Project Mama

Because every Little looks like a Gap Kid, an Old Navy Kid ... Gymboree and Target too, the lil' dude needs customized fashion.
Enter Project Mama #1!
What is it?


Oh you know; a pink and camo-green skulls and bones A-line dress.
Complete with diamond-studded star buttons.
Fierce!

First

Dear lil' dude,

Today I held your new friend, baby H. He is only 4 days old ... he is all pink and soft and smooth and perfect and he never even opened his eyes as I held him. My eyes cried little tears when I remembered you were once that small. My now feisty, determined, crazy little girl ... you once held perfectly still as you slept in my arms.

I talked to H's Mama about how her heart had to grow bigger in the last 4 days, because H has a big sister, A. How she is now two Mamas all in one and she has a baby on each side of her now forever. She cried a little bit, acknowledging the big job and reminiscing about A as a baby. She said there is just nothing like the first one. How it's not ever going to be like the first time.

You, lil' dude, are my first one. You are everything and anything wrapped into one baby girl thing. Today reminded me of what you are to me, and what we are together. You will always be my first everything.

Mama loves.

She Does?

2pm yesterday.

Conversation the lil' dude's Godfather ... aka, the "Cool Uncle" who was spending the day with her.

Me: "Hi, D, how has your day been?"
D: "Fun! We're having fun."
M: "I knew she would love spending time with you. Nothing scary has happened?"
D: "Well, she pooped right away. I sent you that text. I called the Dad though, I didn't know the tape things came around the diaper from the back."
M: "You didn't know which direction the diaper went on?"
D: "No. Then she peed her pants right before we got in the car."
M: "So, what outfit is she wearing now?"
D: "I don't know, the one she had on earlier?"
M: "You didn't change her clothes?"
D: "No, why? Should I have?"
M: "If she peed in them? Ummm- yeah."
D: "No, she only peed in her diaper. I changed her diaper. It was after she pooped."
M: "So she didn't pee her pants."
D: "Well in her diaper, yeah."
M: "OK. Did she eat good?"
D: "Yeah she ate those two things you left out. They smelled awful."
M: "The organic baby food?
D: "The orange stuff? Yeah. I mean, she really wanted to eat everything. She ate a lot. Will she barf?"
M: "Not usually."
D: "'Cause she did a little. It was more like a wet burp maybe? I don't know, it was orange and stunk and it's on her outfit. Does that need to come off?"
M: "Is it wet still?"
D: "No, it dried on there. But it's orange."
M: "Then leave it."
D: "So yeah, we're just playing on the floor, with her car."
M: "How long has she slept today?"
D: "Today?"
M: "Napped, how long has she napped."
D: "Maybe 10 minutes in the car."
M: "D, she needs to take a nap in her crib."
D: "Oh yeah, I had her in there, but she cried and cried and screamed. When I went in there she put her arms up for me."
M: "Yep, called tough love. Now go shut her shades and find a pluggie or two and turn on her CD player. She has to nap."
D: "But she's not crying now, we're chillin'."
M: "She. Needs. To. Nap. That is non-negotiable."
D: "But she cried so much before when I did that."
M: "If she doesn't nap she will be even worse later. She needs to nap to stay happy."
D: "She does?"

Wordless Wednesday: The Lil' Fan

Letter from Mama, v10

Happy 10 months, Miss Lil' Dude!

You are such a big girl now, you're all kid and not so much baby. You've changed a lot since my last letter, I could fill a page in all you've done in the last month. You're bigger, brighter, stronger, sweeter. At the end of the day when we're all finally home is my favorite-favorite. You squeal and laugh and point and lunge at me for hugs. As I'm standing at the stove or sink, you come crawling at me and the next thing I know you've pulled yourself up on my leg and are saying, "MamaMamaMama." You just want to be part of things, helping me cook, pointing at the birds on the back fence. You eyes travel from my face to our explorations. You want so much to learn. Your little finger folds into a point. "Mama?" you ask.

I love how sweet you are when you are playing with your doll. You pick her up and squeeze her tight to your tiny chest, patting her back. Maybe you are soothing and comforting like I do you when you need it. Maybe it's something you learned playing with your littles at daycare. Maybe it's something you just instinctively know. You should always trust your instincts, lil' dude and do what you feel needs to be done.

You started taking steps stringed together last week. There you go! I feel as though my heart is walking around outside my body with every step you take. I am so proud of you ... I can't even describe it. You also fell and got your first bloody lip so there are some things to be ironed out there but yet you persist. Where do you get your determination? I envy it.

Mama loves.

A Lesson in Ridiculousness

Had you told me 10 months ago my life would become so ridiculous, I would have laughed at you. Here are examples of what I mean ... the things I say on a daily basis that, taken out of context, make me sound like a complete lunatic. In the lil' dude's world, they are standard verbiage.

"Lil' dude, please don't lick the entertainment center."
"Lil' dude, why are there three pluggies in the dog's water dish?"
"Lil' dude, please don't lick the gutter downspout. The Beagle pees on that."
"Lil' dude, we do not eat the drain stop from the bathtub."
"Lil' dude, gourds are yucky, No more bites out of the gourd."
"Lil' dude, NO, we don't chew on the Mac's power cords."
"Lil' dude, the dirt stays in the garden/flower bed/flower pots. Don't eat it."
"Lil' dude, give me that dirty diaper. Oh wow, you're gross."
"Lil' dude, where are the last four pages of this library book?"
"Lil' dude, honey, sweetie, please tell me you didn't eat that entire graham cracker in two bites?"
"Lil' dude, Mama's wine rack is not a toy. Let's put that bottle of Shiraz back ..."
"Lil' dude, you gotta stop puking behind the end table. I can't reach it before the dog does."
"Lil' dude, you're going to cut your mouth on that Miller Lite can. Empties are not toys."
"Lil' dude, we already took your hat off. You are now just pulling on your hair, honey. Ouchie."

And that was just a typical Sunday.

In Lyrics

One Two Three Four
Tell me that you love me more
Sleepless, long nights
That was what my youth was for

Oh teenage hopes are alive at your door
Left you with nothing
But they want some more

Oh, oh, oh
You're changing your heart
Oh, oh, oh
You know who you are

...

The song is by Feist. You are already humming the tune, aren't you?
What else goes One Two Three Four?
The lil' dude as she took her first step.
Then two.
And her third.
Then a fourth.

One Two Three Four
Tell me that you love me more.

I am so proud of you, lil' dude. My arms will always be open to catch you.

Mama loves-