my craving for alone time with my cubby, just the two of us, had to be satiated.
so, we had a date today…she in her lavender dress and maryjanes and i in my jeans and flip-flops. first it was a trip to sweet treats where i let her do her thing with her most-gigantic-sprinkled-ice-cream-cone-you’ve-ever-seen (and also happened to be the best tasting ice cream i’ve ever had…even with the sprinkles).
then (after a change out of her sticky, cone-dripped dress), it was to the library where we read bunny books, cozied up to the giant teddy bear and read to the pups. yup, there were pups in our library…a program the library runs every third saturday where kids get to cuddle up to real pups and read them stories. lainey was in heaven. dogs. books. giant teddy bears.
…and somewhere between it all, i got choked up…just looking at her and thinking…
…and i just think she’s the most amazing thing ever. so beautiful and spirited and loving, and i feel so honored to walk next to her and hold her hand and know that this little thing has a mommy…and that mommy is me. me.
and at moments, i see myself in her. and her daddy too. and somehow, we managed to get the best of both…and then a little bit of her own thing too. and i guess this isn’t news to anyone, but still…it just astounds me. especially now that her personality is being unpeeled every day…little bits of that baby cacoon breaking off, revealing our beautiful butterfly.
speaking of personality, she found a string of ball fringe in my ribbon box today and took it upon herself to put on a variety show in front of the mirror for us while we all laughed behind her…
…and yesterday, she and brandyn read books in the yard, melting our hearts (and any onlooking neighbors, i’m sure) to puddles.
(playing with ttv frames for giant photo wall project underway…)
…and our date’s not over. brett’s fishing tonight, and cubs just woke up from a late nap. we’re gunna put our jammies on and watch a movie…and maybe dance…and maybe read some more books…and maybe make hot cocoa (‘cuz that’s a little fall-ish, right).
oh, feeling so blessed.
~enjoying the i’m-so-glad-my-life-is-mine things. ~k
What a treasure, and I am so pleased you are studying every corner and crease of your little treasure…every shadow she casts, every glint of light she reflects…and you are too sadly correct–you look away for a second and she is grown and gone. But I still enjoy my treasures…as they enjoy theirs.
Your Date…. how cute Kelle! Love it and hope tonight was as perfect as today. Love the pictures. She is a happy lucky girl to have you both!
That last picture is SO going off to college with him – don’t forget!!!
And I’m so glad you’re realizing now, the beauty of long, slow, open days. Remember them later on when the temptation becomes great to sign her up for every class known to man! I made Kara a pre-school dropout (only 3 weeks into the year) because I realized that it was sapping up all of our time to…do nothing ‘cept be together. I can tell you’ll always sense and guard ‘time’ – so glad!
man this was long….
aawwww kel.
I SOOO heard and felt your words about how she “astounds you”.
True…it’s not news to anyone, but it is truly wonderful, miraculous, surprising-when-you-least-expect-it NEWS to YOU when the subject is “your heart and soul walking around outside your body wih arms and legs”.
So fun to watch you unpeel her layers. And there are so many more to come.
Having a child is like unwrapping the most wonderful, ball-of-love present every single day!!
Enjoy, my dear friend.
Love you.
xoxo
jc
All those pictures are so wonderful…….I love ice cream cone pictures! Her smile is so precious! Your day sounded inviting. Reading about how you feel about her is so sweet…..almost 15 years into this and I still feel that way….I love dancing with my kids still it is just different then before…….I’m not aloud to snap my fingers anymore…..what’s up with that?
I already am saddened when I think that Lainey will have to say goodbye to her bruh bruhs when they go off to college, find their sweethearts and move from their room down the hall…I had to watch my big brothers leave, and wondered if life would ever be so fun again…it was, in different ways. I am happy she loves them so, I do too!
Wow Kelle. You put everything so perfectly into words. She is so absolutely precious and I love how you enjoy every single moment with her. It’s inspiring!
what a great big brother
and
a fun, fun day with mommy!
how cool is your library with dogs and bears? that sounds like a terrific progam!
Best line ever…”and i feel so honored to walk next to her and hold her hand and know that this little thing has a mommy…and that mommy is me. me.”
Oh, did that hit home with me! The one of her walking away in the halter top was INCREDIBLE!!
As are you!!