Mallory McDonald

So I recently found out that there is a very special someone out there who receives email notifications every time I post something…and that special someone is my baby sister. So today’s blog is for and about her.

Hailey McDonald Paul was born 11 lbs and something oz on October 5, 1997. I was four. She had jet black hair and tan skin. Reilly wanted to name her Victoria (after the Spice Girl) and I didn’t care her name so long as I got to play with her. She was to be my new and most favorite toy because now finally when my mom and I played “moms” we could both have a kid. We didn’t have to share Delaney anymore.

She was a tubby little thing who loved Poe from the telly tubbies and would even crawl around looking for her stuffed animal version saying, “Poe, Poe” in her perfect little voice. Hailey was always happy unless she was screaming. She was a good little eater too. Some of her favorites included: cake, yogurt, pretzels, chips and salsa, and I’m sure much more.

I was only four when she was born and I can’t say that I remember much from that day, but I have a picture from the first time I held her. My face in the photo says it all and I don’t think its changed since. I look happy, like giddy happy, but in a serious way. I look proud, like somehow Hailey was not just my mommy’s, but mine too. I look excited, as I think of all the schnickins we would eat and all we could convince mom to do now that it was three against one–Mallory, Delaney, and Hailey vs. Mom. I look scared, only slightly, like I knew I couldn’t let anything hurt my perfect little Hailey. I look nervous, because I know that I am her big sister and now everything I am comes second to that. I held that same facial expression for only one other time before, and that was when I looked at Delaney. I was little, and I didn’t “get” everything, but I knew they were my people now. They were my crew. Now that Hailey was here, the three little girls was a thing.

Who was going to bathe the three little girls?

What were the three little girls going to matchingly wear?

What did the three little girls want for lunch?

Where are the three little girls? The playroom is a mess!

We were a group. We played totally spies and powder puff girls, games where three was the perfect number. (There were times when I heard, this is a two person game! Things weren’t always rosy.)

And Hailey always listened and always did what you asked. Before she was born I was the favor girl. The one who did every little favor for everyone, but now Hailey was here to pass the torch to. And her hair started to lighten and she started get taller.

She went through phases too.

Like being petrified of a green shiny toad beenie baby.

Like sitting under the table to eat her meals.

Like being dressed as a boy by Griffin.

Like screaming her face off if mom wasn’t in the picture.

And then she got much older and much taller and much stronger and much smarter. Pretty soon she didn’t fall for the toad scaring trick, or using “I’ll time you” to get her to do things for you. Pretty soon she could run faster than any of us and was taller than me (though that isn’t too hard to be). Pretty soon she wasn’t “the baby” anymore. She is beautiful. She is witty and teasing. She is the girl you want to be around, the one everyone gravitates toward. The only thing large about her is her lion hair, but even that is perfect.

She is there for everyone in our family. She is the youngest, but also one of the strongest. And next year, she will be the final top dog of the Paul Family. But, she can handle it.

I know there is a reason my parents had seven kids, because it took them seven tries to get perfection. And that is Hailey.

I love you my sweet, sweet little sister. You are beautiful inside and out.