Welcome baby Grimace!

In my short (almost) 19 months as a mommy, my "professional" opinion is that time goes into fast forward at 15 months.  I feel like we *just* celebrated that 15 month milestone and I blink and that 2nd birthday is coming so close.  Really?  How did it go so fast?

I remember when the span of a year took for-ev-er.  A year is sooooo long.  A year of anything is just too much.

And now, a year is just a blink of an eye.

Our dear friends, Beth and James (or Grimace as we call him), had their first baby on July 4th (I know, how cool is that!).  I got the text that she was being induced on the 3rd and the text sent goosebumps over my body.  I remember being in that exact place.  I remember the feelings of excitement and nervousness and fear.  As the day went on, I was getting texts about how far dilated she was and then it was time for her epidural and then she labored and waited....  I remember it all.

And then, Graydon was born!

It felt like just yesterday that I was in that exact place.  Anxiously awaiting the arrival of my girl.  Feeling like it would just never come.  Those were the longest 37 weeks.  They took for-ev-er.

And now....time won't slow down.

She walks. She runs. She's even learning how to jump. Well, she's practicing her jumping skills.  She talks, she yells, she bosses.  She swims.  She loves.  She learns.  She kisses.  She hugs.  She's every bit of perfection that I know.  She's the true heaven on earth for me--an angel kissed by God and sent for us to share and love.

Wasn't it just yesterday that she was born?  We really couldn't be that close to two years, could we?  How does it happen so fast?

"Miss Thing" has grown into such a beautiful girl.  She is a strong minded and strong willed little girl.  I hope that I'm able to capture and enjoy every minute with her because they fly by so fast. 

I know that Beth probably won't be reading this for quite some time.....I so remember those first weeks at home.  I think that you barely remember to pee.  :)  But when she does, I just want to tell her to really love every minute and every moment cause they will fly by so fast.  Everyone tells you about how fast it goes....and I remember laughing and thinking "yeah right" but it is so true.  Love him and hold him and smell his tiny head!  Before long, you'll be chasing behind him wishing for those cuddle days again!

Congratulations, Beth and Grim!

Bzzzzzz!

This little girl is running me ragged! Last night she was still a ball of fire come 10:00.  And that is so not the norm.  She had so much that she felt that she had to do before calling it a night.

She had to take her dinosaur for several laps around the house (and she hasn't mastered the whole 'turn' idea yet, so we're up making each turn for her), then she realized how cool it was to push her shopping cart when it was upside down.  And don't forget how fun it is to play with the jumperoo--but only if she's not 'in' it. 

And then we started this new thing...it was so super cute--at first.  Now?  It's gettin' old.  But she's thinking it's the best thing  since......breastmilk? 

She always has had  a thing for sticking that little pointing finger (yes, I know it's called an 'index' finger--but that sounds so un-cute) in our mouths.  Me being the germaphobe that I am, really dislikes it.  But her little finger is tolerable.  So yeah, she loves digging her finger between our tight lipped mouth and finding those oh so cool teeth in there.

Well I had to go and take it a step farther and "bzzzzzzzzzz" every time she broke past my lips.  The laughter just rolls from her belly. 

So of course, we do it over. and over. and over. and over.  And....yes.... over.  It doesn't get old.  To her.

Richie and I both now have scratched lips from her tiny daggers fingernails.  But how can we deny her such thrill.

Last night she fell (while pushing the upside down cart) and bumped her head on the table.  Regular occurance in this house.  But Richie jumped and ran to her and was comforting her as she wailed in agony drama.  Then, through the sobs, comes this little finger creeping up and "bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" into daddy's mouth.  And the laughter rolls.  See.  Pure cuteness.

Today, she decided that hearing daddy leave early for work (at 4:30, ugh) meant that the Kinley-meister needed to be up as well.  So off I go to her room to nurse her back to sleep.  She finished one side and was still WIDE awake (and I'm thinking, shoot me now!).  I put her to the left side (we always, always, always have to start on the right breast.  Always.  My daughter is OCD like mommy) and she nurses away and just as she starts slowing down, drifting off to sleep, a little tiny pointy finger starts creeping up to "bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" mommy's mouth. 

And then she smiles that all gums smile, while still latched, and it melts my heart.

Sure, we could just give in and not "bzzzzzzzzzz" when she puts her finger in our mouths, but what fun would that be?!  The days where she wants to "bzzzzzzz" our mouths are here now, and won't be later.  We might as well live it up now.  Even if it is 4:30 in the morning, and she's starting to drift off.  Because that "bzzzzzz" was just enough to send her off to sleep with a smile.



She felt like such big stuff standing in daddy's work boots.  In the last picture, she's screaming "daaaaaadddddyyyyyyy!"  We love this girl. 

I can't  believe that she'll be a year old in only 9 days.  Where did time go?



I'm a good mommy.

I am the luckiest girl.  I get to be a mommy to the most beautiful baby girl ever.  I can say that because this is my blog.  And I'm allowed to be biased.

She makes me want to be a better person.

She makes me laugh and reminds me that it's all going to be okay.

Through her eyes, I find a beauty of life that I'd never known before.

I love her unconditionally, even if she had cheese in her nose.

She makes me realize that even though I struggle, I'm a damn good mommy.