Tuesday Nights

This was the scene in my bed tonight as Natalie watched The Lion King with the requisite blankie and stuffed animals. 

At one point Craig was also on the bed, curled up with our little girl in between us. He looked over at me, smiled and wryly said, "did you ever imagine that this would be your Tuesday nights?"

I know what answer he expected me to give. Something about my younger (wilder) days. About happy hours and control of the remote. Times spent with fabulous dinners, delicious drinks and all my friends.  For me to wax poetic about coming home to a quiet, peaceful apartment where my only plans included a drink and a good book. 

But that wouldn't be the truth. 

I looked back at him, glancing past my two pups and the curly headed girl immersed in her "baby lion" movie and I said, "yes, this is actually exactly what I imagined."

It's certainly not glamorous or fancy....but it's home.

Lunch

My darling baby girl,

At one year old and three days..........

I love how enthusiastic you are about eating anything and everything we put in front of you.

I love how I can always count on you to enjoy chowing down on all your fruits and vegetables.

I love when you pet the puppies so nice and gentle like we've taught you.

(But lets be honest - they love you because of all the food you drop for them.)

I love how when you drop the food for them you look at me with surprise on your face.

"Oh my goodness Mom!  How did that food get out off my hand and onto the floor!  Whoops!"

And then I love the giggle that follows because you know exactly what you were doing.

I love how smart you are..........even though it scares me a bit - what will you think of next?!

I love how even though your words are limited you have a wide range of faces that express what you are feeling quite clearly.

I love your mean monkey face - eyebrows furrowed and lips puckered out - that you get when you're frustrated.

But that doesn't mean that it's going to get you what you want.

There are lots of things that I love about you - this list is just what I've come up with in the twenty minutes it took you to eat lunch.

Love, Momma