The simple things

So, the birthday was a big hit.  Squirt was very pleased with the attention she received.  I took her little sister, our 4 year old, with me to buy her another card and few more birthday goodies.  Lil' sis decided they needed fish.  I think this was brought on by all the people that won goldfish at our county fair last week.  She picked out the fish, rocks, and tanks.  We went with Bettas, they are so pretty.  So of course, little bit picked out the closest to pink she could, which was maroon.  Thought she had named it Hokie, but she's called it Virginia all day, so it may have split personalities.  But he has pastel jewels and a few lime green, glow in the dark rocks.  Her sisters is turquoise, the closest she could find to lime green without venturing into "puke green" territory.  Black and lime green rocks. 

So why all these details?  Last night, Squirt's facebook post was that she got a fish.  No, she didn't mention the more planned, carefully pre-purchased and selected items.  It was her sister's last minute gift idea that stuck out in her mind.  And the fact that her little sister put such thought into it made it even more special.

This post could go on and on...  I had originally planned to make a list of all the simple things that make me smile.  Maybe a photo post someday.  Wouldn't that be cool?  An album of all the simple things that make you smile?  Bring it out on rainy, bad days, and shine on!  Challenge you to do it!

Today

Today is my "baby's" birthday.  It marks the beginning of the end of a lot of things... her last year before being a teenager, her last birthday at the school where I work, the last birthday I can celebrate of her's before I am officially "THE PARENT OF A TEENAGER!"  All of the above bring me sadness. 

But, see, I tend to dwell on the pain, and tomorrow.  So Today, it's all about her.  I need to make this precious, sassy, sensitive, moody, active baby o' mine understand that she is cherished. Loved.  Needed. Wanted. Understood.  Appreciated.  It's time to get this relationship completely solidified so we can venture into the teen years in a good place. 

Tomorrow, it will be her un-birthday.  I'll have to start all over again.  And everyday.  Because that's what motherhood is. 

But today, we'll have muffins with a candle, birthday card in the lunchbag, facebook posts, and her favorite, pizza, for dinner.  Because I am grateful for her. Everyday. And I wish that each day she will understand just how special she really is.  Today is going to be a good day.  I'm gonna make it that way.

Happy Birthday squirt!