Ode to Madison

Madison is our little actress. So creative in how she thinks about the world and how she sees things. Like her Grandma Diana, Madison loves to create with paper and pen or with her imagination. We are always acting out something and inventing "calvin-ball" like activities. Madison is like her Oma when we go to the park and she cannot resist picking the flowers. When we come home with a collection every time, I ask why she won't listen and not pick the flowers. She says, "But they are so pretty, I just wanted them!" We come home and "organize" them is what she says, and she makes sure we all are given some. It is now the same thing at the beach...we go and she only wants to collect shells; we have so many now I am not sure what we will do with them! She is very compassionate like her Grandpa Kay-always looking out for those around her and she really does notice when something is the matter. One day while walking, we passed a little girl crying in the back of a parked pick-up. Madison turned right around and wiped the girls' tears. It was remarkable to me that there were no barriers for Madison. Color didn't matter, nor the fact that we didn't know anything about this little girl. One of our favorite things about Madison is that she has a BIG heart.

Inherited from Oma and Opa Madison loves to see new places and new things. She loves when visitors come...we decided that our house is called Hotel Bradford (we are actually one of many hotel Bradfords). There are people here all the time and Madison loves to see who they are, go through their luggage, wake them up in the morning, play with their babies, etc. My Aunt Sharolyn came a few days ago very late at night and then we left in the morning to do some errands before she woke up. Madison kept asking where she was as she was concerned maybe she didn't come. She wanted to meet her and welcome her to our home. I had to laugh at our little hostess.

Finally, Madison is a mixture of her mom and dad. Stubborn like...OK, like me. But Tobias' side isn't far behind. Her verbal abilities for sure come from the Bradford side...and her ADD--or constant ability to be doing, comes from her daddy. Her joy for life comes from Tobias as well. I tried to convince her that this year, because of moving and such, to do a party at McDonalds like all the other kids...but no, she really wanted lots of people and a party in her own home. Tobias is always inviting people over and we are always entertaining. I guess it is fair to say it comes from both of us. Her high-spiritedness comes from me, I admit it. Madison loves life and will take the world by storm. Actually, she is in the process already.
We love you Madison! With all your smiles and giggles and hugs and kisses. You are so special to us. Happy Birthday.