One to remember!

Today is one of those days I want to remember. Not because it was a holiday or any other special event, but just because there were so many moments of pure joy as I watched my little girl play. The places her imagination takes her and the things she says and does just amaze me. I love seeing her growing mind try to figure out and respond to the world around her.

Over the past few months, her behavior has been rather difficult, if I'm honest. She hasn't accepted "no's" very well (like most 3 year olds) and has been so dramatic when things haven't gone her way. I have tried to keep my patience (failing miserably at times) and be consistent with what I will and will not allow. This just feels like one of those pivotal weeks where I see her maturing in small little ways. I can't put my finger on it but it's like things are sinking in. She is being more respectful by saying "yes ma'am" and "yes sir" when asked to do something she doesn't want to do. There may be a huff and an eye roll (yes, that is already starting) but she isn't screaming about it - today at least. :)  She is asking "may I be excused" before she gets down for dinner. And today she even wanted to order her drink at the coffee shop all by herself. She even asked me to go sit down! I asked her how she was going to pay for it and she just said "I dun know".

So we started our day with a trip to the dentist. She has been really nervous about this. And a couple of weeks ago, she totally melted down when I told her we were going to the dentist the next day. (She ended up having a cold, so we had a to cancel, which I'm thankful for). This morning she asked me, "mommy, why do I have to lay down at the dentist?" and "why do they wear that mask?' It was one of those "Ah ha" moments as I realized why she gets so scared. A little explanation eased those anxieties and she did not shed a tear!  She did so awesome letting the hygienist brush her teeth. She got a little nervous again when the dentist came in wearing the lighted glasses and asked what those were for. But again, we explained and I got her to sit back in my lap for the next part of the exam and she didn't fuss at all. She was obviously apprehensive but kept it together and was really brave. I was so proud of her! 

We got home for a little play time before lunch, nap, and dance. And today's imaginative play consisted of her HAVING a baby! MY baby sister she informed me. She stuffed the baby doll in her belly and went off to deliver it. She even made her own hospital bed and a "table" for the baby. (But it had to be a soft table!) This happened on more than one occasion today. She later told her daddy her baby was drinking milk from her boobie! Then she changed her mind and said the milk was coming from her belly button. 

At dance, her teacher told me she is doing so well! About a month ago, she wasn't always following her teachers dance but she is definitely getting more into it and is more confident in trying out her "dance moves." The first thing she asks me when I pick her up is "did you look in the window an clap at me?" Children so desire their parents approval and to know their parents are proud of them! And I am definitely that! Oh, how I love this child! 

Post-dance coffee shop habit. She wanted to order by herself. Chocolate milk please... 

We also added a few ornaments to her first personal Christmas tree. And I just think it is adorable! We will be working on more ornaments to add to it.

And during chest PT, she drew this wonderful picture of the two of us. I guess she ran out of room for her daddy! :O I love how I have such long, fingers, and clothes (the scribbles over my extremities) so I "wouldn't be naked." I absolutely love it and will surely treasure this!
 

And we made banana pops to round out the evening! She picked this out at the store and was so excited to make them. So it was our after dinner treat and so yummy!

Baby crazy!

Kelsie is obsessed with me having a REAL baby these days...
Kelsie: "Mommy, can you have a real baby girl now?"
Me: "No, not now sweetie"
Kelsie: "Why? It's not that hard to have a baby!"
Me (laughing inside thinking if you only knew): "Oh really?"
Kelsie: "No, its not. And I've been doing a good job at waiting."
(if only it were that easy)
EVERY day is more of the same..
"Mommy, is your belly pregnant now?", Me: "NO its not."
"Mommy, I really want a real baby girl just like me!"
"Mommy, is it Halloween?" Me: "Yes", Kelsie: "And then is it Thanksgiving and then Christmas and THEN we can have a real baby girl?"
(Where does she get this stuff?) "No, we won't have a new baby at Christmas but we can keep praying."
"Mommy, can you put my baby (doll) in your belly?" (I do and she walks me to the couch) "Now, go to the hospital and have the baby."
Her daily prayer: "Dear God, please bring me a real baby girl in my mommy's tummy."
(On the phone with cousin Ava this morning): "My mommy's belly is pregnant with a baby girl." Me gasping, "NO its not!"
So you all have been warned...if Kelsie tells you we are having a baby, it's NOT TRUE...it's just her imagination, undying love for babies, and wishful thinking! #alldayeveryday #keepthefaithmychild One day, maybe her dream will come true...

