Each summer, we visit the Portland Rose Garden in Washington Park and eat a little picnic and take a little stroll through the overwhelming gorgeousness. It's been fun documenting Madelyn's growth next to rows and rows of roses:
Picnics have been a bit different for us this year because Maddie is old enough now to want to run around a bit on her own and interact with other children. There were three older girls (two in elementary and one in middle, I think) and one toddler boy playing together close to where we spread our blanket, and she asked right away if she could go over and play with the kids. We said yes, and she shot off immediately. We saw her run right up to them and heard her say "Hi! My name is Maddie! What is your name?" I prayed a Mother's prayer -- "Please play with her...please play with her..." and was genuinely touched to see these older girls kneel down on the grass to talk to her and tolerate her as she tried to copy their cartwheels and dance moves. About every six or seven minutes, she would return to us -- just elated -- as if to reassure herself that we were still there but also to relish in the fact that these girls were playing with her. She'd eat a few bites and would then be off to play some more. This went on for about a half hour until the older girls walked back to their family to eat their picnic. She returned to us, and when we were finished, Kurt walked over to the girls and their parents to tell them how much he appreciated them playing with Madelyn. The oldest girl smiled and said "No problem! She's just like me -- crazy!" Ha!!
Picnics have been a bit different for us this year because Maddie is old enough now to want to run around a bit on her own and interact with other children. There were three older girls (two in elementary and one in middle, I think) and one toddler boy playing together close to where we spread our blanket, and she asked right away if she could go over and play with the kids. We said yes, and she shot off immediately. We saw her run right up to them and heard her say "Hi! My name is Maddie! What is your name?" I prayed a Mother's prayer -- "Please play with her...please play with her..." and was genuinely touched to see these older girls kneel down on the grass to talk to her and tolerate her as she tried to copy their cartwheels and dance moves. About every six or seven minutes, she would return to us -- just elated -- as if to reassure herself that we were still there but also to relish in the fact that these girls were playing with her. She'd eat a few bites and would then be off to play some more. This went on for about a half hour until the older girls walked back to their family to eat their picnic. She returned to us, and when we were finished, Kurt walked over to the girls and their parents to tell them how much he appreciated them playing with Madelyn. The oldest girl smiled and said "No problem! She's just like me -- crazy!" Ha!!
3 comments:
Cute little family and cute little baby bump! So glad the girls played with Madelyn! I had my fingers crossed reading the story! :)
Oh yes, and the swoosh looks good on you Kurt! :)
Yeah for baby bumps! You guys look cute.
Post a Comment