8:16 AM....

..... on April 14, 2008.

The moment you enter into this world and into my life forever and always.

The day I saw my little girls face, heard her cry and touched her skin.
The very day that made my life that much better and richer.
The day I would start a journey of learning more about myself as a girl, through loving my daughter.
The day I realized I still had room in my heart to love that much more.
The day I became a mom of a little boy and a little girl.


Dear Morgan,

Today, you turn two sweet butterfly. I can hardly believe it myself.  As you lay sleeping so sweetly in your crib.  I sneak in to grab one last look at you before writing this post.  You are curled up on your side, with your hands on each side of your face.  You are truly precious and so peaceful when you sleep. Sometimes I go in and just softly stroke your hair, just because I want to touch you one last time before I fall asleep.  Sometimes after I pray with you, I will go back in and pray over you while you sleep.  You have brought so much joy in this family.  You are so full of life, personality and laughter.  You are outgoing, so friendly and you make friends wherever you go.

You love, love, love to talk.  Its insane how much you can go on and on and on, talking in your own language.  Funny thing is, I understand a lot of it.  I have you on video camera talking on the phone and I can't wait to show you when you are older. You are so big. Your hair has grown like crazy over the last year.  Its beautiful too.  The perfect shade of sandy beach blond, so soft and the cutest curls at the end. I love when the wind blows it in your face and you take both hands at the same time, cover your entire face up with your hands and push the hair back out of your face.

You love playing, singing and DANCING most. You love your brother and really love to make him laugh.  You vocabulary is amazing.  It amazes me how much you can understand at only two years old.  I still can't believe I just said "two-years-old!"  Where has the time gone?

My sweet little girl.  You are simply beautiful.  I know we are celebrating your special 2nd birthday, but inside I am celebrating all over again the gift that God placed in my life, when he breathed life into.  I will say this any chance I get "I am so honored to have been chosen to be your mother." WOW! What an honor that is. God has chosen you, and HE has a plan for your life....and yet HE chose ME, with all my baggage, my flaws and my imperfections as a human being, to me YOUR mother.

Sometimes I can imagine you grown up already, and looking into those blue eyes and just talking about life and memories.  You are a special little girl.

You are obsessed with shoes.  And I am not kidding.  You wake up and the first thing you want is to pick out a pair of shoes to put on.  You have a pile of "play" shoes, in which you rotate through them all day long, if it be rain boots, cowgirl boots, high heels, flip flops, moms 'big shoes' or sneakers. You love being girly.  You love wearing dresses, letting my blow dry your hair and paint your 'pretties' finger nails.

I remember the first time you said "I wuv you"... you were getting reading to go some where with daddy.  I was putting you in the car seat and out of nowhere, all on your own, you say "I wuv you." It took both your dad and I by such surprise.  It totally melted my heart.  I still get butterflies in my tummy thinking about that very moment. You wake up and you say "good morning" with a smile.

You are also really figuring out how to do the full body tantrums.  You are surely a strong child and with a feisty personality.  Right now it can be a challenge because there is no negotiating when you go into a full blown tantrum, but I know if we direct it in the right direction all that strength you show, we will make a strong women out of you.

You love watching Dora, Elmo, Scooby-Doo and Wizard of Oz. You say "Oz" when you want to watch Wizard of Oz, and you say "Da Da Da Dora" when you want to watch Dora.  And 'da da da Dora" is the theme song that you sing off.  You love books. You love to be outside.  You love to look at and touch every tree you see.  YOu give them hugs and look to see if you can find a bug on each tree.  It takes a long time to make it around the block on our walks for that very reason.  You love chasing the ducks out of the back yard. You love to play with balls.

Baby girl... there is so much I want to write down and not forget about you at this sweet age of two years old.  You are my best girl, my love bug, my princess, my rainbow, my garden, my sweet butterfly.

Happy Birthday My Love.


 



 

the best and worst date ever.....

Last week, Mark was called to a meeting at last minute out of town. Hunter was with his dad, leaving just the girls home alone together.

It ended up being such a fun peaceful time, just us girls. We ran errands together. We played, read books and made little videos. Anything that could be done in the home since it's been high 30's here in Sunny Florida for about two weeks now.

Finally, I decided I was in the mood to get out of the house and go on a dinner date with my baby girl.

