Happy Birthday Madelyn!

I can't believe that we have a 6 year old!  At times it seems like just yesterday that we arrived at the hospital for the first time.  Little did we know what we had gotten ourselves into or how wonderfully our lives were about to change!

Maddie is doing great!  She is in Kindergarten and LOVING it!  She has a wonderful teacher and a nice class.  She will actually have the same class and teacher next year too, which she is excited about.  Her goal at the beginning of the year was to be able to read a book and she is very good at reading now.  She likes to read all the signs she can and is very good about sounding out the words that she doesn't know.  Maddie is taking ballet right now and preparing for her 1st recital in June.  She loves dancing and all the girls look adorable in their little outfits.  Maddie has just finished a learn-to-swim week over the school vacation and is looking forward to trying soccer later this month.  She is an amazing big sister to Avery and the boys (most of the time)- she really takes pride in being able to help out with the baby though.

Maddie also recently took part in a talent show at her school, which I regret that we don't have any pictures of.  She and some friends hula hooped.  They were very cute up on the stage and did great.  At the beginning of the process it became apparent to me that Maddie did not actually know how to hula hoop but she wanted to do it anyway.  She practiced a little but then refused to practice any more.  As the show drew closer I wasn't sure whether to be embarrassed for her since I knew she didn't actually know what getting up in front of an audience was all about and all the other girls were good at hula hooping.  She didn't care though.  My MIL told me not to worry as Maddie was only in Kindergarten.  She was right.  The girls got up on stage, Maddie's hula hoop kept dropping to the ground and finally she looked at the other girls and picked up the hoop and spun it around her arm the rest of the time!  They did great and most importantly Maddie had fun!

I had a difficult time choosing songs this year.  The song I chose for Maddie's video- "This One's For The Girls" by Martina McBride I consider more for a high school age girl but the message is the same.  Be strong, don't let anyone tell you what to do, you are beautiful, be yourself.  These are all things that I want Maddie to know and remember as she makes her way through childhood encountering peer pressure and the unknown.  So Madelyn- Happy Birthday my beautiful, strong, independent girl- this one's for you!