Today I am going to write about a beautiful little girl named Maddie. She was born healthy and perfect to two of the luckiest parents in the world. Her mom, Kellie, loves big colorful bows, and Maddie was her most gorgeous model. The oversize bows were often as big as (or bigger than) Maddie's head -- and she looked so adorable! -- but her personality was even bigger! Kellie writes so lovingly and adoringly about her daughter, beautifully describing Maddie's budding precociousness, commenting and marveling on the tiniest details and quirks that only a mommy or daddy might notice. James, Maddie's dad, has a blog too, and his heart clearly belongs to both his girls. He writes thoughtfully and honestly about how Maddie has changed his life, and how very much he loves and misses her.
Suddenly and unexpectedly, Maddie was taken from this earth when she was just a little over four months old, and her parents have been left to wonder why, and to count the minutes until they will get to hold their baby girl again. Kellie has chronicled her painful journey on her blog www.kandjstaats.blogspot.com and I have been a faithful reader. I found her blog through one of the many forums I'm a member of - her Maddie was born less than one month before my Juliette. I don't know Kellie or James, but I am a parent, so I know them.
Kellie asked that today, on her birthday, we bloggers do a post for Maddie. I feel honored that she would ask a bunch of strangers to write about her most precious accomplishment. I cannot find enough words to say how much I love a little girl that I never knew, how much I admire and respect a woman I will never meet. Maddie, through Kellie, has touched my life profoundly. As anyone who knows me knows, I have never been one to take anyone for granted. I am a worrier by nature, and have always been fearful of the worst case scenario. But Kellie has taught me that you can never prepare for a living nightmare, no matter what. Maddie and Kellie have helped me to see that I'm better served to just put my fear aside and focus that energy on loving my daughter -- relishing every blessed moment, being joyful at her joy, laughing with her laughter, taking in every single detail, and snapping tons and tons of pictures....and knowing (accepting) that I can only control so much.
Kellie is spreading the word about SIDS - awareness, education, prevention. I already knew quite a lot about it, but she has taught me things I did not know, directed me to websites I was not aware of. For that, I will always be so grateful.
Maddie is a beautiful light that I feel in my life on a daily basis. I feel lucky to have found Kellie and James' blogs; lucky to get to "know" them; and luckier still to get to know Maddie.
Kellie, Maddie will live on in the hearts of thousands of people. She's made more of a difference and touched more lives than most people ever do. She will NEVER be forgotten. Thank you for sharing her with us.
I hope that you and James are able to celebrate your birthday with smiles today.
xoxo,
Jennifer
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