From Mom: Today we spent time with our neighbors in town. We watched them finish a local 10K race this morning. Then, later after Church, we went back and met them downtown for a city festival. The streets were closed down and lined with food booths and stages with music. We watched a clown, had her face painted, and then had dinner at a local pub. Madeline enjoyed showing off for everyone during dinner - coloring, jumping up and down, singing songs, and finding decorative rocks from one of the planters next to the table.

From Mom: Today was another happy day in the land of Princess Madeline. We started off the day with a walk in picturesque downtown Ann Arbor to enjoy 25-cent milkshakes at the 75th Anniversary Party at the Washtenaw Dairy (complete with classic cars and announcers from the local golden oldies radio station). We played at the park on the hill next door until it started to rain. Then we sought shelter the bookstore where Madeline sat quietly (!) eating a snack while I read two chapters (!) of my book. After our morning adventures we headed home home for a nap. I can't be certain but I think Madeline played by herself for an hour in her room after she woke up. (I can't be certain because I fell asleep reading on the couch during naptime.) Then it was over to the swimming pool for much jumping and squealing. After that, dinner and then our neighbor came up for a glass of wine. By the time we were done visiting (and playing with the dollhouse) it was time for bed ... and a quick video chat on the computer with Daddy, of course.

New developments? Well, in addition to an ever-expanding vocabulary and budding attention span, I think Maddie's got herself an imaginary friend. Her name is "Elizabeth" and Madeline's been talking about her for a couple for a couple of weeks now. Adam and I noticed it before he left. Her teachers tell us that there is no Elizabeth at school or in any of the songs or books they read. We can't account for it anywhere at home either. Madeline tells me about how Elizabeth goes swimming too and jumps of the buildings. When I ask, what I've learned so far is that Elizabeth is a "little girl," is very "happy," likes to "swim," and "jumps off buildings ... kaboom." Oh, and when asked, Maddie says that Elizabeth is "mean" (though I'm almost 100% sure that Maddie doesn't know what "mean" is). When I was little I had an imaginary friend name "Reesa" but only for a little while. Like mother, like daughter?

From teacher Angela: We asked one of Maddie's classmates if he wanted to go to the other classroom to see the music teacher. Madeline overheard and ran over shouting "Me too!" Madeline practiced stepping in and out of hula hoops and dancing with scarves.

From teacher Angela: We went to the gym after snack and shared the space with a preschool group. Madeline and one of her particular friends spent a lot of time together. Madeline also talked to two of the girls asking "watchha doing?" Many times through the morning. Madeline and her friends played with the buckets, cuddling inside of it as they talked to each through a black tube.

From Mom: Today was Madeline's annual parent-teacher conference. I met with the three teachers in her classroom. They presented me with a personalized portfolio with more than a dozen pages of anecdotes specific to each of the skill areas Madeline is working on right now. In particular she excels in verbal communication and socializing (not much of a surprise) and also in her physical development (e.g. she's been jumping with both feet leaving the ground at the same time since she was 18 months old). Her most difficult challenge? Learning to communicate her emotions appropriately. She's got a lot of feeling to express for such a little person and very busy hands! But the meeting was less of an assessment and more of an opportunity to check-in. Her teachers are not interested in comparing or grading the kids at all but they did comment that Madeline is an exceptionally happy kid and appears to be taking the new household arrangement in stride. I have very much enjoyed partnering with these fine professional ladies. Their affection for Madeline is obvious. As Adam said before he left, enrolling Madeline in this particular school is probably the best decision we've made since we moved to Michigan.

From teacher Angela: Madeline spent a good part of the morning exploring a pile of shaving cream at the table. She rubbed it flat and moved her paintbrush through it. Madeline drew circles in the cream with her fingers and practiced making her hand print appear with just the right amount of pressure.

From teacher Angela: Madeline pulled all the headbands out of the dresser this morning. She put the pink one on her forehead and brought the others over to another classmate, putting it on his head. Outside Madeline used chalk to color on paper.

From Mom: Happy Memorial Day! Madeline and I got up early this morning and hit the sales at the thrift shops where we found the perfect doll house. The barbies are no long homeless! The we headed over to the North side of town for a neighborhood parade with a fire truck, high school drum line, and whole bunch of kids riding on decorated bikes and strollers. The parade ended with a memorial ceremony and flag salute at a park. (We opted to join the other toddlers at the adjacent playground.)

From teacher Angela: Madeline and her friends spent a good part of the morning blowing bubbles. Madeline had her own bottle of bubbles and want and enjoyed pressing it flat to her mouth as she blew out. On the playground, Madeline looked for dandelions.

