Girl Growing Pains

rose bud“She’s growing up fast.” I said to my husband after we were done eating supper. For some reason this season of growth is surprising me [stressing me] more than seeing her crawl, walk, or say a whole sentence.

Maybe because it’s all girl things. The rough, play-spies-with-her-brother girl is the same girl that wants to know when she can wear  ”those things on my legs like you do Mommy.” She’s trying to figure out grown up lady things when I want her to just worry about her Math and English.

Maybe it’s because with the boy I can say, “Go talk to your Daddy.” But with her… I have to answer the questions. I frantically try to remember how old I was when I started heels, earrings, etc. and decide when she should start. She’s at the point when “someday” is NOT an acceptable answer.

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To Her Marriage Equals Baby

My 4 year old daughter is obsessed with babies.  When I told her that her best friend’s mommy has a baby in her belly she stared at the expecting mommy for a whole church service.  She wanted to know when she could have a baby so I told her that she had to grow up and get married first.  Now she is eagerly awaiting the day.
Sleepy Time I by Makiko
The other day at lunch she was talking to my 2 year old.

“You’ll go on the potty and wear underwear.  Then you’ll grow up some more and get married.  After you get married you’ll get a baby in your belly.”

The 2 year old pulled up her shirt and looked at her belly.

“Not inside your shirt.  Inside your skin.  You’ll have a baby.”

“uh-huh” agreed the 2 year old.

Guess all that other stuff in the middle just whizzes by.

Imitation is the Sincerest Flattery

When I had my second baby I expected the rush of mother love to new baby.  I never expected the emotions from adoring pre-schooler to busy mother.  She is my second child, but first daughter.  She copies me without me even realizing it. 

  • “Will you curl my bangs, too?”
  • “I’m wearing a skirt and shirt just like you.”
  • “Can I have this barrette in my hair like you have one in yours?”
  • “Your clothes are pretty.  When I grow up I’ll have pretty clothes like that.”
She even pretends to blog and make videos!
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Now I understand why my husband grinned so much when our son wanted to wear cowboy boots “just like Daddy.”  It’s flattering and humbling and scary.  
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Oh, sweet daughter of mine, there are so many better women to imitate.

Something I Waited Over Twenty Years For

show&tell

It’s Friday again! To see more Show & Tell’s visit Kelli’s blog called There is no place like home.

When I was a little girl I loved to have the Raggedy Ann stories read to me until I could read them myself.

My Mom got a pattern for a Raggedy Ann and Andy doll and I was going to have my very own. Except it just didn’t happen. There was always something else to sew like culottes and Easter dresses.

This year I asked if I could have the doll pieces and I rescued Raggedy Ann from the sewing room instead of the attic. There is enough material cut out and pieces started to make 2 Ann dolls and one Andy.

raggedy-ann-uncomplete.jpg

I think that my oldest sister [correct me if I'm wrong] embroidered the faces and hearts on years ago.

To make a long story short I finished up a Raggedy Ann doll with a red dress for my 3 year old for Christmas. I kind of just wanted to keep her for myself, but I figured that just wasn’t practical.

As an aside – the blue flowered material in the above picture is more authentic and what I had insisted on as a little girl. Look at a Raggedy Ann book. She usually wears a blue dress. As a little girl I was quite adamant that she be made just like the book. As a mother getting ready for Christmas I used the dress that was already cut out.

raggedy-ann.jpg

There is the finished 25 inch doll being held by my 3 year old who is not much taller. If you see me cuddling the doll now and then or picking her off the floor and smoothing her out you will know why.

He’s the Smartest – Just Ask Him

My 3 yr old daughter was counting the number of girls and boys in our house.  “There’s 3 girls – Mommy, and the baby, and me.”  “There’s 2 boys – you [pointing at her brother] and Daddy.”

He quickly replied, “Daddy’s not a boy.”

“Yes, he is!”

“No, he’s a big boy so you call him a Daddy.”

She didn’t argue with him anymore – at least on that subject.

She did however ask me for some hay a little bit later.  She wanted to put her babies in it.  ‘Tis the season!