Happy Daddy's Day!

Before becoming a father, Dakota had never spent a lot of time with kids, so I didn't really know what he would be like as a Dad. I knew he was a great guy, a wonderful husband, and I assumed he'd be a good Dad, but I had no idea he'd turn out to be the amazing Dad he is. I didn't know how much his daughter would love him, how his son's eyes would light up when he walks in the room, or how much my heart would swell when I watch him with the kids, tickling them, singing them songs, putting bandaids on booboos and kisses on bonked heads.

We love you, honey. Thank you for all that you do and all that you are.

Batter Up!

I got this cool Big Boom Bat and Tee set for Maddie and she couldn't wait to get to the park and play with it.


The whole thing is over-sized and inflatable, so there's less chance of getting hurt and more chance of hitting the ball. Or something like that.


She did a great job getting it set up.


And with Daddy's help, she was lined up for a homerun.


(See the white blur to the far right? That's the ball going fast!


But what Maddie really wanted to do was hit the ball with the part of the bat you're supposed to grip.


And shout, "I did it!"


I just love that funny girl.

Chalk-a-lot Kisses

Gavin is apparently appalled at Maddie's tagging.


All is forgiven with a kiss, though.

A Berry Fun Time

This morning we woke up early and headed off to Larriland to pick sweet cherries and strawberries. I think everyone had a ton of fun (and later there may be some yummy cherry pie, too!).

Fwiends

Maddie loves her friends. When we ask her about them, she lists their names, smiling with each one. "Foma. Richie. Shiri. Bennett. Judia. Nate. Cat Tien. Luu Dee. Ethan. Wobert. Ci Ci." And my absolute favorite, "Gagin."


I know they won't always like each other, I know they might not always act like friends, but it makes my heart smile that they have each other, for now and for always. "Fwiends," in Maddie-speak.


There will always be someone to look up to...


Someone to play with...


Someone to love...

Closer to One

Yesterday was Gavin's six month birthday, which means that today, my baby is closer to one than to the day he was born. More evidence that the days are long and the years are short - where did the last six months go?

Though he was never exactly tiny, now he's big, strong, sits up easily, and is trying hard to crawl. He can scoot around the house with remarkable ease and has learned that he can stand while holding onto the sofa. That immediately prompted him to let go to see if he could stand alone. Again, he is only six months old!

He loves his sister, has an infectious and easy laugh, and he wants nothing more than to do everything that the big kids can do - and he'd like to do it TODAY. He is beautiful and amazing and growing up so quickly.

That Mom

I didn't get the Hopscout job. I think most of you already know this, seeing as it was the most public interview ever, and therefore, the most public failure I've faced in the job market. But I use failure only in the sense that I didn't get the job, and because the English language doesn't really have a word that describes weeks of competing, networking, posting, tweeting, and vlogging with other women who are also creative, talented, and hardworking followed by five of those women being hired...and fifteen others left a bit teary-eyed on Mother's Day (ok, I kind of thought that part was cruel), along with 200 other moms and dads who were cut during the first round. It was tough. It was tense. But it was kind of terrific.


Now it's over and I'm getting back to my real job - being That Mom. The mom who bakes her kids sweet potato fries, pulls out tot trays for preschool time, makes up songs, leads toddlers around the room like dinosaurs, and scrapbooks all the moments that matter. (Could he be enjoying those sweet potato fries any more than he is?)

Today I decided to make finger puppets for our trip to North Carolina, and so during naptime I pulled out my felt and created some super cute animals. I love being That Mom - the one with felt and googly eyes and a hot glue gun at the ready (that's right - I cheated and didn't even SEW these! Ha!). I already knew that I loved being That Mom, but "failing" at the Hopscout job reminded me of that all over again.


Dakota suggested I make a dragon (pink, of course) and I wasn't quite sure what a dragon should look like as a finger puppet. But I went with it and when Maddie got up from her nap, I showed it to her. Her face lit up and she said, "Pink! Dragon!" So I guess I did ok, or maybe her imagination and mine are pretty similar.


After the excitement over the pink dragon, she told me, "Make more! Make more, mama!" So after bedtime, I did just that (I mean, really, who could refuse such an excited request?).



So yeah. I'm back to being That Mom. I think I'm pretty good at it. And frankly, I would have been damn good as a Hopscout editor, but there will be something else that lets me be creative and snarky and pays me for it. Until then, there are a lot more art projects to complete, sand castles to build, and bubbles to blow. Because I'm That Mom.