Mommy and daughter day

I have just been the blogging fool lately. Aric has been gone alot for work since we've been back from vacation so I've been spending more time at night blogging instead of cleaning my house, like I should be. No jury duty today, yeah!!! One week over with, and one week to go.

Today Brecklen was going to play at a friend's house for much of the day, and I didn't have to do any errands for once, so I decided to take Hannah out to do something fun. She always gets dragged around on my errands, and she takes the brunt of it because I always try to do errands when Brecklen is gone playing at a friend's house. So I realized that I don't think that Hannah and I have ever really had "fun" together. Yes we've been to the park and so on, but not really any set aside bonding time out of the house, just the two of us alone. I go out with both kids all the time to do fun little things, but never with just Hannah. I thought that was kinda sad, but then I realized that she's barely two, and wouldn't have really comprehended the idea of a mommy and me day. This was last minute, so I decided we would go to a storytime at a bookstore that I thought she would enjoy. I know, fancy huh? She was really excited though and kept calling it "party time." Sadly enough we arrived and no storytime today. So we played around the toy store with all the puzzles and dollhouses around. She had so much fun playing with the dolls and the dollhouse that I was tempted to get it for her. A little too pricey to buy on a whim, but I'll keep that in mind. We had alot of fun playing in the toy store, and when I said it was time to go so we can get lunch she just stopped and came with me. I was so proud of her. I was expecting a huge fight. I have to say Brecklen was never good at that, it was always a struggle to get him to leave the fun. So I learned that Hannah is a really good listener. And then I realized that she has always been this way. So we both left happily out of the toy store.

Next to do was to eat. I asked her if she wanted McDonalds or go to the mall and find something there. McD's was right across the street from us, which she noticed, so wanted to go there. I tried to talk her out of it, but she insisted. So she got her fancy happy meal with the polly pockets toy and was very happy. We parked in the parking lot of McD's and Hannah got to sit in the front seat to eat with me. She never gets to do this, I am sure Brecklen would have snaked that spot, so it was special for her. She got to play with all the controls in the front, play with the windshield wipers, and honk the horn. She was having the time of her life. She sat on my lap and we snuggled for a bit and I told her I loved her and she got a big smile on her face and snuggled into me. She felt special, she had such a sweet look on her face. So then we went to Barnes and Nobles at the mall and read lots of books there. Then topped it off with some ice cream of her choice at Coldstone, our favorite. I think my kids could find that place with their eyes closed. Then she got to play at our little play area in the mall. That was our fun and exciting adventure. By that time it was past three, and we had been out partying all day. So she fell asleep in the car on the way home.

We both just had the best day and I am so glad we had the opportunity to do this. I think I will make time to do something special with my kids alot more often. It was easy with Brecklen, when he was an only child. We would have lots of fun together, and when Hannah's napping we get to spend time together then reading or playing a game, but I guess I didn't realize how little quality time I actually get to spend with Hannah alone (doing something other than the dreaded shopping and other errands). She is such a sweetheart and is different alone, and I didn't realize how much she craves my attention. We have no exactly been getting along lately and she has often been saying "I don't like you" since I was sick back in May and June. And even though I know she doesn't mean it, it is still not fun to hear. I think what she has been trying to say is "I need you" but didn't know how to say it.

It wasn't like I planned anything fancy, but it didn't matter to her, she just wanted to do something that was just for her. I look forward to doing this again in the near future.