Penelope, this blog's for you...

Lovey, today you are 18 months old! You've grown into a lovely little toddler, but like papa says, you will still be our baby until you're three. Our year-and-a-half together has flown by. I know that sounds cliché, but that's how it feels. I'm sure I'll be saying that all throughout your life, your first day of school, when you graduate from college and even when you become a first-time mom.

That is the reason for this blog. I want to record my journey with you. You and I are writing a beautiful story, one that is real, unafraid and honest, threaded together with love and speckled throughout with many tears and a lot of laughter and tenderness. I want you to know that I am not perfect (not that you will need a blog to realize this! I am sure you are reminded of this everyday), but that I love you deeply, and that it is a wonderful thing to be a mother, your mamae. I hope years from now when you are a lovely young woman, maybe with a baby in your arms and when blogs will most likely seem archaic and old-fashioned you will find that our story will still ring true with the one you will write with your baby. I hope that it makes you laugh, cry and most of all, realize that your mother loves you without pretence and without condition.

This is our story, you and me. I like you and me...


I love that when you kiss me you pucker up only your lower lip and say, "Hmmm."

I love that when you try to sing along with a song you move your lips quickly, but make no sound. You do this earnestly.

I love that you know what you want and what you don't want.

I love your chuckle, especially when you're trying to laugh along with something papa and I think is funny.

I love that when you want me to read you a story you "back up" into me, your little bum leading the way.

I love that when you are in a room full of new people you will not crack a smile. When we are out and about, however, you are intentional about saying hi to every living soul. It's like you think you're required to.

I love how when you are hungry you say, "numa, numa, nummy."

I love that when I’m on the computer you come up behind me quietly and tickle my back, then say, “Tuckle, tuckle, tuckle.”

I love that you sometimes put your shoes on backwards.

I love that out of nowhere you will come and find me just to say hi and tilt your head so far to the side that sometimes you tip over.

I love that you know how to hug real tight, so tight that sometimes your little arms tremble and you always say, "Hmmm."

I love that when you see something pretty you bend your knees and lean forward and say, "Wow!"

I love that when you hear music you feel responsible to dance to it. You drop all your toy duties and stand up, usually raise your little arms in the air as if the music is about to lift you off. You twirl. I like that you don't always smile, you're sincere and earnest about the dance. Sometimes you look for your baby and dance with her. Other times, you ask me to dance with you. You say emphatically, "Dance!" We twirl cheek to cheek.

I love that when I rock you, your chest on mine, you like to tuck your soft little arms between us.

I love that when I say I'm sorry for losing my patience with you, you seem to understand and hug me back.

I love that even after a long day, I lay in bed and my last thoughts are often of you.

I love that you can make my heart swell up, full, with love.


We go well together, you and me. I like us a lot.