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.