happy birthday to Mama

Ways you made my birthday special:

-You made and decorated my birthday cake with Nana.  It was beautiful (and delicious).
-You hugged me almost one million times in the days leading up to my birthday and whispered, "Happy Birthday Mama."
-Pap said, "Thirty-five years old."  And you immediately jumped to my defense, "Pap!  Don't call my mama old!"
-You (so helpfully) confirmed with me that next year I'd be 36, and the next year 37, and.... all the way to my late 40s.  It was sweet (and terrifying).

You are a very sweet girl to celebrate with!  I love you!

a rain storm

...with flowers.  And a cross.  I love seeing her art!

school days

Snippets of the school-related chatter I hear on pre-school days:

I don't think Joe likes me!!  He always comes to our house when we're playing house and tries to get in! And he never leaves me alone!  (I think Joe may like her a little toooo much!)

And we went upstairs and practiced on the stage.  And then we got in the elevator and--you know what?  I think eeeeeverybody is going to want to sit in my Uncle John's lap!

What are you doing?
--I'm homeworking.
--I'm pencilling.
--I'm scissoring.

Sponge Bob Squirt Pants.  Oh my.

Also, a program.  Lucy will be "Speckled Frog (#3)."  Lucy is elated.  She literally laid in bed, squeezing the covers to her chin and beaming at the ceiling.  "I'm going to be a speckled frog, " she whispered.

Speckled Frog #3

And counting.  Lucy counts to 100 easily now, which is so cool.  But we had a big number mix-up the other day.  She insisted that after 59 came 61.  I told her it was 60.  She was adamant, and insisted (while holding up her wood-block "phone") that "all her friends said so."  Go ahead and check with someone, I said, handing her my phone.  She called Uncle John.  "Hello, John?  What comes after 59?" I hear.  Then an abrupt, "Okay, BYE."  At which point she held up a piece of paper and started sobbing behind it.  "What have you done, old lady?  What have you DONE??" she sobbed.  I struggled to contain my laughter.  I'm assuming that "old lady" is me.

funny girl

I'm in trouble from here on out.  This little funny-bunny caused me to do a "spit-take" today.   I was on an enthusiastic ramble and paused for a sip of soda just as she gave a very well-timed fake snore.  I spit it everywhere and we both cracked up.  It's just the beginning...

Super Lucy at the library

What a good Saturday.

Lucy Lately....

Lucy and I were walking out of Kroger.  "Hi!" she exclaimed, and started toward a lovely Hispanic woman and her elementary-aged children.  I smiled at them, then looked back at Lucy questioningly.  She stopped short and asked, "You do know them, right mama?"  I didn't.  But it's so funny to me that she thinks I'm buddies with all Hispanic people :)

Also, I had a Diet Coke with this label:

"I can read that!"  Lucy exclaimed.  "It says EVAPORATED!"
I think she overshot it a bit, but she's really thinking about those letter sounds!

She also told me this morning about a conversation with her imaginary boyfriend (?!?).  It started out with a kind of a shimmy and a "Heeeeeey giiiiiiiiiiiirl,  you wanna have a date?"  I'm toast.

We sometimes toss things out the car windows.  I always say something about how the birds can eat it because it's always something biodegradable--a cracker, an apple core, etc.  Yesterday we were driving and she said that she needed a tissue, becuase she had  had a "boog" on her finger.  I couldn't find anything, so I said that she could toss it out the window.  Long pause.  "Mama, it's really -isgusting.  I don't think the birds will want to eat it."

She asked last week,  "Mama, did the UKs win?"  Nope, I answered.  "Then who won the football?"

She was in the back of the car recently, looking at her hands.  She had 2 fingers up on one hand and 4 on the other.  "Two plus four equals six.  And (finger maneuvering) four plus two equals six!  Mama, there are two ways to make six!"  I blew her mind by putting three and three up on my hands.  Delighted giggle.  "Math is so fun." she sighed.

I've been eating low-carb, which is pretty great for the ol' diabetes.  She isn't super-enthused, and recently told me, "My doctor told me that I have to eat HIGH CARB.  Just, like, candy and stuff."  Nice try, throwing in a professional medical opinion!

And this scene from when I checked on her tonight:

She's sleeping, and that is a picture book, open to a picture of her and I that she looks at "when she misses Mama."  I don't even have words for the sweetness.

Mother's Day

I remember this day so clearly.  It was my first Mother's Day.  The year before on Mother's Day, I didn't have even an inkling what the next year would hold.   Then, that year, I got to take my little blessing up and dedicate her to God and myself to leaning on Him to raise her well.

The look on her face cracks me up.  I'm feeling good, but she looks a bit skeptical...  

And after church, as we walked to the car, she leaned into me and whispered excitedly, "Mama, I want to take you somewhere nice for Mother's Day.  Penn Station!"  She beamed.

What a little treasure she is.  What a joy and a blessing from God.  I'm so thankful to be her mama.