A Discovery

Today was a beautiful day filled with joy-------you relished a full twelve hours worth of rest after not being able to sleep from a dry cough yesterday afternoon! You enjoyed milk and a banana for breakfast and made sure you remembered your V word to tell Mrs. Tracy---V for Vitamins. When I asked you what leaders wear, you opted for jeans, your butterfly shirt, and tennis shoes! At preschool, you loved being the leader for the day. When I picked you up from preschool, you beamed with just as much excitement about your day being the leader, getting to bring the bag home (so that you could put your baby doll Sophia in to show your classmates tomorrow)----you even told me that Mrs. Tracy said, "Good one!" for your very special V word. I love that you constantly ask Mommy what words begin with at home and how you are linking the letters you are studying at school to words at home that you can bring in to class to share! Perfect! After lunch----an array of fruits, vegetables, and more, we were able to enjoy an hour of outside play in the backyard---swinging, playing with Princess Girl, pulling berries off the bushes and more! The sunshine that heated this wintry day was perfect---a high of 64 degrees! Then it was off to nap----I was surprised that you slept so long today. As you slept, I worked away blogging for Mrs. Renae at How To Have It All and enjoying coffee time at the kitchen table! Finally, I had to give in to the ticking clock and come wake you---it was time for us to soak up park time together! We filled our hands full of snacks and headed to the park. You spent the majority of the time swinging as Mommy walked! I had skipped my morning walk to clean baseboards and bleach down bathrooms. I didn't think I'd have time in the day to make up my morning movement time but the weather was perfect and you were pleased to swing and just watch Mommy walk. A few zips down the zipper and a walk across the balance beam and we were off to play outside at your friend's house across the street from the park! You were able to give Keegan her birthday present on the day of her actual birthday too. Then, it was time to wrap up your outdoor activities and come home to prep baked potatoes and steaks for Daddy to grill. As I laid out the potatoes to wrap in aluminum foil, you went into the bathroom to wash hands and yelled, "Mommy, don't do it! Wait for me!" You wanted to wrap the potatoes in foil for us----I loved to wrap potatoes in aluminum foil at the restaurants my mommy and daddy---Yiayia & Papou had when I was growing up. Thus, I prepped your aluminum foil and potatoes and you ran back into the kitchen to wrap them! Perfect------as they baked, you took in a few cartoons and we ate! I guess we worked up an appetite being outdoors! Then, Daddy came home and the two of you grilled and played outside while Mommy made a mad dash to Kroger for milk, yogurt, creamer, and ice-cream! I loved being able to save over 50% on these groceries tonight! It reminded me of our morning together----as Daddy was getting ready to get dressed for work, you asked him about some shirts in his closet. You began to pull them out telling him that he doesn't wear them so we needed to get rid of them! Ha! It was so funny! You trying to purge his clothes! But you had a valid point--------that's what Mommy does! We get rid of what we don't use so that our home is not cluttered. Additionally, lately we've been selling everything that is 'extra' around here to negate medical bills from this fall/early winter! However, we convinced you that we needed to keep Daddy's shirts---they were his dress shirts he wears when he's off of work! And of course, that doesn't happen often! He's back at work tonight after playing with you! After dinner, the two of you came inside with his heavy duty flashlight and an open mouth! As I stopped what I was doing to join you all, the two of us looked into your open mouth to discover the peeping FIRST MOLARS----the upper right tooth had already popped through the gums. The other sides...bottom and lowers were just swollen! This discovery came as a surprise to us since we were not expecting you to have more teeth emerge! We've discussed teeth falling out but not new teeth growing in yet! Although after talking to a few professionals tonight, we learned these are your first permanent teeth---yours are coming in a little earlier than normal (five years of age plus) but that it was quote, unquote still normal! You haven't complained at all! Briefly today at the park, you mentioned to me while you were swinging that your right ear hurt. We dismissed it with Mommy saying she'd give you medicine at home and take a look at it again if it continued to hurt. Thus, I now think it was the pressure of that right upper first molar!?! You were funny asking Mommy tonight, "Mommy, are you happy?" as you watched my reaction to your new teeth. I guess Mommy's opinion really counts! I told you that I was happy that you were getting big girl teeth and hugged you extra tight!! I even told you that you'd always be my baby girl but my big girl too! I love you little one! Mommy, had scheduled you a dentist appointment for February the 18th and we've been talking about it for several months. Today, I received the reminder postcard--------on the same day as our discovery of your first molars! Perfect timing------I was reminded of this in another way today too! After making a deposit in our bank account yesterday, the checks lined up for withdrawal today...perfect timing. Oh! Little one....I worry more than I can tell you about bills, our health and more! Yet, each day reassures me that I've made the right decision in being a stay at home Mommy so that I can hold you a little longer and treasure each and every one of our discoveries. I've been here for all of your firsts. I praise God for HIS hand in our lives as Daddy works to support us and as Mommy seconds his efforts with work from home, couponing and more! You're a whirlwind of life-------we love you! I was reminded how much you love the outdoors today when you played and played and played------zooming this way and that, soaking in the day with smiles from ear to ear! I didn't capture these moments on camera but they are forever etched in my heart! Tonight, you asked me in the dark in your room after story time why you didn't go to dance any more. I reminded you that we stopped going to ease up our scheduled bills so that we could pay our medical bills first. Then, I promised you that you could rejoin dance and/or gymnastics next fall after our trip to Greece. You pulled my neck in with your arms embrace and agreed with a hug! I didn't think you missed dance until tonight. I want you to have what you need and want. I want your time to be filled with what you love. I'm still discovering contentment myself as an adult. This week as you've watched cartoons, commercials have continued to catch your attention....."Mommy, I want....Mommy, can I have...." I've had to remind you that we can't have everything we see or want. I even went so far as to say that we have to enjoy and play with what we have so that I know you are enjoying your toys so that I can buy you more of what you like. I think you understood. As you played in the playroom this week, you made sure that Mommy knew...."Mommy, I'm playing with my dolls so we now we can buy me new ones!" I love you little one! Oh! The discoveries you are unearthing! You've even asked daily when is Valentine's Day as you await for your surprise! We haven't bought you anything since Christmas so you're eager for a new gift.....

You are definitely our gift! We love you!

Tonight, I'm writing without my glasses------they are hiding in the truck! Note to you my little one, your aging Mommy needs multiple pairs of prescription glasses!! I'll take them as a gift any day so I can continue writing and reading! I love both but you even more! Tonight, I'm not even going to proofread or indent or anything else......I'm just going to let my rambling thoughts scribble this blogging page for you, for us! I'm a perfectionist but at this hour, I'll relent and let the moment have its way------maybe it was the sunshine or the way you asked, "Mommy, are you happy?" or just blurry vision......or.....the need to snuggle next to you instead......my little big girl, I love you!!