lap of luxury

I painted Paige's finger and toenails for the very first time this evening. It reminded me of many things... of my grandma tending to my needs as a little girl, of my own frustration keeping fingernails from smudging (as a little girl, and even now... even when I pay to have them professionally painted and dried, I inherently fuck them up.)

Mostly, I feel honored to pass down all these feminine rituals to another sassy, beautiful little woman. Paige had a haircut tonight too. Gotta love it when the ladies can live in the lap of luxury from the comfort of our own living room.

oh those summer nights

Bedtime tonight. Paige is sporting a new haircut (thanks to Sally Scissors... anthropomorphizing cutting implements is the only way to get the hair out of her face. I'll do what it takes; I'm just that kind of mom.)

I remember my mom giving me popsicles on sticky summer nights like tonight... and while Paige was chowing down on this one, I had to capture the moment. It's been a total ladies' night... and I have to say, I think it's good for the soul to just hang out at home with your progeny every now and again.

And who doesn't love Scooby-Doo macaroni and cheese for dinner. Really?

growin' up: its not just for toddlers anymore.

The more one worries, the older one gets;

the more one laughs, the younger one feels.

(chinese proverb)

4 years ago today, a spunky, sassy, infectiously extroverted little girl graced my life for the first time. I have watched her grow from a tiny newborn, to a determined (read: stubborn) infant. I was there to help her learn how to eat, how to walk, how to turn the pages of books through toddlerhood. In the life of a preschooler, I've watched a tiny baby develop into a completely dynamic, sensitive, others-centered little girl with an amazing command of her native tongue, exquisite taste in music, and a heart so big it makes mine want to burst.

Through it all, we've taught one another how to be patient. How to be gentle. How to not settle. How to demand the life we so richly deserve.

Happy fourth birthday to my beautiful little girl. I hope one day, she'll understand how often I just sit here in awe of how perfectly Paige she's always been.

Happy Holidays from the GreenHouse

Happy Holidays, friends. It's Paige and I. It's the Christmas Tree.
It's the requisite Paige tugging on my cleavage moment.
Ah, the holidays.