The Apple of Our Eyes

There once was a little girl, who was the apple of all her grandparents' eyes.
Who asked for a pink refrigerator for Christmas.
So, Papa found some elves in the 11th hour.
And gave that little girl a pink refrigerator to open on Christmas.

And, there was once a little girl, who always wanted more.
Who told Papa she needed a pink sink to match her pink refrigerator.
To wash her wooden veggies in.
And to stow all her utensils in.

And Papa delivered, as he always does when it comes to that little girl.
The apple of everyone's eye.

Disappearing

You completely understand cause and effect. Logic is becoming more and more part of your day.
The baby you once were is disappearing further and further from our lives. The child, the girl you are becoming is taking root instead. You're empathetic and righteous; you're indignant and relentless. Your favorite phrase is the unanswerable why and you know the difference between right and left. You identify correct emotions and can lip-sync to any genre. Your microphone is your new weapon of choice. You wear us out and down, you make us boast and cry. We love, love, love you more than anything on this planet.



Every night, I kiss you as the last thing I do before I go to bed. It's part of our routine, and if I am in this house and so are you, I kiss your head every night. Sometimes I catch you looking like that baby who once chewed all the varnish off her crib, like in this photo. You always slept with your arms over your head when you were an infant; Daddy joked you'd go dressed as a goal post or an NFL referee to your first Halloween. One night last week, I had to be away for work. You woke up the next morning and immediately told Daddy I didn't come in to say goodnight. He mentioned that I hadn't kissed him either, since I was gone! I think you then understood.

All these nights, little girl. All these years you knew I was there, that I was part of your midnight landscape.

I promise I'll be there every night.

Wordless Wednesday

Easter Morning

Wordless Wednesday

There's Always Next Season

Every diehard sports fan hates to hear two things:

It's only a game.
And, there's always next season.

But sometimes, those sentiments say it all.

Wednesday night we attended the Timberwolves' final game of the season as a family. It was fan appreciate night, and we did feel the love. The season didn't go the way anyone hoped, and it actually went the way most people feared. But that didn't keep us from cheering on the boys in blue for one more night.

They saying losing makes a person gracious. We've got an entire team of graciousness delighted it's the off-season.

And we had one three year old happier than heck to be sporting her #42 jersey dress, dancing to the music, eating and spilling popcorn and asking her Daddy if they could have one more shot.

They'll get another shot, just not this season. And when preseason rolls around and the Dad is all, 'we're coming!' from day one, his girls will be at the ready.

Because that is what diehard fans do.

Wordless Wednesday

Sugar & Spice

People always ask me if you're a tomboy, or a girly-girl. I just answer, yes. At this stage in your life, you're perfectly balanced. You love everything princess, but with an edge. You spend an awful lot of time with your Daddy, learning rosters, rough housing, looking for worms, and wearing sweatpants. It's the best of both worlds, and I honestly can't wait to see who you'll be at 7, 13, and 18.



This is the perfect snapshot of you at three (albeit blurry); half princess, half place kicker. Wearing school colors, Mama's heels, and a glittery tutu.

I am so proud of you, all parts of you.

Monkey See

You're a girl after my own heart, and love spending time at your Mama's hip as I get ready in the bathroom. You smear your lips and face with my tinted lip balms, dust your face with my makeup brushes, and comb your hair.

But you're most obsessed with contact lenses.



Mama, I hafta take my glasses off now for bed. We don't wear glasses to bed, do we?
I must say, the cheetah cat-eyes style is making its comeback and you're leading the charge!



I found an old pair of contacts and let you have free reign.



And now, taking out your contacts has become part of your daily routine. You store your case right next to Daddy's, and take your time with the task. (and, just what your pokey little behind needed each day, was something else for you to 'accomplish' without help!) It's a riot.

I love you for your randomness, monkey see!

The Return of the Season

I have never seen two more serious MInnesota Twins fans in my life!

The beauty of the MLB season is its length. The time between the last home game and the opener of the next season always flies. We were more than happy to don our TC gear this morning, pack our staples like Twizzlers, Goldfish, and Pringles, and head for the bleacher seats in left field. The magic of last season's inauguration at Target Field has not worn off, neither has our optimism for our hometown team. Speaking of hometown, some late-inning heroics by #7, Joe Mauer, propelled the Twins to a 2-1 victory over the Oakland A's. The sun was shining, the field was dry, and our hearts were buoyed as the familiarity of baseball seeped back into our veins.

It's the return of the season!

Wordless Wednesday

Alive

I have had many well meaning inquiries on why Little Dude's Mama has been silent for nearly two weeks. I do adore y'all! I went on a girl vacation with my Mama for her 50th in Savannah, GA and Charleston, SC. I then had 12 hours before I left for Las Vegas for a 5 day work trip. It was the longest I had been away from the lil' dude, her Daddy, Beagle, and house. It was hard. But, we survived. My family sent cute picture texts and I said goodnight to the lil' dude nightly.

When I got home at 3am Friday morning, I was creeping down the hall in the dark careful not to disturb my sleepers when I heard the biggest MAMA!!! I ever have and my legs were wrapped tight with toddler love. It was simply amazing. The poor lil' dude woke up an hour previously, dreaming of spiders in her bed, and woke the Dad up for rescue. They were both camped out on her bedroom floor; her bed stripped of everything. I immediately kissed my H., and took his place beside my warm, sleepy daughter. She immediately curled next to me, holding onto my arm or leg for dear life. It was clear I would be settling in for some time right there on the floor.

As she fell asleep, still glued to me, skin to skin, I started to cry. Pure exhaustion, relief, and gratitude poured over me as my tears ran into my temples.

Home, there really is no place like it.