Juxtaposition

{Gritty & Girly}

{Sugar & Spice}

{Naughty & Nice}

{Tomboy & Tailored}

All wrapped up in one little package!

Go your own way, forge your own path, make your own rules.
Be bold.
Be brave.
Be brilliant.

Be the best little girl you can!

Football & Friends

Health Prayer

We are hunkered down here at Casa de Lil' Dude; with a prognosis of probable H1N1.

Just wanted to remind everyone to say a prayer for health for children everywhere.

The clinic today quite the scene, a lot of watery-eyed babies, weary-eyed parents, and a general sick and tired effect.

Take care of the ones you love, take care of yourselves, and be well.

New

Hey little buddy, it's Mom.
Just wanted to let you know I'm thinking about you.
And loving your little face right about off.
You've gotten so big and so ... smart/advanced/mature lately.
We have regular conversations now.
It's like talking to a grown-up.
Except, you're down there, by dog hair and dust bunnies and abandoned toys.
Looking up at me, waiting.

Snack time:
In the mornings and afternoons at home.
We have three big jars of lil' dude approved snacks in the house.
And a fridge full.
Before, you'd say snack and we'd hand you the item.
You'd munch happily.
But now, you have opinions and favorites.
And did I mention opinions?
So now you say snaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack in that long, drawn-out baby voice I still love. And the game begins.

Do you want fishes?
Nuh-uh.
Pretzel fish?
Nuh-uh.
Cheese stick?
No.
Applesauce.
No.
Blue yogurt.
No yooooget.
Macaroni crackers?
{silent NO head shake}- I don't blame you, those are kinda YUCKY.
Banana?
Nuh-uh.
Strawberry Fig Newtons?
I don't like it, which is NEW.

You kill me.
You're so funny.
Like a little old lady at Bonanza.
Yucky.
Nuh-uh.
No.
I don't like it.
So I hoist you up to the pantry or fridge, and you root around, digging for your prize.
{last night you and Daddy were doing the Snack Dance and you landed on the [generic] Rice Krispies and insisted on eating those dry. YUCKY]

You finally say thank you with consistency.
So that makes the snack rundown almost worth the while.
{okay, worth the while always forever and ever amen}
You're a funny, particular little kid.
With a blonde ponytail.
And a long list of snack options.
Everyday.

Wordless Wednesday

Sick as a Dog

Yesterday the lil' dude and I were the first ones home, and we were excited to revel in the sunshine and romp with the Beagle in the yard.

But, we soon learned the Beagle didn't feel good and our plans were foiled.

As I explained to the lil' dude the doggie was sick, she appeared to understand.
She spent 30 minutes observing his behavior in the yard ... eating grass, getting sick.
Eating grass.
Getting sick.
She found his green chewie bone, and offered it to him several times.
Don't like it, she said, pointing to him, to the bone.
She even offered him her snack, a miniature Oreo. The Beagle couldn't muster the energy to even sniff the cookie.
That's when I knew he was sick.

...

Later that evening, in house, feet away from the lil' dude, the Beagle threw up on the carpet.
The dog bowed his head, ashamed.
The little girl burst into tears, frightened.
And I comforted them both.

...

After dinner, the Dad made a rare exception and made a spot by him on the couch for the Beagle to burrow into.
The lil' dude was fascinated by the rule breaking. She ran into her room, as if inspired.
She returned, a girl with a plan.

{And a heart of gold}

And covered her beloved puppy dog with a blanket, one of her own soft, sweet blankets.

And the puppy was grateful; and comforted.
And the little girl was gracious; and satisfied.

Forever Friends

Forever: [fawr-ev-er, fer-]
–adverb
1. without ever ending; eternally: to last forever.
2. continually; incessantly; always: He's forever complaining.
–noun
3. an endless or seemingly endless period of time: It took them forever to make up their minds.
—Idiom
4. forever and a day, eternally; always: They pledged to love each other forever and a day.
Origin:
1660–70; orig. phrase for ever

Friend: [frend]
–noun
1. a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.
2. a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter: friends of the Boston Symphony.
3. a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile: Who goes there? Friend or foe?
4. a member of the same nation, party, etc.
5. (initial capital letter) a member of the Religious Society of Friends; a Quaker.
–verb (used with object)
6. Rare. to befriend.
—Idiom
7. make friends with, to enter into friendly relations with; become a friend to.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME friend, frend, OE frēond friend, lover, relative (c. OS friund, OHG friunt (G Freund), Goth frijōnds), orig. prp. of frēogan, c. Goth frijōn to love


Not that long ago, one of my besties, who has literally been my friend, forever summed up the relationship her daughter and my daughter have.
"They'll be forever friends," she said. "Not necessarily 100% best friends, but life will have a way of keeping these girls together and they'll be forever friends."
And since she shorthanded it so well, I've begun to realize how true that statement is. Take for example, these three chickadees:
Fate brought them together over 26 years ago, when their daddies became forever friends.

And even though last week's trip to the west coast was only the second time the lil' dude met her little lady friends L. and M., their lives are entwined and will be forever.
And ever.

Friendship is beautiful like that; I have an internal audio track of memories from our trip listening to three separate, yet very cohesive peals of laughter mixing together. How three little girls, only eight months apart, and 3,000 miles apart, fit so well together. How they shared toys and rituals and mischief and cereal bowls and daddies without sadness, drama, jealousy, or coercion. How my heart swelled up with Mama-love and pride for my tiny daughter and her bigger, tiny gal-pals.

And as L. and M.'s mama talked about the future of these friends, when they are to the age where spending Saturday nights in their pj's with their parents sounds awful, and how they'll want to go out together, I could picture it easy. Longer legs, teethier smiles, bigger conversations sure, but the same tiny girls they once were.

Because they are forever friends.