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.

today

Sunday morning I went out to meet with some friends. I left Lovie at home with her daddy. "But I'm gonna miss you," she mumbled with a frown on her face. "I know," I told her. "I'm gonna miss you too. But I won't be too long and then we can spend the rest of the day together like always."

After a couple hours, Taye texted me a photo of Lovie holding an 11x14 framed photo of the two of us (me and Lovie). "I think she misses you," the text read below the image.

My sweet love.

When I got home she ran through the house and into my arms and was stuck to me like Velcro the rest of the day, a smile tattooed on her sweet little face.

This little girl is absolutely everything to me. So much so that it hurts. It HURTS to think of life without her. It's been like this since before she was born. I honestly thought that the intensity in which I feel this would dissipate a bit by now but it absolutely hasn't. Quite the opposite actually.

I have my moments when I get tired or frustrated and wouldn't mind turning down the volume on her a bit, but those thoughts and feelings never last too long before I'm flooded with this nearly overwhelming love for her.

She makes me so proud. She's so sweet and kind. She's so smart. She's so gosh darn adorable. But it's more than all that. It's that she's a part of me. Like truly a part of my heart and soul. I just don't want to ever imagine a time when she won't want much to do with me. I know that time will come, but I just can't think of it.

Instead, I relish in the now.

Right now.

Today.

I can't wait to pick her up from school. I can't wait to see that smile fill her face when she sees me. I can't wait to buckle her safely in the back seat and give her her Nabi. I can't wait to hear the story of Cinderella or The Ugly Duckling being read to her by the Nabi for the hundredth time during our drive home. I can't wait for her to ask me if I got her a surprise snack. I can't wait for her to ask me what's for dinner. I can't wait for her to ask me to sit with her to watch TV. I can't wait for her to use me as a jungle gym while we watch TV. I can't wait for her to ask me for hot chocolate. I can't wait for her to demand one more tv show before bed. I can't wait for her to tell me she doesn't want to brush her teeth. I can't wait for her to stall at bedtime. I can't wait for her to sigh about how she'd really love some water after being tucked into bed.

I can't wait to see my sweet love.

I can't wait to do the every day, mundane things with her.

I can't wait for her hugs and kisses and snuggles.

I can't wait to tickle her and kiss her a million times till she squirms and wrestles away from me.

more on four

the video was quite long so here's the interview in one image (click to enlarge):

also, finally had her 4 year checkup and my little dollface is 36.5 lbs and 40 inches tall.

interview with a four year old

It's pretty long, but it's all her.

(I apologize in advance for repeating nearly every single thing she says. How annoying am I? Don't answer that.)

Here she is at three.

She's like a real little girl now. I mean, she was then too but she still looked like a baby too. Ack. She'll always be my baby!

frozen

Ironically, we took Lovie to see the movie Frozen Saturday night.

Why is that ironic? Well because we've been pretty much trapped inside since the movie as a result of snow, dangerous wind chills, dangerous below zero temps before the wind chill, and finally, because my car wouldn't start this morning.


Now generally, I love being at home. Love it. If I have the choice between going somewhere and staying home, I typically pick staying home... but enough is enough already.

I mean... the poor cat.

And there's only so many friggin boxes I can break down.


But!

If I had to choose between seeing the movie Frozen again (which I have yet to read one negative review) and staying in the house another day... I'd pick staying in the house another day.

I didn't care for Frozen, Taye didn't like it, and Lovie wanted to leave midway through. It was too intense for her I guess. It's a gorgeous movie with amazing singing, but that's it.

twenty fourteen

It snowed on New Year's Eve. And all day New Year's day, too. And the day after (yesterday).

my girl making snow angels on jan 1 2014

Today is the first day in several where the sun is shining and snow is not falling.

That's not a complaint though. I freaking love this time of year.

New Year's Eve was nothing special. It never really is. I mean, it's just another day in the grand scheme of things. I'm not one to really make resolutions and all that crap. For me, it just marks a time when I need to remember to change the date. I don't live my life thinking, "Oh in the New Year I'm gonna get in shape... eat better... walk more... cry less... be a bigger/lesser bitch..." I try to do what I need to do each and every day and focus on that day as if it were my last.

Uh yeah... that's not entirely true. I mean, if I sincerely were living my life like today was my last day on earth, I doubt I'd be typing in this blog, I doubt I'd be sitting my fat ass down in front of this computer at work.

Nah, I'd be with this little chica instead:

New Year's Eve 2013

For sure.

She's what it's all about after all.