Happy Birthday Madeline

On October 1, my baby girl turned 11. I cannot believe she is that old. I remember very clearly the day we brought her home from the hospital, the gorgeous day, blue sky against the mountains, her blue carseat with gold stars, and our gray Mistubishi Galant. She was such a beautiful baby girl with lots of red curly hair and bow-shaped lips.

On her birthday, she got a motor scooter and a Skookie maker. She said to me, "Mom, I bet I'm the only 11-year-old girl who wants a Skookie maker for her birthday!" She may be right. The girl likes her desserts. She actually had to pay for part of her motor scooter. A few years back we started giving the kids money for their birthdays instead of gifts and then take them shopping. It is interesting to watch how carefully they spend their own money. We then went to Texas Roadhouse with Grandma and Grandpa G. where she got to sit on the saddle and be sung to. On Sunday, we went to Grandma and Grandpa S. and had cake and presents there as well.

Some random facts about my Maddie:
1. When she was a baby, she had so much determination. I remember watching her try to roll from her back to front at about 3 months of age. She was so focused on the task and so determined to get it down. She would not stop trying until she got it down. She still has this determination today. When she sets her mind to something, she accomplishes it.

2. She loves animals. When she was in first grade a little boy who had a crush told her, "Maddie when we grow up we will get married and we can have 34 pets." She was so overcome by this sentiment she could hardly stand it. He knew how to win her over for sure. She also used to say when she grew up she wanted to marry a man with "property" for all the animals she wants to have. My feminist brainwashing must be working because now she says she needs to study hard so she can get a good job to buy herself some property for her animals.

3. She is a hard worker. Last year she made a goal to make it through the whole year without a single late or missing assignment. I fear this level of perfectionism will require medication at some point (not that there is anything wrong with this), but I am proud of how hard she works when she sets her mind to something.

4. Besides having a great capacity to love animals, she has this same love for people. Her feelings and relationships can be very intense. She loves all her grandparents, family, aunts and uncles and cousins in a way that I think is unusual for a girl her age.

5. Going through her pictures, I was reminded of how much she loved her binky. She used to carry around a big bunch of them in her purse so she always had access to them. When Sam came along, she used to hide his in strategic locations throughout the house where she could sneak and take a hit on one when she needed one.

6. She is strong and active. She loves to dance and tumble and loves to show off her muscles or "guns."''

We love our Madeline and are so glad she is a part of our family. Now for way too many pictures. How do you choose?