1)Camm's B-day, I woke up extremely early (earlier than usual on a Sunday) to make pancakes for her special meal.
2)Mike lead worship for the very first time ever. So that left me alone getting the girls ready.
3)We had an extremely long service due to commissioning of friends unto Mexico.
4)We went to R.R. and got stuck in the "Hall of Fame" crowd.
5)Of course we hit Starbucks after :)
6)I wanted to squeeze in Christmas card photos w/no luck.
7)The only time I had to take Abbey alone on our special "BACK TO SCHOOL" dates we started last year. Mike has to be available for this.
8)Grabbed some much need groceries from Wal-mart.
9)Hurried back home fed girls a snack to tide them over, got Cam up from her nap, changed her back into her dress, forgot to apply the much missed bug spray, loaded up the kids and the stroller.
10)We headed to the historical park to meet the photographer in time. And proceeded to spend exuberant amounts of energy trying to capture Cam's 2 year pictures.
BUT THIS POST IS ABOUT #7:Abbey's special date alone w/Mom.
Abbey had recently been begging me for a special date. Because Emme gets them all the time. In my effort to keep my middle child of all-the-same-sex-siblings included I had left Ab out a bit. So this was a perfect opportunity to spend some much needed alone time together.
First, we headed out to Marshall's for a first day of school outfit. Although I know my children are different it was fun seeing the stark contrast of Ab & Em's personalities on our dates.
The actual event was Surreal. Shopping for the first time alongside my own child. These are the dreams moms to all boys are envious of. I planned on enjoying myself to the fullest. I myself am not a clothes fiend and have always dis-liked trying on clothes not to mention I hate having to many choices. SO this would be interesting I thought. Abbey is already price conscious and that alone is her only deliberation. She walked in on a mission. "get in and get out". Ha (there you are my son. ONLY JOKING). She marched right up to the rack, "no, no, no, YEP". Some more, "yeps" determined which ones cost more and handed the finalists efficiently to me. "Let's go try these on. " she giggled.
SERIOUSLY???? Wow,
"But Abs what about this???", I asked while holding a plaid pink/gold sundress. Plus a beautiful shirt. (Of course i loved this shirt and she knew it).
"Mom, that is so you".
"What? Did I just here that right??" But she was right. My internal dialogue. I'm not gonna make her buy this shirt, but we could try it on??
On the way to the dressing rooms we hit the shoe isle. "These, these & these". Whoa nellie. I said 2 pair. We grabbed a few to try them on as well.
MUCH to my surprise in the dressing room she loved the sundress. And I loved it even more. It fit so well. I teared up. As usual. My baby, my firstborn, whom I was once clueless on how to parent, is now growing up right before my eyes. Carrying on actual conversations w/ very real distinct opinions herself. I love you baby girl, was all I kept thinking.
My thought drifted to my own mother. Wow, wasn't that just yesterday. As I remembered back I could visualize myself standing in Abbey's place, my mother in mine. I appreciate all she did for me, her tireless efforts in raising us right, her squeezing a budget to make sure I always had my first day of school outfit.
"Mom, Mom"..... "You're going to CRY aren't you?"
Wow. She already knows me so well. (Just like I do my mother -Maybe that's a symptom of the Mother/Daughter relationship- I am more emotionally intune/invested than my boy brothers??? But that's another story)
Ok so even though I hate shopping I LOOVVE having new stuff. We walked out w/slightly more than I intended. But the experience was totally worth it.
We finished our date off next door at Panera's. I couldn't wait to see what she chose to eat. Emme previously had broccoli soup in a bread bowl w/hot chocolate. She ate ever so slowly, tearing bread, stopping to talk, dunking her bread, more talking, giggling, going potty, tearing some more bread and so on....
Abbey on the other hand chose a huge delicious looking, drizzled in chocolate, brownie. W/fresh squeezed lemonade. YUM my kind of meal. But by the time I retrieved our drink and acquired utensils half the brownie was gone.
"Don't you want to slow down and savor your dessert?" I ask.
"nope". SMILE.
Hmmm. Why not? We are usually so the same about everything. Me and Abbey. Even the food selection here. But obviously there are ways in which we are different. Our taste in clothes for example. And the way in which I chose to linger over my meal. Controlling my desire to devour my Delicious looking food at the expense of a social experience. An exchange between myself and someone else, rich w/ conversation and deep in connecting. I fall into Emm's column here. So weird.
I couldn't help but analyze their comparisons and contrasts. They do both come from me. But again so weird. I love it though, having the privilege to take them out alone to see for myself their unique, individual personalities. After all Abbys' love of clothes and people for that matter is in there somewhere, her idea of loving is simply different than me or say..... EMME.
And in case you were wondering, we did manage to pick-up the much needed 'school supplies.'
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