My Darling Madeline

I'm very surprised at how easily I transitioned into being Jack's mother. I am completely and totally obsessed. It's like when you are in love and the rest of the world doesn't even exist. So much so, that I have to remind myself every day to pay attention to my Maddie too. I just sort of forget sometimes. So I took Maddie out to dinner and be bought matching, ridiculously fuzzy bathrobes. She looks so much like I did when I was eight years old in this picture. 

But I assure you, I was never this fashionable or adorable when I was eight.

I found this self-portrait of Maddie on her camera. It makes me want to put my arms around her and protect her from the world. I hope that she still feels adored by her mother even when I am feeding and holding and changing and bathing the baby for hours every day. 

Although she complains that Jack gets to "stay up later than her" even though "she is older", she still likes to sing to him at bedtime. Every single time she sings to him, Jack becomes very peaceful and alert. I know that he already adores his big sister.

She also likes to "play Barbies" with him. I think she is just so happy to finally have a playmate.

In other news, this Saturday is a very special day for our family. Our Madeline will be baptized and our Jack will be blessed. It makes me tear up just thinking about how blessed we are to have these two little miracles in our home.

Grandma Linda went to Maddie's school's Grandparent Day. By all accounts, it was a fabulous time.

Maddie still loves performing. She loves acting and singing and being on stage. So.....I'm just going to go with it. She takes voice lessons, performs in a children's chorus, and here she is in her theater dance class. I will NOT be shocked when she is performing on Broadway someday. I couldn't be more proud of my daughter.