I hope I remember...

I used to pride myself on having a sharp memory. I made my way through the ridiculous series of 'generals' in college simply because I could memorize useless information. There was a time I could name every customer (and their favorite drink) at the Bear Trap....even if they only visited twice a summer. I could nail the names of all 22 students in my class in about 15 minutes on the first day of school (it's a little tougher as a principal when there are 470 of them!). But there are times now.... where I wonder where half of my brain went (my mom claims that's what happens when you have children-- they suck the brains right out of you).

I think about writing often, to help preserve my memories, but can't seem to make enough time in my day to accomplish all I aspire to do.

As I was putting Madi to bed tonight I laid there alongside her for awhile and thought about some of the highlights of the day and week.... and I wondered how I am ever going to remember all I want to tell her someday.

I hope I remember to tell her that she has much more patience when she has had enough sleep.

I hope I remember to tell her that she used to refuse to go to bed at night unless she had her 5 favorite blankets, Elmo, Ernie and a Little People figurine that she calls baby (he's actually a grown man dressed like a mailman). She'll never know how worried I was when I couldn't find her 'friends' this afternoon... after tearing the house and every toy bin apart, I spent about 30 minutes trying to find a website that sells 3 inch plastic Elmo & Ernie dolls (that came in an Easter egg last year)... only to have her disappear for 2 minutes and reappear with all 3 friends in hand (thank God for secret hiding spots!).

I hope I remember to tell her that she sang Happy 33rd Birthday to her Dadda in the sweetest 2 year old voice we've ever heard... we actually sang it twice to make sure one whole version was on videotape!

I hope I remember to tell her about how we would go to the grocery store and she would try to point to and name every single thing we passed... bananas...apples...tomatoes...watermelon...pizza...cake... and how excited she was when she figured out that you can open the doors in the frozen food section!

I hope I remember to tell her how much she loved to be kissed on the forehead... sometimes a hundred times a day!

I hope I remember to tell her that she loved to pick flowers... especially up north at the lake.... and she counted each petal as she plucked them off! Daisies were her favorite!

I hope I remember to tell her that we used to have a special call (almost like a bird) that meant it was time to go upstairs for the night... it was our secret language when she couldn't understand 'upstairs' yet.

I hope I remember to tell her how much I love to see her smiling face in the morning... the messier the hair the better! My favorite part is when she drags all 5 of her blanket (and her 3 friends) into our room to snuggle and slowly wake up together.

I hope I remember to tell her that her brother has been crazy about her since the day he was born. Tucker's favorite thing to do each day is watch her play and dance and talk.... he can't get enough of her! I hope someday soon she realizes that he's a best friend waiting to happen!

I hope someday I remember to tell her that one of her favorite things to do was lick the back of foam alphabet letters and stick them on everyone's face!

I hope I remember to tell them both how very blessed I feel to be their mother...