Too long..

It's been way too long. Time has gotten away from me. My little girl has grown up so much. I'm happy, sad, and everything in between.

We had such a wonderful day together today. It was like some special mother daughter day- but yet- it was just another day.

We met my mother in Casa Grande this morning for a long over due visit. We started out with a little shopping. Addy had a blast walking around the Vicoria's Secret PiNK store, where they had a life sized PiNK dog that Addy would have loved to bring home. Then we ate lunch at Olive Garden (yummm!). Since nap time was long over due as well, she became a bit unruly, although I am much willing to forgive that ONE single unruly moment of the day. On our drive across the parking lot to Old Navy Addy fell asleep and we carried her snuggly limp body around the store while we shopped (mostly for her) until she woke up, happily.

On our way home I enjoyed Addy's new-found ability to "tbptbptbp" in various ways. She was delightfully entertaining, in her NOW forward facing car seat, for the entire ride home- well..not quite home.. on our way home, we..I.. received a text from "Dad" that he was not having a good day at work. So, we took a detour to Daddy's work, to surprise him (since he is working late tonight- in order to catch up on things before we take our trip to Europe). We surprised him and then let him get back to work, heading to a friend of mine's home. We played there for a couple hours, which entailed of Addy walking up and down the sidewalk outside, playing in the grass, fetching a new bouncy ball, and meeting the neighbor's two dogs.

Then we headed to yet another store, where I let Addy walk freely, exploring all there is to explore 2 feet off the ground and grabbed some taco bell for dinner on our way HOME (finally! It was now already 7pm- Addy's bed time).

We got home. Ate. (Addy enjoyed her rolled quesadilla). Then we bathed and crawled into bed and watched some baby TV. I was hoping I could get her to sleep in bed with me, while Rob was working late, but the mystery of it all has yet to pass. Addy is in explore mode on our bed, as if there is SO much to see at bed level in our room. By 8:15 I gave up and took her to her crib, where she quickly fell asleep.

This day.. not far from the norm.. was such a GREAT day! I enjoyed every minute of it, and it is a true reminder of how I am so lucky to be able to spend every day with my growing baby girl. I LOVE all of her new abilities. Just watching her WALK is an amazing thing for me (even an entire month into it). SHE is amazing! Every night when she goes to sleep..(I may be relieved initially, but..) I MISS her! WE miss her.

It's almost time that we plan on adding to the family. I KNOW I want another child. I also know, I am not alone in how I feel about it. It's almost impossible not to feel like your betraying your first born. Like you would be taking away some of the love you have for them. I know that's not how it will be, but I just cherish her so much, it's almost inconceivable to imagine how it will be with a second. The "irony" of it, is that above all things, I want it to benefit HER! We know what it's like to be (like) an only child. We grew up with much older siblings who we could not (& still do not) relate to. We have always wanted our children to be close in age and only hope that they will be "close" as well. I know all will work out and likely be even better than we could hope for. Afterall, we DID get the BEST kid on the planet! ;)

That's the most wonderful thing about being a parent. The proud-ness of it all. I never knew how much it would change my perspective of the world. I ALWAYS knew I wanted to be a mother. I WOULD be a mother....and a damn good one! I just never knew HOW much it would improve my life. I knew it would improve it, without a doubt. It's just that the extent to which it improved it, could not have been imagined.

Today was a fabulous day..... Thank you Addy...I love you!!