Good Day Sunshine

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day in Colorado. Late this afternoon, Bella was playing out in the backyard and I was sitting out with her soaking up the sun. It was as warm as a spring day and someone close by had a fire going, so the sweet smell of smoke lingered in the air. Bella decided we should have a picnic. She went into the house and came outside with lots of goodies...carrots, raisins, graham crackers and chocolate milk. She sat down next to me and said, "It's a good day Mommy, isn't it? It IS a wonderful day." Then she sighed, leaned against me and drank her milk. 

OK - this next thing is going to sound like I made it up, by I actually wrote it down word for word...I just have an amazing kid (if I do say so myself).

It was nearing bedtime when Bella climbed up onto my lap and said in a very serious tone, "Mommy. I need to ask you something." "What is it?" I replied. She said, "Can I have a little bit of your love?"  "You can have ALL of my love!" I said. Then she gave me a hug and said, "Mommy, I can feel all of your love." You and me both kid.

It was indeed, a wonderful day.

Twiggy

When I was 4 years old, I had very long hair. My parents wanted to cut it short (probably from day after day of tears when trying to comb through it). Unbeknownst to each other, they had each bribed me to get the haircut. My mom bought be a Barbie swimming pool that I desperately wanted and my dad took me to lunch at my favorite restaurant. They didn't find out until after the haircut that they had been scammed.

Yesterday I was going to give Bella's hair a little trim (the last time it was cut at the local kids barber shop, the woman who cut it had no clue what she was doing and we walked out of there a little lopsided!). I started to cut it and Bella said, "Mommy, cut this part that is always in my eyes." So I asked her if she wanted to have really short hair. She heartily replied "YES!" So we cut it short. She now kind of looks like a cross between Twiggy and Bob Dylan. 

I think I will voluntarily take her to lunch and get her a Barbie swimming pool...will keep her busy until her hair grows back! 

No Gifts Please

Tonight as Bella was settling down for the night, I went and sat next to her. She hopped up and threw her arms around my neck, gave me a kiss and said, "Happy Tomorrow Valentine's Day Mommy." 

It really is the thought that counts. Best Valentine I ever got.

The Simple Life

I bought Bella this t-shirt today. The photo doesn't do it justice. The pink dress and ballet shoes are sparkly and the tiny dog is doing the same ballet move as the girl. I bought it because when Bella saw it, her face lit up like fireworks on the 4th of July and she gasped. I asked her if she wanted it and she said, "Oh yes Mommy. It's beautiful, just BEAUTIFUL!" 

It was such a magical moment. Something so simple.  She was overjoyed. The simple things should make us happy.  I've learned more about life from her in the past 4 years than I have in my 40. 

She is beautiful, just beautiful.

Skip Skip Skip to My Lou

I try to make it to the gym 3-4 times a week. Sometimes work and life get in the way. The other day Bella was anxiously waiting to go (they have a great kids club there), but I ended up knee deep in jobs that I had to finish. She was hounding me "When are we going to the gym Mommy?" I finally answered, "Well, I think we're going to skip the gym today." to which she replied, "Can't we take the car? I don't want to skip there!"

Not a bad idea. If we skipped to the gym, workout accomplished. 

The Fountain of Youth

Late yesterday afternoon Bella and I were at the supermarket. We were slowly making our way through the aisles ( I forgot my list so was trying to remember everything we needed). There was a bus full of elderly people there from a nearby retirement home. Bella was sitting in the cart, singing, chatting, making funny remarks about everything. About half way through the store, I had a feeling we were being followed. Sure enough, there was a line of little old ladies, tagging along behind us, not looking for groceries, but listening to Bella. They all had big smiles on their faces and seemed to have a new spring in their steps. We stopped and chatted a little. Bella charmed them all. 

On our way home I got a little choked up thinking about how much my grandfather would have loved Bella. He died long before she was born. I realized how fast time goes and how precious these years are. I can only hope all my grandparents are still here with us, maybe skipping along quietly behind us as we browse through the cookie aisle.

My reply as a child was always "No, I'm just dancing."

Bella was standing next to my desk playing a game on one of my computers. It is obvious she has to go potty. I asked her, "Bella, do you have to go potty?" to which she replied without taking her eyes away from the screen, "No, I'm just standing real high on my toes."

That's a new one.

Bella Unabridged

Abuela is coming to visit tomorrow (that's Grandma for all of the non-spanish speakers out there). Bella is very excited. She's been asking all week, "How many more days until Abuela?". This morning she was getting ready for school and I told her that when she got home, she needed to help me clean up the house for Abuela's visit. She casually said, "We should start with your closet. It is disastrous in there!"

Her 4-year old vocabulary never ceases to amaze me! Webster would be proud.

(and she's very observant too - my closet is a disaster!)

Hmmmm

I was just sitting at my desk getting a little work done, when Bella crawled into my office pretending to be a dog. Barking, wagging her tail, sniffing around. Then all of a sudden she hopped up and ran out of the room. I heard the bathroom door shut. 

I hope she's not drinking out of the toilet.

Old Soul

When Bella was a baby, an uncanny number of people, strangers, told me that she was an "old soul". I'll never forget one day we were standing in line at the grocery store and a very kind looking old woman was standing in line behind us. She and Bella locked eyes, Bella's face was very  sober. They stared at each other for at least a minute. The woman leaned forward and said softly to me, "She's been here before."

This week I came down with strep throat and Daddy was out of town, it was a rough few days until the antibiotics kicked in. I felt like I was hit by a truck.  On the worst day, I took Bella to the store and let her pick out a movie and any treat she wanted. We went home and made a "movie theater" in the basement and she watched her movies and ate as many cookies as she wanted (right out of the box), curled up in my arms while I slept. Hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. So last night I laid down in bed next to her and said, "Thank you Honey for being such a good girl and taking care of me when I was sick. I really appreciate it." She  gently put her hand on my face and said, "Mommy, sometimes I will help  you, and sometimes I won't. But I always love you."

I think her old soul has been here before.