Don't forget about ME, folks

I am LOVING my ballet classes. Last week my teacher said I was "doing great" and gave me a treat. Even though some of my classmates have been taking ballet for longer than I have, I am catching up fast. This is because I understand that ballet is very. serious. business. I do not laugh and talk with my friends during class. I do not play with my hair, adjust my leotard, or twiddle my thumbs. I do not stare into space. I watch my teacher very carefully and do my best to do exactly what she is doing. I still can't stop talking about it.

My favorite ballet (ok, it's the only one I know) is The Nutcracker. I like to dance to the music with Madeline, talk about the story, and try to convince everyone to "play Nutcracker" with me. Usually I want to be Clara while Daddy or Jacob is the Nutcracker. Madeline is often the Rat King. I'm going to see a real performance of the Nutcracker next week, and I am so excited I can hardly stand it. Sadly, I will not be wearing my tutu, but I WILL wear my CHRISTMAS DRESS!!

I also spend a lot of time looking at myself in the mirror whenever I get a chance. I prefer to be able to check my profile while dancing as well. Can you blame me? I'm pretty cute!

Special thanks to Nikki for the frilliest, poufiest tutu in my whole ballet class.

For your enjoyment

More fun with cute pigtails.

Are you ready for this?

Madeline Sophie can wear PIGTAILS now!!!

Mommy is having a hard time not eating her alive it's so cute.

Here she is with her favorite Christmas ornament, a baby in a stroller.

Enjoy these pictures, because within a few hours we had to relocate all the ornaments to at least four feet above ground level. Madeline was piling them all into her stroller and pushing them around, enthusiastically squealing "Baby! Baby!"

It was cute while it lasted, no?

Madeline and I have been enjoying playing together a lot lately. Sometimes we chase each other around the kitchen table or island, sometimes we walk around the yard holding hands, and sometimes we hug and kiss each other. Another favorite: sitting down together and passing toys or various schmutzes back and forth, sometimes laughing maniacally.

Madeline and Kathryn

It was pretty amazing that Mommy caught these two wily characters in the same frame, what with both of thm being mobile now. One of them might be quite a bit faster than the other, but Baby Kathryn will catch up soon.

Madeline Soph being a silly goose

Mommy says it's hard to take a good picture of Madeline because she is never in one place! You have to put her on one side of the room and back away from her quickly, snapping like mad.

It's me on my FIRST DAY OF BALLET CLASS!!! I'm so excited I can't stop talking about it. I have been wearing my ballet slippers nonstop since Mommy bought them last week and asking to wear my hair in a ballet bun every day. My favorite part of class was tap dancing.

Top Ten Cute Things About Madeline Sophie

As compiled by myself and Mommy:

10. She likes to climb on top of her high chair tray to reach the answering machine. She knows just which button to push to hear Dadaa talking.
9. At least three times per minute, Madeline will reach up with her index finger and touch your nose, saying softly "Boop!"
8. She says "Uh-oh!" indiscriminately while playing alone.
7. She has to check in with the picture of Baby Naomi each time she enters the kitchen. "Hi Baby!"
6. When she hears the garage door opening, she runs headlong toward to door to the laundry room, screaming "Da-daa! Da-Daa!"
5. If you put her in bed without her beloved Puppup, she just fixes you with her confused stare until you place Puppup safely in her arms. In fact, the only time she likes Puppup to NOT be in her arms is while she's nursing-- then she wants him to sit on Mommy's shoulder.
4. She likes to sing "Hello, La" out loud with Mommy.
3. She sings "Beep, beep" to the car song, but only when in the car.
2. She runs to the bathroom to get a diaper and wipes when she needs changing, yelling "Poo poo! Poo poo!"
1. She doesn't like wearing one piece outfits because she can't find her belly button.

Madline's first lollipop, take 3

She attacked it with vigor

And it filled her with delight!

She didn't want to let it go after that.

Pumpkin carving

Mommy took the tops off our pumpkins, then I helped by scraping out the pyuck.

Then we chose pictures and taped them to the front of our pumpkins.

I poked tiny holes on the lines so Daddy could see where to cut.

Madeline decorated her pumpkin with markers and stickers.

She's silly.

Next, Daddy carved the pumpkins!

Madeline and I got to watch and pop out the pieces once they were cut. Here, Daddy told us to "open up the mouth" and Madeline was a little confused.

Trick or Treat

Jacob's Halloween party

Here we are, the lion and the lamb! Madeline is far too busy to lie down with me, however.

She's not too sure about her ears.

Here I am with my friend Annie, who was Glinda the Good Witch. We match pretty well, too!

Happy Halloween!

The kitty is mine and the smiley face is Madeline's. We made them all by ourselves! Well, okay, Daddy might have helped a little.

Madeline and Kathryn get together

As soon as Baby Kathryn is out of her cast, WATCH OUT, World. They're going to be trouble.

I don't know why Mommy was laughing so hard

Today Mommy took me and Madeline to the grocery store. We were sitting in the cart while Mommy and a nice lady in a red shirt were putting the groceries up on the counter. The lady was talking to me and asking questions. I decided to share an important fact with her, since she was so interested in my life. I turned all the way around so I could face her and said in a very loud and clear voice, "I'm obsessed with painting my lips!"