Playing with Mama’s Jewelry

Dear Little Bird, Dear Little Tiger.

It’s official.  You are the girliest of girls.  Non-stop talk of princesses.  Wishing everything were pink.  Begging to put on makeup.  And digging through my jewelry when I’m not looking.

When I came across these lovelies from the back of my drawer, I couldn’t help but insist you play with them.  Gorgeous vintage glass beads strung together to make very special clip-on earrings.  You happily obliged.

I think these earrings started with your great-grandma.  Perhaps your grandma wore them out a time or two.  And I’ve imagined myself a princess when I put on the matching necklace.  It’s your turn now.  Princess away!

First Day of Ballet School

Dear Little Bird.  Dear Little Tiger.

We had everything all lined up the night before.  Pink tights.  Black leotards.  Pink slippers.  Pony tails.  And a special ballet bag.

I wasn’t sure you’d be able to sleep the night before your big day.  But you did.  And we made it on time.

Your teacher Miss Emily?  Patient.  Kind.  Perfect.

Your dancing?  A treat to watch.  Pointing toes.  Bending knees.  Arms held up.  Hands just so.

I can’t wait to see more next week.

A sister’s arms

Is solace anywhere more comforting than in the arms of a sister.  ~Alice Walker

Running Your First Race

Dear Little Bird.

Your first ever cross-country meet!  I’m not sure you realized what you were getting yourself into when you agreed to run the race.  In fact, I didn’t fully understand it myself!

The invitation included all elementary students but you were the only kindergartner there.  Represent!  And you were the smallest, teensy-tiniest one too.  One look at you with all of the other kids and my heart nearly burst with pride.

I thought the race would be a simple lap around a track.  It turned out to be a 1/2 mile trail through the woods.  Hills, trees, spider webs, exposed roots, oh my!  Your dad and I were slightly concerned.  So dad volunteered to hang out along the trail to keep an eye on you all the kids.

The race was two laps but when you came around that first time you were on auto-pilot to make it to the finish line.  As you raced by with your eyes glued to the finish line you didn’t even blink when I shouted for you to go around again.  You just picked up the pace and ran as quickly as you could to those colorful triangle flags.

You were so unassuming that no one even noticed you crossed the line, except for Uncle Aaron and I cheering our silly selves hoarse.

Your comment to me as soon as you crossed the line?  “Mom, that was hard.”  And then off you ran to the swings to do what really mattered – showing off your leg-pumping skills on the swing set.

She's a little mad that she didn't win first place

Windy Adventures

Dear Little Bird. Dear Little Tiger.

Wind? No big deal.

Fun? You’ll take it any way it shows up.

Sand in the eyes because of all the windy fun? Definitely a good reason to go home, take a bath, and enjoy a warm drink.

Hanging out with you?  One of my favorite pastimes.

These are a few of my favorite things

Dear Little Bird. Dear Little Tiger.

I love camping with you. My favorite parts?

Watching you set up “house” in the tent and investigate creeks and dance-dry after a shower and “haul” water from the faucet.

Squeezing into our small tent and falling asleep holding hands and slowly waking up together.

Sharing breakfast and planning our day and doing it all over again.

These are all my favorite parts.  But my most favorite part?  You.

An Adventure with Papa on the Fourth of July

Dear Little Bird.  Dear Little Tiger.

You’ve got your adventure vests on complete with “ranger” pins.  You’ve got your creek-walking shoes on.  Sunscreen?  Check.  Sunglasses?  Check.  Water to stay hydrated?  Check.  Your favorite person to take you on an adventure?  Check.

Happy Birthday

Dear Little Tiger.

Three.  Really?  You had to go and get older on me?  Man, I just can’t believe it.

Yesterday you started your first day of preschool.  You beamed the entire drive to school and back.  And Mrs. Corbin reported that you were quite independent and ready to participate.  I guess it’s time for me to let go of the idea that you need to be around me all the time, huh?  Well, alright – I’ll let go.  But just a little.

PS. I think three is going to be a very good year.

Meet you at the coconut tree!

Dear Little Tiger.

You keep talking about going back to being a baby so you can wear diapers again and be spoon-fed your dinner.  Little Bird pointed out very seriously and a little sternly, “You will never be a baby again.”  My heart broke into a million tiny pieces at hearing these words said out loud.  Ah, but that is the way things go.  We are not meant to go backwards – only forwards.  And that, my darling, you are doing so very quickly.

I want to capture some of our favorite things that you are doing right now.  Like the way you say “echo.”  And the way you run around the house yelling, “Meet you at the coconut tree.”  Where did you get that from?!

The other day, you confirmed with dad that the puffy sleeves you had on were the same ones that princesses wore. “Right, dad?”

You love very small toys.  Not big toys that we can keep an eye on and find easily.   Nope.  You like the toys that get caught between your sheets, underneath your car seat and behind the sofa – making it very hard to locate when you want to play with them.

You chatter constantly with me, your sister and yourself.

These things make me happy.  I love watching you.  And while I wouldn’t mind if you revisited baby-ness every once in awhile,  I’m quite in love with the woman you are growing up into.

“I stand before what is with an open heart.  And with an open heart I dwell in possibility.  I stand before what is with an open heart.” Velma Frye