We just came back from another road trip with our friends to Gulfport, MS.  Maddie is an excellent traveler!  We kicked off her shoes and put on a great movie (Tangled, Tinkerbell #3 and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) and we were set to go.  It was also our first time leaving her with someone else besides family for a couple of hours.  Andrew & Sylvia took her to the pool, out to eat and we got the best reviews back.  We were told that they would gladly babysit Maddie again.  

This photo was taken after being the pool with the Aunt Sylvia and the kids.  This was all her, just relaxing after the pool.  

We got lots of looks and "oh how cute" as Maddie pulled her own bag throughout the hotel.  She was very focused and didn't want to let go of her prize possessions. (i.e. books & toys) LOL

And I couldn't resist taking some photos of her relaxing in a drawer with Moo!

Rain Dance

What do you do when it rains the whole day?  You put on your pretty dress and dance.. of course!  

I guess the rain also brings out the diva in Maddie.  She wore her sunglasses around the house and had fun playing with Lucy.  

It was a great lazy day with our sweet little girl.  She took two naps and watched "Tangled" with Daddy....

Our road trip to Texas is almost over.  We will be heading back to Tampa tomorrow.  Maddie did really well in the car, thanks to Tinkerbell and Tangled movies.  She loved hanging out with her cousins and they were really sweet with one another.  Since meeting her cousins, Maddie has decided she doesn't want us to feed her anymore.  She now likes to feed herself.  This can it really messy but Miss Independent wouldn't have it any other way.

We went to the Children's museum in Houston and the kids had a really good time. 

Our last day in Texas

 

Future Soccer Star in Training

Last week Maddie got an ear infection and had a real bad cold.  This is her first time being sick since we got her and it was scary.  It was truly a time when you felt so bad that you couldn't do anything for her but just make sure she takes her medicine, drinks a lot of liquid and gets lots of hugs.  But being the tough girl she is she made it through that chapter.  We also had her six month post adoption with the social worker last Wednesday.  It will be six months on June 6th but since we'll be in Texas then, we had it early.  Maddie was great with the social worker and everything went very smoothly.  

The weather has been so hot lately and with us all trying to get healthy before our road trip there has been no trips to the pool.  We do go out after dinner with Maddie and Lucy and enjoy kicking the soccer ball around.  (Daddy and Maddie kicked it around LOL).  

We celebrated Mother's Day with Maddie's three Ba Ngoai's, Ong Ngoai Nam, Cau Bien and Di Phuong.  Maddie had her first taste of lobster and of course loved it.

She has been such a blessing in my life and I'm so proud to be her mama!

 

20 Months

Our sweet Maddie Rose has started playing the piano & guitar. (Her version of playing) We leave both out for her and it's sweet to see her walk by and start strumming the guitar or banging on the piano.   As you can see she likes to stand on things to reach the piano keys LOL  

This piano was given to me when I was around 7 years old from my grandmother and it's touching to see my little girl playing it.  I see future piano lessons in the future!

Her new thing is knowing that a cow says "moo" and a sheep says "ba".  She has the "Moo Baa La La La" book and "Are you a Cow?" book and loves them both.  She will hand me the books and call them the "Moo book".  So very cute!  She is a very active little girl - always into something.  And loves to copy what we do.  Will go up the stairs now and simple loves life!

Just wanted to add some ways Tom discipline's Maddie -

 

"Maddie don't touch that.... Daddy loves you"

"Oh no Maddie don't do that... Daddy loves you"

 "Oh Toodles....  Daddy loves you"

 

We took Maddie to Orlando this weekend and explored Downtown Disney.  She loved the kiddie pool at the resort and didn't want to get out of the water.  

We spent most of the day on Saturday at Downtown Disney.  Maddie was pointing at all the Disney characters and loved running around.  

She loved dancing with everyone and even pulled Mama in to dance with her too.