I know that I talk about Maddie a lot, but there is a good reason.

She's amazing, and sweet and funny, and God bless her, she's beautiful.

A few nights ago, after a long, tedious day sitting at her dad's office because there was nowhere else to go, she finished dinner and got up from the table saying, "Daddy, can I get you anything?" When he didn't hear her, she stated it again, more clearly, "Do you need anything Daddy?"

Now, as she approaches her 3rd birthday, she is realizing that most other kids have friends. She craves social interaction - which I've never understood - but you can read it on her face whenever we're in public and see cousins, friends, and siblings together. She would give the shirt off her back if she thought it would make her a friend. Sometimes she says to her mom, "I just want a friend, Mommy. A little girl to play with." It's heartbreaking.

She's enrolled in an art class and a dance class this fall, I think they last for 6 weeks each. Hopefully she'll meet some friends there that she can start having play dates and parties with.

As for she and I, we'll continue to dance to her videotapes (which really mean cassette tapes from my childhood that I brought to her) and play with playdough and make up stories, because we're birthday buddies. Tonight, we celebrate (one of her favorite words - celebrate) our September birthdays.

Happy Birthday, Baby.