Happy Birthday Madeline!

Dear Madeline,

This past year has been absolutely amazing. Thinking back, it has been a blur and we can’t believe you are turning ONE already. It feels like just yesterday we were holding sweet little you in the hospital. We were so excited to bring you home.

You grew slow at first. Mommy had to take you in to the doctor for extra checkups to make sure you were growing okay. But you made up for lost time and then some. You shot past the growth curve and have been in the upper range ever since. Your cheekies grew to mammoth proportions and you're chubby thighs and Buddha belly are so adorable. Your chubbiness is wonderful to kiss on and we love it.

Now you are changing into a wonderful little girl and it is so fun to see you develop. You crawl and walk around with reckless abandon. You love to walk between us and dive into our arms. Soon you won’t need our help at all.

You are already a little spitfire with an attitude. You know what you shouldn't do, but you do it anyway while looking us straight in the eye. Your look says, “I know I’m being bad and what are YOU going to do about it.” When you do get in trouble, you are a drama queen with the tears. Even the word ‘No’ sometimes sets you off.

You are very sociable and love to “talk.” Especially during meals. Mommy and Daddy can hardly carry on a conversation over your jibber-jabber. You also love to make a complete mess of yourself while eating. Spaghetti and Meatballs is your favorite and much of it inevitably ends up all over your face and in your hair. It’s a mess to clean up, but watching you have so much fun makes it all worth it.

You think Maggie and Miles are funny and giggle whenever they go running past you. You like to chase Maggie around the room whether she likes it or not. You are beginning to learn how to pet them gently and we are teaching you to say ‘doggy’.

Every month we say we want to freeze time and keep you there, because you are so much fun. But then you learn something new and it just keeps getting better and better. We can’t wait to see what you learn and can do in the next year.

Happy First Birthday Baby Doll! We love you!
~Mommy and Daddy