Up

We bought the lil' dude the new Pixar movie Up for her birthday. We sat down to watch it last night as a family, with the lil' dude nestled in between us on the couch.

The first 10 minutes of the film are sad ... in only the way that the cycle of life can be. I had heard this movie was different from the rest, ranging higher on the emotional scale than say, Cars, or Bugs Life. I felt my eyes getting hot; I'll make no excuses for my emotions. I'm a crier by nature.

I look over to my right and see my little girl, eyes fixed on the movie, tears running down her face. The Dad carefully wipes her eyes and cheeks, thinking maybe the remnants of a head cold are accounting for her watery eyes.

Then, just as the movie gets the most sad, the lil' dude says in her trembly, lower-lip quivering, expression like she's about to apologize, sorry little voice ... sad.

And just like that, my two-year-old daughter is crying during an appropriate time in a feature film.
And the Dad has two girl-faces to wipe, two knees to softly pat.
"It's OK girls," he's repeating, "it's OK."

And of traits parents pass onto children, like big hazel eyes, or height, or food allergies, exhibiting a tender heart seem to be on the list as well.

Two

12/7/07
Moments old, forever loved.
I could say you came out kicking and screaming, and all red and a hollerin', but you didn't. You came out the way you exactly are now.
Calm, wide-eyed, beautiful, sweet.
You didn't cry, you just sneezed in the doctor's face and then met your parents for the first time.
And we fell in love, hard.

12/7/08
As a one-year-old, I thought the growth you sustained in 12 months was phenomenal. It was amazing to have a front-row seat to your first year. You went from an eight-pound infant to a 22-pound girl. You learned how to roll, sit, crawl, walk, run. How to sip from a cup, go underwater, say words. I didn't think you'd have another year like that.


12/7/09
And then, you turned two.

And I am still having a hard time putting your year of growth into words. From a physical standpoint, you grew longer and lankier, adding only five pounds to your frame, and five inches to your body. Your hair grew into ponytail length, and your feet are in a seven. But none of that compares to how your heart, mind, and soul grew in 12 months. How you learned how to complete my sentences; point out airplanes far away, identify specific baby cries, and cry during the sad parts of Up. How you sense when I've had a bad day, and just need a quiet hug. How you insist on kissing the dog at bedtime. Talking to Grandma on the phone. Crying when we get to the pediatrician's office because you know you're getting shots.

How you exclaimed, no way! each time you opened your birthday gifts.
How much fun you have every minute of everyday.
It's in how you point to my coffee cup and say, coffee, hot.
It's grabbing my face with both hands and putting your nose to mine.
It's sharing your soggy Goldfish crackers.
In how you ask for licorice for your friend.
It's in how you made Daddy and I love each other more, differently.
How you smell when you wake up in the morning.
And your big, big hazel eyes.

It's in everything you do, and everything you are.
It's who you are.
And how you love.

Happy 2nd Birthday, my sweet baby girl.
To my darling daughter.
I love you to the moon.

Mama loves.

2x2

Two by two, the animals went out to sea ...
I'm turning TWO, come celebrate with me!



It's your 2nd birthday eve, lil' dude. You're snoring in your bed.
We had a party for you today- a much smaller fete than last years bash! but you had fun.
I love watching you grow up, little girl.
You make me so proud.


I can't wait for tomorrow!

Mama loves.

The Arrangement

One of the lil' dude's besties, JW, is a full year younger than she is. There has always been sweet banter between the parental units about young love ... going to Prom, etc. But, as far as arranged relationships go, it's more about the two people playing the game. Arrangement, schmangement.

Like last night, the two played coy. Unsure of each other.

After awhile, JW was all, fine. Here. Hold it.

The lil' dude obliges.

And really likes it.

But JW seems unsure.

He tries to escape her death grip of love.

But! True love triumphs! It always will.

Silent {Night}

You and I danced in the dark last night at bedtime my dear.
We were swaying together slowly right before I slipped you into your crib to tuck you in.
And I started singing Silent Night very quietly.
I could see the soft warm glow of the white Christmas lights from the tree reflecting in hallway.
It was a sweet, quiet moment.

I sang:
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy ni ...
when you grabbed my cheeks with both hands and said, "MOM. STOP."

Well, Merry Christmas to you, too!

Wordless Wednesday

Tiny Christmas Helper

Carefully looking amongst all the Fir trees ... hoping to find the perfect Christmas tree.


Once the tree had been procured, the cutting commenced. There to supervise, was our tiny Christmas helper, the lil' dude. She took her role very seriously!