Sunday, October 1, 2017

Daddy wasn’t home this weekend, so we decided to go to the park and have some special quality time. It was the first bit of time we’ve had together in a while, and the weather outside was perfect.

We went to the park off Chemstrand and explored all the swings and hideouts it had to offer. She is right in between the little kid side and the big kid side…so we ran all around both.

This age is going to be challenging. I can sense it already. Mostly, I think it’s because she’s still super little but can be far more defiant, can push all the buttons, can throw longer fits, and can drag her feet much more than she could just 6 months ago. She says to me at least once a day, “Momma, are you going to give me a spanking?” And she says it purely to measure just how annoyed I am getting with her stall tactics. It now takes me much longer to get out the door each morning or get back in the car from picking her up at school simply because she knows that’s my goal and that she can keep me from accomplishing it.

I try to just breathe deeply and enjoy the moment without rushing always to the next thing, but sometimes the next thing is a 9:00 meeting in which I’m in charge of the agenda!

Here are some of the funnier things she’s said of late…

To her Daddy on Saturday morning:

“Get some doughnuts for us cause my tummy says it’s time to eat.”

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SJ: “See you in the morning! When I’m going to go to my Mimi’s house…all by myself!”

Me: “Where am I going to be?”

SJ: “You’re going to take me there.”

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At Jules’ birthday, when the party is drawing to a close and she knows that Winston and Satie were told there would be no more making of helium balloons:

“Can I blow up balloons again?” as she gives me butterfly kisses…

One of the things I’ve noticed just over the last few days is that she’s becoming much more expressive of affection both verbally and physically. Without prodding, she’ll say “I love you, Mommy.” And she’ll caress my hair or my hand or my face. You don’t really think about the impact of lots of affection until it’s expressed in return unsolicited. It’s always been paramount to me that she knows how much she is loved and that she feels the freedom to express herself fully and honestly. It’s precious to see that little seed of investment begin to blossom into a beautiful spirit full of love.