Madeleine Eve Redman is our third child. In fact she is a third child of a third child (me) of a third child (my mom). Does that mean anything? When Maddie was born I had a 2 year old a 1 year old and a newborn so sadly my memories of the time were of incredible stress. However, if I were to do it again I would space them just as I did. Maddie and her sister Gwen are best friends and have a great time together so hopefully that makes up any lack of attention.
Maddie has always been a sweet and happy little girl. When I read back over my journal entries from when she was a baby (there are a couple) I was always commenting about what a cheerful little one she was.
Maddie is a very girly girl and has always loved singing, dancing, princesses, dress up, and all those other estrogen associated activities (though I have had a son or two who likes these things as well). She was a cute chubby toddler though she is skinny as anything now.
I mentioned earlier that Maddie and Gwen are the best of friends. I love how well they play together and how kind they are to each other. I hope that Mia and Evie are as good of friends as they are.
You wouldn't think it to look at this picture but Maddie is incredibly, sometimes painfully shy. Her shyness started as a toddler and I remember her sunbeam teacher asking me if she could speak. This was around March so she had been in the class for over 2 months at this time. We worried about her in school because she absolutely will not talk to people she doesn't know well and if she is upset she won't even talk to me and Aaron. She has had a couple rough times in school when she got upset or lost and wouldn't talk to anyone to get help but she has had some good, understanding teachers and she has made it through. Last year when she was in 2nd grade, about half way through the school year the teacher asked her a question during class and she answered the question. A boy in the class yelled "Maddie can talk!" and the whole class cheered for her. The mom of another child told me later that her son came home and the first thing he told his mom was that Maddie could talk.
On the other hand Maddie doesn't seem to have much stage fright at all. Her teachers have told me how surprised they are when they give her a part in a class play or reader's theatre and she will get up there and perform without a problem. She will also sing and dance for others, go figure.
As the picture shows, Maddie definitely has her saucy side as well, at least when she is at home. She was a rockstar (she called herself a cheetah girl because her skirt was cheetah print and she had heard the phrase from friends talking about the real (but not nearly as awesome) cheetah girls). She looks way too old in this picture and it gives me a queezy, I am soon to begin the teenage children years, feeling in my stomach.
Maddie turned 8 on January 21st and on January 30 she was baptized by her dad. This was my third baptism as a Mom and I will just say that it was just as special as the first. The spirit was so strong and I was so happy that Maddie was my daughter and that she was making the choice to be baptized. It was a truly wonderful day. I think the hardest part for Maddie was being the center of attention. We were worried about her Bishop's interview because we knew chances were she wouldn't talk to him but we asked him about it and he said a nod was just fine (thank goodness because that is all she gave him). She did a great job and looked beautiful in her baptism dress.
Happy Birthday Maddie! You are my favorite 8 year old in the world and I love you.
