Nothing is cuter than my nieces. It's a fact. No one can deny it.

Maddie has been calling me a lot recently, and nothing pleases me more or can make my day like the sound of her little voice on the other end, "Hi, Lana! Hi! It's Madeline. What're you doin'?"

She was making jokes yesterday and today she was acting as the mediator between her mother and I - telling me what Emily wanted to say to me, and then telling her mom my response and asking questions for me. It was awesome. And she's very good at enunciating.

She actually perfectly pronounced the name of a complex eastern European country yesterday, one of the 'stans'. I was so impressed I was speechless.

This is in honor of Maddie, for being my greatest joy and a constant light in my life.a