Yesterday at the library Madison climbed up to the card catalog computer and said, “I play checka email!” Then she dragged the mouse around and when it went over a link to turn into a hand she said, “Oh! A hand!”
She used to wake me up every morning by saying, “Mommy, where Daddy go? Daddy at work! Wanna him come home see you.”
Then she started saying, “Mommy, want cheerios and yogurt, tease!”
But this morning she said, “Mommy, I wanna high-five you.”
Then she picked up my hand and slapped it. Then she said, “Mommy, I wanna eat your face.” And she proceeded to pretend to eat my cheek.
I talked to J last night and got to tell her about much of the cuteness. (J is coming over on Sunday and wants to cook us dinner! Awesome! Her current apartment isn’t baby proof enough for us to hang here but she’s been wanting to share some of her new recipes with us.) I also told her about yesterday when Madison ganged up with another sneaky toddler to conquer the drinking fountain. They were trying to figure out how to get drinks instead of just splashing around in it and getting their sleeves all wet. (This was during Noah’s gym class when the moms sit in the hallway and gab and some of them more skilled ones — not me — knit.) So they finally figured out to drag a set of heavy wooden steps over and climb up them. They’re like clever little monkeys.
I know from talking to J’s dad that Madison is J all over again with the talking and the smarts but I get the feeling that Madison’s much more mischevous.
Madison absolutely adores her toddler-friend’s big brother. He’s the one she talks about in that family and when she saw him, she ran over and planted herself right in front of him, gazing up at his face. He dutifully patted her on the head. She turned to me and said rapturously, “K patta me head!”
I have two kids and a delightfully odd husband, Brett. My children are Noah (born to us in 1997) and Madison (born to her first mom, Pennie, in 2004 and brought to our family through a domestic, open adoption). They are my inspiration and also the reason I don't get more done around here.
I'm a writer and sometimes I get published, which is a nice thing. I write for joy, I write for money and when I'm very lucky, both things happen at the same time. My work appears in national publications including Yoga Journal, Disney's Family.com, Utne, Wondertime, Brain Child and Salon. Currently I am working on a book about my daughter's adoption and seeking representation for the proposal. I also own Smart Cookie Communications with my husband.
Lisa V
January 27th, 2006 at 10:05 am
Mason adores a friend’s 11 year old son, Noah. He picks up change from around the house and says “it’s for Noah.” He calls him his best friend. At Thanksgiving we went around the table and talked about what everyone was thankful for and Mason said “Noah.”
Lilian
January 27th, 2006 at 11:31 am
Oh, Madison is just A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! I love it when you tell us about the things she says. It makes me want to meet her and talk and play with her!
Thank you SO much for the email with the password to see the pictures, I was delighted to received it, and I will check the pics as soon as I can!
Saartje
January 27th, 2006 at 11:46 am
Adorable. This stage  the talking, pretending, figuring things out, hero-worship stage  is one of my favorites for kids.
gawdessness
January 27th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
Aaaaaah.
Cuteness attack!
THanks.
beth
January 27th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
i just want to say–i’m an academic librarian–and i love that you said:
the card catalog computer
how wonderful! i’m at my desk right now (working in the card catalog computer) and smiling.
i’m calling it that from now on.
shannon
January 27th, 2006 at 4:07 pm
Okay, I’m gonna die of cute overload. I HEART toddlers!