Another Big Birthday

This is not a birthday blog. However, in the last month, two very special people have turned two very special numbers. And this is a big one... today, my Maddie cake turns 18.

Before she was born, the Cerise side of my family had been going through a bit of a baby drought (the Majeau side produced a pretty steady stream). It was just me, Aubrie and Adam for a while. So when Cissy got pregnant, it was something special. And at 12, I got to be the godmother! In 5th grade, it doesn't get much better than that.

She was the first baby I ever fell in love with. She had CRAZY hair, and a big personality. We would listen to the same lullaby CD in the car every morning on the way to school. I remember how Cissy could detect Maddie's cry from the others. We'd be walking through the hallway at school, she'd hear something in the nursery and say, "wait - I think that was Maddie." Then she'd stick her head in and make sure everything was okay. As Maddie got older, I remember picking her up from the toddler room. I remember the day they put her shoe on too quickly, and her little toe was bent backwards. She would come into my volleyball practices, strip down to her bloomers, and dance on the stage. She loved to sing. I wanted her to call me Nanny, but it turned into Ninny. She told people I was her fairy godmother. She was one of the best swimmers at Pat Taylor's (she didn't mind getting her face wet - that's a key performance indicator in the pool). Sports came naturally, which wasn't a surprise. I remember Nick (her hamster) biting her so hard, I got scared and called her mom. I remember summers of slathering sunblock, watching Trading Spaces, and trying to keep Jack entertained so her and Bizzy could have their own play time. I remember helping her choose an outfit for a talent show. I was so nervous picking her up from camp that day, just hoping that everyone loved her song. I remember going to the mall and helping her pick a cool pair of glasses. I remember the way she looked in her Ursuline uniform, her hair when it didn't reach past her shoulders, and her smile before braces.

Then, because I was away in Memphis, the memories have gaps. I remember coming back, watching her play volleyball and thinking - when did she get this good? I remember trying on clothes, noticing she was my size, and thinking - when did she get this big? I remember her telling me about losing an election, and she didn't break, she didn't get angry, she just understood that there were other things she could do. And I thought, when did she get this mature? When did she grow into this smart, completely undemanding, positive, amazingly older person?

And now she's 18. She's going to graduate soon and go off to college, and I couldn't be more amazed at who she's become. She's someone you'd want to be best friends with. Someone you'd be very lucky to have in your family. And for me, in some small way, it kind of feels like she's mine.

And did I mention beautiful? Tall and gorgeous. Happy birthday Mat! You deserve the best day.