Tornado Touchdown

A tornado has blown through our house.  If tornadoes were named like hurricanes, this one would be called Madeline Claire.

Tornado Mads has blown through and nothing is safe in her path.  Presents are carried to different parts of the house, ornaments thrown on the ground, cups pulled off the edge of the table with juice spilling everywhere.  Her list of destruction goes on and on and on.  Just when you think she can't reach/break fill-in-the-blank, you glance over your shoulder and it's trashed.  Speaking of trash, she is also becoming quite the garbage picker!

At Madeline's 15 month appointment her {amazing} pediatrician, unprompted, had this to say: 

You know you can start time-outs, right?  She's ready to get the concept. 

Um, I know.  She's already had a few.  The pediatrician also let me know that their little egos and self-esteem are fragile and for every one negative thing you say in a day, you know things like "Nonononononononono!  Don't put that in the toilet!", you should also say two positives. 

Dr. B. said that on particularly challenging days you can turn it into a game.  So I've said things like, "Wow, Madeline, it sure is nice for you to help Ellie by wiping her nose."  To which my sickly Ellie said, "Yeah.  Thanks, Mads," in her sad, pathetic, sick voice.

And so it goes.  Just when things get easy, you're on to the next "phase."

Although, I guess we should have seen it coming.....

I've never seen a three month old with such an adorably devilish grin.