Madison is 8!

Eight years ago our lives shifted.  We went from a married couple to married with child.  My mom said that she couldn’t sleep the other day, so she looked back at Madison’s first days on the blog.  I decided to venture back as well.  Here is a good gist of what that first week was like,

This has been a week of learning.  Jeremy has been able to be a part of the good times and extremely emotional times with me.  Let me just say that all of this mothering stuff does not come a naturally as people would claim.  The "I love my child and think she is the most beautiful thing in the world".. that part comes pretty naturally.  The knowing what to do when you breastfeed, when the baby cries, how to give a bath, how to survive on little sleep .. that part does not  come naturally.  I am so thankful that Jeremy was here to just listen and support me.  (He doesn't really think that is "doing" anything, but for all you dads/soon-to-be dads, that is a lot of help!)

The learning continues 8 years later.  Now, it is things like, How do we fit our homework in?  Do you want to be in any extra activities?  How do you connect with parents to invite friends over to play that she meets at school?  When does allowance start?  When can she work alone in the kitchen, with a stove or an oven?  How do you encourage her and hold her to expectations?  How do you let her have her own space, but also have her allow time for her sister?  Is she really making friends at school?  how are kids treating her?  Does she stand up for herself when needed?  Does she raise her hand in class to ask for help?  When is it okay to cry about stuff and when do we need to grow up and just use words without tears?  And the list could go on….

Madison is a generally happy girl.  She likes school and leaning.  While she would like to be right all the time (kinda like her mom!), she is figuring out that sometimes she is not right, and that is okay.  She is exploring new skills – a sewing kit and machine and an EZ Bake Oven for Christmas will work on two new skills.  (I will also learn to sew alongside her, as I am very rusty!)  She loves to play with Ellie, but is also growing out of some of the things they used to do together – she likes to play babies, but doesn’t LOVE to play them like Ellie.  She still enjoys arts and crafts type things, and she has started to read more in her free time. 

Madison is a willing helper, a sensitive soul, a girl who wants to help others feel good, a performer on the big stage, an observer, a director of activities, a bundle of energy. 

We are so glad that God blessed us eight years ago with Madison.  We continue to pray that she will grow into the woman God created her to be, that she would desire to do His will, and she will accept Him as her Lord and Savior. 

To celebrate her birthday, we went out to eat at Rockne’s.  Then, we went and watched The Greatest Showman at a theater with reclining seats!  It was a terrific movie.  Here is a make-up Christmas picture with some of us.  Jeremy was taking his brother’s family to the airport, so we are still not all here.  I will try to get one of ALL of us in our “Christmas attire” together sometime.