Maliana ~
We took the dogs to the dog park with Aunt Tina on the first warm and sunny day this week. On the way home I got a kick out of listening to you read your book from the backseat. So awesome!
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| my little reader!! |
Once home, Lao Lao came over for a visit and you got to show her how you can now ride your bike without training wheels! You even sassed up your look with my shades...too cool for school, this kid.
The next day I was late picking you up from school and so decided to surprise you with a trip to DQ that night. We swung by and picked up Audrey Ayi to come with us, then went back to her house to play at Cherrington and see Mr. Yang before heading home. It was a beautiful day and as we sat outside on the playground, watching you climb higher than you've climbed before, and easily make friends with a little boy who was also there; I remarked to Audrey what a different little kid you are than I was at your age. I was so timid and shy, backwards almost. But not you! You are so much more at ease in your skin, comfortable talking to and playing with new kids anywhere you go. Any child is a potential friend in your eyes. It's really fun to watch you blossoming day by day. And as funny as it may sound, I think it's been even more profound in the couple weeks since you've learned how to ride your bike without training wheels. Maybe it gave you just the confidence you needed in other areas of your life too. I don't know, but it's pretty cool stuff.
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this picture doesn't do justice to your mood today...
you were so talkative and hilarious at DQ,
you had Audrey and me rolling
with laughter! |
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| walking Mr. Yang |
It was so steamy hot by Thursday this week, a high of 87! A gorgeously sunny day though so as you played with the neighborhood kids, I hung out on the grass with the dogs. We're getting to know the new neighbors more and more each day and they all seem very, very nice (and
funny ~ thankfully they seem to also share our kind of silly sense of humor which is
awesome!) As Daddy said, their oldest daughter Sophia seems like she's lived here all her life with how well she is fitting right in. She was ever so sweet with you on this particular night and it's great to see you take to her so immediately. I love it!
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| hanging out with our old smiley girl, Abby |
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| chillin' with Sophia |
Friday was a jam-packed day until well past midnight! It all began per usual with speech and breakfast with Mom. At daycare drop-off, I was surprised by your teachers having laid out muffins, donuts, juice, and crafts that you kids could do with us moms. In spite of my running late, I took some time to sit with you while you made a bracelet for me for Mother's Day. I'm glad I did. Here's how I shared it on Facebook:
At pick up from daycare you gifted me with these beauties upon which you have been working for a couple days now...I just love your surprises. They completely make my day!
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| beautiful card and flower pen |
And speaking of little surprises, I also have to mention this sweet little gesture. Daddy had packed your lunch earlier in the week and agreed to enclose a note for you like I do. Well, when he woke up the next morning to take you to school, the following picture was in his wallet. You told him that it's a picture of Daddy and Mommy getting married and it says "I love Dad" ~ aren't you the sweetest?? Clearly, your surprises make Daddy's days as much as they do mine!
While at work, I ran over to pick up your 6 year portraits you had taken a couple weeks ago. I have to say, I am more than pleased with how they turned out. They are probably even more unconventional than your 5 year portraits, however I wouldn't change a thing. Here's how I shared them on Facebook:
6 year old portraits of a kid who has full reign of her self expression. M was adamant about "no dresses!" so I let her do what she wanted and I love how they turned out, (tattoos and all)! I guarantee that I wouldn't have gotten nearly as many good smiles if I'd have forced her into an outfit of my choosing. It was an added bonus to see the contrast between my lil barefoot, tatted up pirate and all the girls in their Easter dresses waiting to get their portraits done. Ha! Arrggh, matey!
After coming home from school, we got ready for your big sleepover with Brooklyn and Braycen. You were beyond stoked to see them again and have them spend the night. It was the sweetest thing to watch you all together again.
And it turned into an even bigger crew with multiple other neighbors and their kids running around together, with all of you, playing outside until dark and then moving the "party" inside our house where we ordered pizza and hung out until almost midnight. It was one of those impromptu evenings that turn into a really nice night together. The more we spend time with and get to know the new neighbors, the more we feel lucky that they are here.
