Sisters

Madison had a wonderful time at her first slumber party. McKenzie rode with me to drop her off at the roller rink. We stayed long enough to make sure Maddie was ready to skate and then prepared to come home. And the tears began. So I will let you guess who was crying at the point of leaving Madison at her first slumber party:

A) Madison
B) Mommy
C) McKenzie

Ding Ding Ding - If you guessed McKenzie, you are right!

My sweet baby cried her eyes out, "I want Maaaaddddiiieeee." I sat in the back of the van and just let her cry. We cruised by Ellah's house for a quick dose of the bff to calm her nerves. The rest of the night went well until it was time for bed and the tears were pouring out of her eyes. McKenzie was breaking my heart! And she really got me when she fell asleep with a picture of the two of them in her arms. God bless these girls.

I picked Madison up Sunday morning about 9. She had a wonderful time and had a million stories to tell. I was so proud of her for making it all night away from home. The minute we walked in the front door, McKenzie had her in the death grip hug like she was returning from war rather than a slumber party. God bless these girls.

Later in the day, Madison asked me if they could have a picnic in the backyard. This is a new favorite activity since the playscape from Santa arrived. She was so cute bringing me the little basket we use for picnics. I made 3 sandwiches, cut up 2 apples, and threw in some chips. Off they went - the 3 amigas. I didn't hear any yelling or screaming or fighting. Only giggles. Here they are at the picnic. God bless these girls.

Slumber Party

It's happened. Madison has received her first invitation to a slumber party. I knew this day would come. Let's call this another step out of the nest. Kim and I were uncertain as to how to RSVP. I mean, these kids are only 7! I will be impressed if she makes it through the whole night, but slumber parties were a big part of my childhood and I hope she has as much fun as I did as a kid.

Plano, TX in the early 80's was a lot of fun. Granted, my parents worked too much and I turned into a latch key kid, but I had a great group of friends. As a matter of fact, most of the girls of my childhood are now the ladies of my Facebook! Julie, Margo, Melissa, Gayla, Lana & Leslie, Stephanie - we were the slumber party queens, or princesses at the time. How could I ever forget forking Phillip Panell's yard after he forked mine during a slumber party? Or watching Kujo at Lana and Leslie's birthday slumber party and having the poop scared out of me? There were games and movies and so much fun. We stayed up late, laughed a lot, occasionally froze some underwear, and always had a good time. There were scavenger hunts and pizza and prank calls to boys.

And now it is my baby's turn to take a big step out of the nest. As a mom, I know there are a million things that could go wrong. I know sexual predators are usually snappy dressers and always wear a smile. I know she may call home at midnight to come home. I know a mean little girl may tease her and hurt her feelings. I know she may feel afraid. I also know she may have the time of her life. I know she will make memories that will last into at least her 30's. I know she may walk away with a best friend like Julie, who has been as much a part of my life as my own brother.

Oh my baby is growing up and while everything in me says to hold on tight, I know I have to let her go a little at a time. I can hardly wait to hear the scoop when she comes home on Sunday morning!

Mommy

I don't remember the day I first heard Madison call my name, but I do remember how I felt when I heard her say Mommy. A warmth spread through my whole body, starting in my heart. This little tiny person had claimed me as her own. I was Mommy from that day forward. I was no longer just Buck and Nora's daughter, Carl's sister, Kim's partner, or some one's employee. I am Mommy, righter of wrongs; chief cheerleader; all time advocate; fanatic fan; and lover of everything you do.

Things came easily for Madison. She walked on her first birthday. She delivered monologues standing on the coffee table at two. Madison was coordinating play dates at three and organizing class trips at four.

Morgan, on the other hand, has not been so lucky. This sweet baby has been through many ordeals, of the medical kind, that I would have given my right arm to take her place. When Morgan was born, we thought she was deaf. She didn't pass the hearing test in the hospital nursery or at the pediatrician's office. She slept all the time and never startled. Finally, she passed the test and now we feel silly for ever worrying!

Morgan was slow to crawl and slower to walk. Physical and occupational therapy has been essential in her development and while we marval at her ability to communicate through sign language, we anxiously await her speech to develop. Morgan's first word was Jack, the dog. Eventually she said Mama for Kim. Her vocabulary is limited to just a handful of words, but the list grew longer today with the addition of my name - Mommy.

My almost 20 month old daughter with the giant smile and spirit as bright as the sun spoke my name for the first time today. I was pulling laundry out of the dryer tonight with Morgan "helping" me. And out of nowhere, she said Mommy. I knelt down beside her to make sure I heard correctly and she said it again. Mommy. I think it is the greatest word ever spoken by anyone anywhere. My heart is so full.

Morgan is going to be fine. She is going to talk when she is good and ready. Who knows, she may be fully capable of speech now but has the two most talkative older sisters. When in the world would she have a chance to say anything??

I am truly blessed to be the mother of these amazing little girls. I have no idea what I did to deserve such richness in my life and I have stopped wondering because grace has made it possible for a family to exist where there once was not. My babies have changed my life in ways I never dreamed possible and today, one more claimed me as her own.