My adventures in parenthood continue

Yesterday morning Meredith & I went to story time and then to the playground with Krista, Angelina, Lauryn & Daniel. We had a great time and I learned some things about Meredith's preferences. Swings trump the slide, sand trumps the swing and flowers trump all else. When in doubt just ask her if she'd like to go pick some flowers and being the little girl she is, she drops everything to go do it.



She played in the giant sandbox with Angelina & Daniel. I had such a hard time keeping her out of it when it was time to leave. She just kept saying "Sand!" Maybe I forgot to inform her that we are at the beach all the time? Who knows? I guess she's more like me than I realize. She loves the beach and loves the water.

And yes..... at 32 weeks pregnant I still went down the slide with her!












After the playground we all headed to McDonald's for lunch. Meredith is a sucker for a cheeseburger, apples & some lemonade. The whole way there she said, "Burger. Burger." Which was cute for about 5 minutes. We were able to sit in an area that had a door so the kids could play & we didn't have to worry to much about them. The kids ate, the moms ate and best of all..... I got to have some adult conversation that didn't revolve around the kids.

After that, we came home. Meredith took a nap and I got some much deserved down time. All the running around the last week or so has really done quite the number on me. I am really sore. So it was nice to just sit & enjoy a cup of coffee and a devil dog.

After dinner the three of us had some silly time and then we went outside & lit some sparklers. Meredith so enjoys acting silly and who can blame her.






















Meredith and I went to the municipal field this morning & ran through the grass bare foot. It was so nice to watch her explore. I don't know if she's ever felt grass between her toes. Now.... I may not care for it much, even though I did take my shoes off too, but she loved it. She watched as she took a step and the grass came between her toes. I laughed, but then I thought about how I take for granted that things can go between my toes. I don't think much about it until it's something yucky. But she giggled every time she took a step. She'd looked down, look at me & just giggle. 








We ran through the grass. I sat and watched her as she ran & then fell down the hill. She didn't care though. When she got to the bottom, she just sat there. She looked around and I thought "isn't she amazing?" Of course she must sense when the camera comes out because she immediately got up & came back up the hill to me. 








No adventure is complete without stopping to smell the flowers right? Today she finally sniffed in when she smelled them instead of blowing out. It was a proud mommy moment. Again... being able to sniff in is one of those things I take for granted. I mean... come on.... who doesn't know how to sniff in? Well a toddler that's who. Especially since you can't teach breathing in. Blowing out is easy to teach. 














Meredith wanted to take a break from walking & we sat. She looked at me and just hugged me. I melted and started crying right there. It was like she was telling me so many things with that hug. She was telling me that she loved me. That she appreciated that I was allowing her to be her. That it didn't matter what we did as long as she did it and we did it together. I haven't gotten an "I 'ove mommy" since the other day, but this was just as good if not better. I love those impromptu kisses & hugs. They make me feel like I'm doing a good job. Even when I feel like the world's worst mom. 


She tried to put her flowers between her toes, so I helped her. She wiggled her feet this way & that. Just giggling that she had flowers between her toes. 








As we sat there, I also got a view from the belly. Is that not the best view? I laid down for a second to take some pressure off my back & Meredith decorated my belly. Then she patted it & said "baby." Lifted up my shirt & kissed Sean. 





As we walked back to the car, she said "Hot. Up" And so I picked her up and she laid her head down until we got to the car. We came in and had lunch and then she went down for her nap. 





I wonder what adventures lay ahead for the rest of the day. Hmmmmmmmmm We may go into Milford & explore the stores. I have been wanting to get a bear for Sean. I bought one for Meredith before she was born from a store on W. Harford. Meredith's bear has a dress and her name embroidered on the dress. I'm hoping they have one for Sean. 


There are also a couple of places to explore that aren't stores. There's a photography studio & a folk art studio. Granted everything is for sale, but you can also just go in & look.