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| driving with Braycen |
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| you're never too old to ride a bike with a cape! |
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| Dr. Mali ~ nursing Brooklyn's boo boo |
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| the kids watching a movie downstairs |
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| Sophia was popular that night... |
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| very popular... |
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| very very popular |
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| reading a book for bedtime |
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I love how you're sitting with Braycen here...
like a little adult |
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| now Mommy's turn to read a story |
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| and finally...sleep at nearly midnight! |
Saturday was a day for recuperation. We all slept in and hung around the house before Brooklyn and Braycen went home. Then, I stayed home nursing my back (after twisting it pretty good a few days before) while you and Daddy ran some last minute Mother's Day errands together. The rest of the day was pretty laid back. Not too much to report. It rained pretty hard all day (off and on) and so the night was ripe for worm hunting, our new favorite springtime ritual. Before bed, I agreed to take you out for a quick hunt and we spotted two salamanders and a snail in addition to all the worms. As we hunted, you had us pretend to be speaking through walkie talkies to each other with code names of Mama Bear and Baby Bear. Cracked me up. You have a fantastic eye for these little critters and we came back home to get Daddy and drag him back out to show him the salamander that we'd found. It was all very exciting!
You attempted to stay up with me to watch a little of SNL before bed, but succumbed to exhaustion from a busy weekend. As the clock struck midnight, you were sleeping by my side and Suzy had fallen asleep with her head next to mine. Not a bad way to begin Mother's Day if you ask me.
Mother's Day was Sunday and a very good day indeed, with fog in the morning and then the sky opening up to sunshine by afternoon. We had Memaw, Papaw, and Lao Lao over for brunch in late morning. It was a lovely visit (as always) with lots of laughs and silliness. You had been so excited all week to give me my gifts for Mother's Day, asking when you could give them to me almost every day this week. See, Daddy often takes you to the thrift store to pick out your gifts for me because, well, I'm just a thrift store kind of gal. I love thrifting (which you all know)...plus, it gives you the opportunity to find me some very unique presents and Daddy gets to save some cash (double bonus). This time Daddy said that when you spotted my gifts, there was nothing that was going to change your mind. You were so adamant about your choices that even the clerk was smirking as she found a special box for you to wrap them in. You can see pictures of my treasures below...and you know what? I do love these gifts. In fact, these kinds of gifts are the best kind to get from your kiddos, in my opinion. I may not always know exactly where you come up with your ideas for them or why they make so much sense that you just have to get them for me, but they undoubtedly
always make me smile the biggest, just knowing that you picked them out especially for me and are so excited to share them. And by golly, I will wear them. Oh yes, I will wear them! Smiling every time I put them on.
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| playing with Memaw before brunch |
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| mimosas and moms |
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Papaw kept you and Suzy entertained so the mommies
could enjoy their Mother's Day breakfasts |
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| Suzy gifted me with a DSW gift card which... |
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is very appropriate considering how many
shoes she's destroyed so far |
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| Abby gifting me with... |
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| a framed new favorite photo with her |
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| reading a card from you and Daddy |
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here's one of your gifts...
this is beautiful and something I would definitely
have chosen for myself |
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here's your other gift...
a cheerleader, ballet slippers, and heart charms on a bracelet...
can't say I totally follow this selection but
I love it just the same! |
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looking at me across the room while we all listened to the
Imagination Movers' song, "The Mother In You" |
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| Mother's Day bike ride with the grandmas |
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| Mother's Day bike ride with the grandmas |
And finally, I want to send a special wish for love and peace out to your birth mother, wherever she is today. If it weren't for her, my motherhood and all of the joy that it has brought me, would have never been possible. So to her...thank you, so very much. I can never repay you for what you so selflessly have given.
Love,
Mama
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