Ruby Tuesday was the nearest thing to where we live that sounded good and child friendly. Off we went.

Get there it ends up being a half hour wait, so I thought about saying 'forget it' and head to subway instead.

But.... you know how it is when you get something in your mind that sounds good. Its hard to turn away and redirect yourself. I was in the mood for their Ruby Mini Burgers. I drove around the parking lot a couple of times really debating my options.

A) Do I wait with a toddler for that long and risk a chance of a possible melt down and a miserable dinner night with her?

or

B) Head to subway, walk around Wal-Mart and entertain ourselves.

Ruby Mini Burgers pulled the hardest and won.

We put our name on the list and found a place to let a toddler run around as much as possible until our name was called. Another couple came in with their 18 month older daughter Maggie. Morgan quickly made a friend and being the organized parents they were, brought snacks. Maggie was happy to share with Morgan. Thank you, Maggie.

The wait actually went by fast. We waited about 15 minutes. So that wasn't bad.

We were quickly seated to our booth, just me and my girl.

We already knew what we wanted and placed our order the moment our waitress came to the table. My thought was 'the quicker I order, the quicker it comes out and I get to eat before my daughter gets bored or tired, with a meltdown on top.'

So we ordered..... grilled cheese buns sandwich for Morgan. Don't even ask about that. I order my mini burgers.

It had to be the quickest and the easiest order in that entire room.

We wait....

We wait some more.....

Finally, I ask for something to hold Morgan over as she is starting to get a little bored.

They bring her a bowl of mashed potatoes, in which she really loved. While demanding she feed herself. Could they have given her a bigger spoon? The waitress obviously didn't have children.

That buys a few minutes.

We continue to wait....

Then, I break out the phone, and let her watch a little Wizard of Oz previews on YouTube. Are you surprised by her choice in Wizard of Oz. In which she now says "boz" for Oz.

"Mommy, Boz. Boz."

She is really into this saying "cheese" thing when she sees a camera. When she sees a camera now, she says "cheese" almost as if she thinks the camera is called "cheeeeese!" HA!

She picked up my cell phone and she put it up to her face and said "cheeeese!"

Finally, our waitress brings her 'grilled cheese buns' and tells me that they made mine wrong and so she is having them remade.

Ugh... how hard can it be to make mini burgers plain with just cheese??? Really?

Finally, she brings out my plate. Morgan and I say our prayer and as I touched my mini burgers, I realize they're COLD! Not even luke warm.

By this time I am really starting to lose my patients. Then the question arises:

A) Do I waste MORE time and WAIT even longer for another order?

or

B) Do I just take a bite and try to make the best of my cold burgers, although I was looking so forward to eating these darn things?

I took a bite.

Ewwww!!!!

I can not eat these cold like this.

I look around, my waitress isn't to be found. I asked the nearest waiter to please get me the manager.

Morgan's dish didn't look any better, but she was hungry enough to not care and was digging into her dish.

The manager arrived and I give her my complaint.

She apologizes and said she would comp my burgers and bring out a new hot plate.

The new ones arrive and sure enough they were hot. FINALLY! It only took three tries to bring out the second to easiest thing being made back in the kitchen, next to the grilled cheese for kids.

I haven't even mentioned.... the waitress, not once did she offer to refill my ice tea. I ended up waiting through three plates and eating my entire dinner before she finally swings by and asks if she can get be another tea.

By this time (something I would normally never do)....

I don't replay or look up at her. I give her 'annoyed' with my body language and nod my head 'yes, I'd like another glass, and how kind of you to think of it now that I am done with my food.'

She comes by and tells me the manager took care of the entire bill and to have a good night.

Good!!

Hey, I am all about paying for my dinners. I used to waitress, so I am also about leaving great tips. But this was the worst service. I can't recall in years the last time I have complained to a manager about the service or food.

I did (although, didn't feel it was deserved), leave her a tip. I felt bad about my entire meal being taken care of, so I left a tip that probably would have been less had I paid the actual bill.

Whatever!

I had a free hot dinner at the end of the night. It may have been the worst service I have received in a very long time. It however, was the BEST date I have with just me and my girl!!!

see I told you....

....she can read! :)

I can see clearly now....

why God put a little girl in my life.....

(click on play button)

.....he knew exactly just how much joy she and all her girly ways would bring to my heart and our family.

Thank you God for this precious gift!