From Mom: We have settled into a regular schedule, which begins with an hour-long nurse-athon before 6 a.m. and ends with a computer video chat with Dad at 7 p.m. and then bedtime reading. Madeline does ask about her "Daddy" in the morning but seems to be comforted by a daily routine. All of this structure really seems to benefit her - indeed her teachers even described her mood as happy and mellow (!) After a day at school (8-5) we go straight to the pool. After a half hour of swimming, splashing, and (mostly) jumping we hit the showers and then head home where Maddie watches 30 minutes of a movie (usually Aladdin or Cinderella) while I cook a simple dinner. Toddlers aren't the best dinner conversationalists. So, I'm thinking that maybe we should push up our nightly date with Dad so that he join us at the table via the laptop. This weekend we'll have pizza with the neighbors on Friday night and then BBQ and work in the garden on Monday.


"Maddie's" "new" chair ... it rocks, glides, and fully reclines.

From teacher Angela: Madeline found a small football in the bin today. We spent a long time throwing it back and forth. Maddie held her hands together to practice "ready hands" for catching. Outside, she scooped and dumped water in the sensory table.

From teacher Angela: [One of the preschool girls] came in to be our "mystery reader" today. Madeline ran over to give her a hug when she saw who it was. She read a book about mud. As she stated where the mud was, Madeline pointed to that part of her body - hair, chin, ears, etc.

From Mom: Mark left to return to Eugene today. It's now just us girls! On his last day we visited the university botanical gardens and the greenhouses were we admired the exotic plants in the tropical and desert houses. Madeline especially enjoyed looking at a flower bed through a kaleidoscope display.

From teacher Angela: Madeline painted with a small broom today. She dipped the bristles into the white paint, then used it like a paintbrush to cover both sides of her paper. She also used her finger to draw in the leftover paint, making lots of squiggly marks.

From teacher Shalese: Madeline painted with differently colored watercolors today. She also pushed the babies inside the stroller. Outside Madeline looked for worms in the dirt with her friends.

From teacher Angela: Today one of the bear blocks was turned over to make a boat. Another little girl stood with one foot on each thing edge, and Madeline noticed. She stood at the end of the "boat" by the wall and put her feet on the edges. As she stabilized herself against the wall she grinned and said "I'm balancing!"

From teacher Angela: Before the movement and dance teacher came today we played in the preschool's red room. Madeline looked through all the accessories in the basket. She pulled out the shower and placed a lady behind the curtain. During the dance class Maddie practiced throwing balls in different directions. She released the best throwing ball upward.

From teacher Angela: On the playground we worked on making towers in the sandboxes. I added sand to the pans, and Madeline used her green shovel to pound it flat. Madeline also brought over an octopus mold to fill. In the room Madeline drove cars down the bear block ramp.

From teacher Angela: Madeline waited at the table for her turn to do flyswatter painting. She chose the yellow paint and pressed the flyswatter down into it. She noticed that it made bubbles when she lifted the flyswatter. During gathering time we talked about transportation vehicles.

From Mom: Today we set up a toddler bed for the girl. If you look closely you can see the two little sheep on the headboard. Also, check out her growing gallery hanging above the (electric) fireplace. Happy Mothers' Day!

From teacher Angela: Madeline stacked yellow foam cylinders today. She counter to four as she placed them on top of each other, then knocked it over. Madeline also rubbed a dandelion on the white paper so hard the petals came off. She seemed excited to see the yellow on her paper.

From teacher Angela: Madeline visited the back baby room this morning. She went right over to kneel next to a little girl who was sitting the the bumbo chair. Maddie leaned in close to talk and smiled at her, then handed her some toys. Outside, a classmate and Maddie sat in the red car and "drove" to the grocery store.

From teacher Angela: Madeline, two other students, and I exchanged rooms with some friends from the other toddler classroom this morning. Madeline met the fish "Lala," and we read about a fish in the Cat in the Hat. She spent a while explaining the big dollhouse - she came over so excited to show me the little wooden toilet.

From teacher Angela: During free choice time today Madeline sat down in front her new poster (of family pictures). She pointed out each person and named who it was. At gathering time we did ribbon shakes. Madeline found one for herself and then handed a second one to me before she started jumping.

From teacher Madeline: During lunch I showed Madeline her family poster (with pictures of Mom, Dad, and the cats). After realizing what it was, her mouth made a big "O" of excitement and she talked about her cat. When the music teacher visited Madeline put a stuffed frog on her head and stood staring at her until she noticed.