To all the SUPER MOMMIES

For the past two days I have gotten up at 6:30 in the morning (at least an hour earlier than I am used to), taken my shower and gotten ready for work all before Mikayla has woken up. Then it's get her dressed, teeth brushed, breakfasted and make her lunch followed by hurry up let's go to school (or have my mom come over). She has been out of my sight (either with my mom or at school) ALL DAY! I got home Monday night around 6 pm and tonight around 6:30 pm. It was hugs, dinner, bath then bed. I feel like I haven't really seen her and I miss her! So what I am saying is that I count my lucky stars that I get to see my little girl as much as I do.

To the mommies that do this everyday...I salute you! You pull energy from a depth that knows no bounds...and I now know that an "I've missed you mommy and I love you" means soooo much when you come home at the end of the day.

Expert Negotiator...

So it appears that 3 and a half year olds are EXPERT negotiators...

Me: You need to eat all of your rice and beans
MAC: But I don't want to eat that, I want to eat sumpin else...
Dad: If you finish your rice and beans you can eat an orange
MAC: Ok, how 'bout I eat one, two , three, four bites? Then can I eat an orange?
Dad: (smiling behind her back)
Me: No, you need to eat ALL of your rice and beans before you can eat anything else

After five more minutes of some extreme negotiating...

MAC: (after 4 bites of rice) How 'bout I eat just my rice?
Me: Ok...eat it all and I will get an orange for you...

Apparently I should not be the President of the United States because I obviously negotiate with child terrorists....

Chill Mom...

So yesterday I made a "deal" with my darling daughter...
Me: We can go to Sonic and you can have a cherry slush with TWO cherries in it if you promise to listen to mommy and daddy tonight, no whining, and you have to listen to mommy and daddy tonight. Ok?
MAC: Ok mommy, I promise to be good and listen to you and daddy.
Me: Sounds good, let's go!

Later at home...

Me: What was our deal? (As she isn't listening to me...)
MAC: (head down not looking at me... silence)
Me: I guess no more slush...
MAC: Just chill mom, I will do it!

Jeez...when did she turn 16?

Not Modest...

So yesterday I took Mikayla to The Children's Place (kids clothing store). We went to get their oh so cheap "two flips flops for $5" deal and found a cute swimsuit cover-up. Then I spotted the "additional 40% off the lowest price" rack...ahhhhhhhhh! So I found some FABULOUS shorts for my little girl...asked her which ones she liked best...she picked one out...I found the right size and before I could ask Mikayla if she wants to go try them on she has kicked off her flip flops and yanked down her pants and is standing in front of me NAKED!!! Ok, almost naked...hello kitty t-shirt and dora panties stayed on...thank goodness!!

Apparently this was also a little exciting for another little girl...she stood and watched the whole thing!!!

My Big Kid

I love the way the things we say come back to us in a different way...
For example, I am giving Mikayla her bath. Since we went to the "big kids" class today I thought I would carry on the big kid theme and mention that "big kids" don't mind a little water in their eyes...
That worked for a moment...but since I used WAY too much shampoo there was extensive rinsing to do...which prompted Mikayla to say...
"Ugh Mom! Way too much water in my eyes!!!"


On a totally random note, as we were pulling into the parking lot of "big kid" school today Mikayla shouted "MOM...What's that??"
I look over and all I see is a pile of wood (literally...parts of chopped up tree) so I say "where honey?"
"Quick, over there, OVER THERE!"
And to my surprise, right next to the dumpster was a Mama Duck leading about 6 or 7 ducklings back to their nest!! What a beautiful sight to share with my duckling.... *sigh*

My Wish...

So there's a Rascal Flatts song titled "My Wish". I loved it from the beginning but it takes on a whole new meaning when I think of my daughter. It goes a little like this...

"I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish."


So that song says it all right? So as Mikayla gets older and more "ornery" I feel bad when I lose my cool with her. I know it's bound to happen b/c when in the history of parenting has a child ALWAYS gotten along with their parent?? While I know I'm human I find myself (several times a day) taking a deep breath and try to remember that she is just stretching her wings and trying to figure out how to be her own person. Then I think about how my parents loved, nurtured, and encouraged me and my sister (ok a little disciplining too...). So this leads me to the phrase I saw on facebook..

"Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the one's who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it."

That about sums up what I feel like my parents taught me (oh and many other things too) and what I hope to instill in Mikayla. Primarily, I just hope she knows that somebody loves her...

Big Kid

On Tuesday, the director at one (yes Mikayla goes to more than one school...) asked if it would be ok if they moved her up to the 3-4 year old class. I was totally ecstatic because that's where I wanted her in the beginning. (She is currently in the late 1's and 2's class because her birthday is after Sept 1. She was one of two children potty trained, she is the oldest, and she is the most vocal and understandable and I felt she would be better stimulated in the older class room...not that I'm a bragging mom or anything)
Anyway, I digress... Tuesday when Michael picked her up she exclaimed that she was going to the big kids class tomorrow (tomorrow = Thursday). She named the friends she would play with, her new teacher's name and she had to call her Lolo and Lola to exclaim the great news!
This morning, Mikayla got her clothes from her closet, socks and shoes and asked if I could take off her pj top because since she was a big girl going into the big kids class she could dress all by herself! Proud mommy that I am I let her (luckily we decided on an outfit last night). We packed a big kids lunch (lunchable) along with an orange, yogurt, and pretzels...got into my truck and headed to school. Once we signed in the director came out and asked if it would be ok to start Mikayla in the "big kids" class on Tuesday...a bit deflated I said sure (apparently there's a new kid that started that was going to require a lot of attention from Mikayla's new teacher). If you think I was deflated, imagine the look on Mikayla's face while she listened. We had to back to the truck to get her jacket (it is a bit breezy today) and while we were walking out there Mikayla said "why did I put on my big girl dress if I'm not going to the big kids class?" (implying that she dressed special for today...) My heart broke a bit for her because she sooooo wanted to be a big kid!! Luckily I told her that Miss Bonnie and Miss Grace wanted to see her one last time before she joined the big kid class...that seemed to pacify her.

Let's hope for no more delays next week...Big Kid Class here we come!

Vocabulary

There are times where I think, "holy cow, how does my child know that word?" or "where did she pick that up from?" Other times I wonder how she "hears" what is being in said. So I would like to tell you a few words that Mikayla says and even if you correct her she will tell you that what you are saying is not right.

Here's a list of Mikayla Vocabulary

Somfing = something
valerina= ballerina
odserdation= observation
flootball=football

I am sure there are many more but that gives you an idea... I may add words as I remember them. I hope it makes you smile like I do every time I hear one of these words!!