I’m officially the mother of a little girl. Not a baby. Not a toddler…a LITTLE GIRL!
Maile melted my heart the day she was born. I was certain she was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen…and I wasn’t just saying that because she was mine. ;) I was wrapped around her little finger, but boy she was moody.
When she got hungry we got no warning. She went from 0 to 60 in .02 seconds and she was strictly breastfed. God forbid I actually left the house for longer than two hours…I’d come home and poor Pat would be pacing around the island in our kitchen with Maile strapped to the car seat. She would NOT take a bottle. Stubborn little thing.
When Maile was one she was a MAMA’S girl. Finally on the bottle, but would NOT let me out of her sight. If I went upstairs and left her downstairs with Pat she would scream and cry and run around looking for me until I came back.
It’s a wonder Pat even loves her at all. Well not really. Just look at that face. How could you not?? But her clingy-ness…while sweet…drove me nuts. I couldn’t do anything without Maile screaming to be held or demanding something from me. She taught me the importance of routine and schedule and kept me in line. When Maile turned two she knew all the letters of the alphabet by sight. She could sign book, cat, dog, milk, more, house, airplane, dad, eat, sorry, thank you and so much more. She knew her colors and she was potty trained. A very bright little girl. I should have just stuck her in first grade back then. However, I suppose she will benefit socially by spending these extra years at home.
By three Maile started to come out of her shell a little more. Always the shy one, it would take her forever to warm up to people. Every time we’d go to my Mom’s house for a family dinner she’d act like we were in a room filled with strangers…ducking between my legs and wanting to be held. God forbid one of her Aunties asked her to stop doing something, like licking frosting off of a birthday cake, she would break down into the most heart wrenching cry you’d ever seen. Everyone was careful when directing Maile because you just never knew what might send her over the edge. Just a little sensitive is all.
At four Maile had figured out how to get Laina to do her dirty work for her…I think that sibling manipulation comes from Pat’s side. The two of them were a dynamic duo. Maile knew the rules (like no playing with the cat food) and instead of breaking them herself she would set Laina up to do the deed and laugh and egg her on. Then when Pat and I came into the picture she would just point at Laina all wide eyed like “I didn’t do anything!!!”
At five Maile is the BEST little girl. Rarely does she have a meltdown. Well. She did tonight because I wouldn’t let her watch Spongebob when it was time for bed…but for the most part I swear, she’s a model child. And I’m not just saying that because I’m her mom. ;) She’s totally into princesses and pink and purple and ice cream and coloring and all things girly. She’s smart and endearing and compassionate and sweet and funny and boy do I love her so so so so much. I know it sounds cliche…but it really is amazing to watch someone’s personality develop and change over the course of just five years. I can’t believe how much she’s grown from that beautiful little baby I brought home from the hospital into this walking, talking, opinionated little girl.
Now someone tell her to stop it…before I know it boys will be calling the house for her and I will be losing sleep at night waiting for her to come home. NOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Happy Birthday Maile!!