Madeleine Makes Music

After the long weekend, we were all a little sluggish this morning as we prepared to return to the grind.  Or, as Madeleine put it:

MADELEINE: I'm tired.  Cause Mama?  I learned this from SLEEPING:  When you wake up after you were sleeping, you're still TIRED.


Sheesh. This kid is so smart, she even learns while she's SLEEPING!!


Madeleine was apparently not too tired to make special gifts for everyone in the family, however.  She composed little "songs," which she wrote out on paper, complete with a distinctive drawing.  Each person's song was left in a particular place where the recipient would be most likely to find it.

For Julia, at her seat at the table where she does homework, sat this lovely song:

The song itself seems to consist of just two notes: C and G.  (Madeleine labels any line notes that are not C itself; therefore, an un-labeled line note will be C, or so she tells me.)  Not a super long song, but the picture sure intrigues me.  One frowny-faced girl and one smiling girl?  Are the two notes symbolic of the two girls?  Or is frowny-face sad because the song is too short, but smiley-face liked it that way??  Now I'm super curious.


Taped to the front doorknob for Ethan to find as he arrives home from work:

Ethan's song is a little longer: C E D.  (Non-line notes that are un-labeled are Ds, according to Madeleine.)  I'm not sure what the picture is trying to convey.  Is it Beethoven at the piano?  Or an anthropomorphic sun?  Or some sort of posessed evil demon?  Or is it perhaps a rendition of Ethan?  Hmmm.


Madeleine's song for me was given to me while I was practicing music, so I was able to play it right away!:

Now this is some FANCY stuff!  Staccato notes, plus a repeat sign??  My melody was E C D F G, then F G D with a repeat of those three notes.  Loving it.  I guess I didn't get a picture with this song, unless those floating eighth-notes/testicles at the top of the page are supposed to be a picture and not musical notes.


Madeleine even wrote a song for herself and left it on the piano:

Her song is one note only: C.
Of course she gave herself the easy song.  While I got stacattos and repeats and testicles and all that! 
I'm not sure what the floating serpent head with crazy curly hair is supposed to symbolize.  It's hanging sort of menacingly above that ginormous middle C.  Creepy.

At any rate, I appreciate Madeleine's desire to exercise both her artistic and musical creativity in order to present gifts to the people she loves the most: her WHOLE FAMILY!

Family Weekend

The long weekend allowed for some much-needed Rowe family togetherness.  Yesterday we had a family movie afternoon, complete with the lights out and popcorn.  We watched one of my favorite movies, "A Mighty Wind," which Julia had seen years ago but doesn't remember.  We've been listening to the soundtrack in the car lately, which made the kids curious about the back story, so we thought we'd show them the movie so they could better understand. 

Madeleine seemed largely oblivious to the story line and the humor, but Julia LOVED it.  She couldn't stop talking about the movie all night, and today she begged to watch it again.

This is how deeply influenced Julia was by the movie: she is now thinking about the "Mighty Wind" characters while she gallops.  So long, Mintz family!  There's a new group of people to fantasize about while galloping back and forth through the living room! 

Madeleine hasn't been nearly as obsessed, although she did try and tell me which of her characters was her favorite.  The CLUMPY one.  With orangish-brownish hair.  Who has a clumpy face.

Turns out she was referring to Michael McKean, who, at least in my opinion, has a face of completely normal, not excessive, amounts of clumpitude:

Meanwhile, in other family togetherness news, we had a game of family bowling this evening, during which BOTH children completely kicked my butt. 

Partway through our first game, Madeleine suddenly became wise to the fact that we were playing as a family.

MADELEINE: Hey!  Our whole FAMILY is playing bowling!
ME: I know.  That's why I asked if everyone wanted to play family bowling.
MADELEINE: But why is it "family bowling?"
ME: Madeleine.  You just pointed it out yourself.  The whole family is playing.  That's why it's family bowling.
MADELEINE: (perplexed) Well, not the WHOLE family.

ME: Well, it's the Rowe family.  Auntie Shannon's not playing, but she isn't part of the Rowe family.
MADELEINE: Yeah.  Auntie Shannon is from the ELF family.  But...she lives with us.  Because...she doesn't HAVE a home.

As we lay in bed this evening, Madeleine became transfixed on the lyrics to one of the songs from "A Mighty Wind"; specifically, she wanted to understand what a "putt of gold" means.  After I explained that it's actually a "pot" of gold, and it refers to the myth of a leprechaun at the end of a rainbow, ready to bestow a pot of gold upon anyone who can follow him to the end, I then told her how in the song she was referring to, there is a kiss at the end of the rainbow instead, "more precious than a pot of gold."

