The White House: August 2013

It is so hard to believe that next week it is back to school and summer vacation is over :( I feel like I am going back from maternity leave again and very sad to leave Madelyn. However, we are very thankful for the wonderful summer we had and all the fun things we got to do.

Last week Madelyn and I took our last summer trip and headed to Florida. We met Dad and Dorice at their condo on Indian Rocks beach. To make it even better my best friend Kara got to come down for most of the week. The joys of being teachers :) The week was absolutely perfect (other than missing Derek)! We got a lot of beach/pool time, relaxation and delicious seafood. Madelyn again was perfect on the trip down. Just like last time, many passengers on the plane couldn't believe how well behaved she was.

Madelyn is talking like crazy. I think everyday she has a new word she can say. Her most recent words are "wa-wa" (water, she got a lot of use of this one is Florida as she was obsessed with the pool and beach), on, off, up, dog, duck, cheese, ba-oon (balloon), book, no, and melmo or mo (elmo). Last month we gradually stopped her bottles and now she is drinking her whole milk only out of a sippy cup. I actually think this was harder on me than her. She also got her first training toothbrush and we have started teaching her to brush her teeth before bed. I think she just likes chewing on the toothbrush and eating the toothpaste most:) She has also associated reading a book to bedtime and insists on pointing to the "book" before we turn her music on. She can now point and show you her nose, ears, teeth and toes are. We are working on eyes and belly.

This week I am busy getting my classroom ready, all Madelyn's things together to take to her sitter and trying to enjoy our last week off.