Dedication to Madilynn Noel Stroud: The Beach

I remember the only time I was able to bring you to the beach. We were at Pensacola, FL visiting your mom's Grandparents in October. You weren't a year old yet. I was sitting in the sand with you in my lap. You were cautious at first, feeling around, taking everything in for the first time.  You would grab handfuls of sand and squish and dig. Occasionally putting your hand to your mouth to taste it before I quickly put your hand back down saying, "No silly"


I wanted to bring you to Destin, Florida with Pawpaw, Nanny, Cody and some more family like your Aunt Joy and Cousin Caleb. I wanted you to experience the beautiful beach I know you would have loved it. I asked your mother just after your second birthday to make sure I gave advance notice so I can chase you up and down the beach and watch you play while the waves would come crashing at your little feet. I can hear the pitter-patter of you running. Even Imagining the laughter as you run away for me to catch you brings a smile to my face. We would have built our first sand castle together, and probably destroyed it right after. I wish we could have experienced this together, I know you would have had a blast.

We didn't get to go to many places together, but I was hoping I could have brought you to many places as you got older. I did get to bring you to the Zoo and the Park often as well as a few other places. You loved to just look around and appreciate everything that surrounded us. I know 95% of women, for some odd reason, love to travel. Adventurous as you were, I know you would have wanted to see as many places as possible. By the way, your Paw Paw Stroud wanted to bring you camping. As much as you liked playing in the backyard and collecting acorns and sticks, I know you were gonna LOVE camping.

We usually went in the backyard for a little while, then when it was time to come inside you were still so full of energy. You would climb on my back and make me walk on all fours like a dinosaur. Then you would say "No! Yous a Lion!!!" I would reply, "OK baby, I'm a Lion, ROOARR" You would just laugh and giggle as I went in circles on the carpet. Then I'd get tired and crash to the ground. You would get up giggling, climb on my chest, then say "I jump on you" and start bouncing away. You were always my little ball of energy before you suddenly get tired and watch cartoons with your bottle in hand and fall asleep. We had such a great time playing together and I looked forward to every second of it. I am so grateful to have you in my heart. Just wish I can go back in time and relive it over and over again.

I miss our cuddle time so much

Love you my lil butt.

Dedication to Madilynn Noel Stroud - watching cartoons with daddy

We would watch your shows when I was trying to wind you down to sleep or if we were just waking up and relaxing. I would put you sitting on the couch and after I turn on the TV and Netflix. All I had to do was ask, "what do you wanna watch baby?" You would tell me one of the following...

"George" - You loved Curious George and we would watch this most often. No matter how many times you saw the episode, you still laughed hysterically at the same parts and get so excited at the same times.

"Lion Cub" - I think this was both of our favorite Disney movies and I had no problems putting this on for you and singing every song out loud to you. You would always look at me smiling, sometimes joining in and singing along. Other times, saying "NOOOOO, stop it Daddy!!" Not going to lie, my singing voice wasn't the greatest.

"Super Why" You would focus so much on this show and I loved that you participated everytime they asked. You wouldn't always give the right answers, but I thought it was cute that you would try to use your "Power to help" and would congratulate you with "Good Job Baby" or "That's Right!" and you would just laugh and keep watching.

"Dora" The Explorer - I never seen you watch this personally, but everytime you came back from MiMI's, you would always say "swiper, Noooooo swiping Swiper" and we would repeat it until you changed the subject to something else silly filled in your little head.

"Tiger"  Daniel Tiger
"Callou"  Caillou, you could almost say it perfectly, such a smart little girl.

"Mickey" - You loved minnie mouse, PawPaw Stroud got you a Minnie Mouse toy you could dress her and drive her in the car, you played with that and many other toys all the time.

"Clifford" - I recently introduced you to the Big Red Dog and finally had a new show for you to obsess over. I'm sorry but George broke to many things and got away with it. Hate to say it but so did Clifford, maybe that's why you could destroy my house I just cleaned in less than five minutes. I didn't mind cleaning it though because it made you happy, and gave me happiness knowing that.

"Barney" - This phase only lasted a little while, Thankfully you discovered George soon after.

"Big Bird" - You didn't watch it much, but loved watching Sesame Street

Dinosaur Train - You would say "I'm a monster, ROOOOAAAARRR!"

You had so many more shows you loved to watch, but when you got bored, you would go get all your colors and a coloring book and bring it into the living room. You would say "Come sit with me Daddy. Color with me!" as you dumped out all the colors and opened up the pages to your book. Handing em different crayons, you would say, "here daddy, you use 'dis one" lying on your little tummy, legs crossed, feet in the air, not a care in the world. It's exactly what I wanted your life to be. Care free. I was trying to do everything in my power to keep it that way. I wish you would still be with me. I miss you every single day.