Those perfect moments as a parent

My sweet Princess turned 5 months old yesterday. This evening she was laying on my bed with her fingers in her mouth and a grin on her face, squealing in delight about nothing at all. No one was tickling her, no funny toys keeping her attention, she was just perfectly happy. Everytime she would squeal, she would kick her legs and laugh. Over and over again this happened, and a tear came to my eye as I thought how I envied her. She doesn't know worry, or true fear; she doesn't have to think about bills or the state of the world. Everything about her is care-free and innocent. I sat there watching her in awe. I couldn't think of anything more precious, more pure, than what I was witnessing. As a parent, it was a perfect moment.

My sweet Dancing Queen will turn 2 next month. Yesterday, when I went in to get her up from her nap, I found her in her crib in nothing but her diaper. I guess she's figured out how to undress herself. A few days ago, she came to me saying something that I couldn't quite understand, so I told her to show me. She immediately ran to the bathroom, and looked inside the toilet. There was her fluffy duck toy, floating in the bowl. Hmmmmm, lids down from now on I guess. Last night while I was running her bath, she pulled up that little thing that turns on the shower. Water sprayed all down the side of the tub and onto the floor. Oh, and did I mention her new favorite word? "NO!"

So, at times like these, I try to remember when I looked at Dancing Queen with awe and wonder as I looked at Princess tonight. I'm sure there was a time, but as I go around using my trusty "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser" to clean her artwork off the walls, I just can't seem to remember.

Then comes bedtime, and as I lay her down, she looks up at me and says "Ah you", which I know means "I love you", and makes a cute little kissing noise with her lips. Suddenly I recall the last time I looked at her that way. It was last night when I put her to bed, and the night before that, and the night before that....