Milestones

When you become a parent, you spend so much time celebrating your little one's milestones - both small and significant. You look forward to seeing your child reach every new phase of development. You wonder what she'll accomplish tomorrow -

And then she says her first word.

She takes her first steps. 

Cuts her first tooth. 

Sleeps through the night. 

Then she imitates a monkey. 

And celebrates a birthday.

She uses the potty.

She brings home the artwork she created that day. 

And when you ask her to hand you the orange crayon, after scanning a sea of colors, she hands you the orange crayon. 

Then she answers your question with a statement. Carries on a conversation with you. She tells you that "I sleep okay, Mom." And "I'm carrying clothes to Breena's."

Next, she actually seems okay with you walking out the door at daycare. Because she knows now, that you'll be back.

And when you ask her if she'd like to sit on your lap, she tells you "No, thank you" and finds a resting place sitting inside the laundry basket across the room from you.

Bittersweet.

It's all a natural progression of life. Of learning new things. Of becoming independent, and strong. Yet, sometimes I just want to slow it all down.

She's growing up so fast. I think faster than I'm prepared for. And I have to work on reaching some milestones of my own. Some have come more naturally. Some with a fair bit of struggle, and tears. Some are still a work in progress. But just as my little girl's milestones have resulted in a great deal of cognizance and awareness, the milestones we reach as parents deserve their own applause. Or at the very least, a high-five - 

Not that long ago, after being so nervous and unsure of how to even hold a baby, I held her in my arms.

I changed a diaper....successfully. 

I gave her my first bath that didn't end in tears. 

It took awhile, but I took her to a friend's house and actually went on a date with my husband. 

I prevented a temper tantrum and successfully used the power of redirection.

I kissed her owie all better.

I came to terms with the fact that I just can't be with her all day long. 

After over two years, I let that guilt go......

I re-learned how to find pleasure in the simplest things. 

I learned that my capacity to love is endless. 

And today, I learned that sitting in a laundry basket full of clothes on the other side of the room might, at times, be a better idea than sitting on the all-too-familiar, yet always available lap. 

At least she knows I'm close by.

Bittersweet.

A natural way to plumper lips

This evening I was hit in the lip by a golf ball.

I wish it was from some cool story of riding in a cart on my way to the 9th hole; wearing plaid shorts and a pink polo, cardi around my shoulders; with a drink in my hand, teeth-bearing grin on my face; laughing at some ridiculously intellectual joke that my clubhouse friend said.
It wasn't.

Let me explain -
When we take Adeleigh on walks, one of her favorite things to do is to find a rock, wash it and add it to her toy collection. A few months ago, while poking through her favorite rock pile in search of the best one, Adeleigh found the roundest, most unique looking rock of the bunch - a golf ball.
We added it to her suitcase of random toys and every once in awhile, it would come out and we'd roll it across the floor to one another. Phaeton and I thought we had made it abundantly clear that, just like her rocks that she had collected, we don't throw the golf ball.
Well, if you've ever had a 2-year-old, you know that sometimes kids don't listen...

So, this evening, I was hit in the lip by a golf ball.

It was one of those moments where it hurt so bad, that all my brain could think of to do was cry. Which then made Adeleigh cry. And Daddy put her in time-out.
After a few minutes, I was greeted by a teary 2-year-old holding an icy teething ring. She crawled up on my lap, told me she was sorry 10 times, kissed my lip all better and held her teething ring up to my face. I couldn't help but give her a hug. Then she said "I love you, Mom. No throwing."

If you've ever had a 2-year-old, you've learned how quickly you can make amends. You can't stay upset for too long when they do something they shouldn't. Especially when you feel that they have genuinely learned the lesson. But you can try and keep it from happening again.
So, this evening, the golf ball found its new home among other random things -
in the trash can.

_________________________


Here's one thing she can throw -

"I am home. I like it here on Sesame Street."

~Big Bird


Then you should stay, Bird. I like you there too. :)
Most importantly, Adeleigh loves Big Bird. She loves all of her Channel 6 friends. Some days she only sees them for a few minutes. But on days like today, when Adeleigh is sick, we may hunker down on the couch and snuggle through a few shows before taking a mid-morning nap.

I read A Love Letter to PBS this morning. And without getting into politics, it made me realize how much we too would miss PBS if it wasn't there to greet us in the wee hours of the morning, when it's still dark outside, and the pets are still snoring at the foot of the bed. It's become an early morning tradition in our home. And I don't want that to end.

Our love of PBS began when Adeleigh was a baby. There were days where I'd prop Adeleigh in her bouncy seat and turn on Sesame Street, or Dinosaur Train, or Super Why so I could take a quick shower. I remember countless times, poking my head out to check on her, and seeing her eyes wide, glued to the screen, little baby feet kicking wildly in the air. As she grew, I would hear her sweet coos of joy while her friends sang songs with her and introduced her to nature and music and counting.

The shows on PBS are different than other cartoons. They are wholesome and informative and promote early learning. They have fostered a sense of curiosity and imagination in my daughter. And they always make Adeleigh smile.
And that's good enough for me.

Now this may get political - If you want, you can read the PBS statement here.