C'est magnifique, to quote my 4-year-old

Happy Birthday, Maddi! A couple weeks late, I know. But hey you were a week past your due date when you were born so we're even.



In training for Rose Queen



Maddi and dad on the slides



In her words, life is c'est magnifique.

Of course, she learned that from her favorite books and shows: "Madeline."

I actually think we've done something right with this gal.

Our Madeleine (with an "e") has a sense of humor, loves others, loves her sister beyond measure, has an aptitude for learning languages, follows the rules (except with mom and dad in the room). Madeleine says things like "you are incorrect." Or her favorite, "my name is Jennifer Dale, D as in David - A - L - E." She is all ears, and hears me spell that out on the phone all the time.

This year, we saw our first play together: Pinkalicious. Madeleine sat next to B.F.F. Kate-Margaret and both were memorized. In a couple weeks, we are going to the Youth Philharmonic's cushion concert, where all kids under 8 are welcome to bring pillows to sit on and listen to the live music of young players. Music has been a big part of Maddi's life since birth. When she was just a few months old we went to Music Together for years.

We go to birthday parties nearly every weekend. Let's see, she has 13 classmates (so that's most of October, November and then February (skipping the holidays). Then there's playgroup friends whose parties we also attend. The parties are usually at Pump It Up or other play places, and the kids are utterly exhausted afterward. Thus, naptime on Saturday or Sunday lasts about three hours!

Last weekend, we attended an adorable party at Once Upon a Time, a horse stable in West Linn. What fun to be introduced to horses in such a welcoming environment. Maddi loved riding the pony (we are in big trouble here; expensive horseback riding lessons could be in our near future). She was a natural, holding onto the saddle horn and keeping her heels down and toes up. She was fearless.

But there are things Maddi fears. She doesn't like to be alone. She is not a huge risk-taker. She is adventurous yet this little one has a built-in "line-in-the-sand" that she is sure not to cross. Swing too high, and she gets nervous. Walk without hand-in-hand, and she rushes to your side. After 4 years, this kiddo finally sleeps soundly in her own bed and bedroom (a recent accomplishment). She reminds of the days when I would shop with Grandma Patti and never wander far away.

Maddi loves the movies and has seen everything G-rated, a million times over. As a toddler, she loved Mamma Mia (I think it was the music that got her). She eats like a bird, mostly just fruit for this kiddo. No pizza or mac and cheese, which I thought were kid staples. But she sneaks chocolate whenever she can.

She loves art projects and cooking, helping me in the kitchen and helping with Lizzie. I have an intuition that Maddi will be a huge Lizzie cheerleader. What's so interesting to me is that Maddi knows Lizzie as her sister, and not Lizzie who has Downs. None of us will get that opportunity to know Lizzie first as someone without Downs. Maddi will, and their bond will be so strong.

So happy birthday to my compassionate little cheerleader. Sometimes you act like the CEO of our household and your classroom. We welcome your leadership! You always come to the side of someone who is hurt with your big heart and hugs. We are proud of your compassion. We love you so very much!