cool as a cucumber

In last week's heat, Pearl spent a lot of time in tanks and dresses.

Onesie: Carter's (gift)

Bloomers: Carter's (gift)

As you can see, she was very excited about it.

on having a daughter

I always saw myself as the mother that would end up with all boys.

Coming from a house of all girls, it just seemed like it would be a better "fit" for me ...  Something that I'd be able to keep up with and wholly enjoy.

I guess it all stems from the fact that I've never been very girly ...

Ponytails were my hairstyle of choice. 

Powdering my face with dust from the softball field was more appealing than powdering it with actual make-up.

Skirts and dresses were for funerals.

Batman was way cooler than My Little Pony.

Boys were better left as friends ... And nothing more (a stance I held until I was seventeen).

So, being a mother to all boys just made sense.  It was something that would be comfortable ...  Maybe even easy.

Yet, now that I have a daughter, I am seeing myself in a whole different light.  I may have been a tomboy for most of my life, but I have a lot to offer a girl of my own ...

There is strength in "being your own person" and never really following the crowd (even if the crowd consists of a bunch of teenage girls).

A brain and some confidence are sexier than a trendy outfit.

It is possible to fulfill multiple obligations (to be mother, wife, friend, sister, daughter, working woman) ...  And to fulfill them well!

The longer I am greeted by Pearl's smiling face each morning, the more I realize how silly I was to think raising a girl would be inherently harder than raising a boy. 

While I am well aware that the challenges are spread out before me, the most important things remain the same. 

Any child of mine will need to have esteem and self-worth, to know that they are valuable exactly as they are. 

Any child of mine will know unconditional love, no matter what trouble (or lack of trouble) they find themselves in.

Boy or girl, I will be the best mother I can be.

So, although I didn't expect this life (I fully expected Pearl to be a boy), I am so happy that it is mine.

When Pearl arrived, my entire universe changed.  Our family changed, and with it, so did my attitude about "daughters being difficult."

We may only be three months in, but I can honestly say that I am proud to be the mother of a daughter.

I am excited to see where this journey will take us!

unfair

After a full (and tiring) day, with both kids down for the count by 8:30, I plopped down on the couch and looked over at my husband.

"It's unfair how amazing our kids are," I said.

And it really is.

I totally mean it.

After a full week of playing in and out of the house, and taking some trips to various local destinations (like nature centers, museums, and outdoor pools), I saw it with such clarity ...

I am so lucky.

My kids are amazing.

Malcolm, at two-and-a-half, is always ready to explore and get into something new.  He is full of energy, sometimes literally bouncing off the walls, yet he can dial it back and quietly focus on reading a book or playing with his cars.  He is talking up a storm (music to my ears!) and is quite the little comedian without even trying.  Sure, he can throw tantrums and shout "no!" with the best of them,  but, overall, he is extremely agreeable and eager to please.  To steal a phrase from my mother, he is "the perfect first child."

And Pearl.

My little portable Pearl is a ball of sunshine and smiles.  She's not as clingy as her first six weeks would suggest, but she does like a good snuggle.  She's a great sleeper (even Malcolm's incessant ruckus doesn't disturb her during the day), and is so patient ...  Although she prefers to eat every two hours like clockwork, she is flexible when she needs to be (already, she understands how to "take one for the team").  She's got a determined little personality, and, sometimes when she's kicking around on the floor, she looks like she's trying figure out how the rest of us are walking ...  I have a feeling that she is going to be trouble one day in the not-too-distant future!

As I sit here and think back on our fun-filled week, I find it hard to believe that things were ever any different ...  That Pearl is still somewhat "new" to us, and that she wasn't even here only four months ago.

It's funny how my family can change and grow, yet still feel so completely comfortable.

My kids are amazing ...

And if this past week is any indication, the rest of our summer is going to be amazing, too!

It really is unfair.

If only everyone could be so lucky.

fun at the rocky river nature center

Now that Malcolm is two-and-a-half, he is so much fun to "take out."  Not only is he typically quite well-behaved (and followed directions well), he is happy just about anywhere as long as he has the opportunity to explore and get into everything.

So, I coaxed him out of the house this week with the promise of seeing a "big shark" (I know, I know, it's really a prehistoric Dunkleosteus) at the Rocky River Nature Center.

It didn't disappoint.

Sleeveless tee-shirt: Jumping Beans (hand-me-down)

Jean shorts: Jumping Beans (hand-me-down)

Sandals: Disney (hand-me-down)

Inside the center, he enjoyed stacking checkers ...

Completing puzzles ...

And playing in and around a huge oak tree ...

(I couldn't convince him to climb into a huge turtle shell ...  Maybe next time.)

Not only did the center offer respite from the summer heat, it would also be a great rainy day destination.  I'm sure we'll be back to have even more adventures in the years to come ...

sleepy siblings

Summer is here!

While I'm trying to get out of the house and explore new parks and places with Malcolm (more about some of them later!), we are also spending a good chunk of time indoors to beat the mid-day heat (and wind down before nap time). 

In those usually quiet moments, it is so fun to see the little relationship forming between my children. 

They are quite the pair ...  And I just know that they are going to be the best of friends!