hours ago.  he just means something that happened before.
- mason's two favorite animals are the rhinoceros and the lion. (it is also very cute when he says "rhinoceros".)
- mason is SO delightful to have around.  first, he is just too cute (in our biased opinion).  second, he is just super sweet.  generally, he is just good company.  he makes conversation, he is a good listener (mostly) and he likes to help.  he also doesn't complain or ask for food and water the whole time you are out with him.  and he likes to run errands.  it isn't unusual for he and daddy to go out at nap time while madelyn and i hang out at home.

maddux
- maddux' face lights up with delight when he signs something and we understand.  it is so very cute.  he is more excited about signing than talking although he does like it when i understand his "yes" which is more like "esss".
- he is a busy boy.  not naughty or looking for trouble kind of 'busy', but very similar to madelyn in that he just has a lot of energy and likes to be on the move.
- he is getting much better at holding hands in a parking lot and i try to let him do so as much as possible if the parking lot isn't very busy.

i know that i am forgetting things because my pregnant brain just doesn't work the way it should, but it gives you a little taste.  love.