Exciting Weekend

 Madeleine was beyond thrilled this weekend to finally get her very own cell phone!  Although she feels like she was unfairly the only one in the household without a phone, the truth of the matter is that she got a cell phone a year earlier than Julia did.  Since we no longer have a land line, we figured it was best to get Madeleine her own phone so she could get in touch with us if need be when we were out.

EVERYTHING about this phone has delighted her.  Whether it's the screen protector, the phone case, the camera options, or the apps she downloaded, she is out of her mind with joy over her new gadget.  I sent her an email to the new address Ethan set up for her, and she responded from her phone with the gleeful: "Thanks!  I am having so much fun!"  I've been shown countless panorama photos of things like Julia's bedroom, Madeleine's bedroom, the backyard, and more.  Today Madeleine set up her own modeling photo shoot using the timer app on the phone.  This is the BIG LEAGUES, guys.

At first, Madeleine was asking permission before downloading any apps, to which Ethan replied, "It's your phone, honey.  You can download whatever you want."

Shortly thereafter, Ethan had to eat his words.  After the umpteenth parent notification of something Madeleine had downloaded, Ethan remarked, "Okay, I'm gonna have to tell Madeleine that's enough downloading stupid stuff."  I don't know if it was the Disney app or the Gymnastics Star that put him over the edge, but enough was enough.

The other exciting piece of news this weekend is that the girls have a new baby cousin!  Auntie Caitlyn went into labor yesterday and my new niece Ellie was born, much to the delight of everyone in the Rowe household.

As I drove Madeleine home from her swim clinic this morning, she reflected upon the excitement of the weekend.

MADELEINE: Mommy?  This has been, like, a GROUND-BREAKINGLY good weekend.
ME: Because of your phone?
MADELEINE: And because of Owenia.*
ME: I know!
MADELEINE: (sighing in adoration) That little bundle of SWEETNESS.

*Owenia is the default name we were giving to Caitlyn's baby-in-the-womb, knowing she was the female sibling-to-be of cousin Owen

We all can't WAIT to meet the bundle of sweetness in person, but for now we have to satisfy ourselves with the COVID-friendly fawning over photos of baby Ellie!