Dear Madison:

The original purpose of this blog was to document your life so that one day you could look back at it and see the different stages of your life.  It quickly turned into a 'lets keep the out of town family updated with the happenings in your world' blog.  Well, change is good and I want to take Madison Avenue down another road...I dont think you'll mind....and quite frankly, I dont think the out of towners will either!

 

Today I was inspired by a blog that I came across on www.pinterest.com created by a Mommy for her daughter Scarlett.  From what I can ascertain, Scarlett was born about a year after you were and her Mommy has documented her life as I have since you were 22 months....but with a different perspective:

 

"This is a project to our daughter, Scarlet. We, your parents, are documenting your life. Our hope is that when you grow older you'll be able to look back and see how happy you have always made us." - http://dearscarlet.tumblr.com/

 

So from today on....  my perspective will be the same: I will continue to document your life, so that not only will you be able to look back and see the stages of YOU, but so you can see just how much joy you brought into our lives and how much you taught us to be the parents that we are today. You didn't come with a manual, and we never attended one parenting class.  You taught us everything we know.  You are one amazing kid!  You are precocious, full of life, sassy (as seen in the picture above) and as lovable and snuggable as you can be!  Everyday you challenge us to be better than the day before.   

 

10-21-01: the day your daddy and I became one (11 years ago today).  My heart smiles everytime you pull out "our married party" video cassette tape, watch it and cry tears of joy.  One day you'll have your own married party....and I'm sure I'll cry my own tears of joy. 

 

I'll leave you with two things I learned from my parents - be a GIVER:

From my Mom (your Guy Guy): never rest until you've GIVEN your best.

From my Dad (your Opa): forgiveness is a gift YOU give to yourself...GIVE it often and give it freely.

Some lessons are caught...and some are taught.  I promise to always be mindful of this.  I love you and I look forward to every tomorrow with you... Good night!