Little Girl

The more blond hair that fell away from your face, the more a little girl emerged.
Maybe that's why it took me so long to get your hair cut ... into a real cut, for the first time.


You looked like you weren't sure. You weren't scared, just nervous. I've observed lately when you're feeling shy or overwhelmed, your fingers immediately go into your mouth and you're silent. Good thing Daddy was with to ease your hands away from your face. He was also there to prevent Mama from taking your locks too short!


Your stylist was so calm and sweet- and worked quickly. She loved your big eyes and calm demeanor. You read an Elmo book for her (so your head was turned downward) and watched a little Monsters, Inc. when she announced she was finished. Finished!


And you were revealed in all your little girl glory. A quick sticker, sucker, and goodbye wave and we were on our way.

I love having a daughter. I love that you're my daughter.

Wordless Wednesday

Letter from Mama, v30

We're both 30! Technically; I am years and you are months, but I still like the comparison. You are officially two and a half; for 30 months, you've been our centerpiece, the altar at which we worship, and the thread that sews us together. You're my favorite part in slow, acoustic country songs ... the violin solo which is sweet, strong, and clear. You're the vanilla ice cream cone that won't stop dripping, the cup of sugar in every recipe, and the reflection in every mirror. 30 months! That's so many manys.

This morning, you found a bug on the steps in the entryway. You made your Daddy come and remove it from your path; squealing and hollerin' like a true girly-girl and priss. You made me laugh so hard ... and sigh audibly. It wasn't three minutes later and we're all loaded in the car to begin our day and you have the bug ensconced in a Styrofoam tray ... on your LAP. From a distance, you figured the bug could be near you. If things got hairy, you knew your Mama or Daddy would leap to your rescue. I like that about you. Scared, but intrigued. Anyways, you brought the bug to daycare to show your peeps. I heard it went over well. Thanks for making my morning anything but ordinary.

In the spirit of numbers celebration, I feel I should do 30 mini-shout outs as part of this month's documentation. Here are 30 well-loved bits about the lil' dude, in no particular order:

The dimple in your nose - You don't like jelly - Or chocolate milk - Saying goodbye to everything - Love your toes painted - Pulling on Daddy's arm to get him to come with you - Stumbling out of bed to collapse on bathroom floor - How good you sit in shopping carts - Asking to see the picture I just took - Asking where your phone is - Reading aloud to yourself - Propping your chin in your hands - Asking to go to your friends' houses daily - Turning on the outside faucet - Loving your reflection in every smooth surface - Yelling 'Three Ball!' during the Playoffs - Saying your tummy is full - Washing your hands - Bringing an item from home with when we leave - Reading in bed by Gloworm's light - Singing - Picking flowers for Mama - Defending the dog when I scold him - Saying thank you, unprompted - Your black and blue shins - Calling skirts & dresses 'booties' - Whispering love you at bedtime - Your accessories - Labeling every color red - How blond you are.

You're two-and-a-half, big girl.
Just think, in the time it took you get here in life, in that exact amount of time again you'll be Kindergarten aged.
Wow.

Mama loves.

Reading Material

Mama's got a new book on her nightstand:



And Mama means business.

We thought early this winter we had potty training in the bag ... we celebrated, we boasted. And now we're eating our words! Only parenthood can humble you in such ways, right? And while the lil' dude has been -dare I say- an amazing little person from the word go, this, this can be our challenge. This can be our season. Sleeping, eating, bottles, road trips, pacifiers, teething, daycare, talking, walking, toddler beds ... you name it, she's surpassed all of our expectations to the nth degree.

She's simply made our lives too easy.
So, I'm up for a good challenge ... and even more up for discontinuing the purchase of princess Pull-Ups once and for all.
To the nth degree.

Places We Go

A few blocks from our house is a private girls' college ... we can see the nuns and hear the chimes from our porch. The campus is beautiful and dates back to 1913. The community we live in is proud of this college. It's one of our favorite places to visit.

Because of this:

According to the lil' dude, it's where the fishies live. And she's right.


The pond is full of colorful Koi fish the college maintains season after season. Each spring, there is a release of the Koi back into their outdoor habitat.


And each spring, a tiny girl asks the question of when we can go see the fish ... a question that is re-asked until we take her to face the barren, cement pond left empty in the fall.


But for now, our season is here and the question is asked daily. I like to think she'll remember all the times we visited the Koi pond when she was little, how the Beagle lapped up the water and how she begged each time to get out of her stroller or wagon for a better look.


And how we're thankful for the lesson community and nature and creatures can teach us.

Wordless Wednesday

Back Where I Come From

Most aspects of parenting I can say without a doubt I love.

And, I'll never stop getting a kick out of watching everyone else I love parent, too.


When suddenly a weekend is less about self-fulfilling prophecies and more about little people's prophecies.


When nestled amongst the Miller Lite in the cooler are juice boxes and bottles of formula. When naptime trumps plans.


When we are lucky enough to share this adventure with those who went through our childhoods with us. When we are redeemed.


When an afternoon in spent in your hometown, in the park down the street from where you grew up, is about as good as it gets.


When you just hope your kids are as lucky as you were growing up- to be surrounded by friends who stand the test of time.


So one day they can have their afternoon in the park, where they skinned their knees, stayed out until dark, and shared secrets with those who know them best.