I keep thinking I must be putting this idea in her head but I really think she is just fixated on it. She understands that other friends have siblings and she doesn't understand why it isn't so easy to just make that happen. She also knows we would like another baby and we have talked about praying for God to bless us with a baby girl OR baby boy. She however, has decided she only wants a baby girl!

Only God knows what will come. He is faithful and He is God and I trust in His timing. And I will keep trying to instill that patience in waiting for the Lord in my sweet child.

She makes me do this ALOT!! I can not wait to see the joy in this child's heart if/when we do have another. 

3 month recap!

I was reminded by a dear friend that I haven't posted since July! Thank you Shirley for encouraging me to keep this up! ;) I guess it really has been over 3 months! Oh how I wish I still took the time to journal our daily happenings but somehow life gets in the way all too often.

So what have we been doing since July? So much! We went to the beach, Kelsie started preschool and dance, we went to DISNEY WORLD, we have taken many fun trips, and much much more. It has been a fun-filled season and I am grateful for every memory!

Kelsie is almost 4 years old now! So hard to believe. It's almost like I see it happening right before my eyes. That growing up thing. There are days that I just wish I could time travel back to different seasons of the infant or toddler years that have now gone by. Other days I am totally relishing in the present, thinking, I wish she'd stay like this forever. And there are other days where she absolutely drives me crazy and I just want to send her to grandmas! (honesty right there) I even think ahead and look forward to seeing who she grows up to be. But regardless, life moves forward. No going back, no doing things differently, no chance to make memories you missed out on. So I try to remind myself of that. Be in the present and enjoy the moments in front of you, both the sweet and the not-so-glamorous. Soak them in one day at a time. Make the most of the day in front and spend time being truly present with your child, remembering every day that they are only little once. Whether you decide to have a pretend picnic, take an impromptu trip to the zoo, chalk the driveway, play hide and seek around the living room, turn into a tickle monster, make a playhouse out of a cardboard box, read the same story 20 times, rock the baby doll because she wants you to, or just sit on the couch and snuggle in front of the same TV episode you've seen over and over...do it with joy and enthusiasm. Because these are the things that mean the most to that precious little child of yours. Forget about the to-do list that you never even had time to write, and just relax. 

 Here are some pictures from our wonderful weekend trip to Ocean Isle Beach. We had such a wonderful time! Kelsie was totally in her element. She was nervous of the ocean at first but once she embraced it, she had a blast!! It was a place where we could just sit, relax, and watch her run around the beach. She was filled with laughter as the waves crashed over her and I just couldn't get enough watching her face light up with pure joy. No toys, no TV, no distractions...just us with time to play and bond and enjoy God's ocean.

 

 

 

 

 

First day of preschool! She is going 2 days a week (Tues/Thurs) at Christ Church Preschool and we absolutely love it! Such a great place!

 

She started her first dance class. I was thrilled to see a new dance studio open in downtown Pittsboro, 7 Dance Centre. She is loving it!

 

This is random but I saw it in my list of photos for August so I thought I'd add it in because it was a fun memory. I let her play in the rain one day...just because she had been asking to wear her rain gear and was always disappointed when it stopped raining, so one day it started pouring and I thought, why not!?

 

 

She is now a member of Carolina Kids Club and got to go to a special meet and greet with the football team! We had a great time with friends and she even got to meet Ramses.

 

 

 

And I will have to stop for now. As I was going through my photo folders I realized just how many fun things we have done this summer! I will have to be better at sharing! Maybe one day I will get caught up. At least be on the lookout for a separate post about DISNEY! Until later....

 

Child like faith

Tonight, Kelsie prayed, "God, please give me a baby sister girl just yike me."...then she paused, looked at us with a smile and said, "God said he will give us one." Hmmmmm. 😉 But NO, NOT expecting over here! Kelsie has just been asking for a real baby for a while now. At least she's understanding to pray for what she wants! #childlikefaith #justbelieve #maybeoneday

A few recent pictures: 

Kelsie and cousin Ava. 

Kelsie and her best friend Ava. 

Kelsie holding Ava's baby brother, Ian. A happy girl with a baby in her hands! She couldn't get enough of him. And we heard "awww" a lot!

The pumpkin she worked so hard to paint last week. She did it all on her own. And said it couldn't have a smile, it had to have a scary mouth like this...(I did help with the teeth.)