Firecracker Friday

It's been a Firecracker Friday----a day with brilliant pops of color to brighten my day & yours! You never missed one day of marking off the days of the week as you finished preschool each day. After eating a late lunch, snack, dinner....filling your belly full of food, you'd ask Mommy where your calendar was----Thursday afternoon, you took a pencil and crossed out the day. Additionally, you made a happy face with a nose & all at the top of your calendar and came to show me that you were going to "Make Mommy Happy!" on the last day of school----today, Friday! 

Sophia's Calendar

My heart filled with mixed Mommy emotions......tenderness, love, regret, happiness, sadness.....praying that I wouldn't break your spirit as directions were given, as I prepared you for the next day of preschool away from Mommy....It's always a question in my heart of hearts if these choices that I'm making for you are the best ones. However, on Friday morning-----today, you were eager to put on the clothes you had laid out the night before for picture day at school. Additionally, you entered the classroom and announced to Mrs. Tracy, "Look, I'm not crying today!" 

Sophia. Happy.

Silly. Sophia.

As I kissed your face and gave you one last hug this morning, you tucked a kiss in my shorts for me to have throughout the day.....a conversation with your pediatrician this morning reconfirmed to me my motherly instinct to back up....to allow you some wiggle room with your sense of authority---your control over your body's functions: to eat/drink & with your accident antics at school. I prayed. I watched the clock. Thirty minutes prior to dismissal, I came to pick you up early wishing, praying for SUCCESS---a happy day...one that we could fill with joy...and that we did! Your wrinkled picture perfect dress, tasseled hair with your pink bow lopsided was priceless. You had just finished your nap at school....and as that bottom little lip quivered, you continued to help pick up mats and place your blanket/sheet into your bag...I walked in to help you and you announced, "Mommy, I didn't peepee my vrakaki!" Elation. On your face. On mine. Maybe it was because I came to pick you up early, maybe because you decided to make the right choices...to let your control defenses down a bit......who knows!?! Daddy, would say I'm analyzing again----so, I'll let this moment just be filled with brilliant colors hovering over our hearts tonight like the remnants of firecrackers in the Blue Moon's Sky, tonight's sky! We left preschool to fulfill a promise. Celebration Cupcakes! You filled up on their sweetness all the way to Kroger where we bought a few pantry staples with coupons and your  Firecracker Popsicle treats! Reading the title of the popsicles were an instant reminder to count these little moments as JOY! One popsicle dripped all over your dress in the afternoon heat but a treat sometimes is just a little sweeter that way------messy! We made it back home for you to consume more treats (Somewhere in the midst of our afternoon together, I licked your sweet, messy mouth and you giggled---reminding you that kitty cats lick themselves clean!) and a multitude of snacks..........some on the kitchen table....others on the living room floor as you helped Mommy fill the crystal vases with fall foliage! You were eager to help and announced to Daddy that we made the living room's mantle pretty for him! You were so proud. You also shared the good news with Daddy about your "vrakaki"--------and you told Yiayia & Papou too over the phone----the perfect praise came through that international call with praise----BRAVO. And even more special...filakia and news that Yiayia & Papou would soon be back on American soil so that we can enjoy their company! Pages of the Halloween coloring book, Mommy & Daddy bought for you, were colored by you this afternoon.......playtime outside in the mini puddles of rain...you enjoyed your rainboots.......and Mommy had to pull off your much too small raincoat (SAD: I liked that yellow raincoat covered in rainboots!)...and I'll have to say my favorite moment outside was when you were pretending that your Hello Kitty umbrella was a "bastooni"-----I caught myself correcting you about hitting your umbrella on the pavement...that you'd ruin it but when your lips curled into a smile and your eyes lit up, I knew then again that I should back up and let you be FOUR....I don't ever really know what's in your heart, on your mind but talking to Yiayia today over the phone obviously sparked your interest in the "bastouni" ...a walking cane that Yiayia used this summer to get around better after her hip surgery (You often played with it and/or went after it for Yiayia when she couldn't remember where she had left it!). As Mommy and you were preparing dinner, you shared that you wanted me to buy you a bologna sandwich! When I asked why (We never eat bologna at our house. I never even think of it as food!)? You said because other kids at school eat bologna sandwiches at lunch! You had tenderloin (blue cheese to dip it in---your favorite) as your main meat today-----I'll pack you bologna but I think you'd prefer your healthy tenderloin! So......Mommy & Daddy waved their magic wands tonight and Daddy brought home fresh bologna for you that he's helping serve tomorrow. Your wish is our command! Ha! I won't ever say that too loud for you to hear. You may manipulate that in your favor! A quick trip to the shop with Daddy (I loved how you pounced on me like a puppy dog with a big hug and a kiss before leaving!)---and why was I surprised...handfuls of candy upon your return! More sweet treats on the couch with Daddy as you watched Team Umi Zoomi------and it just so happened to be about the team helping a little girl, Sophia, to find her butterfly outfit/wings! You were delighted to hear your name------as was I because today was your day of praise! Mommy was met with a little reluctance to end your day when I said it was time to brush your teeth but you quickly remembered that you could play hide-n-seek, run and chase, "yiro, yiro", & like a backhoe with Daddy in the bedroom......loads of fun, prayers, books to read with Mommy............and so many more favorites! I loved it when I was reading to you, Go, Dog, Go! by P.D. Eastman....get up...it is day...time to get going...You put your hands around your mouth like a megaphone and imitated the illustration in the book without prompting! Too funny-------'You're killing me!" (An expression you haven't used in over a year and a half or more........but you had picked up this expression from Daddy....and then used it in the truck when you were talking to your friend, Drue, when you all were three!).......and I just as I was getting sleepy reading to you, I slipped in the word, sleepy, in the book's dog party...."Big dogs, little dogs, red dogs, blue dogs, sleepy dogs..."! On cue, you didn't miss a beat----Mommy, it doesn't say sleepy dogs! You are my little firecracker! Lights out! But your little engine was still roaring.........I asked you if you all listened to music or had stories read to you prior to nap time at school........you told me that you listened to K-LOVE! IF this is true (see Mommy has been a teacher in the classroom and she knows that there are many half truths spoken when mommies and daughters aren't together-------oh! I'm so not ready for you to grow up little one!) But if you can listen to K-Love during your time away from me, I can rest assured that God's word will touch that little heart of yours in one more way! It's a Blue Moon Friday----a Firecracker Friday for us!