And I miss this...

I hear my baby little girl breathing snoring while she's curled up in bed in the room next to me...just another typical Friday night for the DC girls.

I want to crawl in there and pick her up and snuggle her and hold her and feel her breathing and listen to her making the little comforting, adorable noises she makes while she sleeps. BUT, as a smart and responsible parent who also fears for her life and sanity, I won't dare disturb Princess Bellabean while she rests because she certainly does not like to be bothered while she's getting her beauty sleep. 


She's a girl after her Nana Ryce's heart!  A "Do not disturb while sleeping OR within 30 minutes of being woken up" sign should be securely placed above their beds along with emergency protective gear for anyone crazy enough to violate the rules and wake either one of them.  It's pretty good betting odds that I have a lifetime of "Good Morning Sunshine, time to get up for school!" early morning fights on my hands.

AND I miss this....

Me & my BellaBELLY

Me & my BellaBEAN sleeping together...

Priceless Moment #8: Friendship...

It always makes me smile to see Anabella show love and assistance to a child who is smaller than her.  

"Mama, I am a BIG GIRL and she is a BABY." 

This is a photo of Anabella and one of her new little friends from the neighborhood, Sienna.  Sienna was going in the wrong direction while we were walking home from a play date and Anabella quickly turned around, walked back to get her, grabbed her hand and spoke to her in her best little baby voice and said "come on this way, I will help you" and walked her back up to where Sienna's Mama and I were waiting. 

It's NEVER too early to instill in your child the ability to recognize when somebody needs assistance, love, encouragement and support.

Anabella & Sienna proved that to me yet again today.  So proud of that girl!!!

Anabella & Sienna 

Thursday Date day with my best friend...

Just ANOTHER random Thursday when Bellabean doesn't have school.  Since Anabella has full days of pre-school from Monday to Wednesday, we usually spend every Thursday having kind of a Mama & Bella "date" day.  Which could mean anything from riding bikes to going for lunch to sitting in Starbucks to grocery shopping together to the park to play dates to the pool and even just  running errands....it can be anything, as long as all of it means WE are doing it together and we are smiling.  

"See Mama, I'm happy. I'm not crying. This is SOOOO much fun. I sure love you." Those words are worth it and NEVER get old.

I'm not sure who loves Thursdays more, me or her....but I'm cherishing every single one of them while I am fortunate enough to have the time to spend these special moments and days with her.  It feels like every time I turn around, she's outgrown something else, learned another new skill, or is teaching ME something that she has learned.  I kinda feel (and have been told more than once) like we skipped the entire age of 2 and I now have this little 3 and 4 year old BIG girl trapped in a 2.5 year olds body.  Mind you that's not even right since she's way bigger than most 2.5 year olds we know. Size 9 feet already?!  Size 3 & 4 clothes? Ummm..hello, I'm 5'3 and her Dad's 5'9? How is she turning out to be so tall & big?  I stopped asking the universe to make any sense to me on the day I was able to give birth to a pale white skinned, white blond hair, blue eyed little treasure bean.  How is that even possible? I'll never know.

Taking time every day to appreciate and be grateful for all blessings in our life, big and small.  

A few photos of yet another Thursday in our life....

Taking a break at the fountain on our bike ride to Starbucks... 

Somebody loves Starbucks as much as her Mama....

And who doesn't love fall and winter? Hats, scarves and boots? A child after my own heart....

Cuz don't we all like to hang out in big girl panties, a hat and scarf...
while we're chilling at home???

The perfect end to another perfect date day...

with my sweet little angel bean. I'm SO lucky.

Priceless Moment #7: The bus....

So Anabella's Daddy sent me this awesome morning gift in my email....

Anabella drew it herself with NO HELP from anyone.

So proud of my amazing little artist.

This is her Bus with windows and wheels at the ripe old age of 2.5 years old!

THE BUS

Priceless Moment #6: Wipe my tears....

So, I just sent a very sad, very teary Blondie McBlonderson (fyi my official new nickname for the love of my life) off to school with her Daddy this morning.


To quote: 

"Mama, please wipe my tears away for me? Really hard Mommy, wipe them really hard."

And then after spending 5 minutes wiping and kissing the tears away and reassuring her that I was only a phone call away from her school.....she said:


 "Thank you for wiping my tears away Mommy."


God BLESS that sweet little baby child of mine.  


xo

Priceless Moment #5: Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell....

Blondie McBlonderson's song compilation of the day: Out of the mouths of babes, guess that tune anyone???

"Everywhere that Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell. Everywhere that Jingle Bell went Jingle Bell was sure to goooooooooo."

And THAT right there is just a small glimpse into the daily life of being a Mama to a 2.5 year old baby little girl and WHY I am able to move forward through this separation and divorce with a constant SMILE on my face.  I mean really, how can you not smile every day hearing sweet little mixed up songs like that? 

Oh my, do I ever love my sweet baby little girl.

Cuz don't we ALL like to lay naked on the bathroom floor
reading books and singing songs? Just sayin....

My favorite song ever...

Cheers...

Cheers to...

 "New Beginnings"

Thank you Kat Kelly.

xoxo

A day in the life of a Mama...

Sick Anabella got out of bed for 5 minutes
and passed out on the living room sofa...
poor bean.

So last night, my daughter was supposed to be staying at her Daddy's house for the first time in a week. He picked her up from her full day of pre-school and was supposed to have her for the night over night....

RING. RING.
"Hello."
"Waaaaaaaaaaah...I want my Mama. I want to "GO HOME".

My daughter called from her Daddy's house and wanted to "COME HOME".  Yep, it secretly made me smile that my little girl wanted ME and wanted to "COME HOME" to "OUR HOUSE". To quote her.  So of course, without hesitation, I said, "Absolutely, bring her HOME."

She was promptly dropped off  "AT HOME" with a "sore tummy" and a big smile.  She was certainly happy to see me and I was beyond happy to have her back with me in ANY condition.  Within an hour, she had a raging fever, and spent the entire night in my bed moaning and tossing and turning and sweating and attached to me like glue.  My poor sick bean.

Another Wednesday off school and another day trapped in a condo with a very sick, very clingy, very emotional little girl.  And you know what? I won't complain and I wouldn't give it up for the world.  Every minute and every thing I go through with her and for her is worth it.  I would do anything for that sweet little girl.

I am absolutely grateful that my ex "husband" and I are able to have the kind of open custody agreement we have, so that if Anabella wants to be with one of us when she is in the care of the other, she is allowed to go be with the other parent. All she has to do is ask, and a phone call is made.  Ironic that we can get along so well when it comes to parenting, yet not get along at all about any other topic in life.  Knock on wood. Thanking my lucky stars.

"Anabella is a lucky girl to have such devoted parents who are able to co-parent and put her needs and wants above their own." Just a little quote from our custody Mediator, Pam. She pretty much high fived us after our "custody battle" appointment and I bet she secretly wanted to fist bump us too.  She says we are being amazing and unselfish parents when it comes to our approach to co-parenting and raising Anabella and we should be proud of ourselves for how well we are handling the co-parenting aspect of things. Go team de Courtney! Now if only she could have a word with someone about actually paying child support....just sayin.

Grateful every day for our blessings in life, both small and large. We are truly blessed regardless of this entire Separation and Divorce shit show we have to endure.  It's a moment in time that will soon be a distant memory...so insignificant I may even forget about it all together. I was married? What? When? Was I there? Did I look good? Was I wearing WHITE? Ha....