My name is Madeleine!

"Marie, if Audrey is like monkey or lion, then what am I?"

I was sitting there, trying to say something nice about the type of animal my little friend would be when she interrupted my thinking,

"A cat! I would be a really calm, cuddly cat!"

Perfectly stated.

Everyone should have someone like Maddy in their life. At age 7, she is has so much depth and insight. Sometimes I forget that she is only 7, and then all of the sudden she will do something to remind me of the fact that she is just a little girl. The world is such an exciting place for her. To read a book, go for a ride on her scooter, or just cuddle up on the couch- these are things that she loves and that make her happy.

She wants to be a teacher when she grows up, but is also planning on writing a book. With that constantly in mind, she spews out little ideas about book endings or perfect plots. I wonder if I will get a spot in the story: "and then there was the big haired nanny who like to dance to outkast in the kitchen and always burned the cookies".

Maddy is EXTREMELY articulate! Her accent is very cute, enunciating every syllable, with a hint of French here, or a bit of her Dad's British accent there.

When she is about to do something, she very calmly explains why, that way I "don't have to wonder". And if I am doing something, well, that gets commentary too. For instance, yesterday, I decided that is was time for a bit of good ol' exercise. So there I was, in my bedroom with yoga mat and palettes ball watching Susan something on the T.V. screen as she instructed me on how to do this and that. Maddy, sat on my bed and watched me struggle, pausing the DVD on occasion to adjust my arms or say something innocent like, "She is a lot taller than you. She is pretty strong. This must be hard for you, huh?"

Walks to the school bus are more like musicals, and that is partly my fault. I was humming one day, a song that she recognized and ever since we have been "do re mi fa so-ing" from one place to the next. We will be busy with in the next couple of months because we have a book to write and a play to organize, and then of course there is the dancing and painting and occasional trips to "Princess Land" in between.

It has been so much fun for me to get to know Maddy, and everyday I am seeing more and more of her personality unfold. She is such a joy to be with. Plus, I'm not going to lie, I love being a girl! So this is a perfect fit!