Bathing Beauties

My sis Hannah and my friend Crystal and I are competing in a triathlon in two weeks. Can you say sexy?

Finley Files: Security Purse

Dear Finley,

Sometimes you act/dress/look more like someone almost 80, not someone almost 2.

You have a purse that you carry with you at all possible times. When I try to take it away, you scream. When I try to analyze its contents, you scream. And to be fair, I should know better than to try to separate a lady and her handbag.
But last night when you were asleep... We dumped out your purse to take a peek...

Necklaces (because you're like a pirate)
Your psychic talking meatball (obviously)
Two binkies (because you've gotta have a spare)
A toy lizard (for company)
Your cell phone (needs to be charged, by the way)
Your cup (for Starbucks refills on the go)
Your mini toy organ (because sometimes a girl needs to jam out to a 60s rock organ riff)

I just can't even tell you how precious you are to me and how much I love you.

Love, Mama

Pumpkins, Hay Bales, and a Girl Rolling in Corn

Finley Files: Fall into Fall

Dear Finley,

What am I going to do when you're grown-up? Sixteen, or twenty, or twenty-five, and you won't let me smell your head?

Am I going to have to sneak into your bed while you're sleeping just so I can plant a kiss on you?

Will you still ask to hold hands when you're twelve?

I'd like a crystal ball for Christmas so I can know the answers to these things.

I love my little fish.

Love, Mama

These Pants Do My Poop-Checking Work For Me

Her Morning Elegance

Happy Birthday, Hannah!

Being three and a half years apart meant we were three grades apart. This meant we went to school together in elementary school, but our recesses were always at different times. This meant we would never go to junior high together, or high school together. I was finished with high school by the time she began.

College with my sister only further ignites our friendship. We are sisters first, of course, but close, hilarious, completely synced friends second.

Today she turns 21.

Happy birthday, friend, classmate, and sister.

Finley Files: Words, Words, Words

Dear Finley,

I think before women become mothers, they think they'll wish for their child to be smart.

Now I know that moms just want their kids to be happy.

I feel so lucky that you are both smart and happy.

You learn new words every day. You are my parrot, my monkey, my little squawker and squeaker. You have preferences and you make them known. I jump at every opportunity to communicate with you.

I used to be sad during the days. I hid from sunlight and became awake at night. 

Today during our walk to the park, the sun hit my face, and I loved it. I realized I've come full circle. I'm happy now. I'm a happy person. It may just be that I am out of my teenage years, away from the haze which is early young adulthood, and now gracefully settled into being a twenty-something. 

Or it could be because of you.

Thank you for bringing me full circle.

Love, Mommy

(photo by Hannah)