Our Legacy: "Just Want to Have Fun"

Our days disappear too quickly. I love having you home with me all day. Although at the end of the night, I'm ready to crawl into bed when you do. And I do.........You make sure that we read bedtime stories, sing songs, and that I'm within your reach before you fall asleep------with your shoulder touching mine or your leg draped over my body! When you were two, I vowed to get you out of our king sized bed and into your own "big girl" bed but somewhere along the way, I stayed next to your side each night. There are no regrets. In those quiet moments before you fall asleep and whisper, "Mommy, I love you!" all the worries of the day and all the items on my to do list fade away. There's nothing more important than you, Sophia. You love to have Daddy sleep with you too but only when there's overnight company at our house and when he promises to cuddle with you. It's a game and your eyes light up when he crawls in with us. I fuss about how it'll be crowded but Daddy just smiles and says that it is cozy! Once Daddy put you to bed all by himself (a wonderful, unexpected moment of joy--you'll understand when you're a mommy one day).......shower, teeth, potty, prayers, books, lights out...........but then he couldn't get the tears to stop flowing. Mommy and her friend, Jodi, were up late visiting over coffee before we turned in too. Luckily, Jodi understood and we caught up with coffee in the morning when she woke up. You slept in for us so we could visit (thank you)! That night, Daddy stayed tucked by your side quickly falling asleep but you cried and laughed together as Mommy settled you in for the night. We talked in the dark and you played as Mommy soothed you down (our normal routine) and when your little body settled into it's usual routine, you fell asleep. There are many "read between the line stories" here for you to understand or just have a glimpse of as you mature and wonder what your childhood was like as a toddler.

I have been with you every step of the way------and still am. Daddy warned me when I was very pregnant with you that my life would be different and affected in every way once you were born-------more so than his. I couldn't imagine how it would have been different....but it was and it is......but a good different. You add value to the very core of me with simple phrases, touches, etc. Just this week, Daddy & I told you it was time to come inside after an hour or more of playing outside with Daddy after dinner. You didn't want to.......you love, love, love being outdoors doing anything and everything! As the last ray of sunshine faded away, we couldn't wait any longer to get you indoors so Daddy grabbed you in his arms to bring you inside and lock us in for the evening. It was in that moment that you said, "I just want to have fun!" Daddy and I smiled as we tried to make you understand that it was time to wind down the day with a shower, bedtime stories, and a good night's rest so that we could have fun tomorrow again. What an epiphany of life! Many times darling that's just it. We "just want to have fun" but there's a time for everything----a time to have fun and a time to wind down for another busy, fulfilling day! We don't know what life has in store for us just as I didn't when daddy warned me that you would change my life. I don't think I've slowed down any because I love to have fun and fill our days with moments of joy. Yet, when I have moments that my inner being is saying "I just want to have fun!" as you did this week, I have to remind myself to stay in the moment and allow that moment to encapsulate my being. The blessing amidst all of the differences of my life before you and now with you is that Daddy has worked hard to provide for us all. He has afforded us the opportunity to have fun together--------four years of togetherness! There are so many memories. I look forward to many more unexpected moments of joy with you darling because I too just want to have fun with you in my life!

One touch of sunshine pierces the sky as God's canvas changes for the night. I'm watching you catching fireflies with Daddy outside........he's crawling on his hands and knees and you're just having fun! I must get up and find an empty jar for you. How funny......we're all on the same page.......the two of you just ran to my window and asked for a jar!