ME: I think I would like a kiss from someone who I love way more than a pot of gold any day.
MADELEINE: Yeah.  Because I love my whole family WAY WAY more than a pot of gold. 
ME: I do too!
MADELEINE: Yeah.  I love you, and Daddy, and ESPECIALLY Julia.
ME: I'm glad that you love your sister so much. 
MADELEINE: Yeah.  I love Julia the BEST!  Then you.  Then Daddy.  Then Auntie Shannon.

Well, she just doesn't sugar coat anything, does she?  I guess I'm honored to have been rated second-best.  Don't feel bad that you're bottom billing, Auntie Shannon.  It's probably just because you're not part of the Rowe family and you don't have a home.

Potty Reversion

Wednesday night, Madeleine had her first potty accident in a LONG time.  And oh, what an accident it was. 

It just figures that the ONE night I brought her along to Julia's swim team practice, in order to allow Ethan some quiet time at home, Madeleine unabashedly pooped her pants. 

I didn't really know what to do, since I didn't have a change of clothes, so I wound up cleaning her up with wet paper towels, chucking her underwear in the trash, and putting her pants back on. 

Little did I know what sort of an example I had set.

Yesterday morning, I noticed a weird smell in the play basement, but couldn't identify its source.  Our oil tank had just been filled that morning, which lent a burned-fuel smell to the basement, so I wondered if that was just giving a funky aroma to everything in its vicinity.

Fast forward through the day: Madeleine and I had gone to a Y in Boston for a pool party celebrating one of her preschool friend's birthdays, and upon returning home, we had our friends Neva, Nate and Anja over for dinner.  After all the kids had eaten pizza and returned to the basement to play, the adults sat around with drinks and chatted. 


About an hour later, we headed downstairs to check on the kids, and this time the stench was unmistakable.  The entire basement smelled like a dirty diaper.  Even the kids noticed it. 

Let me point out that it apparently did not cross Madeleine's mind AT ALL to speak up.

We found the source of the smell in the downstairs bathroom.  In its garbage sat not one but TWO pairs of poopy underwear.  One was only mildly smeared, while the second (and newer) pair were decorated with a big old mound of poop.

What happened, you may ask??  I'm still not totally sure myself, but from what I gather, Madeleine had decided to deal with the problem herself and chuck the undies and do her own wiping. 

How good of a job did she do in wiping?  Well, when I brought her upstairs to the bathtub, she had two big brown buttcheeks, crusted over because the poop had dried on. 

UGH.

Interrogation got me no further towards understanding WHAT ON EARTH possessed her to chuck her underwear and not tell ANYONE.

ME: Madeleine, WHY did you throw your underwear in the garbage?!?
MADELEINE: Me no no!
ME: I don't want to hear the baby talk.  I want to understand.  Why didn't you just TELL me that you had pooped and you needed help?
MADELEINE: Because...I thought that if I told you I had poop in my underwear, you'd go (assuming an aggravated expression) "Jeeeeez."

Ah. I see.  Madeleine didn't want to aggravate me by letting me know she had poop-stained her underwear, so she did the logical thing by just chucking the evidence in an open garbage can and STINKING UP THE ENTIRE BOTTOM FLOOR OF THE HOUSE.

I still don't quite know when underwear pair #1 was clandestinely thrown in the garbage.  Madeleine herself isn't sure.  It could have been the previous night, or that very morning, she says.  She no no.

At any rate, let's hope that was the end of the underwear pooping and tossing.  Otherwise next time, as our friend Neva suggested, Madeleine gets to wash her OWN poopy underwear in the bathtub for us.

All I can say is: Madeleine most definitely can not be a grown up with babies of her own while she's still pooping her pants, so maybe that will provide some incentive to get her poop into the potty from now on!

School Papers by Julia

Julia recently brought home a pile of writing work from school. 

Among the papers was this very sweet letter of appreciation:

"Dear Mommy and Daddy,

You are good at teaching me music.  Mommy, you make me better at piano, and make me love piano and Daddy, you are good at teaching me to match the beat in songs.  Lots of love,

Julia Rowe."

This just melted my heart.  Although you've got to admit that "Julia Rowe" is kind of a formal sign-off for a letter to mom and dad, no??


Julia has also proven that she may look just like her daddy, but she has her mommy's preferences in life!  Her history of favorite colors green, pink and tropical violet have now led to a new current favorite:

"My favorite color is light blue because it is the color if the sky, it is the color of the ocen and it is bright.  Because it is my mom's favorite color.  It seems happy.  It reminds me of butiful days.  And great weather.  And it is a butiful color.  And it reminds me of my swim team bathing suit."

I feel ya, Julia!  In fact, during the winter doldrums, I find myself googling image after image of places like Fiji, surrounded by butiful bright blue ocen, just to live vicariously for a few minutes in the great weather.  I am most definitely longing for the color of the sky to be blue right now and for some bright blue ocan surrounding me. 

