Happy Birthday to Maddie

March 25th was a very special day.  My sweet neice Maddie turned one.  I remeber my sister's 14 hour labor like it was yesterday.  Rebecca did great and slept through a lot of the night.  I did, too.  Actually I slept on her couch, on the lobby chaise, in the waiting room chairs....anywhere I could.  You see, I was less than 12 weeks pregnant myself with sweet Jack and was exhausted.  I wanted more than anything to be there when Madeline Rose made her entrance into the world.  I pushed myself as hard as I could but gave out around 2:00am.  I finally went home and when I called her at 6:30 to check in I heard the most beutiful little voice crying in the background.  I couldn't believe I missed it, but I was so glad she was here safe and healthy.

Maddie has brought so much joy to all of our lives.  She is so funny.  She looks just like her Daddy and acts just like her Mommy.  She is so dainty; always holding her hand out like a princess.  That crazy strawberry hair makes me laugh and her funny expressions bring a smile to my face every time I see her.  Her sweet peaches and cream skin is the most kissable ever and I just love her like she is mine.

Like most new moms, my sister has been planning Maddie's first birthday for months.  She just wanted everything to be perfect.  It wasn't ever going to be a huge party, just family and close friends.  I had been planning on making her the perfect birthday gift (I'm still going to smock that dress before its all said and done) and I couldn't wait to see her dig into her moo-cow smash cake.  Unfortunately plans changed for us and clearly we weren't able to make it.  Ella did attend with my parents, but the rest of us were here stuck in the hospital.

We did get to celebrate with her on Friday, though.  Just a little cupcake sharing between two cousins. The pictures aren't the best and I don't have any of my super cute Maddie pictures here at the hosptial to post, but I wanted to share just a few of the ones I have. 

We love you sweet Maddie-Moo!!!