Madelyns Birthday

Oh my little Madelyn. This should have been posted a long time ago, since her birthday was March 30th, but we're doing a little catching up and I'm starting with her birthday. Maddie is five now and it's hard to believe that in just another month she'll start all day kindergarten. I can't quite pinpoint why it appears I'm going to be hurting the day she starts, but I believe it has something to do with her not being the first, but by being the 2nd it truly means my family is growing up(I always looked forward to my first doing things for the first time, but it's not the same for the next) and these little girls wont be little for much longer.

Here they are at an Easter Egg hunt right after Maddie's birthday-yeah, um that was only what 4 months ago?
Isn't she sweet, Maddie's favorite color is blue and it has been blue for as long as she's been able to say blue, so she had a blue birthday, for the 2nd year in a row.

On her new blue bike

Being a middle child(which I was one of) I'm afraid she might sometimes feel a lack of attention stuck in between the oldest and then the baby. I know how it goes, but now as the mother of a middle child I realize how much even love you have for each child and how even though by chance she's in the middle, it's actually quite a blessing. She has always been so independent and she has a strong will, but such a sensitive side. At five years old Maddie is able to play well and follow the advice of other kids and give her own without being domineering, she's ready to start school even if it is all day! Even now I feel a loneliness in me just thinking about all the quiet afternoons I'll have without Maddie curled up on the couch beside me while Sophie sleeps. She hasn't started school yet, but I'm already missing her, how is that possible? I love you so much Maddie, you bring such happiness to your family.