Little Sweet Peas love of crackers

While in Sprouts, health food store this morning enjoying a little protein brownie Major's bright blue eyes were scanning the store shelves. "I see crackers," he said as plain as day! He has just begun creating his own sentences!! What an exciting time!! For so long he has been able to understand, our side of the conversation but now he is entering into a new phase....offering his own side of the story!


For a few months now, he had two word sentences in his vocabulary. His favorite being, "Daddy's truck." "TRUCK" is definately one of his VERY favorite words and things to see with his eyes. Like his Daddy, one food that he couldn't live without is his crackers. He has even gone so far as to bring me the entire box of Ritz crackers and jar of peanut butter into my bathroom while I was putting my makeup on one morning. I guess that was a hint, and someone needed a snack. That's definately his snack of choice!

What a little man he is turning into! He has developed this funny little giggle that he enjoys inserting any chance that he can get! He scrunches up his little button nose, squints his eyes and does his sweet little giggle.

Right up there with crackers, is his LOVE of Elmo!! One of his favorite sleeping buddies is Elmo, he loves watching Elmo on TV and on the computer. He enjoys finding him in books and even on his diapers. We play this little game while I am changing his diaper. We point to the different character and I aske him, "is this Elmo?" When I point to someone else, he does this cute, dramatic "noo---oooooo." Okay, so maybe there was a little coaching involved, but word enthusiasm is fun brings words to life!!

It's hard to believe that Major Maddox will turn two in just three months. Where has the time gone? He just gets sweeter and more personality with every passing month! I love you, my little sweet pea!

18 words (plus 2) at 18 months!

Wow!! Major is really beginning to take off with his words. I think he is beginning to feel more confident and just today said many new words!! How fun this time is! When I began compiling my list and thought, "I have a perfect title for my new post- 18 words at 18 months," he added another word and then I remembered one I had forgotten. So, my catchy title wasn't quite so catchy!! At his 18 month check up, just a few weeks ago I told our pediatrician that he knew about ten!! He's really learned a lot and is becoming such a curious little boy these past few weeks.

So, in random order here is his 20 word vocabulary! Drum roll, please!!!
Mamma
Dadda
Grandma
Grandpa
bye-bye
uh-oh
Owwww!!
Bob (his Veggie Tales tomato)
Elmo
Nigh-night
truck
Bible
Amen
yucky
yum
yeah
thank you
all done!
baby
dog
tree
bless you

Along with his vocabulary he has really been learning his animal sounds. His favorite sound to make is a tiger. Just this afternoon, I caught him reading books in the playroom. I just watched, and let him enjoy his playtime alone. He likes to point out trucks, and make a truck sound to go along with it! Pointing to airplanes in the sky, has also become a favorite. Just today he figured out how to climb up on chairs with any help....so things could get even more interesting, as he's always curious as to what's inside cabinets, doors and drawers.

Major LOVES being outside!! He is always wanting to escape out the door....any outside door when opened. Brushing his teeth is another favorite....getting the toothbrush out of his hands can be interesting! He LOVES when Daddy comes home from work!! They go on walks together and go to the park. Often times he comes back with a few treasures....acorns, leaves etc. He enjoys, "airplane rides" and if I'm laying on the floor, sometimes he'll come and prop my feet up, so that he can go up into the clouds. For nearly a year now, he has enjoyed throwing balls, and sometimes unfortunately this leads to throwing anything and everything. I must say, for such a little guy...he's got quite the arm!

Somethings that Major LOVES eating are tomatoes, corn on the cob, grapes and watermelon. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure he likes treats just as well.....but we try to get him to enjoy the healthy things and as of right now, at age 1 1/2 there are some of his favorites!

Just yesterday in the grocery store, he waved to everybody he saw. Most of them waved back, or stopped and talked. It made my heart sad when someone didn't notice my sweet little boy, with his sweet, shy grin waving at them. Then, sometimes when they notice him he turns and becomes shy. He melts my heart, my sweet litle Major!! It's hard to tell just quite yet, what his personality will be like....as far as outgoing, shy etc. but one thing is for sure, he is ALL boy!!

Sweet Little Teacher Take 2!

After twirling, plieing, bending and tippy toeing for nearly an hour-Berkley's teacher came out and said that she kept them much longer, because "they are all brilliant! It's my favorite class of the entire week!" Wow, that made Berkley smile from ear to ear and my heart swell as well.

Driving home, we talked about what a GREAT job she did, listening, following directions etc. The minute we got home. She declared to her Daddy and I, "I am going to be a Ballerina Teacher!" She told me to "stand on my spot" and then began to instruct me in her new ballet movements. Mommy has recently been to a few ballet classes herself, but is not nearly as flexible as she was when she was three!

Soon, after ballet was "over," she became Mrs. Hullender-her Preschool teacher. She asked, "who wants to be my helper?" Then she said, "now today is treasure day, we don't want anyone to have to pull their sticks." Then, back to work we went. Daddy "helped" pass out the paint cups and she handed us each a brush, smock and "paper." She pretend to place paint on each of our hands, then she told us to hold our hands down on our paper. After painting time was over, she said, "now put those in your cubbies and it's playtime!!"

After playtime was over, we went to music class. "Let me hear your voices," she declared. We laughed out loud at this one, as we new that this phrase along with her other "teacher" phrases came straight from her music teacher's mouth!

Helicopter pilot? Airplane Pilot? Teacher? Doctor? Nurse? Whatever path God has planned for her, we just want to provide her with as many opportunities to find her gifts and pursue her dreams.

Flashing back, nearly 25 years and their was little Amy-decked out in my teacher attire, my three brothers all sitting quite patiently as I instructed them in math, handwriting, spelling!! Thinking back, what great listeners I had and now to see out own little sweet Berkley, listening and mimicking her teachers! Oh, what a JOY!!

