For Documentation Purposes . . .

I have to admit something. Unless you are blood-related to me, I do not read about your children. I love looking at pictures and reading snippets, but I can say that 99% of the time I do not sit and read blogs devoted to what feats your children have achieved. I don't bemoan these types of blogs, after all I have been known to devote . . . well, practically all of my posts, to my daughter. However, I do it knowing that besides her aunts and grandparents, probably no one else is reading.

Therefore I feel the need to preface this post devoted to my daughter's two years of life, with the title "For Documentation Purposes". I want to remember Davie Lucille, the two year old. If you do not wish to read about my magnificent child, I do not blame you . . . okay, I do a little bit.

Davie Lucille Charles is turning two this very Friday. As of today, I have not yet seen a mean bone in this child's body. She is almost always sweet. She is just sweet. She is stoic, yet friendly. She is a loner, independent, but in small groups she loves to dance and sing and laugh. She has a sleeper-style of learning. She is shown something and may act disinterested, then hours, days, or weeks later, does this something expertly. She is kinesthetic. She loves to move, manipulate, and build things . . . then she does it again 37 times for fun. I have seen her comfort crying children and adults either by saying "I'm sorry" for something that is not her fault or by just appearing out of nowhere to hug them. She has the most delightful spirit. It will break my heart into a thousand pieces on the day when I hear her say something ugly to someone . . . right now I feel like that is just impossible and will never happen. Even when she is upset, she is somehow still sweet.

Besides her sweet spirit, she is quirky. She is just quirky. She says, "Oh boy!" when she is trying really hard to do something. She has the longest attention span of any two year old I know, able to do the same activity for hours. She is amazing at puzzles, and all of a sudden can count to five. She is rhythmic . . . since her earliest days. I love that she laughs out of joy instead of saying yes sometimes.

This weekend we are having her second birthday party at Mimi's neighborhood clubhouse and pool. It will be a Yo Gabba Gabba part, because there are fewer things that she loves more in this world than Yo Gabba Gabba. I don't quite know what to expect out of little Davie Lu at her party. She may be a bit of a wallflower depending on how many people are there. But she has a handful of people that she truly deeply loves. She adores her family, from her own parents to her Great Uncle Bob. Her cousin Harper is her very best friend in the whole world. It warms my heart to see them play together just like sisters. Davie also loves all her "uncles" . . . her daddy has lots of friends that come and play with her often, and have really been a lifesaver when we are in need of last minute childcare.

It's funny as a parent to want to be more like your child. I have thought of qualities that I hope she inherits from her father and from me . . . but I never thought that my two year old would have certain qualities that I want to achieve. It is strange to think of her not existing two years ago. I was telling a friend who does not have children yet, that as a parent, I want to know every Davie Lucille Charles that ever has and ever will exist. I want to see her at every age. I want to remember every detail of her infancy, and yet I can't wait to see how amazing she will turn out to be as an adult.

Happy 2nd Birthday Dizz!

a couple of vids . . .

Davie let this one fly while we were playing with the video camera.

This is what Davie does sometimes when she doesn't like my suggestions.

I guess it's clear that Davie wants Yo Gabba Gear for her birthday.

Bragging + Writing = Blogging

What are blogs if not venues to brag on some aspect of your self or family? In my case, at least for today, I will brag on my most immediate family - Steven and Davie and I suppose a little on myself.

Last week I went to Dallas with my lovely sisters and mother for four days. Thanks to Steven I never had to worry about my little girl. I thought about her often, oh yes I did. But I never worried about her. I knew Steven was taking excellent care of her and enjoying every minute. They were in need of a Daddy/Daughter day sans Mommy.

Davie is such an amazing kid. She'll be two this very month. She is starting her first long-term Mother's Day Out program this week. I know she is going to love it.

I've been writing a bit more - songs and stories.

It had been ages upon ages since I wrote a song. I honestly thought maybe the well had run completely dry. I sat down last week with the guitar for longer than 30 minutes for the first time in forever, and out popped a song. It's about "the curse of diplomacy" that I have. Curse, you say? Yes, it does seem to be a curse when dealing with more harsh personalities. It seems difficult to get a word in edgewise, and you just feel like you lose in that case. However, I can't make myself be crazy enough to make myself heard.

The bad thing about being a songwriter is people make assumptions about your writings. The bad thing about being married to a songwriter is people make assumptions about your involvement in the content of your spouse's writings. Honestly, this new song has little to nothing to do with my husband . . . poor guy. Anyways-

I also had the great honor of writing a song with my very own father. I have grown up listening to his lovely raspy voice singing old words and phrases that have grown so close to my heart. It was a great treasure when he got out the guitar on a rare occasion and played for us songs that he had written from years before. I started playing and writing when I was about 16 years old. Dad and I rarely discussed our common abilities. But more recently, he has started writing again . . . and I mean REALLY writing! He and my mom have been trying to finish an album for months now, but he just keeps cranking out songs! Well, one day, he encouraged me to sit down with him and our guitars. He had an idea and some music for a song and wanted my help with the lyrics. It was so neat to share ideas and work up something beautiful. I'll never forget it, ever, ever. It was a very special experience to me, and I know it was to him. I can't imagine what it would or possibly will be one day to write a song or do something that we both love with Davie Lu.

I've also been writing in book-form. I hate to say "I am writing a book", because it just sounds like something I'd say and not finish. However, I am writing a LOT in book-form. I am not going to talk about it much more than that, but it is something I am excited about.