Joy of a Little One

There is nothing like the joy a little one brings to life and your house. I've been wanting to post about this and am fearful I will forget a feeling or something I love about having Hattie in the house. The truth is, I will not be able to put into words all the feelings I have about having her around.

Hattie is pure joy!  Her little run/hop/skip with her left arm flailing out is enough to make you stop and watch her and smile and giggle.  She lights up the room with her "lightness" the ease in which she does things and how she makes you feel.  She's so gentle and soft and feminine and it's refreshing! She dances, she sings, she talks nonstop, she cares for others, she helps, she listens and knows what I'm talking about. She's GIRL!  I LOVE IT!

Hattie loves to dress like a girl, dress up and make her own style.  This can also be challenging at times because she wants it her way most of the time and she wants to put her own clothes on most of the time. Jeff has a way with her that lessens the struggle, thank goodness.

Maybe it's because the boys were late-talkers, but it's amazing to hear the words that come out of her mouth, how she knows the word for everything and puts together 5-7 word sentences.  My mouth drops open several times each night and Jeff and I take notes and tell each other our "stories" about her when she goes to bed.  Probably as a speech pathologist I'm a little more fascinated than the normal person, but it's pretty cool.  It's also been cool to watch her articulation develop-going from not having an /s/ to suddenly hearing it in the middle and at the ends of words.  It's amazing to listen to Hattie try new words and sounds, whereas she was so hesitant before.  If there are times she can't communicate her thought she will say, "Me can't", which breaks my heart.

Hattie loves to be held  and carried, despite her independence. She loves to snuggle up in bed with me each morning, getting as close to me as she can, sharing the pillow, turning her head to mine and moving our faces next to each other. She holds my face in her tiny little hands and just says, "Mommy" in the most loving and adorable voice ever.

When I tell her we are going to do something, like "First we will have a snack and then we are going to bed," she said, "O Tay Mama." in the sweetest little voice.

I just can't get enough of her sweetness and independence!