The Adventures of Pap and Miss B

Have you met Pap? He's Brooklyn's best friend. She received him on her first birthday and then have been best buds every day and ever since.

Pap is a world traveler. He's been to Disney World, both Florida coasts, Michigan, and a few other places. I don't mind him too much. He's kinda one of the family.

Last week Brooklyn's started asking us to tell her bedtime stories. Mr. LTM's stories are normally ones where he can sneak in a little fantasy. His are a little "out there" and in my honest opinion, I thought they took too long. Well one night Mr. LTM was working late and couldn't put Miss B to bed with one of this famous stories. When I put her in the crib, she told me that I had to tell her a story. I knew I had a lot of papers to grade so I tried to get out of it. I got about one step away before she insisted I tell her a story because "daddy does." Oh.no.she.didn't.

So mommy's stories are, The Adventures of Pap and Brookie. My stories are based off of real experiences that Brooklyn has had when she was younger, or situations that are coming up, like vacation. I'm telling you. . . the look on that child's face is priceless during story time! Oh my gosh. Her eyes literally light up. She's smiling behind her paci (Yes she's two. And thanks for checking the ticker while thinking, "Isn't she too old for a paci?"). She's hugging Pap like there is no tomorrow and just a glow with excitment. BEST. FEELING. EVER!


Remind me that I owe Mr. LTM for adding bedtime stories to our evening routine. :)

P.S. "Pap" was actually the word "flat". We called him Flat Panda when she got him. After a while she started calling him "Pap", which we thought meant "Panda." She told us this year that Pap means "flat." LOL 

My Third Mother's Day

Being a mom to Brooklyn is more than I ever thought it would be. The unconditional love is overwhelming. I hate cliches and such, but truly, being a mom changes you.

I read something online a few weeks ago, it may have been on FaceBook. It was this quote about a mom and her daughter (adult age) had told her she was pregnant. Her daughter was glowing and excited, but the mom felt sad. She was sad because she knew what her daughter would go through. Being a mother makes you vulnerable, worried and exposed. You worry every day.  Either way, the mother did not want her daughter to feel all of that. So, while she was happy that her daughter was pregnant, she was sad as well. It sounds weird, but totally makes sense.

My first Mother's day I held a one month old in my arms. Boy, was I a novice! I remember wanting her in a cute outfit for my first Mother's Day. A day that I didn't even shower, because I wanted a nap instead. Last year Brooklyn was more interactive on Mother's day, but didn't understand the concept. It was fun to play with her all day and enjoy her company. This year, Brooklyn thought Mother's day was a party! She must have said it nine times. She and Mr. LTM went out to buy flowers and Starbucks. All day she asked me how my day was. It was amazing.

Today Brooklyn told me that I was cute and that I was her "sweetie." We read this book called "We Belong Together" and inside there are pictures of things that go together: bacon and eggs, pencil and paper, fork and spoon, hot chocolate and marshmallows, peanut butter and jelly. When we read the book she points to the pictures of things that go together and says, "That's you mommy, and this is Brookie. We love eachother." Then, when she went bed tonight she said, "Good night, peanut butter." OMG! Melt. My. Heart. Seriously. As a teacher, you'd think that once in a while I might think that I was put on this Earth to teach kids and make a difference. But sometimes I think I was put on this Earth just to be her mother. Thank you IVF, for making this part of my life possible.

LOVE HER.

Toddlers are like Teens

I don't have a teen, but I coached middle school cheerleading for two years. Need I say more?

Each day Brooklyn is a little like those 12 teen-aged cheerleaders I had. First, she kinda talks back. Today Mr. LTM asked her to give him a hug. Her response was, "No thanks, I'm busy." Yes, it's cute right? But she wasn't sitting in her little Pottery Barn chair coloring like they do in the catalog. She was pulling on the baby monitor cord and attaching it to her My Little Pony as a leash.

She likes to hurt our feelings. . . on purpose. The other day I told her how much I loved her. Brooklyn's response was, "Mom, you are not my friend." Seriously! Just as I was sitting back and reflecting on how tiny she used to be. How I held her in my arms and rocked her bitty self to sleep. How I shot myself in the stomach for 8 days to go through IVF and she claims I'm not her friend.

She's hormonal. One minute she says, "Mommy, here is your good listener!!!!" And the next moment it's "No. NO! NO! I will not eat that strawberry because it's too HOT." Yes, her strawberries are hot, her bread has too many holes and her chicken nuggets are old. Where does she come up with this stuff?

Her toddler years must be a glimpse of the future. I know someday she's going to tell me she hates me (all teens do), but either way, she's my little baby, and I will continue to tell her that each day!!!