31 July 2014

While playing in the pool, Madelyn finally got brave and jumped off the side of the pool and dunked herself underwater. Each time she did something after a lot of drama leading up to it, she would exclaim:

"I did it!"

30 July 2014

We let the girls play in the fountain at Broadway at the Beach as the last thing before we left there today. As we were leaving to change them out of their wet clothes, Madelyn asked:

"When can we come back to play in the sprinkler?"

29 July 2014

As the girls were getting ready for bed:

Me to Madelyn: You're very tan and a little pink.
Madelyn: That's because I'm full of sunshine!

28 July 2014

First

Someone needs to learn to pay attention to her surroundings. While sitting at the edge of the water but far enough in for some of the waves to break near her:

Tony: Madelyn, I think you're too close to the waves.
Madelyn: What?
A wave smacked Madelyn in the face.
Tony: I said, 'You're too close to the waves.'
Madelyn: What?
A wave smacked Madelyn in the face.

Repeat a couple more times....

Second

While out to dinner, Alyson kept squealing and being loud. Madelyn's thoughts on how to handle the situation:

"We're going to need to put a cage around her mouth."

27 July 2014

While playing in the waves with Tony on a sandbar where the water was maybe 1.5 feet deep:

Madelyn: The water is very deep.
Tony: No, it really isn't very deep.
Madelyn: But, Daddy, the water is very, very...
Tony, interrupting her: No, the water is not very deep.
Madelyn: I wasn't going to say that! I was going to say that the water is very, very wet.

26 July 2014

On the way to North Myrtle Beach, we stopped at one point at a McDonald's so that Madelyn could go potty. Before we left, I got milkshakes as a treat.

Me to Madelyn: Do you want a small chocolate milkshake?
Madelyn: No. I want something with more sugar!

The cashier burst out laughing at that.

25 July 2014

For all of July, we have been having Madelyn cross off the days until we go to the beach. We leave tomorrow. After she crossed off today and counted the days left she started jumping and dancing around:

"One more day left! One more day left! Woo hoo!!!!!"

When she got upstairs:

"Alyson, are you excited? There's only one more day left until sun and sand and water!"

24 July 2014

After the gazillionth time Madelyn interrupted us talking, Tony and I were trying to explain more about patience and not interrupting. Madelyn was explaining her understanding of it back to us:

"And if Alyson and I are talking about birthday parties we're gonna go to and mommy interrupts, we'll say, 'One moment, Mommy.'"

23 July 2014

Part of dinner tonight was edamame that was from our garden. Madelyn was having fun inspecting her pods and pulling them apart to eat them. Alyson gets hers already out of the pods.

Madelyn, holding up an edamame pod with four beans in it: Wow! Look! It's a four podded edamame!
Alyson, holding up a single edamame bean to show us: Wow!

22 July 2014

Random observation and phrasing of a 4.5 year old during dinner:

"We all have creamy skin. I reasoned it up into an idea."

21 July 2014

Today was Alyson's 18-month check-up. We were in the exam room at the pediatrician's office that is modeled after a train station. Madelyn was playing on the train engine examining table.

"I'm on a train ride to Hawaii!"

That's one long train ride.

20 July 2014

First

Telling us what she wanted to get at Starbucks after Mass (which isn't actually what she ended up getting):

"I'm going to let my hot chocolate cool down because I know it's chilly cool outside. I mean chilly hot."

Second

Looking at her LEGO cruise ship:

"There's even a hair salon on here! Cruise ships have everything!"

19 July 2014

While playing with Caroline today:

Caroline, trying to get Madelyn to ride one of their PlasmaCars: Here, Madelyn, ride this.
Madelyn, looking skeptically at the car: No, I'll be the stop light! (running off) Red light!

18 July 2014

While watching TV:

Madelyn: Grandma! Guess what!
Grandma: What?
Madelyn didn't answer her and focused on the TV. Grandma got annoyed at being suddenly ignored like that.

Later in the day at another time when the TV was on:

Grandma: Madelyn! Guess what!
Madelyn: What?
Grandma ignored her and pretended to focus on the TV. Madelyn started to get mad.
Grandma: See, it isn't very nice, is it?

17 July 2014

We've been trying lately to get Alyson to say more words, so we are pretty frequently identifying things and trying to get her to repeat what it is. We were doing this at dinner and Madelyn decided to chime in:

Madelyn while flapping her arms like a chicken: Alyson, can you say "bawk bawk bawk"?
Alyson, copying her sisters arm movements: Bawk bawk bawk!

16 July 2014

We have a little backseat driver on our hands. While stopped at a traffic light:

Madelyn: Mommy, I don't see the... <yawns>
Me: You don't see what?
Madelyn: Nothing, I was yawning.
Me: You started saying something while you were yawning.
Madelyn: Oh, yeah, I was just going to say that I didn't see the red light, but then I saw it.

