More Adventures in Mommyhood

I realize it's been awhile since I've said anything about how daily life has been around our house. Baby Girl is a-growin'! We are officially the parents of a toddler and, while there are drawbacks, I actually really enjoy it - like the fact that I can say, "Come on, let's go change your diapey" (yes that's what I call it, don't mock me) and lo and behold, she'll pull up on her two tiny tootsies and toddle after me toward the nursery. Now if she could only climb up on the changing table . . .

And please know I'm teasing about that last part - my child will NEVER learn that climbing the furniture is ok - I can only pray she does not turn out like me, who, as an 8-year-old child, in an attempt to avoid the lava on the floor of my bedroom, or for any other excuse I could dream up would, no joke, stand on the doorknob of my closet door and swing it from side to side. Pretty sure my mom never saw that - or maybe I blocked out the whoopin' that resulted from it - I can't be sure.

She's also cuter than ever as she's trying out new words - well, mostly "no" and sometimes "hi" and "bye". In fact, the stockers and cashiers at our local grocery store are big fans of our little miss. They light up when she walks in the store and she does all she can to charm them all. Big smiles, waves and "hi's" for everyone! It's actually rather a pleasure to shop with such a social butterfly. Someday we'll need to introduce the concept of "stranger." I'm thinking that's going to be a difficult one for her.

Finally, I'll end with my husband's favorite recent story of our little firecracker. A couple of weeks ago, after indulging in lunch and play-time with his girl it was time to head back to work. She sat in his lap and he tried to explain to her that it was time for him to go. We're not sure how much she understands yet, but she responded with her favorite word: "No!" Daddy explained that he has to.
"But why?" (That's what it sounded like to us anyway.)
"Well, because Daddy has to earn money for food so you and Mommy can eat."
"Blibber blabber, blabber boo" (We took this to mean something of "I don't have to eat.")
"That's very sweet of you, but Mommy and Daddy still need food. Do you want Mommy to go to work so I can stay here?"
No joke. She looked me right in the eye, raised her arm high, waved and gave an emphatic, "Bye bye!"

I can feel the love.