funniest and bestest

My sister-in-law Heather posted on her Facebook page not long ago that she has "gleaned from Facebook that having kids sucks more days than it doesn't."

This statement made me sad and all too aware that it is much easier to write about the bad than the good; too easy to note all the things that went wrong or didn't happen instead of reflecting on all the little moments that make me so happy to be a parent. 

Today was a good day. I have to start out stating this because as most who read my blog by now know that not every day is a good one for me. But Penny was less cranky, I was less cranky and she even got in two naps. Plus there were two noteworthy, nay, potent, moments that reminded me why I wanted to become a mother in the first place. 

The first was when Jason,  Penny and I were playing out back. She has discovered a new love for the outdoors since the weather has finally started to warm up above freezing and wants to be outside every chance she can get. She wants you to put on her shoes, find her jacket and then she's at the door trying to figure out how the handle works. Today she was mostly just exploring the back patio when she spotted a garden box that only has dirt in it. She was in the midst of bringing handful of the soil to Jason when he told her "thank you." And she replied "thank you" in sign language. Normally this wouldn't seem like such a big deal until you note that this is 'thank you' and you add in a palm-ful of dirt and an open slobbery mouth. The sad thing was Jason and I were laughing so hard we had a hard time trying to help her get the dirt off of her face. I was absolutely no help with tears streaming down my cheeks from laughter as Jason tried to wipe off as much dirt (which was quickly turning to mud) from her cheeks and chin. And the tough little thing that she is, she seemed undisturbed by what happened and just wanted to continue playing. 

Just a little while ago was bath time. This is by far still her favorite part of the day. Even if she's been extra cranky all day long, you can usually get some laughs out of her while she's in the tub. But today was a little exception. Today she was completely focused on me. She insisted on washing my face and arms with her wash cloth. Then to make sure I was truly clean, she wet her hands, slapping and rubbing my cheeks over and over again. This process repeated itself a half dozen times and was interrupted only by sweet baby kisses and the resting of her head on my arms.

I am so lucky to have such an incredible little sweet potato as a part of my life. I write this not so you will know how wonderfully lucky I am, but as a reminder to myself. I need to remember that the amazing times are even more numerous than the tough ones and forget that they're usually not spaced very far apart.