Monday With My Love Bug

The past few weeks, I’ve felt like a bad Mom b/c Autumn always wants to play and do stuff when I get home from work, but I’m usually too tired and just want to relax.  So, she’ll go find something to do to entertain herself or she’ll ask Papa to play w/ her, which he always does.  Last night I went in to turn off Autumn’s fan and went over and kissed her little cheek while she was sleeping and the tears just started flowing.  I realized how fast she is growing up and that I need to be better about spending time w/ her.  I know I say that all the time, b/c it’s a constant thing I’m working to improve on.  Anyways, I stopped and got some Wendy’s after work and when I picked her up at college and she asked if we could go to the park (like she does everyday when I pick her up), it was so fun to say YES instead of no.

We drove over to the park and got our blanket out and had a little picnic.  She was so snuggly and would eat her hamburger while laying on my lap and asking me to play w/ her hair or rub her back.  Then she asked me to take a picture of her showing me her food.  Gross, but it was her day so I obliged.

I kept teasing her that if she didn’t eat her fries I was going to have to.  She loved it that I was teasing her and took her fries and started running around the blanket saying, “you can’t catch me.  You can’t catch me.”

After we ate, she saw some kids running up and down this little hill and wanted to try it.  I told her I would time her to see how long it took.  It took her 20 seconds, which is longer than usual, b/c she had to walk across (and jump) on the grates inside the cement edging.  Then she had to go around that green box just because.  I love pictures of her long hair flying behind her when she runs.

She saw other kids playing and having a grand old time in the water, but she would just stand there and watch them.  She wanted me to go in the water, so I went and got my feet wet.  I guess I’ll have to bring her swimsuit next time so she’ll go play in the water.  She wanted to run around on the playground, but I was wearing sandals that wouldn’t stay on my feet if I ran, so I just watched her.

I was finally able to pry her away from the park and we went home and watched a little bit of Dancing With The Stars and then she asked if we could make brownies.  She LOVES to eat the batter (just like me) and I finally had to say no more and put them in the oven so we’d have enough batter to cook.  After we had a warm brownie w/ ice cream on top, it was time for bed.  I put her to bed and blogged for a little bit and then Nick & I stayed up until midnight watching How I Met Your Mother & Whose Line.

It was so fun to spend some good, quality time w/ Autumn Bottom so that I don’t just TELL her that she’s my greatest blessing, but I also SHOW her that she’s my greatest blessing.