I find this comes with it's ups and downs. Delaney has always had an independent streak since the first time she crawled across the floor to take her brothers their bottles. Yes, it started very early. She's always been the one that I could give a job and know the task would be completed to the best of her ability. Recently, I decided it was time to split bath time. I told Delaney she would be showering in the guest/hall bathroom. She hesitated and then realized this was something special. We moved her own shampoo and conditioner into the bathroom and it was all she could think of the rest of the day. She couldn't wait to shower and bragged to her brothers about her new bathroom. (As if they cared, they will probably be happy for mommy to bathe them until they are old men!) At one point, she said, "the only thing that would be better would be if the bathroom was in my room!" If she only knew how much she will really mean those words one day.
It's been nice to have her shower on her own. She's also decided she's quite old enough to fix her own hair. Blow drying is helpful but she is locked into one style and the only one style she knows, is a low pony tail. Of course she doesn't get her hair all that smooth on top. I've been really trying to let it go most of the time;
after all, it is summer!
Occasionally, when we have something special planned or just church, I would like her to branch out to another style or at least have it look a little more in tact, I have to really persuade her to let me fix it.
Delaney spends most of her play time, writing and drawing. She's now authoring books with paragraphs, she's written down at least 12 pages of
choreography to dances she has made up and is currently working on several fashion magazines. But, the other day, she actually got out her old baby doll, Abby. Since this
occasion was somewhat rare, I decided I should snap a picture. She loves taking care of small kids. Wherever we go, she always gravitates towards the younger kids and is a loving mother hen.
Of course, we are very proud of her independence and sense of
responsibility even if at times, it creates a little parent/child conflict.
As we were hoisted up, I pretty much shut my eyes this time around, only opening for small glimpses. I'm sure my husband can't believe I ever did this. He was really good to me and tried to calm me along the way. Here we are hanging 180 feet in the air, where I told him, a Coach purse was in my future, to which he agreed.
After the initial plunge, I managed to settle in and enjoy the experience. It is something I won't soon forget and I am glad this time around, I shared it with my husband. It's often said that love is an action rather than a feeling. Honey, I hope this spoke to you loud and clear this day!
After a good day of driving, we were ready for a night out in San Antonio!
Here's the gang after a quick dip in the pool, ready for some real adventure and fun, as we set out to find some slides.
Swimming....a daily occurance, followed by flavor ice, even though they would really prefer snow cones.
Mr. Happy wasn't feeling so happy here. He was being very stuborn.
But, he finally caved and gave me a little of the Jax, I know and love.
With just a little over a month of summer left, we plan to treausre every moment. I can't say that I've accomplished all that much this summer, but I've decided not to feel all that guilty about it. We're all happy on most days so that's an accomplishment in itself.
