Great Minds Think Alike

 We just got home from a 1st birthday celebration. Good friends, good food,  kids running wild,  lots of giggles, presents and birthday cake. As I tucked Bella into bed she said, " Mommy, will you snuggle with  me a while?". So I laid down in bed next to her and we turned on the stars (a little turtle we have that lights up and shines stars onto the ceiling).  Pretty soon her breath slowed and I felt her body start to relax in my arms. She  was gazing at the stars above, her eyelids getting heavy. I asked her what she was  thinking about. In just a whisper she replied, "I'm thinking about love." A few moments later she was sound asleep.

Funny, I was thinking the same thing.

A Lover of All Things

On the walk to school today Bella spotted an 'obstacle' on the sidewalk and called out, "Don't step in the poop Mommy!". Then she said "You should just gently step over it. Because Nature is our friend."

 Boy, she can take even the sh*tiest situation and make it sound nice.

NO WIRE HANGERS!

Bella got a hold of my 'eyeliner' (red lip liner). Aunt Tracy said she saw a slight resemblance to Joan Crawford in Mommy Dearest...

The Grass is Always Greener...When You're 4 Years Old

 On Wednesday Bella was coming with me to a meeting, and we had to walk through an alley to get to the building we were going to. All of a sudden she had a big smile on her face and said, "Look Mommy! The green grass is growing in the cracks!" I stopped for a moment to look down at the street. Sure enough there were little patches of grass peeking out from between the cracks in the pavement. So I said, "Yes it is, and you know, I wouldn't have noticed that if you hadn't mentioned it."

I learned something from this story...did you?

Just Be

So if you have read this blog in the past, you know that I occasionally like to ask my daughter what she wants to be when she grows up. Her aspirations change daily (sometimes hourly) so the answer is always alluring. 

So today I asked. 

And today's answer was (with a very disciplinary tone), 

"Mommy, I'm just gonna be who I be."

I don't doubt it for a minute.

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.