Toddlerhood

About a month ago, I awoke one morning to find that a toddler had taken the place of Baby Delaney. As it is with the passing of every stage, my emotions have been mixed about all of this. It really did seem to happen over night. My girl is a bundle of wild monkey-like energy and independence. I'm pretty certain that she figured out how to push every single one of my buttons the minute she entered our world, BUT...she is my pride and joy, and a constant reminder of God's blessings in my life.

Now that she's a toddler, she doesn't need ANYONE'S help to...

Read books at her table

Take off her diaper and streak

Feed herself, i.e. smash food in her hair

Put on her shoes

However, she's not so independent when:

• It's 5:30 am (her wake up time, according to Delaney)
• I am trying to cook dinner
• I am needing to use the restroom
• I'm trying to talk on the phone
• I'm trying to do a "quick" grocery trip

Please don't misinterpret me. I'm not complaining about my life now that we've entered toddlerhood. It really bugs me when parents complain about being inconvenienced by their children. Truth be told, there is nothing convenient about parenting. But there's also nothing better.

In general, I think she still likes me.

Vegas, Baby!

This past weekend, Steve and I made the jump and left the babe overnight for the first time. You see, my brother Jimmy is turning 30 in a few weeks (how old does that make me?), and he wanted to celebrate this milestone in Vegas. Somehow, he roped Steve and I in. I was a bit hesitant, because let's face it, Jimmy and I run in very different crowds. I was nervous about leaving my girl, and unsure if I'd have fun with a bunch of my brother's rowdy friends.

But I was wrong. Vegas was great. My brother was gracious, generous, and gentlemanly (at least the part that I was awake for...he stayed out MUCH later than Steve and I). Jimmy's friends were friendly and polite. Our hotel room (Jimmy's gift to us) was amazing and looked out over the fountains in front of the Bellagio. It was a short trip, but so so worth it. We gambled a bit on the penny and nickel slot machines, and Steve won over $50. Woo hoo! Jimmy wanted me to play black jack with him, and he let me gamble away his hard earned cash. I did get a free deck of cards for getting a black jack, but I'm pretty sure the house won on that one.

The best surprise, however, was this:

I have been saying for YEARS (literally years) that I have wanted to see the Lion King. Beautiful, singing animals? Of the feline species, nonetheless? Sign me up. Steve got us amazing tickets, and pulled off the whole surprise flawlessly. The show was indescribably good; I cried within seconds of the first song. All the animals, singing and rallying around the birth of a baby cub...be still my heart!

Thank you, Jimmy, for giving me the opportunity to relax a bit and remember that I'm not just a mom. Thank you, Stevie, for spoiling me more than I deserve. Thank you, Doug and Marsha, for taking good care of my bug when we were gone. And thank you, Delaney, for making me a Mama. It's a pretty great gig.

What Happens at Nana's House...

On the weeks that I work, Delaney gets to spend Fridays with her Nana. Today when I went over to pick her up, Nana told me that she had taken some great pictures of Laney today. This is what she showed me:

Seriously, Nana? You're going to let me play in this?

Well, if you insist...

Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Pose, Muddy Baby Edition

Eek! Butt shot...

I'm pretty sure she enjoyed herself...

It's a good day to be Delaney Marie!

I know it may be cliche to say this, what with Mother's Day around the corner, but this grandbaby has some pretty special Grandmas. Delaney can do no wrong in the eyes of her Nana and Grammie. And that is just as it should be.