Sometimes

I am just absolutely overwhelmed at how much I love this beautiful little girl.

  And others 

I am am absolutely overwhelmed at how difficult it is to be be her mother!

 (maybe that should read "a mother")

That is why this post is important!  I'll need a point of reference for how amazing she is as we head into our first official year of homeschool!

 Don't get me wrong I'm very excited to have the opportunity to be her teacher.

 I love that I'll get to be the one that sees the light go off in her deep brown eyes when the connections are made. I love that I get to be the one to light the fire and ignite the passion  for learning.  

These are the fun parts. The reasons. The motivation.

I'm also realistic.  I know there will be days when circumstances beyond my control will make me want to give up.  Days when everyone is melting and no one is having fun and I'll just need a pint.  

Of ice cream. 

Those are the days this post is for. To help me remember WHY this is important

and how special and wonderful this little one is.

Shes imaginative.
 She can spend hours playing elaborate games with fairies and sprites in her room and has entire conversations with her stuffed animals.

Shes smart.
She figured out how to write Ivy's name all by herself and
is chomping at the bit to learn how to read.
 good thing we're starting Sept 10th ;)

Shes artistic.
So so artistic. I am amazed at the pictures she draws and the stories she tells me to go with them.
 My little curly haired artist...
 

She's sweet.
 I love to lay next to her at bedtime when she'll inevitably say,
with her little hand on my face,
"mama, what was your favorite part of today?"
 Hearing her daily observations is usually my favorite part.

She loves her little sister.

sometimes a little roughly...but loves her all the same

I haven't once heard her say anything negative or seen any jealously since Ivy arrived and I am so thankful for this.  I love to walk in on her being sweet to her sister and seeing her laying on the floor next to Ivy with her little arm around her gives me that proud heart bursting feeling. You know the one I'm talking about...

 She's hilarious.  

 I know, I know, what 4 year old isn't?  But oh she makes us laugh.

 Just last night she came and got me so I could come look at Daddy laying on the floor because,

 "hes just so cute." She had covered him with a blanket and given him a teddy bear "to snuggle with"

(for the record-he was pretty cute laying there under that tiny blanket with a smirk on his face)

She brings so much light to our lives! I cannot imagine life any other way!

 I love who she is. I love seeing little glimpses of who she will become. 

 I love that I'm her mother.

I love you my sweet Gwen!

~Mama