Friday, April 29, 2011

her green thumb

she's learning her own way everyday.  she continues to amaze me with her 'can do' attitude.  i love how she wants to be like me & watching her do things that i enjoy make me happy.  she spent part of the day today 'gardening', as she called it.  which simply entailed moving dirt from one flower pot to another... but it was serious business.  





we played outside most of the day, with our feet in the grass, but we didn't miss the royal wedding - she was amazed at the princess' wedding gown.    






all these things make her who she is & who she will become . . .   & i couldn't be prouder. 


Wednesday, April 27, 2011

~ some bunny had fun ~

 easter has always been one of my favorite holidays.  something about the beautiful weather, pretty pastel colors & of course the meaning of easter.  growing up, we would always head to church, then a 'blessed' late breakfast at my grandma & grandpa's, then home to a fabulous easter dinner at home.  much has changed since then, like many other things in life.  now i'm honored with the opportunity to provide many cherished memories for my girl.  we host easter at our house, complete with the traditional ham dinner with lemon meringue pie and all. . .   this year the weather was fabulous & we were able to hold an egg hunt in the yard for bella & her cousins.  the pics below also include an egg hunt that our town had the week before easter, including a visit from the easter bunny himself.  one of the many things that i hope i can provide for my girl, is many fond memories that she'll not only cherish, but that will influence her own family as well. 




so loved her in this butterfly bubble dress . . . 




this is how i hope she'll look back on her childhood . . .  happy & not a care in the world! 

egg hunt for the girls 


the cousins 

grandpa helping bella blow bubbles . . . 


she's everything i dreamed of & more.


Wednesday, April 20, 2011

hump day funny. . .

i saw this on a fabulous blog that i follow http://www.molliedonovan.blogspot.com/ 
and just had to share.  an insert from tina fey's new book 'bossypants' - a prayer for her daughter.  so hysterical!

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.




May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the Beauty.



When the Crystal Meth is offered, May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half And stick with Beer.



Guide her, protect her

When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock ‘N Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.



Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance. Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes And not have to wear high heels.



What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You, because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.



May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.





Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen. Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, For childhood is short – a Tiger Flower blooming Magenta for one day – And adulthood is long and dry-humping in cars will wait.



And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.



And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, that I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 A.M., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.



“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck. “My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental Note to call me. And she will forget. But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.



Amen.



Saturday, April 16, 2011

friday randomness

by the time friday comes, there is a need to recharge, to slow down, stop & smell the roses & simply be. this friday we were forced to stay in with threatening thunderstorms all day.  sometimes it's nice to be forced to slow down & spend a day inside.   

we spent part of the day playing on the ipad & watching tinkerbell.  she loves all things fairies.  


we played dress up & danced like ballerinas with fluffy tutus. . .  


  her favorite part of the day was baking raspberry cookie bars.  licking her fingers every chance she got. . .



she was so excited when i let her help me wash the dishes.  she couldn't contain it, as she explained to me in step by step instructions how she was washing them & told me several times how much she enjoyed helping mommy. . . 






i love knowing that everything she learns will help her grow & become the woman she is destine to be.  it's pretty neat knowing your a role model for someone so precious.  it's a big job. . .  i can only hope i don't disappoint her. . . 
 

Monday, April 11, 2011

~ counting my blessings ~

her daddy got her her first 'shirley temple' at dinner saturday. . .   her smile was bigger than the sun.  reminded me of way back when.  when my dad would order me one & i smiled bigger than the sun.  she had the best saturday, spent dancing through the sprinkler, dinner with her biggest fans, then for a  fudge sundae in a waffle bowl.  shared while the sun went down. . .   a nice ending to a perfect day.    









. . .  wish everyday could be that way.


Friday, April 8, 2011

my girl~

my girl finds joy in all the little things.  she giggles at herself & makes everyday a 'good' day.  i love that she hasn't a care in the world & why should she, she's 3.  her days are filled with laughter, hugs, inquisitive questions, sweet kisses, pretend play, & all the love that she can handle.  i love that she's a 'chatterbox'. . .   i see myself in her more & more everyday.  

i love fridays.  waking up on our own, hot peppermint mocha coffee, a leisurely breakfast & the rest of the day to be what we want it to be. . .  she got her movie today, became a fresh market 'free cookie member' & had her first 'cutie' (those sweet little oranges - that are amazingly delicious). 

the movie was adorable & somehow i managed to even shed some tears at the end - go figure!

she's amazing & she's mine!


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Living in the moment . . .

i try so hard to live in the moment, especially since isabella was born.  i admit i have to keep reminding myself & if i could tie reminder ribbons on my fingers i would - it's that important to me.  but today, i'm anxious for friday - 'her' day.  i promised her the movie 'tangled' & a movie night with popcorn & cheese.  because cheese on her popcorn is her fav & because she's her & i love her.  if it makes her smile bigger than blueberry pancakes, then i'll do it.  they're only little for a bit & it's all the little moments that make the difference. . .  


Sunday, April 3, 2011

i love days like these . . .

friday, we had a girls day.  we caught a movie early afternoon (HOP- so cute & she loved it!), grabbed lunch, then played pretend in the 'princess castle' for the remainder of the afternoon.  she read to me & the princesses - i love it when she reads to me.  her little finger goes over the words as she recalls them, the way she remembers it being read to her.  she adds her own additions, but the story is the same.  i like the stories better in her 'own' words. . . 
days like these are the best kind.  all the housework & laundry can wait. . .   the princesses come first & we laugh. . . .