15 July 2014

Pretty much in one breath during dinner:

"I drank from her cup and she drank from my cup. We have opposite colors for cups and plates. How many movies will we need to take to the condo?"

Four-year-olds can be so random.

14 July 2014

Madelyn finally noticed the LEGO Store bag in the living room from Saturday.

Madelyn: There's something yellow with red on it in the living room.
Me: What do you think it is?
Madelyn: I don't know. Where is it from?
Me: The LEGO Store.
Madelyn, getting excited: Is it the LEGO Movie?
Me: No. What else do you think it could be?
Madelyn: I don't know.
Me: It's LEGOs.
Madelyn, trying to get the box out of the bag: What LEGOs did I buy?
Me: You didn't buy any LEGOs.
Madelyn: Well then who did?
Me: Daddy.
Madelyn: Oh.

13 July 2014

With every game on the boardwalk today:

"I want to play that game! How do I play it?"

12 July 2014

First

When Bill and Amanda got to our house, Tony and I didn't leave right away. We wanted to make sure Alyson was comfortable enough, and we needed to show them a few things. Madelyn got impatient.

"When are you leaving?!"

Second

As reported by Bill and Amanda:

Madelyn was sitting and playing when she suddenly jumped up and started dancing and wiggling around.

Amanda: Do you need to go potty?
Madelyn: No! I'm trying to get out my wedgie!

11 July 2014

Even though she knew Bill and Amanda are coming over tomorrow to watch them, Madelyn just realized today that Tony and I won't be there. We are going out to dinner.

Madelyn: What are you going to go?
Me: Daddy and I are going to have dinner without children.
Madelyn, giving me a look that said "why would you want to do that?": Why?

10 July 2014

Generally speaking, Madelyn does not like meat unless it's highly processed, unhealthy stuff or shrimp. Imagine my surprise when she finally tasted the peach glazed chicken I made for dinner.

"I love it! It's really sweet and peachy! Can we have it for dinner again tomorrow?

09 July 2014

Alyson was standing in the kitchen pointing to the huge container of animal crackers.

Alyson: Ehhh!
Me, knowing exactly what she wanted: I'm sorry, I don't understand "Ehhh".
Madelyn, running in from the living room: I'll find out what she wants! I speak baby. (To Alyson) Eh ehhh eh eh eh?
Alyson, answering her and vaguely pointing in the direction of the snacks: Ehhh!
Madelyn, opening the cabinet with the baking supplies that they are allowed to play with: Okay, here you go. You can play.

08 July 2014

Madelyn wanted to play some game she made up with me making scary animal sounds. She told me:

"This is the scariest animal sound ever: 'a ring a ding ding'."

(I thought that died months ago.)

07 July 2014

Alyson was walking around with Madelyn's bag of Easter candy. I wanted Madelyn to get it back from her.

Me: Madelyn, get your candy from your sister unless you want her to eat it.
Madelyn: No! She can't open Ziploc and you're not going to teach her how!

06 July 2014

Someone is a little collector. First, at Home Depot:

"Can I keep this rocks for my rock collection?" as she picked up some rocks that had fallen out of a torn bag.

And, then, while playing with our neighbor:

Madelyn: Look at this leaf! I'm going to keep it for my Fall leaf collection.
Me: Why don't you wait until Fall and get leaves that have actually changed color?
Madelyn: Oh, okay!

05 July 2014

Noticing that the reusable Starbucks cold cup Tony was going to use today had a flat lid instead of a domed lid:

"Wait! Why doesn't that one have a lump?"

04 July 2014

First

Telling me how much she liked the blueberry banana baked oatmeal we had for breakfast this morning:
"You can make it again on Friday or Monday! Or on Tuesday grandma can figure out how to make it!"

Second

Over and over while watching the fireworks:
"Is that the finale? When is the finale? When will the finale be over?"

Third

While listening to the Wicked soundtrack:
Madelyn: Who is the wizard anyway?
Tony: I don't know. 
Madelyn: Maybe he's a fish.

03 July 2014

While looking at the Netflix App on the iPad:

Madelyn, pointing and seeming to recognize something in the kids section of the app: Oooh! Oooh! Oooh!
Tony: What is that?
Madelyn: I don't know.

02 July 2014

Madelyn's wisdom during the thunderstorm we had late this afternoon:

"Don't worry! The storm will pass once we're through it."

01 July 2014

The girls were playing dress-up and Madelyn was pretending it was Alyson's birthday. She kept insisting that Alyson wear the "birthday tiara."

Madelyn: Here, Alyson, put on the birthday tiara.
Alyson started to run away from Madelyn.
Madelyn, chasing after her: Wait! You need your tiara!