Braver Than I Ever Dreamed I'd Be

Maliana ~

Lost your second tooth on Monday! It was a bit traumatic too. Hanging on by a thread, we tried the old "tying a string between your tooth and a doorknob" trick but that didn't work. You wouldn't let us try any other ideas either...wouldn't even let us near it again and so I tricked you by vigorously brushing them that night, knowing that it would probably come out that way. Well, it worked! We saw it was gone when I was done brushing but for a solid couple of minutes we couldn't find it anywhere. We thought you had swallowed it with the toothpaste bubbles. Major tears ensued and Daddy and I felt awful, creating some fanciful story about calling the tooth fairy or leaving her a note to let her know about the mistake. But just then, you spotted it sitting on the edge of the drain. And all was right with the world again. Crisis averted. Whew!

poor baby was still a bit teary eyed and
emotional after this tooth loss...but
there it is ~ the hole!

While the tooth crisis was narrowly dodged, we couldn't escape the creepy crud and ear infection that struck on Wednesday. You went to school that day but I immediately had to take you to urgent care after school because you were so forlorn, clutching your ear at daycare pickup. Poor thing. Luckily, they hooked us up with some good medicine and antibiotics and you were happily jabbering away on the way home from getting the prescription filled. Thank God for modern medicine!

The second day of your ear infection was pretty tough...the fever was gone and you were feeling better but the day proved a bit much because as soon as you came home from school, you sacked out on the couch for quite a few hours snoozing. You needed it. You're a lot like your mama...hard to get to sit still unless you are forced. I'm glad you got a little extra sleep, finally.

Thankfully, you were all rested up by Friday because that was the day of your Valentine party at school. I planned the party again and a bunch of the wonderful moms pitched in and helped make it a success. I am starting to feel more comfortable being a "room mom" at Wilder, getting to know the kids a little bit better as the year has gone on. It was adorable interacting with you all and of course, seeing your reactions as you opened the Valentines in your Valentine boxes. One cool perk about being a parent is getting to relive so much of your own childhood through the eyes of your child. So much fun.

a little before-school surprise from Mommy

excited to look through your Valentine box

all of you kids, digging in to your boxes

Mrs. Fitzpatrick, reading you all a story before party time

and your post-party balloon surprise!
(did I go overboard?)

Later that night, we headed over to Uncle Joe and Aunt Tina's for a small Valentine's Day celebration with heart-shaped pizzas and Valentine cookies. As you exclaimed earlier in the car, "It's a dog party!" since we took both of our pups over to play with their pups and it got crazy, especially with you and E's shenanigans added to the mix. I love that they live so close to us (and are always so much fun).

Saturday you had a birthday party at one of your Fu friends (Gia's) house. You played games, did crafts and had sundaes...all in your pajamas! Even some of the moms were in their pj's (including your mama, of course)!

PJ party!

mmm...chocolate sundae!

On the way home, you doled out another "Mali-ism" by saying the following when you noticed how dirty my windshield was from all of the salt and snow...
"Mom, you need some car water!"
...after a few moments I realized you meant windshield washer fluid.

Lao Lao came over for a visit near dinner time and you got to give her your specially picked out Valentine. Then you both gave Daddy and I our Valentine's gifts, mine was a beautiful tri-toned necklace, bracelet, and earring set while Daddy's was a gift card to Massage Envy. You were so excited to give us the gifts (which Lao Lao told us that you wrapped yourself) that you ended up unwrapping them for us as well. Ha.

a box of chocolates with a teddy bear wearing
a peace sign t-shirt for Lao Lao

That night you and I spread out all the blankets and pillows we could find (including you pulling all of the pillows from our couches and lugging them downstairs) and built a cushy bed from which we could watch Turbo together on the floor in the family room. It was a really cute movie with a good message and you were so into it. You had some laugh out loud moments and after it was over, you drew me a sketch and asked if I could make you a shell to wear like Turbo the next day. You kept calling it "a copy" and really wanted to make it happen, explaining the whole thing to me. It might take a while, using our imagination and only God knows what supplies, but I told you we'd definitely try at some point soon. You are too cute, how can I say no?

very detailed sketch that you carried around in the bag you
decorated at Gia's party with the markers used, just
in case you needed to make adjustments to
your snail shell design

We actually ended up camping out and sleeping down there on the floor, surrounded by all three of our fur-babies. None of them would leave our sides all night. My back and joints were aching come morning time, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Sunday was cold and snowy (yes, we got more snow) so aside from walking the dogs and running a couple errands, we stayed inside, cooked and putzed around the house. What with our household pets increasing to a total of 3 over the last couple of weeks, (yes, we decided to adopt Suzy, permanently...we are such suckers for a furry face), it's gotten a little crazier than usual. However I've noticed something else very sweet in you as well. Since Suzy is a puppy still, and Pipsqueak is so much more loving after getting spayed (and since Suzy's arrival), you have been so much more attentive to all of the animals. You are really taking the initiative to make sure they are fed, loved, and kept out of trouble as best you can. It's interesting to see you maturing and nurturing them on a whole new level. I always grew up with pets in my home as a kid...and I am so glad that we have several for you now too. Pets give so much than they ever could take and having their furry little lives entwined with ours is such a good daily lesson in deeply caring for another. Priceless.

Sunday evening Mia and her family came over for dinner and some play time. You were so excited and had a blast with your buddies (Mia and little brother, Freddy). It was fun to watch you kids digging out nearly all of your toys and enjoying the time spent together. As you get older, it's fun to see your friendships evolving. You girls are definitely not our babies anymore!

for some reason you both decided it would be
fun to shovel snow off the deck...who are
we to argue??

disaster zone ~ proceed with caution!

one of the many dress up costumes you surprised us with

getting ready to chalk Mia's hair

beauty salon!

going over your "It's Amazing!" book about 'the birds
and the bees'...you both are getting to that age.
I think Mia's mommy is going to get her
one too...especially good since Mia
wants to be a baby doctor
someday!

Monday was President's Day and so you and I got to stay home from work and school while poor Daddy headed off to work. It was an extra bonus to your free day since Jocelyn (your school buddy) had invited you over for a play date at her house nearly all day! You were beyond stoked (to say the least)! As I drove you over to her house you came up with another Mali-ism while trying to explain to me exactly where her house was...you said, "she lives in a "round house", Mom." So I got you to her street and come to find out you meant that she lives in a court...you know, a "round house". Ah yes, of course. How silly of me? Ha.

I knew pickup time from Jocelyn's could be tough since you probably would not want to leave...and I was correct in that assumption. Fortunately while there were no tears shed (thankfully), there were definitely plenty of goodbye hugs and kisses for you from Jocelyn. And all of your stall tactics gave us mommies some nice time to chat. Ms. Kristy (Jos's mom) said that you girls did great and it was really fun to watch the two of you play together. She paid you a very nice compliment by saying that you are always respectful and nice whenever she has talked with you and also that you are very good for Jocelyn. We both agreed that we hope your friendship can continue to flourish as you get older.

Once home you promptly fell asleep for a late nap, worn out after all of that playing. The quiet time gave me a few moments to stumble upon a some quotes that really struck me and that I want to pass along to you.

Here's the first...inspiration for sticking to your guns and staying true to yourself, even when others call you "crazy".

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” ~ Steve Jobs

And the next one is very fitting as a wrap up for today. Since becoming a mother, I have made a lot of discoveries and one of them is that the following words have never rung more true.

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ~ Laozi

I love you so much, my sweet, sweet girl.
You've made me braver than I ever dreamed I'd be.

Love,
Mama