Life's Little Milestones.

Maddie has been asked over to her friends' houses before, and we've had her friends over here. But, generally, these visits are arranged between the friend's parents and us. What with Maddie being just a little kiddo and all. But, this weekend, there was a message on our phone that was left by one of Maddie's friends. The voice sounded so young: "Maddie? When you get home, can you play? Maddie? It's J. Bye-ie".

Well, an actual message left just for her by one of her friends?! This put both Maddie and Jamie into almost hysterical joy. I had to play the message over and over for both of them to hear while they giggled away.

So, I guess it was time to let Maddie make a phone call of her own. We coached her a little on what to say - made sure that she would ask to speak to her friend, politely, when her friend's parent answered - and we had her invite her pal over.

I've never seen anyone so excited just to use the phone. It really is quite amazing to watch kids as they cross these little milestones and see the kind of joy they find in the simplest things in life. It reminds me of when these routine, everyday, kind of things were all new and fresh and exciting to me. Something I've usually completely forgotten until I see it in my girls.

And, she did a great job with her call. She spoke very clearly and politely. I was quite proud, actually. Enough to go grab the camera (embarassing her, as usual).

I guess she isn't so little anymore.

Next she'll be asking for the keys to the truck.

Maddie Mae: First Grader.

So my little baby, my first born daughter, my little angel-head...is now, officially, a grade 1 student. I really can't even believe it. Gawd. It seems like yesterday I was bringing her home from the hospital in her little car seat (that seemed just huge for her at the time). It seems like just yesterday that she was my little tiny baby that I took for huge walks all over our old neighbourhood - all bundled up because it was minus 20 degrees outside (I believed she absolutely HAD to have a big long walk, every day, no matter what). It seems like just yesterday that she was yelling out from her crib in the middle of the night, "I want my Nib-bow-leeeettt!" ("Niblet" = Soother). It seems like just yesterday that we noticed her first tooth poking through her gums as we took her to a cabin up north. All of those things, everything, they all seem like they just happened yesterday.

But, no, she is actually 5 years old now. Maddie Mae: First Grader. The years have flown by. Sometimes I just want to hold her and squeeze her so tight that time just stops for a bit. Pretty soon she won't even want anything to do with us anymore. Dave laughs that he is looking forward to that time. I'm not! I like that she wants to be with us. I like that she wants us to go sit beside her to watch a show. I like that she still wants her snuggles in the morning. It won't be long before I look back on all of that and think that seems like it was just yesterday, too.



Ouch. My head is starting to hurt from writing this. I was just saying to my friend, Shan, how this year has been so much easier than last year. I didn't even get the least bit choked up at the bus-stop. It just seemed like a continuation of kindergarten. But, it isn't. It isn't a continuation...it's a "moving on"...just like time...and, now, as this all hits me it's starting to get just as hard all over again!


I love you so much Maddie. I'm so proud of you and...







I kind of wish I could drive over to your school, pick you up, and bring you back home right now.

Culture Club

Maddie's class had something called "Culture Day" the other day at school. They were supposed to bring something in to their class that would represent their culture and speak a little bit about their culture. I was a little bit dumb-founded on this one to be honest because, well, we are Canadian. There aren't really any big cultural symbols for our family, or special rights-of-passage, or major traditions that are terribly different from anyone else's, or anything like that. I was so confused, in fact, that I made Dave call his mom (former grade school teacher) to see if she had done something like this in her class before and to find out just what, exactly, were they looking for?? Of course, she wasn't home and, of course, I had waited until the last minute to deal with this one.

So, I figured...I guess they want Maddie to speak about her heritage...?

Well, I know that a majority of my ancestors came from Ireland (although my grand-mother was born in England) and my maiden name was Irish. The majority of Dave's ancestors are also from Ireland and my married name is also Irish. So, I guess I'm looking for a shamrock. Although, what my poor child is supposed to say about the whole deal is really beyond me.

I found a pair of gold, shamrock, earrings that my mother gave to me a long time ago and I quickly showed them to Maddie as she was on her way out the door to catch the school bus.

Here, honey. Take these. They are shamrocks. They are Irish. Your ancestors were Irish. Can you remember that? And, if they want you to talk about traditions, just tell them what you do for Christmas and Thanksgiving and stuff. Oh, and St. Patrick's day. You could mention St. Patrick's day. That's an Irish holiday. Ok. Ok? Remember...Ireland. Ok. Get going. Have a good day! I love you!!! Bye Sweetie!!!

That was Maddie's 15 second lesson on her ancestry, and her culture.

I don't know.

I wanted to send her with a maple leaf.

Dave wanted to send her with some beer and a potato.

Not a shining moment in parenthood for us, I suppose.

So, anyway...

I asked Maddie how it went and what she ended up saying, and she said that she told the class where we were from and she told them that I make really good dinners.

Oh. Okaaaay. Well, thanks sweetie.

Then she asked me if I lived in a straw house when I was little.

A straw house?!

No, honey. I lived in a brick house...just like the house we have now. Why would you think I lived in a straw house??

Because you lived on an Island.

An Island?!??

{short pause of silence while I try to decipher what my little kiddo could possibly be thinking}

OhhhhHHH!

No.

Not and island, honey...Ireland.

I have a feeling that being a fly on the wall during these "Culture Day" presentations would have been hilarious.

Home Run Night.

Last night was Maddie's first official T-Ball game. It was, I believe, about minus 58 degrees with the wind-chill factor so I thought for sure the game was going to be cancelled. But, no, the show went on. Even I (who cannot handle being out of doors when the temp. drops below 25 Celsius) was at the game, though. I mean...I couldn't let a little frost-bite and frozen eyeballs stand in the way of seeing my baby's first game now could I?! And, now that I have defrosted, I can tell you it was a lot of fun.

I must say, the kids are so adorable and the coaches are doing a really terrific job. I don't know how they are keeping all these kids organized, and going in all the right directions, while teaching them the intricacies of baseball at the same time. It's something to see.

Maddie is doing really fantastic. Despite her little frozen fingers she was a complete trouper and she never gave up going after that ball, I'll tell you. She's a go-getter, that one.

As the game wore on, and the temps. fell even lower, the turtle necks and sweaters under the kids' jerseys were obviously not cutting it anymore. You could start to see the winter coats coming out along with some hats and gloves (and not of the baseball variety). A couple of the kids, I noticed, left the game early. I think they were just going ahead and "calling it" themselves. Can't blame `em. But, Maddie wanted to hang in there...so we did, too.

She got to play left field, short-stop, and pitcher. Pitcher is an interesting position in t-ball since it involves no actual pitching. It does, however, involve wearing a really huge helmet with a cage that poor little Maddie could not see out of. She wasn't in too much danger of being hit since the other team only managed grounders. The big hitter so far, fortunately, is on her team. He got a home-run the first time out. He actually hits the ball up into the air, above all the kids' heads, and out into the field! I think he may be a ringer.

No one seemed to be keeping any kind of score. Even still...I sense a winning season.