You were born a Mommy's girl. From day one, you looked up at me with your wrinkled little baby skin and you sighed that content little sigh as your drank your milk and I sang You Are My Sunshine and you knew that day who loves you the best. You make me special. Your love, your insistence on me reading your books and buckling you into your carseat and pushing your trike make me special. I will admit that there are days when it would be nice if you would let your dad help you put your shoes on just once in a while but for the most part, every day that I spend with you I feel special. The days that I felt special before you came into my life were few and far between but not now.Thank-you for that.
I was away for a few days a month ago sort of unexpectantly and the look on your face when I walked through that door said it all. With this shy little look on your face you walked over and curled up on my lap and said "I'm glad you're home, Mommy. Don't leave again." For the weeks since, you've clung to me like you're never going to let me leave your side again and I think there was some part of you that didn't think I was coming back. I will tell you this today, my girl. As long as there is a car to drive and air to breathe, I will never leave you and not come back. Ever. You don't need to worry about it. Worry about which Backyardigan you like the best (the PINK one) or whether we can find the Princess Dora DVD (RIGHT THIS INSTANT) but please don't worry about your mom leaving you. I never will.
I feel compelled to tell you this because you worry a lot for a three year old. You are a very introspective little creature, taking on the world with a quiet, watching-from-behind-the-scenes approach. Somedays I wonder just what is going on in that little brain of yours. Your brother shouts every single thought that passes through his brain at the top of his lungs but not you. You sit back and watch and process and plan things out before you act on them. I love to watch you in social situations because you'll plaster your body as close to me as you can and watch for a good couple of hours acting like you are the shyest kid on planet earth and then all of a sudden you'll decide it's safe and you jump right in with both feet.
And before I know it, the little girl hiding behind my legs not wanting anyone to look at her, is bossing around all the other kids, telling then where to sit and what color cup to drink out of. I watched you boss around your cousin Sarah at a birthday party a few weeks ago and there was a part of me that couldn't belive my eyes. I mean, sure, you boss me around daily, but I was so surprised to see you bossing around your peers. And, I was proud of you. Not because you were bossing kids around but because you knew what you wanted and you were not afraid to say it.
I had so much fun planning your lemonade birthday party this year because you watched in awe as I finished all of the details wanting so much to help and I know that seeing all the work that went into it makes you feel special. On your birthday, I promise to always make you feel as special as you make me feel. You asked me the day after the party to leave up the decorations and then a couple of days after that insisted that you should get another birthday party tomorrow. When you're 30 and have two little kids and you're busy and overworked and tired, I promise to make it clear to you how wonderful of a day June 30, 2007 (which you recite to anyone that will listen, complete with the year) was for me too.
You love playdoh and painting and being chased and spun. You love TV and milk and snacks on your throne in the living room. You love the Angelina Ballerina books. You always eat your fruits and vegetables but steer clear of any meat that isn't chicken nuggets or hot dogs. You are terrified of dogs and swings. You threw a fit of epic proportions the other day because the ceiling fan we got installed in your bedroom is brown and not pink. You potty trained yourself and now ask for "privacy" when you're going yelling "I can do it MYSELF, mom, LEAVE ME ALONE." You snuggle in as close as you can get to me at night and always say "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy" with utmost love and admiration and your curls itch my nose and you smell like your bath and you rub your feet back and forth along my legs until sleep overcomes you. I lay for a long time after you fall asleep on my nights, soaking in the miracle of you. Reveling in the fact that I am still the most important person in your life.
Happy Birthday, Mu Shu Chicken, honey, Rosie Ro. I love you more than anything.
Mama
P.S. Didn't you just turn One? OK, how about Two? It seems like YESTERDAY.
P.P.S. I promise to get a better picture next year.
Great heart tugging tear generator post Gina. Love it.
Posted by: Tara | June 30, 2010 at 06:23 AM
So very sweet! I've watched her grow up right along with my 3yr old little girl.
Posted by: Sarah | June 30, 2010 at 10:51 AM