Two days ago I was sitting in the bathroom painting my pasty toenails crimson while Madeline watched in awe. She patiently waited until I was done with mine and then raised her arms up towards me, her sign for "please pick me up." She held perfectly still while I painted her toenails and when I set her down, she walked in to show Matt then twirled around in circles like a wobbly ballerina. The experience re-confirmed in my mind something I have suspected for a long time: Madeline is a girly girl. This is not genetic. My mom always wanted me to wear mascara and curl my hair and I refused (my only real rebellion). Madeline's girliness clearly did not come from me, but its definetly there. She is a 15 month old who actually lets me put her hair in pig tails daily (sometimes four or five times a day). She has a toy bin of plastic red cups, teething rings, blocks and other household knickknacks that she digs into and finds her purple mardi gras beads first, which she promptly puts on and wears all day. She also smiles at herself in the mirror and flirts with boys in the elevator. She is so darn cute that I can't stand it.
Anyway, yesterday I had a book club at my house discussing Crossing to Safety which is on my list of top five favorite books and a fabulous book to discuss. One of the things that came up was how different people have different needs in terms of friendships. Meanwhile, I was in the kitchen listening in and holding a fussy Maddy who saw my friend Elisa and put out her arms to go to her. I re-realized that one of Madeline's needs is attention and friendship from people other than her parents. Elisa's son Andrew, who was born a few months after Maddy, could care less if he never saw anyone else other than his mom and dad, but not Maddy. She cried the other day when the guy who came to give us a moving estimate left.
Something so fun and unexpected for me about being a parent is to see how Madeline takes on the world and how the eternal traits and personality that she obviously came with come out. It reminds me that for now, she is just on loan and I need to help her use all her fun (and very independent) personality to make it back Home.
Right now Maddy is sitting next to her Daddy watching baseball. She is wearing blue sweat pants and a stained T-shirt that says "baby" in Chinese. Her hair isn't done.
But her toenails are red.
8 comments:
It was so fun to talk to you and hear Maddy's little voice. We love your writing. This one made us teary. We love the darling picture of Maddy in her beads, and we love both of you. Mom and Dad
Yes I will comment on every post, because I love that you have a blog! Glad you've figured out how to upload pictures. So cute! Maddy is all girl, and my little Matty is all boy. Kids are so fun!
Adorable picture. Madeline is definitely one of my favorites. Great writing Shelley!
You're killing me Shelley! That picture totally made me cry and now I miss Maddy so much!!! She is just too cute! I can't wait to see her again in a couple weeks!
Fantastic writing. Beautiful daughter. And Crossing to Safety is the book that never dies for me - have read it a handful of times and keep 'lending' my 2 copies selfishly so I have obligatory discussionists. In my top 5 favorites too!
Mardi gras beads and red toenails - love your girly girl.
I'm so excited you're blogging! Yay! Shelley, you're an incredible writer -- I'm adding you to my favorites list right this instant.
Maddy is just adorable!
Shelley. Please update soon. This is very hard for me.
I'm w Rebecca. As usual.
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