The best part of my day

Today I took Susie to my parents' house so my dad could take Susie to preschool while I went with my mom to a class.  Today I vowed to myself that no matter what, I was going to dedicate the afternoon to hanging out with Susie.  A lot of times I end up taking phone calls and answering emails for work, or I try to get all of my errands done, or I try to get work done around house.  But today . . . today was going to be about playing with Susie.

We ended up playing, running some errands and doing some cleaning.  She helped me cook dinner and we did a good bit of laughing.  Unfortunately, I also spent about an hour on the computer and phone doing some work.   I felt like I had failed.  She acted out while I was on the phone, so I had to send her to her room - ugh! We were supposed to have a GOOD day! 

I tried to make it up to her during dinner by bringing the focus back to her.  While we were eating dinner, I asked her, "So, what was your favorite part of your day?"  I thought that she might tell me it was the Mickey Mouse stickers, or the few M&Ms she had with her snack, or playing at the Chick-fil-a play ground.  Nope.

Susie said, "The best part of my day was Mommy."

I love my baby girl.

Dad ideas

Over the past two days Susie keeps telling me, "Mommy, I want a baby sister." I know this can't really be the case.  She gets all of the attention she could possibly want and a baby would only take away from that.  So, today, I asked her, "Where did you get that idea?"  She responded: "Daddy told me to tell you."


* Sigh *

Love

"Mommy, I love you.  I love you . . . and your bottom . . . and your hands.  I love you, Mommy. . . and your bottom and your tummy and your hands."  That's some good loving. 

What's that you said?

We were driving down the road the other day and I heard, "Shhhh - T.  Shhhhh - T.  Shhhhh - T" from the back seat.  I looked in the rear view mirror and asked my sweet little two year old what she was saying. 

Her response: "Mommy, I'm saying, 'Shhhhhh - T' just like Wrinkles when she gets mad." 

Me: "What?"
           
 . . . Because I'm confused.  Wrinkles is the family cat and I'm pretty sure I've heard everything she has to say and sh!t isn't in her vocabulary.   Certainly, I wouldn't blame her if she said it.  No, really.  We put plastic caps on her claws so she couldn't hurt Susie (see picture below).  So, on a fairly regular basis, the cat is subjected to a two year old, who alternately loves on her with such strength she is left gasping for air, or swats at her while declaring, "Susie smack Wrinkles.  Smack. Smack."  Trust me, I'd have a few choice words if I were the cat. 

Susie: "When Wrinkles gets mad, Mommy, she makes that noise."

Oh! Hissssss. Hissssss. 

***** The cable guy asked if she had been in a fire.  Nope.  She is a sphinx that grew fur in random places.*****

Warrior

Funny.  I always thought my little girl would be a princess.  After all, I taught my nephews (with varying degrees of success) to add Beautiful Princess to the beginning of my name; I used to have princess parties with my girl friends; when I was carrying her, I commonly referred to her as Princess Susie Louise; and I ADORE the color pink.  Instead, in an effort to make sure that she grows into a strong, self confident woman, I have kept her from all but the occasional princess talk.  It was my sister-in-law who bought Susie her first tiarra and princess outfit.  Even then, it was for a casual princess.

In my efforts, this is what I have created:

Me: "Are you my little Princess Buttercup?" 

Susie: "No.  I am a warrior!"

Me: "You aren't a princess?"

Susie: "Noooooo, Mommy.  I'm a warrior."

I recall telling her that some time in the past; telling her that she is strong and could do anything.  I find it hilarious that she remembers.  Do I regret teaching her that? Nah.  She is still very sweet and girlie.  She can still learn to be civil and polite.  But she has time and time again proven that she has the spunk of a warrior.  My sister-in-law recently told me that Susie is bossy (as Susie made demands of her much older cousins).  I like how a friend put it the other day: "Wow! She is really going to be a leader." :) I hope so.  And, I hope she is a civil, polite, confident one.

Sweet Tweet

I bent over to stretch my back and rested my head on the arm rest of the couch.  Susie walked over to me and said, "What's wrong, Mommy?  What's wrong, beautiful sunshine?" What a lovely child.

I get no respect

I'm sitting on the couch preparing for a big work project.  I've been responsible for Susie's well-being while her daddy took his older kids back home across the state; so, now it's his turn.  They are sitting on the love seat in the same room, working on a sticker book.  Daddy said to Susie, "Where should this sticker go?"  She replied, "Right here, Slick. Right here."