walking cracker...

when a cracker is not just a cracker...when a little girl becomes a real girl with attitude...wants, needs, expectations, regrets, anticipation...when I found out Maddie was going to born with extra...I never in my wildest dreamed she would be the Maddie of today...then when we learned she would be born with TEF/EA I knew all was lost for me and my little girl...the girl I dreamed and longed for...when Maddie was 1 years old...I still was under the impression life would be impossible without good planning and preparing...the first year Maddie is what you would call the "perfect" baby...never cried, never whined, never put up a struggle...she could have had an obstructed airway...she would nap, play, try to suck fluids...I assumed she would always be that mild tempered...just 4 months ago...I believed we as a family would not be able to eat out together without bringing "Maddie Food"...I thought that Maddie would never eat anything EVER with crunch...just a month ago Maddie did not know how to chew and swallow...when Maddie began taking independent steps...Maddie began to blossom into a whole new child...Maddie now has a HUGE personality...she is very naughty and into everything....Maddie is what you would describe as a busy, independent, strong willed toddler...no longer does she sit there and let kiddos take things from her...no longer does she sit and watch but she jumps in and plays...Maddie loves going anywhere with us...but the biggest jump that I have seen in my Maddie...is her eating...yesterday at the pool Maddie ate a cookie a whole cookie...she took it in her hand, took bites, chewed and swallowed...independently...this is HUGE!! and today she ate a ritz cracker...not a big deal to most people...to us it has changed our world...and we could not be more proud of our little girl...

big girl