Turns out the love of warm weather is something else Julia and I have in common:

"Summer is my favorite season because I like to go on vacaiton.  Because I like to have barbiques with my friends when it is hot out.  I like summer because I like to swim at the pool.  Because I like to play outside.  Because it is hot out.  Because I like to ride my bike.  Because I like to play in my house.  Because I like to play in the sprinkler.  Because I like to go to the Cape.  Because I like to eat ice cream and frozen yougort and to see the fireworks on the fourth of July.  That iw why summer is my favorite season."

Right on, Julia.  Let's go on vacaiton RIGHT NOW, to somewhere with butiful blue skies and a butiful blue ocen! 

Madeleine's Future

Madeleine often talks about wanting to be a grown-up so she can have babies, but she has been particularly obsessed with this topic over the past couple of days.  She brought up the subject again as we sat around the breakfast table this morning.

MADELEINE: Mama?  When I grow up, I'm still gonna live here.  Because...it would be REALLY cute to have two MORE babies here.  (thoughtful silence) Mama?  Will I still be cute when I'm a grown-up?
ME: Yes.  And you can live here as long as you want.
MADELEINE: Yeah.  Besides, Mama.  If I was building my own house...I would have NO idea how to use a ladder.

Yeah, that's as good a reason as any to continue living with your parents even when you're a grown-up with babies.  If you can't use a ladder to build your own house, you might as well just accept that homelessness is your only option.

Madeleine once again turned the topic to babies when I picked her up from the baby-sitting room at the Y.  It just so happened that things had quieted down by the time I finished my workout, so that there were only three children in the room with four staff members.  The children were comprised of a baby who was sleeping, a little girl toddling around, and Madeleine.

Therefore, Madeleine's voice rang out clear as a bell as she started interrogating me about babies.

MADELEINE: Mama?  I wanna be a grown-up, because I really want to start having BABIES.
ME: (quietly) Yeah, babies are cute.
MADELEINE: (loudly) But Mama?  When can you start HAVING babies?
ME: (even more quietly) Uh, not 'til you're older.
MADELEINE: (loudly) But Mama?  Is it EASY to have babies get in your tummy?
ME: (nearly inaudibly) For some people.
MADELEINE: (loudly) But MAMA?  Was it easy for YOU?
ME: (practically whispering) Uh, not really.  (normal voice) Okay, here's your coat.  Let's get going!
MADELEINE: (loudly) But MAMA.  Why "NOT REALLY" for you?  Why was it NOT REALLY EASY for YOU to have BABIES?
ME: (pulling open the door and hurriedly leading Madeleine out of the baby-sitting room.)

When we got home from the Y, Madeleine practiced honing her grown-up skills by getting her own lunch prepared, complete with washing an apple for herself AND for me.  I would certainly take more grown-up independent actions from Madeleine, though I could do without the grand-children at this stage of the game.  Madeleine is definitely gung-ho in her desire to start producing, however.

ME: Madeleine, what makes you feel like you want to have babies so much?
MADELEINE: Because then the whole house would be CUTE.  (dreamily) I can JUUUST imagine it.  Little babies running around EVERYWHERE.

Yikes.  It sounds like Madeleine's ideal world would be a combination of "16 5 and Pregnant" and "Jon and Kate Madeleine Plus Eight."  I'm not sure we're ready for a house full of babies, no matter HOW cute the house would then become.


At least Madeleine's OTHER current obsession is much more child-appropriate.  She is fixated on taking a trip to the toy store, because on our LAST trip to the toy store (which was just on Sunday), she picked a toy that she doesn't actually like.  Not that I hadn't tried to dissuade her from buying it in lieu of something better. 

ME: Madeleine, look at these cute little baby animal figurines.  Do you want to get these?
MADELEINE: Uh, no thanks.  Mama.  I think I picked my DECISION.  I want to get this! (pointing at a password-protected plastic jewelry box.)
ME: Are you sure that's the toy you want to get most of all?
MADELEINE: (with utmost confidence) I'm sure.

Then we got home and Madeleine discovered that she can't actually figure out how to work the latch on the jewelry box after entering her password, so even though she types in her password correctly, she still can't get the box open.  In other words, the toy was a big bust.  And now Madeleine is determined to go back to the toy store to get something different. 

It doesn't matter that I've told her repeatedly that we're not taking another toy store trip any time soon.  Madeleine can't stop her mind from fantasizing about what new toys she's going to get.  To be specific, she's planning on buying a Merida Lego Friends set and a stuffed puppy dog beanie baby.

Last night at bedtime, Madeleine had a great solution to her conundrum.

