Here is a repost of what I wrote on her birthday last year- I will do an
updated post about today’s birthday tonight or tomorrow.
Mary turned 5 years old today!
When I was pregnant with Mary, I prayed diligently to the Lord during those first few months of pregnancy to help me to be content with whatever the sex of our baby was. I desperately wanted a girl but more than that I wanted to be content with whatever child I was given. The Lord was gracious with me and blessed me with the desire of my heart- a blue-eyed little girl to name Mary after my grandmother. What a blessing it is to be her mother.
She brings me great joy and is the delight of my days.
Mary is named after my Gramma- Mary Elizabeth Caster Fairchild. Gramma Mary was loved by all who knew her. She was a devout, Godly woman who loved the Lord. Gramma had that wicked Caster humor. Her blue eyes twinkled. She loved to read, as all Casters do. Gramma was quite the tease. She loved the outdoors, especially birds. Gramma had firm convictions based on biblical principles but never pushed her ideas on others unless asked. Gramma would smile and nod whenever someone tried to push her into doing something but then would quietly go on and do what she wanted without every making an argument or causing a fuss. (something I could learn from!)
Gramma Mary was named after her Grandmother, Mary Rowe Bargy. Great Great Gramma Bargy is our grandmother who is famous for eyeing down the panther in the big woods. She was fearless. She was known to be wise with her money. She was tall and strong with piercing eyes. We have many family stories about her that we tell often when our family is together. She was born in 1850 so Mary’s name goes back over 150 years in our family. My one picture of her is one of my most treasured possessions and someday it will be Mary’s.
I hope that as Mary grows into a young lady she will possess the best character traits of both Marys. May she be a true and devout follower of Jesus. I pray that she is fearless in her convictions but still kind and humble with a teachable spirit. I hope that she is wise with the blessings the Lord bestows upon her. It is my dearest wish that she always remembers who she is and where she comes from. That she knows who her people are and tells their stories faithfully. Let her be a great tease and teller of stories as all Casters are but still possess the “meek and quiet spirit” of a truely Godly woman.
Mary, August 2008
How in the world did she grow up so fast? Surely it was just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital… She’s not “little” anymore- she’s officially a “kid”. I can hardly believe it.
Mary Madison, 2 months old, April, 2004
There is so much deliciousness in this picture. The little cheeks, the sweety pacifier, the gorgeous leg chublets…
Mary and I on our way to her first church service. Easter, 2004
Important Things to Know About Mary at 5 Years Old…
Mary loves cooking. She is a champion pie-baker and cookie-maker.
She loves her “chores”- setting the table, feeding the pets, making her bed.
She loves her stuffed animals- particularly the small “beanie baby” type animals.
Mary has big beautiful blue eyes. She calls them her “magic eyes”.
She has a good sense of humor. She loves telling knock-knock jokes.
Her favorite thing to drink is water. She doesn’t like milk and will usually choose water over any other beverage. She likes her water to be “fresh” which means with ice.
She enjoys her school work. She is on day 124 of Kindergerten. She is learning to read, working on math, history, science, handwriting and bible.
She loves, loves, loves drawing.
She really likes spending time with her grandparents.
Mary is a people person- she has never met a stranger and everyone loves her.
Mary is taking Tae Kwon Do lessons twice a week. Her instructor says that she is a “natural”.
She loves to ride her bike.
Her favorite thing to do when we go for a walk is to visit the neighbors. She will say to me “So, Mama. Who are we going to visit today?”
Mary loves her siblings. She does not like to be apart from Nathan and loves to take care of Savannah.
She loves to spend time with her Daddy.
Mary is quite small for her age- in the 10%.
Mary loves to do puzzles and play games. She can complete 40 piece puzzles independently but needs a little help on 70 piece puzzles.
Mary enjoys playing with “play sets” a lot. Such as a farm and it’s animals, doll house, the Indian set, etc. Those are probably her favorite type of toys to play with.
She loves to be pushed HIGH on the swing. She will go as high as you can push her or as high as the swing can go and love every second of it.
She is SUCH a little “Caster”. Caster’s are Gramma Mary’s side of the family. Casters have blue eyes. We are great story-tellers, we are charming and good with our money. Casters are joke-tellers and have a bit of the drama gene. Mary is the epitome of a Caster and that brings me great joy.
Mary’s favorite color is red.
Pictures Of Mary Madison from the past year.
November, 2008 Mary and her best buddy, Nathan.
April, 2008 (I think) Going on a treasure hunt.
September, 2008 Such a diligent student.
Fun with the marble run.
Handwriting practice…
Going to the ballet, October, 2008
November, 2008
December, 2008
January, 2009
One of your favorite little naughty things is stealing cheetohs out of the cabinet. We have many pictures of you from the last year caught deep in a bag of cheetohs with an orange ring around your face and on your fingers. 
Sweet.
