Madelyn is 2!

Two years ago today at 11:30pm I met a little girl who changed my life forever. I remember the first time I saw her I thought how absolutely beautiful she was and how tiny. I very quickly realized how well her lungs worked. She was louder than any baby I have ever heard in my life. That night in the delivery room at Gwinnett Medical I met my beautiful Madelyn, the most perfect little girl I’ve ever seen.


Before she was born I never knew anything was missing in my life. I had everything in life that really matters, a husband who I’m madly in love with, a little boy who my world revolved around, but I was missing a sweet little girl. Madelyn was just what our family needed. She balanced us out and gave each of us something completely different. Michael and I gained a daughter, a completely different experience from raising a son. Damian was given his little sister and soon-to-be best friend. She was exactly what we all needed.

There are so many ways to describe Madelyn at two. The first word I think of is feisty. Madelyn weighs a whopping 24 pounds, but can hold her own against anyone. She doesn’t take no for an answer and gets what she wants. It makes life a little difficult at times, but I know Madelyn will get exactly what she wants out of life and I wouldn’t change it for the world. She isn’t intimidated of anyone. The other day at Monkey Joes a little girl about Damian’s age kept insisting he was going to stop playing with the toy he was playing with and give it to her. Damian kept politely telling her he would give it to her when he was done, but the little girl starting whining even more. Madelyn stood up and I could tell by the look in her eye she was going to take care of the little girl who wouldn’t leave her big brother alone. She had no fear of that little girl. She is such a feisty, fearless child.

Madelyn may be feisty but she is oh, so sweet. Her smile goes from ear to ear and is infectious. I love when I walk in her room in the morning and she is standing up in her crib with a blanket on her head and she gives me a smile that lights up the room. She laughs just like her big brother that can make everyone around her laugh. She gives the sweetest kisses. She is always willing to give kisses. There is nothing I love more!

Another word to describe my girl is smart. Her vocabulary has exploded. She knows what pretty much everything is. You tell her what something is one time and she remembers it. She is talking in some sentences, but they can be so random. The other morning she looked at me and said, “I need to wear pants with pockets” and that is exactly what she wanted. She is just like her big brother and has the memory of an elephant. She remembers everything and anything. If I tell her to go find something she can with no problem, even if it has been a few days. She knows her two favorite colors, pink and purple (shocking!) perfectly. Her little mind is like a sponge and I can see in her eyes she is taking in the world around her.

As feisty, sweet and smart as she is she is one high maintenance little girl! No matter where we are I hear, “Rub piiiigys!” and then I’ll hear a sweet “Peas!” It doesn’t matter where we are, in the car, in the grocery store or while were eating. She loves to have her piggy’s rubbed. Everyone always laughs at her in the nail salon when she gets her toes done. She knows the drill and is very used to it. Everyone always asks if it is her first time and the ladies who work there laugh and tell them she has been coming in since the week she was born. Madelyn was born on a Monday and had her toes done professionally by the time the week was over. She is also very picky over her wardrobe. When we go into Gymboree she immediately picks out what she wants. She will put outfits together and tell me “Mommy, cute, petty!” and when I pick out something she doesn’t like she will say, “Ewwwwww, nasty!” with her SoCal voice.

At this age Madelyn definitely has her favorites. Her favorite thing in the world is shoes. She loves all kinds of shoes. She loves the light up princess heals, her brothers cleats, my tennis shoes, Michael, boots and especially my high heels. She can walk in heels better than I can. She also loves baby dolls. She acts like she is their mommy. Right now they are all named Baby, except for Baby Belle. Animals hold a very special place in Madelyn’s heart. She especially loves doggies and fishies. She will play with Sampson for hours and he is so kind to her. She also loves Max (our cat). When we got our Christmas tree there were these huge bunnies and one had the exact same markings as Max. She only saw them from a distance and about had a nervous breakdown because she thought Max was there. She loves to read. She has one particular book that we have to read every night followed by another story. It is a picture book with one hundred common words. She knows them all, but is fascinated with the book. I walked in her room the other day and Madelyn and Damian were cuddled up in her glider and he was reading the book to her. It was a priceless moment. She also loves books about anything girly. It is a nice change from books on trucks and monsters! She is a woman who knows what she wants and knows what she likes!

My favorite thing in this entire world is to watch Damian and Madelyn together. They have a bond like no other siblings I’ve ever seen. They definitely have their moments where the argue and fight with one another and I feel more like a referee than a mom, but the two of them have an unconditional love for one another. The other day they came running by me in the entrance hall holding hands declaring that they are best friends and were going upstairs to play. They both had the same twinkle in their eyes. Damian was playing with a friend the other day and the little boy did not want any babies around and Damian took up for her and said he wanted Sissy to play with them. The two of them can mess with each other, but no one else stands a chance. Last night we were in the car singing “Happy Birthday” to Madelyn when Damian took a turn. His version went,” Happy Birthday to You… Happy Birthday to You… Happy Birthday Dear Madelyn… Your Brother Loves You!” The bond they share is so special. It amazed me the love they have for each other. Their relationship makes me one very proud mommy.

Having a daughter is such a blessing. I love having a son, but raising a daughter is a completely different experience. It is a different kind of love, but very much the same (they are equally as wonderful). I was a pro at boy things and it is nice getting to experience the princesses and bows. Madelyn is the little girl I’ve always dreamed about. When I was little and though about what my little girl would be like it is Madelyn. She is absolutely perfect in my eyes and will always be.

It baffles me that my little girl is two. These have been the two most wonderful years of my life. I have a husband I love, a son who hung the moon and a princess who is the apple of my eye. Being Madelyn’s mother is an honor and a privilege and I hope she knows every single day of her life how much I love her. Happy second Birthday my sweet Madelyn Elizabeth Drucker, I love you!