I always laugh when my friend Dawn refers to her daughter as "the girl". Since Briella has two older brothers, it's been fun to have a little girl to dress up. Sweet Briella turns one today. Dawn said that they had her little party last night and she made this cute cake. Isn't it darling? That's going in my file of birthday cakes to make. Happy Birthday cute girl! I wish that I could be there!"The girl" comment of course, got me thinking about my girl. She's been fun to have her all to myself while Jake has gone back to school. She's growing up so fast! Annoying little habit my kids have.
She's going to preschool now and loves it. I love watching her walk into preschool with her huge Hello Kitty backpack hanging low on her little body. Bounce, bounce, bouncing away on her little round bottom. I carpool with a friend and it's fun to hear Mia and Lauren chatting away in the backseat. Often, I hear little conversations like this:
Mia: "Wow! That's a fancy "chantel" (show and tell - a favorite saying of mine) you have there."
Lauren: "Thanks! It's my Grwama's baby."
Mia: "What's your baby's name?"
Lauren: "Princess Sleeping Booty Grwama Sharwon Reynolds"
Mia: "Oooooo, that's a fancy name."
Preschool is in the afternoon which has been difficult for her to understand. After Jake has left for school, she dresses, picks out her "chantel" (show and tell), packs herself a snack, brushes out her hair and asks if it is beautiful enough for school. She get's her shoes and backpack on and announces that she is ready to go. All by 8:34am. Preschool doesn't start for another 4 hours. Did you know that it's hard to distract her for that long? And wouldn't you know it, when it's finally time for preschool to start, she doesn't want to go. I guess that's what I get for signing up late.Like most Mom's, I love her mispronunciations. Quite a few come for bedtime. She says that the sky is closed when it's night time, that it's bed-night and when somebody is asleep they are "at sleep" and awake is "at wake". She's funny like that.
She sure is sensitive little girl and tends to cry a lot over everything. E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. It makes me want to pull my hair out. I feel that it doesn't matter how I talk to her, she's going to throw a crying fit if it isn't the way that she wants it to be. Part of me hopes that she will grow out of it and I know that she will, to some degree. The other part of me realizes that this is her personality and just accept the drama.Mia and her friends have held onto the last bit of summer. Swinging in the big tree, swimming everyday in the backyard, riding her big wheel bike and chasing after butterflies. She prefers to only wear dresses and be barefoot. The change in seasons is going to be a big shock for her. As I listen to her play with her friends, I often hear the girls announce that they are the mommy and you are the baby and my favorite it when Lauren pops up and says that she gets to be the teenager. It's fun to hear her chat with her little friends as they play house and grocery store. It's their favorite game. I am so happy that she has many good little friends to play with.
I am so grateful for the time that I have with her listening to her thoughts and dreams, playing grocery store (yet again!) and finding her favorite little pink phone. I am grateful that she makes me laugh and smile and want to pull my hair out. I am grateful that she is happy to play and learn and grow. I am grateful for the big swing in the walnut tree that she loves. I hope she never outgrows her loving nature, infectious giggles and love for the fancy things of life.
*Outstanding photos curtesy of Jason Mcgrew Photography.
