i hope you dance

Yesterday marked Lovie's first full month as a four year old. I kind of want to come here and gush about how awesome it is having a four year old, but I'm terrified of jinxing myself. Three was good for us-- but trying. Especially the first half of three. Oh boy is Trying a nice word to describe the first half of three. Two was not terrible at all for us. Much like one.

It's been a pure joy to mama this kid. Sure there are not-so-fun times but really? Not really! It's been a joy. I'm so blessed.

Anyhow

Next Saturday Lovie and her dad are going to a Daddy Daughter Dance. How freaking adorable is that going to be?

This is what she's wearing. Now, prepare yourself because if you know me at all, you know how anti-pink/girly/glittery/fluffy/princess I am... so ... hopefully you're sitting down.

Ready? You've been warned.

The dress:

The tights:

The shoes:

I picked the dress (and the tights) up today from Macy's (and the shoes from Payless). Um. The dress is even pink-er/girly-er/glittery-er/fluffy-er/princess-er than it looks in the photo. Like I almost didn't recognize it because it's SOOOO all those things.


And it's absolutely perfect for Lovie.

Daddy's Girl

These two:

They own my heart.

Especially when I see them together.

Last night Taye got home maybe 10 minutes after Lovie and me. This doesn't happen often. Maybe once every other month. More than not, Taye doesn't get home till after Lovie is in bed. Maybe once a week, he makes it home right at bedtime.

Last night we knew Taye wasn't going to be late, but we didn't know how early he'd be. So when Lovie saw him standing there in the laundry room (where the back entrance is)... it was like the heavens had opened up and shined a light on just the two of them. She screamed DADDY! and ran and leapt into his arms and just hugged him and hugged him. Then she looked over at me with the hugest smile before squeezing Taye again. They stood in the doorway hugging for at least four minutes. I should've gotten a camera because it was truly such a beautiful moment but I didn't think it would last as long as it did.

They both were so incredibly happy to just be there in that moment in time. Nothing spectacular going on in the day, no special reason. Just Daddy getting home from work a little early and his baby girl happy to see him.

This is what it's all about. These tiny little insignificant moments.

Jackpot moment

It’s obvious to me that we’ve hit the jackpot with her; I think about it every single day.

 

We’re halfway through the Terrible Two’s and, not to gloat, but it hasn’t been terrible at all. Not one bit. There have been some not-so-awesome moments, of course, but more than not, the days are absolutely beautiful with her and it’s all because of who she is, who she’s becoming.

She’s a lover, this one. She adores animals and babies and will often talk about “how coot” they are. She loves her friends and her teachers, and she also loves her Mama and Daddy, too- which rocks our world, obviously.

Lovie adores being in contact with us. Not in an unhealthy way, I don’t think. She doesn’t freak out if one of us leaves the room or the house.  She’s content with being near either of us, and especially loves sitting right on top of our laps. We could be playing on the floor or watching TV and she’s always climbing on top one of us to sit or lay, or at least placing her hand on us.

It’s like she’s letting us know that she loves and appreciates us just as much as we do her, and it makes being a parent to this little chica an indescribable joy.

I feel like she’s a really happy and content little girl; she’s always smiling, she’s always so happy just being.

And she’s always doing these sweet little things like climbing into the side of a restaurant booth that her daddy is sitting in just to give him hugs and kisses, just to be near him.

i mean, how cute are they?!? god bless the cell phones of today!!

Ack, she’s just so damn amazing. And we’re so damn blessed.

We’ve totally hit the jackpot with this one.

Daddy

My husband is by far the most patient human being I’ve ever encountered. In the 12 years I’ve known him, I’ve never once heard him raise his voice; he’s always, under every circumstance, very calm and collected. It’s like he just knows things will work out.  

I thank the universe for Taye and his patience often, but not often enough. And the truth is, I’d be one sad puppy without him. He loves me for me. All of me. And he’s sooo patient with me and my antics… my moods, my ideas, my insanity, my dorkiness. But more than that, his patience has turned him into an absolute amazing Daddy. 

I remember lying in the hospital completely blissed over the fact that all my dreams had finally come true while I watched Taye, with a hand-made baby blanket wrapped around his shoulders, lean over and look in at our Lovie. His face was so peaceful, so blissful, so complete. He smiled from ear to ear. His hands held onto the side of the clear bassinet Lovie laid in all swaddled like a burrito, and his face leaned over so that he could study hers. He spent a lot of time that first day, especially, studying her. I thought he might be afraid to pick her up so I told him several times to do so. But now I know he was just absorbing it all in, living in that moment and soaking it all up. 

Sure there are times when Lovie might have a tantrum that grates on your last nerve, but I never have any doubt that Taye will be right there to try to reason it all out with a calm, patient approach. Every single time. And every single time I’m always left sitting there in awe at his patience, and am reminded that this, too, shall pass.

My patient husband… an amazingly calm and patient Daddy.

1.) Father’s Day is coming! Share something you’ve learned from your husband about parenting. What makes him good at what he does?