The Best Part of my Day

This!!!!




So, I admit it. I'm doing what I already did six months ago. Easily, I might add. Only this time it's not quite so easy.

We started the bad habit of letting Lily watch tv with us at night. Mostly out of laziness with a sprinkle of it's so cute to cuddle her splashed in there. And now, she's used to this and demands it... Along with falling asleep or almost falling asleep in the bed before being banished to the crib.

Okay. I can do this. I can break this habit.
7:30- Nice calming bath (yea, right... Not so much)
7:45- Get in PJs (or just run around the house naked squealing as your Mom chases you.)
8:15- Storytime in your room (Still no jammies, no actual reading of books, but playing on the carpet while sitting on the picturesque bed Mommy made out of pillows and blankets almost counts)
9:00- Request for milk gives Mom hope (she just might get to see the finale of Kate Plus 8, yet!!)
9:15- Snuggles with Mom on the floor.
9:20- Mom thinks she's asleep. Success! We've made it!!!

And then cue picture (once again for your viewing pleasure)






You really can't tell from the picture, but this is belly laughing at its best and the moment that I know this is the best part of my day.

While I lay on the floor next to her crib (yea, I know... Not gonna help... Let me have my pipe dream, okay?!), I think of all the things I love about this little lady...

Her laugh.
How she's one tough cookie.
When she says, "hi Mom."
Her loud voice and her whispers.
Her hugs that make me melt.
How she's so funny.
Her hand gestures.
Her many faces.
Her toes.
Her made-up words like "teet" (pacifier)- I know you wish your toddler called it that- and "non" (baby).
Her love of cats.
The way she wants to be everywhere I am.
How she arranges all her little people so perfectly.
Her stubborn streak.
Her sense of humor.
Her smile.

...and I could go on and on, but alas, my baby girl is finally asleep.

Goodnight. :)

Thankful (6-10)

This week, we had a million things to be thankful for including...

6. The first of many of Lily's friends' birthday parties. A total success!! (Minus the screaming at the sight of Elmo that has been epic at our house and followed by many continuing "Elmo!" discussions. :) )







7. The adorable-ness that ensues when my child eats a cupcake.




8. Fun weekends with family and playing with Lil's beloved "cats!"




9. Visits from "Mimi" and how she loves my girl and showers her with adorable gifts and precious memories.










10. The blessings of health, safety and happiness that our families have always enjoyed thanks to those who have sacrificed these things for us.

Leading by example

It seems obvious because it is obvious... but for some reason, it was a huge revelation to me. Why is it that Lily almost always says "thank you" when I never remember teaching her that? Because Rob and I almost always say it. Every day. A million times. So she says it. Every day. A million times. Until I ask her to say it... And then I'm in for a huge battle. So moral of the story? How much more influential (and easier) are my actions than my words! Why waste my breath when instead of telling her, I could just show her. See? Obvious. But this is one I wanted to remember. :)

Thankful

And I'm back... More things to be thankful for this (long) weekend. I can't remember what number I was on, so I'm going to start over...

1.





Weekends away with Daddy. I swear, every time we go away and Lily gets more intense "one on one" time with Daddy, this bond grows stronger and stronger and more adorable.


Lily conned Daddy into this "cat!!!" this weekend.

My personal favorite Daddy moment of the weekend and my maybe my life... When pointing out a Dad and 2 daughters to my husband (who was positive we were having a boy) this weekend and telling him that could be him someday, he said (drum roll, please), "I'd be okay with that." I seriously reared up. (You're welcome, Rob, for me sharing this with the whole world. It was just too good to pass up.)

2. Family that Lily doesn't quite remember become best friends when she finds out they have cats!!












Even Gampa Jim joined in the cat hunting fun!

3. Best friends.




4. Roadtrips where Rob stops the radio on "Marry Me Bill" and lets me belt it out (no picture necessary), we get to stop at the outlet mall and I see this in the backseat...




5. Going home to the puppies, our cozy bed, packages, a new Gilmore Girls DVD from netflix, a possible bonfire in the fall weather and ONE MORE DAY with "DA"! Bonus!! :)

Giving Thanks

I'm just going to admit it. I've been a crabby patty lately. I've spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself about house problems, computer problems, fantasy football taking over my life problems. You get the picture. And really, don't we all? At least to some extent? (Please just say, "yes.") The truth is that in these moments I need to step back. I absolutely love my life... and I'm not just saying that. Sure, I have little things to complain about, just like everyone else. But no big things. And that's surely something to celebrate.

This week's biggest thing of all? The thing that started it all. The thing that made this beautiful life possible... marrying my husband. Three years ago tomorrow. Time sure flies when you're having fun.








The next amazing thing to be thankful about is another amazing person. My Mom. I couldn't be luckier. She's absolutely my best friend and the best Mom and Grandma a girl could ask for. And even better? We're lucky enough that she lives only a few small miles away so we get to do things like this all the time...





And I can't forget person number 3. My girl. :) As the days pass, the challenges are coming faster, but so are the joys. She may throw an absolute fit about shoes, but how can you deny the girl when it produces looks like this?





Today, she insisted on putting them on herself... on the wrong feet. And there was no taking them off... But how can you not love that smile?





(Can I just add that as I'm typing this, she just saw herself and screamed "BOOTS!!!" with pure joy.)

So I'm taking a deep breath and remembering that life really is beautiful. Trying not to stress the small stuff, or even the stuff that seems big now, but in the long run will turn small. We're enjoying the little things that life has to offer and giving thanks.

The way it feels...

Tangled up in my baby's snuggles.
A million "Mom"s that will grow fewer each year.
Remembering the way it feels.
To be needed. Loved.
So completely.
And to love back unconditionally.
Knowing she will always be my baby.
If only in my memory.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The life of a Dancing Queen

Picture you're laying in bed snuggling your sleepy little girl watching "ya ya" (yo gabba gabba) one more time before she drifts to sleep. All the sudden, a song comes on and your comatose girl turns into one of the acts from America's Got Talent. She bolts upright, demands a hand from you and your husband each and wiggles and jiggles her body like there's no tomorrow. What do you expect? If there's music, no matter what the circumstance, sister's gotta dance!!! This is a part of our everyday life nowadays and we find it hilarious (and sometimes annoying)... But mostly awesome. ;)

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Another rather recent addition to our household dynamic... The love between a girl and her dog... Lily and "Tucka". The first thing Lily does every morning is call for Tucker. "Where Tucka? Tucka!!" She then proceeds to spend the day following poor Tucker everywhere and calling him if he so much as looks like he might be walking in another room. And though I do feel a bit bad for Wrigley, I find her adoration for my first love endearing and adorable.