Belly Laughs

Today my tiny baby laughed - really laughed - for the first time. She is a very smiley, happy baby, and she has had little almost giggles, but not like the real laugh she gave me today. And thanks to my mom, I have it on video. I don't care how hardened or cynical you are, when you hear a baby laugh, part of you just melts inside. L was on my lap, and I was snuzzling her little neck and making fake laughing noises, and I guess it tickled her funny bone. I had tears streaming down my face as she laughed and laughed. When M laughed for the first time, it was for the dog. (Don't tell my husband...he thinks he inspired her first laugh) But this time, my baby's first laugh was for me! Baby laughter is very powerful (just ask Tinkerbell - Disney taught me that fairies are born from a baby's first laugh) and is one of my most favoritest sounds in the world. But I was unprepared for the impact this milestone had on me today. I am quite sure that the fairy born this afternoon will be the best one ever.

I am

I was catching up on my blog reading this week, and ran across something that hit me. One blogger had a list on her blog of what she is and is not. She had a very interesting, comprehensive list. I thought, "wow, I don't know that I could come up with that impressive of a list". But then last night, in the quiet dark hours trying to get my baby to sleep, I began creating my own list in my head. And I surprised myself. I suspect that this list is a fluid one - ever changing and evolving - but I thought I would give it a try, and share what I am and am not, at least for today.

1. I am Christian

2. I am a good mom - even when my teenager disagrees

3. I am outgoing

4. I am a moderate procrastinator

5. I am conservative

6. I am patient...sometimes

7. I am impatient...often

8. I am a writer

9. I am an avid reader

10. I am a nurturer

11. I am thoughtful

12. I am smart

13. I am grateful

14. I am not graceful

15. I am not an outdoorswoman

16. I am creative

17. I am a wife

18. I am blessed

19. I am an aunt

20. I am a sister

21. I am a granddaughter (and great granddaughter)

22. I am a worrier

23. I am afraid of spiders

24. I am a Disneyphile

25. I am loving

26. I am very protective of my family

27. I am asthmatic

28. I am not meek

29. I am not subtle

30. I am dramatic

31. I am a singer

32. I am a multi-tasker

33. I am a caregiver

34. I am strong

35. I am very hard on myself

36. I am injury prone

37. I am careful

38. I am loud

39. I am learning


Wow. It is amazing to me what making this list did. It made me take inventory of where I am, what I am, who I am. There are things on the list that I am proud of, and some things that, well, not so much. But they are on the list because I want to be aware of them, work on changing them and be a better me. How about you? What does your list look like?

Mini-me

Yesterday L was 3mos and 3 days old. Not usually a significant milestone, but it required a special photo session. You see, at the exact same age, I had my pictures taken in a white sweater dress with green trim. Also at the exact same age, M had her photos taken in the same dress. So, you guessed it, L had her pics taken in the same dress. The dress was a bit more snug on her than it was on me or her sister, but adorable nonetheless.



The other notable difference is that L has very little hair. What she does have is reddish blond and beautiful. Baldish babies are kind of an anomaly in my family. Even my niece, who has been blonde since day one, had tons of hair. Not L. She has very little hair. It is growing, though. I hope it stays reddish. I love red hair.

Anyway, it got me to thinking about some of the differences between me and L and M. I always thought M was as much of a mini-me as I could get. Until I saw L. Wow. She is soooo much like M in so many ways, and M is so much like me, but put my baby pic next to L's and it is kinda freaky. The only difference is that I had a full head of hair and, well, she doesn't, and that she is a little bigger than I was. Not only does she look like me, but the expressions, body positions and mannerisms are already just like mine. We even stretch the same way. I wonder what else will be the same, and what will be unique to her.

When I was a kid (oh, who am I kidding, I am still this way) I did not like to get dirty, sticky or get any nature on me. I never liked finger painting, and much to my mother's dismay, categorically refused to squish my bare toes in the mud. I do not like to get nature on me (which is a challenge when we go camping). Very prissy. However, I also refused to be girly - no lacy, frilly clothes or dresses for me. I much prefered the jeans and tee comfort, thank you very much. M was (and is) quite the opposite. She has no qualms about getting dirty, loves to climb trees and "be one" with nature. But as a little girl, she preferred to do it in a dress. Go figure. It makes me wonder what L will be like in that regard. Like me? Like M? or somewhere in between? I guess I will just have to wait and find out. I can't wait!