What do I do with this?

On the way to work/daycare this morning, the diva asked me,

"Mommy, are you God?"

This was right after I was giving her a direction to use an inside voice in the car. I answered honestly (No, I am not God), and moved on. But where in the world is she learning to be so lippy in such a subtle way?

The Diva watches the Inauguration!

The Diva's daycare watched the inauguration. I was so excited that she was able to witness this historic event, even though these pictures may possibly be her only way to remember it. Her teacher said that she was beyond enthusiastic, I just love it!!! What an awesome birthday gift the Diva received this year, watching our first African-American President being sworn into office. Yes We Can!

Happy Birthday Diva!

Three years ago today the Diva entered my life in a way that I now see to be very fitting of her personality. She was delivered six weeks early with a crowd of specialists surrounding her; she does love an audience. At the time it was a really scary and trying experience, but when I look back on it now I can try to find some humor in the situation. The Diva was definitely the star of the show. I didn't get that blissful Mommy moment where they immediately put her in my arms, but when I did finally get to hold her for the briefest of moments I felt the purest of bliss. Although we had been prepared for her needing a stay in NICU, I felt like my heart had been ripped right out of my body with her when they took her away. They wheeled me in one last time to see her before they shipped me off to my room, and they literally had to pull me away, I couldn't bare to leave my precious little girl. But, by the grace of God, our tiny little baby only spent 8 hours away from us before she was cleared to join me. Because of my condition, she was technically ready to be discharged two days before I was.

The instant love I had for her then only intensifies the more I get to know her. She is my smart, sweet, funny, sensitive girl. I love the way her mind works, and I admire her curiousity and her confidence. I could go on and on, but I don't want to bore anyone. Being the Diva's mother is the hardest, best job I have ever had. Daddy-o and I feel so blessed that God has chosen us to be her parents. Happy Birthday Precious Girl!

Fairies and cupcakes and drama, oh my!

Yesterday we had a fairy birthday party for the Diva. Being a Diva, she vetoed my original plan for a Luau birthday. When I asked her what kind of party she wanted she said " A pink fairy party with pink cake and lovely people.

My mom (Grammy) made six pairs of beautiful fairy wings by hand. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of all of the wings. I am really bummed about this, because they were beautiful. The Diva, being a diva, would keep her wings on for long periods of time. But it was quite adorable to see all the little fairy girls prancing and pretending! Grammy also made the pink cupcakes, which were adorable and delicious. I made a punch and called it Fairy Punch. It was such a success that the Diva pretty much wore a red mustache all day long. (My sugar rules kind of went out the window for this party, I even served pixie sticks! Go ahead and judge me, I'm cool with it!) We had tons of snacks, even healthy ones! We played Hullaballoo and had a bean bag toss. Despite the fact that the Diva refused to nap and was an occasional cranky pants dictator, I would say the fairy party was a success. We did indeed have lovely guests and we were so glad that could join us for our celebration! The Diva's actual birthday is tomorrow. She is having a hard time letting go of two and so am I!


Time for the cupcake!A happy Diva, hooray for a Dora sticker book!

An angry Diva, who knows what set her off this time!

A pair of the beautiful fairy wings made by my talented mom! Thanks Mom!

The cupcakes, pink as requested. They were tasty! Even Daddy-o who doesn't like sweets gobbled one up! Thanks again to my amazing mom!

Today

Is the anniversary on my first date with Daddy-o. We had been friends for a year, and suddenly sparks flew! I love you baby! And I look forward to many more years of celebrating lifes big and small events with you!

Flashback to Pre-eclampsia

In the days leading up to my favorite girl's 3rd birthday, I am going to do some flashing back. Three years ago today was the day I was officially declared pre-eclamptic. It was the day I was put on strict bed rest, and the day I began to truly fear for my life and the life of my unborn baby girl. The ten days leading up to the Diva's birth were really hard. I will hash it out here, since writing it therapuetic and I have never really written a lot of this down. The day I was put on bed rest I had to do a non-stress test at the doctor's office. I was hooked up to the monitors, and Daddy-o couldn't be in the room with me, because there was another mom also being monitored. So Daddy-o sat in the waiting room communicating with me by cell phone. We had a conference call with his dad and his step-mom and his dad led us in prayer. It brought me comfort, but it just felt so surreal. While I had an inkling that something was wrong the week before, I wasn't prepared for it. I guess no one ever is really prepared for bad news, but it was like being hit with a truck. Being told I could no longer work when I had planned on working right up until I gave birth was my first hit. We were not financially prepared for it. That thought was put out of my mind quickly though, when my doctor told me off. She made me realize how serious my condition could get. ( I found out after The Diva's birth that my doctor had pre-eclampsia twice) The next hit was that my baby could now have to be delivered at any time. At this point we were just hitting 32 weeks. I was just getting over morning sickness. Now we were being told about lung development and NICU and specialists, comas, siezures, and death. We started blood pressure watch, which was torture for me and I think Daddy-o secretly enjoyed it, because he was really strict about it. By the time the Diva was born, my arms were raw and bruised from hourly blood pressure checks. That first day, they kept me around for a while trying to decide whether or not I should be admitted to the hospital. This would become a pattern over the next 10 days. They decided I could go home, and we did. I remember that day as the day I found pre-eclampsia in my copy of "What to Expect When You're Expecting" under "When something goes wrong". I was paralyzed with fear that something was going wrong. It was also the day "Hustle and Flow" came out on DVD. I made Daddy-o rent it for me in the hopes it would provide a distraction.

Freakin' little tiny shoes

One of the Diva's favorite Christmas gifts was a gift from Grammy. It is a set of Disney Princess Doll's and accessories, kind of similar to Polly Pocket. The Diva wants to play with them all the time, which means I have to play with them all the time. My biggest complaint about these darn dolls is their shoes. Who thought shoes the size of a flea were a good idea? Guess who gets to cram Cinderella's feet into the microscopic glass slipper? Dear Old Mommy. I don't even mind putting the shoes on the little princesses as much as I mind losing the shoes. We are constantly losing shoes. Luckily many have reappeared, but some are lost forever, and I fear there won't be a handsome prince coming to return them any time soon. My handsome prince is more likely to suck them up in the vacuum cleaner. ( Which is what I think happened to a little white shoe). So, are Diva and I really expected to put Cinderella in a white dress with pink, purple, brown, or blue shoes? It's making me crazy. Do your children have a toy that just drives you batty?

Teaching her well

My mom (Grammy) took the Diva for a while today to give me a much needed break. And I really do mean much needed. My sanity depended on getting a little time to myself. It was great! I went to the library, then walked over to the mall to use a gift card I got for Christmas. It was so relaxing. I like hanging out with myself! When I got home a did some cleaning before Mom brought the Diva back. When she got here she told me about a little conversation they had in the car while eating fruit snacks (something I don't ever buy).

Grammy- I like these fruit snacks, they taste like Gummy Bears. Diva do you like Gummy Bears.
Diva- No.
Grammy- I like Sour Patch Kids too, do you like Sour Patch Kids?
Diva- No Grammy. I only like HEALTHY FOODS.

Not that kind of dance...

This morning the Diva was dancing around the kitchen while we were making breakfast. She was skipping around and slapping her knee, having a grand old time. I said, "Diva, it looks like you are having a hoe-down." She didn't answer me, left the room and then came back. Both Daddy-o and I were in the kitchen. When she came back in she started dancing and said "Look at me! I am doing a ho dance!" Not the kind of dance we really want her to practice. Daddy-o looked at me like it was my fault.