This post is all about my sweet little girl, Madelynn, who is turning TWO in just two weeks. She's still very much my baby, but she is growing up so very fast, and I'm not sure I'm quite ready. Madelynn is a fiesty little girl at times, while other times she's a quiet, shy little creature who hides behind Mommy's legs. She runs around the house laughing and yelling, "There's a monster coming," but moments later runs up, hugs me around the neck, saying, "I love you."

For so long, I worried Madelynn wouldn't get enough attention, since Brenden at times requires so much. I worried that she would feel slighted and not as important. But lately, I realize that those worries are complete nonsense. Absolutely ridiculous. It's almost as if she understands that Brenden needs a little extra help sometimes. When we leave the house, she ALWAYS walks out first, since I'm carrying Brenden, and she ALWAYS holds the door until I get out with him. When we get out of the van, she jumps out of her seat, out of the van, hits the button to close her door, and immediately runs over to Brenden's side, and after getting him out, she hits the button to close his door. She puts Brenden's cup in the sink when he's done, since he can't reach it unless he's in his walker. She's his BIGGEST, LOUDEST cheerleader during his "potty time." While it may be TMI for some of you, she sits in the bathroom yelling, "Push, Brenden." She claps for him when he's done and tells him good job.

She loves him beyond words. Brenden is literally the first thing on Madelynn's mind when she wakes up, in the morning and after nap. As soon as I walk in she asks where he is, and is off to find him. If he can't reach something, she helps. Even if it is a bag of cookies on the counter that I've already told him he can't have, she pushes a chair over, climbs up, and they enjoy the cookies together. She holds his walker still if it's sliding on the floor while he's trying to stand up.

While I realize she doesn't fully get it, in her own, almost 2 year old way, she does. My girl makes me proud. I know that as they get older she will be there to help just as much as now, if not more. I know that she won't be jealous if he needs just a little more attention. They have a very special bond already, one that I hope and pray continues to grow. Several times a day Brenden hugs her and says, "Madelynn, I love you so much." A few weeks ago he told me that she was a good little sister, because she shares her cookies and snacks. However, she does NOT enjoy his knock-knock jokes. I love watching them grow together, even if it is going just a little too fast. She has been such an amazing addition to our family, attitude and all.

A few days ago, I asked her to throw her diaper away, her response, "No Mommy, I'm a princess. You do it." Um, seriously?!?! We're in for it, I'm sure. If she wants something and I tell her no, she puts her head down, scrunches up her nose, shoots me a dirty look, and says, "Oh, man!" She makes me laugh a thousand times a day and still loves to cuddle. I can't imagine life without her :)