Bonsai

Quinn had her first taste of solid food today. A taste of mushed strawberry. Her eyes widened with excitement as she swallowed the puree; meanwhile a massive wave of sadness came over me as I watched my littlest achieve yet another milestone. My baby. My babies. They're growing up so quickly. 

I know it's important to live in the moment and savor the fact that my girls still want and need me, but my crazy mind can't help but fast forward to the future to the day they no longer think it's cool to hang with their mama. Oh, the heartbreak...

I must find a way to bonsai my children.

Pictured: My little sous chef Olive taste-testing the chocolate cake she helped bake and decorate for her old man.

Hopes & Dreams

When Olive was first born, she was gifted a lovely baby book. Or no. Rephrase. When Olive was first born, I was gifted a baby book. Because let's get real people. A baby book is really just mommy homework. Super moms eagerly fill them in regularly (like they're supposed to) while shitty moms *ahem*, push them to the side until their child hits 9 months of age, and then freak out. "What was the ankle biter's first word? When did she take her first step? A mini envelope to house a lock of hair from her first haircut?!" Uh-oh. I'd like to phone-a-friend...

Having forgotten all the sentimental stuff (details of who, what, when and where), I recall jumping to fill in all the blanks that did not require me to jog my memory. "Hopes and dreams for baby." Ermahgerd! I can tackle this one. I can make this up now. Felt-tip pen in hand, I scribbled, "When you grow up, I hope you grow up to be a happy non-asshole." Oh shit. I did not just curse in her baby book.

I did. Needless to say, I stopped filling out Olive's baby book after the third page...

Fast forward to today, my baby girl is exactly what I hoped and dreamed for. A happy non-asshole.

She is such a delight to have around. Funny and chatty. Kind and generous. Now... was I supposed to be more specific? As in, what hopes and dreams I hope for her career-wise? She's only two, but check her out. My little sous chef...

I may have created a monster...

Baby apron and utensils by Odette Williams