MADELEINE: Mama?  I've got a GREAT idea!  For Valentimes Day, you can get me the Merida Legos and the puppy dog!
ME: Well, Valentine's Day is more a holiday for giving things like candy and cards, not toys.

Madeleine was heartily disappointed by my statement, but she is apparently holding out hope.  After about fifteen minutes of silence, during which I assumed Madeleine had fallen asleep, she piped up once again.

MADELEINE: Mama?  For Valentime's Day, do you WRAP the presents like you do for Christmas?
ME: No.
MADELEINE: (broken-hearted silence)

Maybe THAT'S the real reason why Madeleine is so desperate to become a grown-up.  Then she can take her own self to the toy store and buy her coveted items without needing my permission.

Although with a house full of babies running all around, I doubt Madeleine will have much time for personal recreation with her new toys.

Say What?

Actual things that have been uttered, in completely seriousness, around the Rowe household today.


#1
MADELEINE: So Mama, do you want to be in front or in back?
ME: Honey, go sit down.  You need to drink your milk.  We're not doing a conga line right now.
MADELEINE: (crest-fallen)

#2
MADELEINE: (admiring her hardened clay snowman that she made at school) Mama.  When I look at my snowman, he looks SO delicious, I just want to EAT him.
ME: You can't eat him though, honey.
MADELEINE: But Mama.  He's made of DOUGH. The teachers said.
ME: Not the kind of dough you can really eat. 
MADELEINE:  Actually.  Mama.  It wasn't DOUGH.  It was...
ME: Clay?
MADELEINE: (brightly) Oh!  Yes!  It's made of CLAY.
ME: Yeah, you definitely can't eat clay. It wouldn't be good for you.
MADELEINE: (crest-fallen)

#3
MADELEINE: Mama!  This is for you.  I made this picture for you at school!  And Mama. Will you look at it RIGHT NOW?
ME: Sure.  (Unrolling the piece of paper to look at this):

ME: Oooh!  It's beautiful!
MADELEINE: (delighted) It's Elsa POOPING!
ME: Oh.  Great.
MADELEINE: Oh, and Mama?  On the picture, smell the poop.
ME: Mmm.  It smells good.
MADELEINE: Yup.  Smells like gingerbread!


#4
MADELEINE: I'm gonna put you riiiight here so I can hold the remotes.
ME: Okay.
MADELEINE: I was talking to the apple.
ME: Oh.  Sorry.

Madeleine's Code Language

Madeleine is the queen of taking up a ton of unnecessary time concocting code words and sign language to convey something that otherwise would require only a quick response.  Some past examples include, for those who may not remember:

ME: (calling into the bathroom) Madeleine, are you done pooping yet?
MADELEINE: Uh, Mama?  "Paper paper" means I'm done!
ME: Okay.
MADELEINE: Paper paaaper!


OR:

ME: (laying out two dresses) Madeleine, which dress do you want to wear, this one or this one?
MADELEINE: Uh, Mama?  I will FLOMP onto the dress that I want to wear.
ME: Okay.
MADELEINE: (studying both dresses, then full-body leaping on top of one of them)


Last night was a real Madeleine-special, as I encouragingly gathered up bites of broccoli (which she, at long last, is willing to eat) onto her fork.

ME: (holding out another forkful towards Madeleine)
MADELEINE: I'm still chewing.  Mama.  This means- (putting her hand into a fist and holding up her thumb and pinky) Wait, Mama... (putting up a third finger along with the thumb and pinky) Mama.  This means...wait, Mama... (holding up all five fingers as if expecting a high five) Okay Mama.  THIS means...wait, Mama... (waving her hand back and forth) Mama.  THIS means "I'm ready."  So Mama.  (waving her hand at me.)
ME: (handing the fork to her)

And just think.  If she had just swallowed what she had been chewing and accepted the next forkful, she could have eaten her next bite SO much more easily.  But that's just not how Madeleine rolls, folks.

Now, it would be one thing if we had a pre-established sign language gesture so that Madeleine could simply signal to me when she's done chewing.  In that case, she wouldn't actually DELAY her chewing process in order to tell me repeatedly what series of hand gestures she's changing her mind on, and she could give me the sign and I could hand her the fork.  Done.  Simple.

Unfortunately, next time around I already know it won't be the same as last night's sign.  Madeleine is ALL FOR mixing it up.  One day the signal is "newspaper" and the next day it's "leaf."  (I speak from true life experience.)  Constant change-ups occur in Madeleine's world of code.  And I can totally see why.  Life would sure get boring and predictable if it was all "paper paper" all the time.  We need to spice things up with some variety!  That way, no one will ever really know what Madeleine is talking about.  It keeps us on our toes!

"Paper paper" means this blog post is done.

Paper paper.