The Balloon that Became a Fish--a story about being positive

Molly got a balloon at Nugget. She held onto it so tight (the clip AND the string) so it wouldn't fly away before we got to the car. As I was putting groceries into the car, Molly went to play/stand by a tree so she was out of the parking lot. The balloon popped. :( She was shocked then... huge, sincere croc tears. She was so distraught. I wanted to go back in and get another but we had popscicles and it was hot. I tried to console her, she cried and cried. Then part way home she stopped and said, "Well it is good that I still have the clip and the string to play with." OMG. A few minutes later she pretended it was a fishing pole and the busted balloon at the end was a fish, she 'caught' it over and over until we got home. She amazes me. She can do at four what many adults cannot.

Molly is 4 today

Four years ago today I had the more intense, scary, life-threatening but thrilling and life changing day of my life. Molly entered this world in a flury, making her mark on all of our lives from the very beginning. I was struck by how quickly that mama-bear instinct kicked in...the "find-my-baby" story is still brings a rush of emotion. I'm amazed that the fierceness in which I became a mom has continued and maybe even grown over these 4 years. She remains the single most amazing thing I've ever done.

And now she's four. She finished her first year of preschool, she is so independent, so smart, so engaged. She dresses herself, brushes her own teeth and hair (and not even with the same brush!), she can get things out of drawers, out of the cabinets, the frig...she can do so much for herself. She can cut, write her own name, spell and read at least a dozen words. She has her own ideas about the world (and the afterlife), she is bright and interesting, she talks non-stop...she seems so grown.

And four is no more kidding around. No more baby. No more toddler. She is four...but she is only four.

Today, sadly, Molly had a well-child check up complete with a shot...not the best way to kick off your birthday.

But we got it over with (and she was very brave) and went to pick out gummies (huge treat) and then decided to celebrate the day and put the doctor visit behind us with Build-a-Bear. We've never done it but it was pretty fun. Molly picked out her bear skin

got her filled

dressed her, named her Marcie, and made her a birth certificate. Then Marcie went everywhere with us today.

In true Seely family tradition, I asked Molly what she wanted for her birthday dinner. I told her that she could have anything she wanted. She said that she wanted to go to Thai Food! Such a kid! And so we went to Thai food...Molly, Marcie, daddy, and I.

After dinner Molly leaned over and said to me "there's a party in my tummy with all the food." Love her. Love her so much!

Happy 4th of July!

Golfing with GrammiE and PopPop












Pool at Tahoe Donner










Playing at Lake Tahoe















ah...what a life!