Whose toys?

Have I mentioned how much I love having a little girl? Now that Koko Bean is three, there is quite a selection of awesome toys for her. I am personally thankful for this as I get to relive some of my favorite childhood memories. For her birthday and Christmas, Koko Bean received a basketball goal, a big toy car that mom and dad can use with a remote while she rides, Barbies, baby dolls, and a Wii just to name a few. Let's just say Mom and Dad have been taking advantage. In fact, the other night Koko Bean wanted to play her Elmo game on the Wii but Mom and Dad wanted to play Dance Dance Revolution, so we compromised with her on HER TOY!! One of us danced with the Wii and the other remote controlled her in her car around the empty front room of the house. She was happy nonetheless. Dad still kicks mom's rear on the dancing game.
But there is something only Mommy is good at when it comes to toys. And that is fixing Barbie hair. Tonight, Koko Bean and I played Barbies. We dressed them up and fixed their hair. Koko Bean said the reason for them getting all gussied up was to go shopping. Of course. Everyone wears halter dresses, stilettos, and ball gowns to go shopping right?

Koko Bean is much like her mommy and isn't content focusing on one activity for long periods of time. Her imagination begins to kick in full blast and she starts getting more and more animated. Tonight was no exception. After playing Barbies for about a half hour, she decided the floor was a giant ocean and she started holding her breath, diving deep into the ocean. She would "swim" over to the couch, and "fish" for objects underneath it. Each time she "came up for air," she had a dog bone in her hand. There's where they went!! The dogs were happy she found the "treasures."

Then, all of a sudden, she came up for air, and pretended to spit the water in my face!! I pretended right along with her and wiped my face, surprised at what she had done. This made her laugh hysterically. I love watching and hearing her deep belly laugh. Each time she did it, I would act more surprised and "disgusted." And each time, she laughed even harder.

As I sat in the bathroom, organizing her hair bow drawer (a never ending task,) she bathed herself and Dora and told me about her day. Then we slapped some coconut oil on her hiny and Dora's hiny, and put her penguin "walkin' jammies" on. That was when she reminded me that I told her she could wear her Minnie Mouse jammies. Earlier, when I was folding laundry she had thanked me for cleaning her new Minnie Mouse pajamas and that she would prefer to wear them this evening. So, off went the penguin pjs and on went the Minnie Mouse ones. I really didn't believe she would remember our discussion, but she sure did! Then, it was protein shake, melatonin, acidophilus and calcium time for her and fish oil, biotin and resveratrol time for me, before I got to do something I rarely get to do- rock my baby to sleep. Usually that's daddy's job, but she let me tonight.

When Koko Bean starts to get tired, she crosses her little hands over her chest, and her eyes begin to get heavy. It's funny how you noticed these little ticks about your child. She also does this when she's nervous or anxious. This is when Mom and Dad step in and give her extra cuddles to reassure her that everything will be okay. She has done this since birth and it's one of the sweetest things I've ever seen. As I rocked her to sleep tonight, I watched her fidget and turn, then cross her hands over her chest and close her eyes. Here's hoping for peaceful dreams for her tonight. Sweet dreams my sweet angel. Mommy loves you. Daddy loves you. God loves you.