Miss Madalynn is 9!

9 years ago Travis and I were in the Manhattan, KS, Mercy Health Center enjoying our 1st newborn, Madalynn Eileen.

Today, we enjoyed our 1st-born at 9 years old!!

The kids slept in a *little* this morning, trying to recuperate from Maddie's birthday party yesterday. We had some friends and family and a couple of Maddie's friends over yesterday to celebrate. Aunt Holly took her clothes shopping on Saturday, which she LOVES to do. Tinkerbell was the theme of her party, and we barbecued, opened presents, ate cake and ice cream. No party of Madalynn's (in her opinion) is complete without a pinata, so the kids tried beating the candy out of a Tink pinata before Travis and I realized a pull-string pinata can't be beaten open!

Maddie, at 9, is continuing to develop her unique personal style and personality. She continues to love art, and she has become particularly interested in designing things. She recently helped me pick some fabric and finishings for Travis's home office. I must say I was VERY impressed at her ability to pick fun, interesting and beautiful combinations of fabric and trimmings. She has a natural "eye" for balance.

Maddie LOVES to read. In the last 3 months, she has read, The Swiss Family Robinson, Moby Dick, Anne of Green Gables, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, and she's reading a Judy Moody book right now. She reads before bed and gets so caught up that I sometimes have to remind her to shut her eyes. She usually responds, "Okaaaaay, Mom. It's so good it's hard for me to shut it right now. Can I finish this chapter?" I never tell her no, because she went from loathing reading and struggling to read in Kindergarten to reading for pleasure on her own. I'm not going to stop a good thing.

Maddie is a loving, model big sister. I see a special compassion in her for her brothers and sister. No matter how crazy they're being or how downright ornery they can be to her. She has a patience with them that seems to never run out. I can sometimes just SEE the compassion on her face sway her to pick up Jillian's blanket, play one more game with Justis, or color a picture with Dawson ONE more time. She also takes little Raegan under her wing almost every time she's over visiting.

Maddie likes to have her stuff in order, which is VERY hard with pillaging siblings and with sharing a room with her 3-year-old sister. She is so helpful in keeping her own belongings in their place, and she's a WONDERFUL and eager little cleaning helper when I ask.

She got her ears pierced for her birthday. She picked out the cutest little pair of rhinestone studs at Claire's and didn't even flinch when the lady pierced each ear. She is diligently following her after-care instructions and marking off her "care calendar" in anticipation of going back to Claire's in 6 weeks to get another piercing pair of earrings. She's also waiting for the 6-month mark, when she can wear any pair of earrings she wants.

Travis and I are in awe that we have a 9-year-old. Seems like 9 years have passed in the blink of an eye, because we can still remember her at 0-8 like it was yesterday. We love you, Miss Madalynn.