She is happiness

She says pupcakes instead of cupcakes.

She demands asks me to strain her orange juice every morning. Without fail.

    I forget sometimes. She doesn't.

She can't see an animal without saying "awwwwwww" and tackling the poor thing for a hug.

She would eat desserts all day if you would let her.

She challenges me.

She throws big, big tantrums that send me spinning.

    And then I get myself together.

    And I secretly whisper thank you to God for challenging me.

    And for teaching me how to mother a daughter.

    Because it's just different. 

    And one of the two most important jobs that I have. 

• [excerpt I read recently from the book Mother-Daughter Wisdom: The quality of attention we receive as babies determines in part how worthy we feel to be here on the planet. When our mother shows her approval through smiling and talking to us, then we encode the idea that we are all right. If, on the other hand, she is not present for whatever reason, or withholds her love when we don't do what she wants us to do, we feel abandoned. We'll do whatever it takes to get that attention back. As young children, our mother's approval or disapproval felt like either the kiss of life or the kiss of death."]  ...Every day, I want to be her kiss of life.  I surely don't always do it right, but I try.

She sings You Are My Sunshine in the sweetest voice I know.

She says snowflag instead of snowflake.

She still uses a paci at night, and i. don't. care.

She loves to be a little Mommy.

She's Mrs. Bossypants.

She says poe-trine instead of protein. And I laugh every time. "Mommy, I don't want poe-trine powder in my smoothie. It's disgusting"

She thinks her Daddy is the best thing in the whole wide world.  Her Mommy, not so much.  But I'm okay with that.  Because I know there will come a day when that will change (don't take this the wrong way - she loves her Mama. She just is head over heels for her Daddy).

She thinks her brother is the 2nd best thing in the whole world -------->> most of the time.

She will brush My Little Pony's hair until it starts to fall out. And she talks to that pony the whole time. "You're so pretty and beautiful, pony."

She uses her rosy-pink lips so exaggeratedly when she talks. And I love it. I could stare at her little mouth all day.

She is fearless. Unless there is a bug within 10 feet of her.

She. Is. Happiness.

I love you, my Lily bugger. With every little piece of my heart.

xo

        *not the greatest photo, technically speaking, but I captured HER. And I love it*

Comments

[Teri Montemurro]

Christi...I love this! It makes me smile very big! I can close my eyes right now and take myself back 10 years to when Madison was that little...and I can create a new/preteen list...matter of fact...I might just do that right now...

thanks, Christi, for reminding me to be a better mom...I needed this today! I really really did! More than I can say...you are a great friend...xoxoxo~ Teri

[Christi Traster]

Awww Teri, could you be any sweeter? YOU are a great friend. And YOU inspire me. Really.

xoxo
Christi