Girly to the "T"

Here is a sweet picture of our 3 year old Berkley!! ALL girl!! This is how she would prefer to dress everyday!! Pink from head to toe, complete with high heels and a Tiara. This picture was taken from her Princess Party. Our first official birthday party with her sweet little friends!! They had such a great time. The clubhouse was decorated in pink from head to toe, with some mint green thrown in there-we didn't want to scare her little boy friends away with all of the pink!!

She is very neat and organized, likes things in their place. Yesterday, I caught her sitting at her new little table. She had three babies. Each sitting on their own chair, and she had the "head" chair. She was saying, "now you need to listen to your parents....."

Yesterday she created her own wedding invitation, complete with sequin decor. In case you didn't already know, she has her wedding scheduled for June 19th of next year. Although when you ask her, she says she has to be 25 or 30 to get married, then she can have a baby. Apparently, her best friend Nathan has already proposed in Sunday School. He is such a sweet friend, but I told her not for another 30 years or so!! Plenty of time to plan AND save.

And by the way, she still is interested in being a pilot-a "helicopter" pilot. It will be excited to see what God has planned as she has many interested. She is very compassionate and likes doctoring us all up with her pink bandaids. Even Daddy has been known to wear pink bandaids every know and then!

New sweet sayings and doings by Major Maddox

Major Maddox will soon be 17 months this Friday the 20th of August!! WOW, that means next month he'll be 1 1/2. How time flies!! He is learning many new words and I wanted to post these as this blog is a type of diary. It is exciting to look back and see what they were doing and interested in at certain times of their sweet lives.

Besides saying, "Mama, Dadda, Babba, ba-bye, nigh, night," and a form of "Hydee"-our Golden Retriever he has now started adding other words to his vocabulary. He LOVES watching and listening to the music from Veggie Tales. Grandma recently bought him Bob the Tomato and Berkley, Larry the Cucumber. He can very clearly say, "Bob," his new little buddy. He is always working on saying "up" and "all done."

Some of his favorite "doings" are: being outside (he's prefer this 100% of the time), throwing any and all kinds of balls, chasing sister around the house, dancing around in circles, and giving kisses. He loves water both in the tub and swimming pool. In fact, when my two little ones wake up from their naps we just may need to take a trip to the pool!! He likes to jump in from the side, just like his sis and even puts his face in and blows bubbles. He's a bundle of energy! WHEW!

Sweet sayings from our sweet 3 year old-Berkley Ella!

Lately, Berkley has been saying the most creative, cutest little "ideas." Her latest thing is to say in her MOST, VERY expressive little voice (with her eyes as big as blueberries, " MOMMY, I KNOW!! I HAVE AN IDEA!!" And then I just wait with a smile in my face, in great anticipation of her "great idea." I must say for a little one that's just turned three she has a great, creative, little mind.

So, one of her latest ideas last week, when we had been having quite a bit of rain was, "Mommy, I know....we could fly in up in a BIG airplane and glue the clouds together and then it wouldn't rain anymore."

She's always been very observant, keenly aware of her surroundings. She's aware of people, their feelings, situations...just very intune and on top of what's going on. She reasons very well and likes to "understand" things.

A few days ago, I had put both Major and Berkley in their carseats, buckled myself up and then put the car in reverse when from the backseat I heard, "Mommy, I don't want this gum" anymore. Well, since we've gotten out new car, I've REALLY tried hard not to let any trash pile up. So, as I backed up the car I quietly rolled down the window and tossed her gum out, hoping she was distracted with something else. About one minute later as we were driving down the alley she asked, "So, Mommy did you throw the gum out the window so that the squirrels could eat it?" "Uhhh???? Yeah!," I quickly replied. It went against my teaching her not to liter (okay and not telling the truth), but for some reason I thought I'd sneak that one past her. But, she smiled as she thought about the squirrels being able to chew her bubble gum. "Maybe they will try to blow bubbles!!," she added "Maybe, they will Berkley," I said with a grin. We both drove down the road with a funny image of a brown squirrel, blowing a big, pink bubble with ABC bubblegum!

Never a dull moment!! Not with these two little sweet peas!

Sweet little Major Maddox

Major is now officially walking and nearly running everywhere. He is always wanting to stay caught up with his sister and do everything and anything that she is doing. That includes using the same toys and she is using.

Upon awaking, Major likes to play this hiding game in his bed. When I open the door, he slowly lifts his head and then giggles and hides down in his bumper. Then as I walk closer, and crawls in mock speed across the bed. Sometimes, he stands and runs across the beds, then falls down in a fit of laughter. It's funny!! He'd like to play that game for a long time and would probably stay in there as long as I'd stay and watch him.

He LOVES throwing anything......we try to stick with balls, but often other things get thrown too. He has become interested in books, and learning new words. He LOVE Elmo and watching him do the Hokey Pokey and has an Elmo book that makes sounds.

He LOVES splashing in the pool and much prefers to be held so that me can kick, splash and put his face in the water. He likes to blow bubbles and even tries this in the tub. Good thing we now have tile in our bathroom, as opposed to the carpet we used to have....much easier to clean up after having two kids in the tub.

He has this fake cry that is really kinda cute. He scrunches up his little nose and then squints his eye....one is more closed than the other. He just makes this little puffing sound and soon it can be turned into a giggle.

Berkley has great plans for him. She has already told him that she is going to drive him places when she is sixteen and then when HE is sixteen, then he can drive her around places.

I hope and pray that they will be wonderful friends who love and support each other. They do adore each other and have fun waking each other up. Sounds like it's that time...I hear little Major now....time for our little game of peek-a-boo!