good day.

Posted on | October 26, 2010 | 44 Comments

this is the last week that my baby will be one. i find myself carrying her everywhere, even though she can walk, squeezing her just a bit harder and being more (maybe too) forgiving of her tantrums and mind numbing displays of her toddlerhood. i just can’t believe it’s been two years. i just can’t.

yesterday was one of those days where everything is really good, the terrible twos stayed at bay and we just had an amazing day together. some days are the worst – out of the blue screaming, tantrums over seriously nothing, and the day ends with me itching for bed time – mine and hers – in hopes of waking up the next day with my kid back. yesterday was one of those days. she was back.

i was downstairs with my morning coffee when i heard her in her room, ready to get up. “mommy? mommy!”. i opened the door to a smiling little monster, who willingly kissed me and said “love you mommy. i’m hungry.” down to breakfast we went. “pancakes?” she asked. sure kiddo.

she giggled as i spread peanut butter on each mini pancake and placed raisins in the form of eyes and a smile. i drank my coffee, she ate her breakfast. we talked about mickey, we sang the abc’s, we laughed at the puppies (“stegga and yuyu”) running around. she didn’t throw any food on the ground and she didn’t throw a fit when i cleaned her up.

it was time to get dressed. “do you want to read a book while we get ready?” i asked. “sure mommy” (seriously – “sure” is her new word, she uses it instead of yes and it’s precious). i give her a book and she tells me all about it while we get her a new diaper, jeans and a top on. no fussing or fighting me. she picks out her shoes and a hairclip (or a pretty, as she calls them) and she lets me brush her hair into a ponytail without screaming as though i am murdering her.

we head into my room and she plays with some toys and dances in the mirror while i get dressed and ready to go in public (you’re welcome, public). it’s time to go to the grocery store, something we usually always do as a family on sundays, but on sunday i wasn’t feeling well so it didn’t happen. it’s POURING down rain outside, but we have to go. it’s just not an option, according to my pantry and fridge. i bundle us up and we head out.

the second we pull into the parking lot, she falls asleep. crap. waking a sleeping toddler is never a good idea, and now it’s hailing. i mean coming down like a mothertrucker. she snoozes. i send Mae a picture message of the hail. i consider going home, but there are groceries inside, and a starbucks and i need a chai. minutes later we get a break and i hop out of the car, run around to the back and take a sleeping nugget out, bracing myself for the storm (the toddler, not the weather). instead of waking up screaming, she opens her eyes, points and yells “punkins!” with a huge smile on her face.

we head straight for the coffee line. i order a chai for me and a mini vanilla scone for us to share. you’d have thought i bought her a pony. “mommy, it’s gooood! yummm”. we take our time shopping, she never asks to get out of the cart, and she charms the socks off every person we pass. even though it is monsooning as we run back out to the car, and i curse in my head over getting soaking wet, she throws her hands up in the air and yells “RAIN! it’s wet!”. and i smile, because it is.

at home, she helps me put the groceries away. “woah, peanut butter HEABY, mommy”. “yes, the peanut butter is heavy kiddo”. she has a string cheese, with no help from me. she eats lunch with no fits, no food wasted and asks to go night night. as i tuck her in for her nap she says, “bye bye mommy. love you”. “i love you, honey”.

with the exception of the usual early evening whining (i don’t think we could ever have a day without those, even on such a perfect day such as this one), the day is perfect. one of those days you don’t expect. we didn’t do anything spectacular, but the day was spectacular.

i marveled at the little human we created and have raised for 2 years. how bright she is, how polite, how caring she is of others (“uh-oh! baby crying, mommy” in the grocery store) and what a fun and hilarious little human she is becoming. i felt genuinely proud of myself for helping make her this way, becoming the mom i wasn’t sure i’d ever become, and unbelievably grateful that i was chosen to be her mama.

this week is kinda sad, as we wave goodbye to one and hello to two. but i can’t be too bummed, because look at what i have. perfect days with my little lady.

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