Madi's First Nightmare

Okay, so I know this wasn't her first nightmare, but it was the first one that she could actually verbalize what happened. How fitting for the night before Halloween! Around 3:00AM, we heard a scratching or kicking the covers sound, followed by Madi shouting, "Go! Go! Go!" in her little accent. Then she burst into crying and screaming for Mommy. I ran to her room and she was sitting on the bed crying. I asked her if she had a bad dream, and she said, "Big bug! Big bug!" and pointed in her bed. I turned on the light, and we looked for the bug which was nowhere to be found. I explained that it was only a dream, but Madi wanted no part of her bed and insisted on going to Mommy and Daddy's room. So what did I do? What every professional would tell you not to do! I took her into our bed for the first time ever! It was a crazy night, to say the least. Madi kicked me throughout the night (she evidently thought I was the big bug) and Daddy recounted this morning various antics of her sleeping on his belly, tickling his face with her hair, yada, yada, yada.

At 8:00AM, Madi woke up with a big smile, rolled over, and said, "Mama, where we goin' today?" Hmmm-she didn't remember a thing! I told her the whole story, and she giggled as if it were fiction. I also explained that I was washing her whole bed today, so we can make sure there are no bugs in the bed tonight. Can't wait to find out what Halloween night will bring!! Oh...and please don't call the house between 1:00 and 3:30--we'll be napping!

Halloween - Chapter Two

Madi's second Halloween was a much different experience than the first. I knew what we were in for when Granda Murphy and I went shopping at Costco and Madi laid eyes on a person-sized witch. She was so freaked out that she was trembling! She had declared early on that she would dress as Dora but agreed to only wear the outfit, because she was afraid of the wig and the boots!

We took her to the Pumpkin Patch at Cason again, and Grandma and Grandpa Murphy took her to a pumpkin patch in Boca. Throughout the month, we had to constantly reassure her that there was nothing to be afraid of. She loved to practice trick-or-treating in the pantry. Days before Halloween we would find her treat bag full of the odds and ends she'd collected!

We didn't expect much for Halloween night. In fact, we fully expected Madi to be inside and in bed early! Grandma and Daddy took her to a few of the neighbor's houses, and then we brought her home. Well, then we assigned Madi the task of handing out the candy. She absolutely loved her job, and it gave her a totally different outlook! Daddy decided to take her out for more trick-or-treating, and she didn't get home until 8:30! Daddy had saved Halloween!!

Ride, Madi, Ride!

Christmas came early at the Murphy house today. About mid-morning, I received an email distribution from a woman in the local Mom's group who was trying to sell her daughter's bicycle that she had outgrown. It peaked my curiosity, since Madi has been interested in bikes lately, so I shot her an email to ask a few questions. At 2:00, we were driving over to 'check out' the bike for a test ride. Madi loved it immediately and it seemed to fit her just right, so we bought it (for less than half the store price:-) It rides even better once Daddy came home and pumped more air in the tires!

More About Grooming Madi

I still encounter some resistance when trimming Madi's little fingernails. The other night, I told her that all the Supermodels like to keep their nails nice and short. Not that Madi knows what a Supermodel is--but it sure sounded important enough! Then she asks me to tell her 'the story'. I tell her about how Mommy was scared to trim her fingernails when she first came home--how Mommy had never cut fingernails so little, so Uncle Andrew had to come over for months to show Mommy how to do it right, without hurting Madi.

Then I tell her that Mommy is a pro now, and after lots of practice I know that I won't hurt her little fingers. Madi loves to hear this story. Hopefully, it reinforces the "practice makes perfect" adage! The story never gets old to her, and it sure helps get the job done faster!

Grooming Madi

On Tuesday, Madi and I went to get haircuts. I can remember Madi's first haircut like it was yesterday (shown in first two photos). She had been home for a few months when I decided to start taking her with me. Madi was definitely suspicious, to say the least, about people she didn't know. I knew, early on, that my best shot at ever getting her haircut would be to gain her trust in Mommy's hair stylist. So, for about eight months, she went with me. She observed. She studied. And finally, one day, she told me that she wanted to get her hair cut too. I wasn't sure whether to believe her. If I truly thought she would go through with it, I would have invited half the family! Was she really ready? She sat very quietly and very intently watching Debbie work me over, trying to psych herself up for the big event. Knowing what a small window of opportunity we had, Debbie gave her a quick snip all over--the whole process took about five minutes, if that. It was a huge step for Madi, and she was rewarded with a certificate and a sucker.

A year later, she's a pro. She has had probably eight haircuts with Debbie. Now, she gets her hair washed at the sink. She sits by herself in the chair like a big girl, and she gets a blowdry. She still gets a sucker, of course--she's no dummy:)

Just for you, Mumma!

My mother-in-law called this evening to say that she was disappointed in the blog. She was disappointed that the costume they bought Schroeder for Halloween didn't make it into the "Preparing for Halloween" sequence. We couldn't get the costume on Schroeder yet, but here is Cinnamon sporting the rooster mask last week. Enjoy!!

Preparing for Halloween

Last week, we realized that we really didn't have a lot of 'fun' stuff to decorate for Halloween, so Daddy and Madi went on an outing to Target to see what they could find. Unfortunately they didn't have much, and Madi had her eye on this dead-looking tree with lights on it. We think she thought it was a Christmas tree. Anyway, she convinced Daddy that she really wanted this tree. It was $40! Mommy knew right away that the tree must go back. This became my opportunity to teach Madi how to bargain shop! We made a deal that if we went to another store and found stuff she liked better, we would return the tree. I also promised that after Halloween, we can go back to Target and buy the tree for half the price (if it's still there). Madi agreed to the terms of the deal, and we ended up buying four really cool things for less than the tree! We took the tree back the next day, without argument I might add:-)