Adventures

These days, you love to go on an adventure.
It doesn't really matter where we go, or what we do.
If we tell you it's going to be an adventure, you always get excited.
I am trying to plan some special outings, just the two of us.
Before your baby sister arrives.
Sure, if you're not at preschool or summer camp or the gym nursery,
I am usually always right by your side.
But making special plans and talking them up to you first
makes it feel a bit more special.
One day a few weeks back, it was a dreary, rainy day.
I decided to take a chance, and off we went for our first mommy-and-me pedicures.
I had no idea if you'd sit still for it.
I wasn't sure if your feet would reach the little ledge at the bottom of the chair.
I didn't know if you'd like a complete stranger massaging your legs.
But pretty nail polish, that I knew you'd like.
As well as the chance to be just like your mommy.
And you know what?
You did great.

You raced right over to the nail polish rack.
You were so excited to look through all the colors.
You couldn't decided between pink and purple,
so I suggested we use both.
You sat so still, so quietly, as you got used to the new setting.
And then you broke out in the biggest smile as you peeked down at your toenails.
The ladies at the salon ooohed and aaahed over you.
They put little flowers on your big toes.
They brought a lollipop over to you while your toes dried.

It did the trick - ten tiny little toes came out looking perfect.
You were so proud, so excited that you went from chair to chair,
showing every lady in the salon your first pedicure.
It was a great morning, just the two of us.

For our next little outing, we had a girls' dinner.
Your dad was in the city for a work dinner
(or a boys' dinner as you called it),
so I decided we'd have our own adventure together.
We went back-to-school shoe shopping first!
We had a ball.

I didn't realize that this year, you'd have so many thoughts and opinions.
We must have looked at 20 pairs of shoes.
You were very particular.
You wanted to try everything on.
You started to pull your own choices off the shelves to show me.
It gave me a glimpse of what you'll be like as a teenager ;)
We each picked out our favorite pair,
and then it was time to head to dinner.
Nothing fancy - just Panera Bread - but it was special all the same.
We talked over our sandwiches and lemonade.
Two girls, on an adventure.
As I looked across the table at you, I saw the big girl that you have turned into...
the big sister that you will soon be.
And it made me so very happy (but also just the tiniest bit sad).