Delaney graduates from Kindergarten next month.
I cried when I saw this picture.
She sings and writes songs. She’s 5.
March 24, 2010 By 6 Comments
Now remember, I. CAN’T. SING. I am amazed by people who can. And if you can WRITE songs? Well, then, that’s stupendous. My sweet girl sings all day, every day. And now she has started to ‘write’ songs. Simple songs, but sweet ones.
The Potty Dilemma for Daddy
December 4, 2009 By 5 Comments
When is a little girl old enough to enter a public restroom by herself?
That’s the question I was posed this week. The women’s restroom is uncharted territory for this Daddy (rightfully so). It reminds me of Noah’s Ark.
Users enter in pairs. They’re gone for what seems to be 40 days and 40 nights (what takes so long?). And, when they exit, tears of laughter or tears of some sob story that I don’t usually understand are raining down their freshly powdered faces. I’ll take my chances in a flooded men’s room.
So, on Monday night, my 5-year old daughter, 3-year old son, and I went to Home Depot. We’re there about 8 seconds when both of them need to use the potty. Cooper comes with me, and Delaney says “Daddy, can I use the girl’s room by myself?”
What? Really? She’s 5. Isn’t there an age requirement? You know something, she said “girl’s room” and I said “potty.” Maybe she is old enough, and I’m the one that needs to grow up some (that’s true, but a story for another Daddy Diary).
“Okay, honey, but don’t read the walls, stare straight ahead, and don’t look down.” Oh, she’s going into a women’s room, not a men’s room. “Just make sure you wipe the seat (do you women do that too?and every time I guess?, huh, wild).
Cooper and I leave the restroom in about 3 minutes, and Delaney is no where to be found. Oh geesh, what have I done? She was too little to go in there by herself. She must have fallen in or worse, she’s listening to some story that a woman is telling from watching Oprah. Oh, no, I’m a terrible Dad.
The Women’s Room Door opens. “Hey Dad.”
“Are you okay?” I ask.
And, I want to ask all of these questions that I’ve always wanted answers to. What was it like? Are there groups of women in there telling stories? Are there really no urinals? Are the walls all freshly painted? Is there no graffiti? Does it smell like a rose garden? I start to ask…and you know what she says.
“Yes, Dad, I’m fine. I just had to use the girl’s room. Where did you think I was going? On a boat ride to the Zoo?
Ah, kid’s imaginations are a wonderful thing. She read my mind.
Wordless Wednesday – Sweet Girl is Growing Up
October 7, 2009 By 3 Comments
Do you sometimes find yourself struck by a certain picture of your child? One that highlights the fact that they are growing before your eyes – and turning into amazing, beautiful children? That’s what this picture is for me – Delaney was riding a horse and just looked so sweet to me.
The Five Year Old Highlights
July 13, 2009 By 5 Comments
From Friday until today – it has been ALL-DELANEY-ALL-THE-TIME – so I wanted to share a few highlights!
Friday: All Star Fan Fest
Yes – Delaney was on the scoreboard for throwing the baseball 2nd fastest among girls 1-6 
Ahhh….she did it! She picked out her earrings (her birthstone), took a deep breath and let them pierce her ears. She jumped a little, hugged me and cried for about a minute – since then, we are ALL SMILES about it!
And then it was Saturday – Par-Tay Day!
There were cookies and cake, swimming, friends and flip-flops. It doesn’t get much better than that, now does it?
Happy, Happy Birthday Sweetest of Girls!
When You Are All Grown Up
July 10, 2009 By 20 Comments
Dear Delaney~
You turn 5 today. Five amazing, sweet little years have flown by in a blur. One minute I was staring into your gorgeous brown eyes begging you to make a sound – just so I could hear your voice – and now, you never stop talking or singing.
And I can’t get enough of it.
I adore your sweet smile, your freckles, your bouncy curls, the way you skip from one room to another and constantly have that now-dingy, white ‘bit’ (blanket) over your shoulder. I could listen to you giggle for hours. Your laughter is the soundtrack to my soul.
When you are all grown up, I hope you will know you are loved more than anything in this world. You will always have my arms to hold you tight, my ears to listen and my heart to heal.
When you grow up, I hope you have some small memory of holding my hand, of putting your head on my shoulder after every nap, of sharing my tea, of snuggling in bed, of learning to swim, of posing for pictures, of making silly faces with your Daddy and of answering, “…a fuzzy bunny’ whenever I said, “Delaney is…..”.
I hope I am teaching you to be generous, to be grateful for all of the wonder in your life, to be self-confident and kind. I already know you are intelligent and have a talent for singing. I hope I am teaching you to appreciate your gifts and use them well.
When you are all grown up, I pray that you are still the amazing big sister you are today – the one who defends, who loves and who teaches, and who lets the little guy sleep in your bed when he is scared of the lightening.
You are one of the true wonders in my life. A new and beautiful chapter began on July 10, 2004. Every day with you is a miracle. Every hug you give leaves a permanent mark. Every laugh stamps my heart with a little piece of you.
When you are all grown up, you will understand that I am not perfect, but I never stopped trying to be the very best Mommy I could be. Thank you for being the mirror that reflects my strengths and my shortcomings. Thank you for being an amazing teacher in a teeny-tiny body.
I adore you baby girl.
Happy, happy birthday.
Love, Mommy
The Littlest Lobbyist
May 16, 2009 By 6 Comments
My sweet girl is growing up – there is a change she would like me to make…
I might actually give in….
