All bows are placed courtesy of Olivia... she is obsessed.
This is the one thing that terrified me the most… what do you mean Mike and I are responsible for raising a human being? Do I need to take a class? Where do I file for my parenting license? Where are my textbooks and slideshow presentations? Who will be my teacher/supervisor? This is how I have handled everything else in my life! What do you mean my instincts will prevail… how can I rely on freaking instincts??? Well my friends, what everyone has said is true, Olivia will survive and she is doing a damn good job doing so.
I have had some help from the village (aka my support system) and each of them holds an incredibly special place in my heart. Let me introduce my sanity:
Subject #1: my handsome husband! (I initially typed adorable, but it just doesn’t have the same appeal J) I always knew that my rock would be an amazing dad, but the word amazing doesn’t even begin to describe it. He is the best father, and you can see it written all over Olivia’s face anytime he walks into the room! He keeps the eye rolling to a minimum during my post-call lapses of sanity (I do work 24 hour shifts people), he changes dirty diapers, he rubs my feet each night, and most of all, he makes me want to be a better person.
Subject #2: GiGi (aka. my mom). Each time this ah-maz-ing woman rings my phone; I promptly pass the phone to Olivia, as she is no longer looking for me. I am now playing second fiddle to my daughter, and strangely… I could not be happier. GiGi has replaced the word ‘mom’, painted handprint cards from her princess have replaced the poems from her daughter, pictures of us have been replaced by countless pictures of Olivia, and I am no longer the first to receive a hug when she eagerly walks through the door. But you know what this means? She absolutely adores her daughter’s daughter (if I mentioned the word GRANDdaughter she would hunt me down). She can elicit Olivia’s ‘belly laugh’ at the drop of a hat, she lovingly refers to her as ‘princess’ and she treats her like one, and when she is around Olivia almost forgets about the woman who birthed her. I LOVE this woman from the bottom of my soul and she returns that love 10-fold. We are blessed.
Subject #3: PawPaw (my stepdad). He LOVES our little girl and you know how I can tell? He eagerly awaits the opportunity to pull her from my mother’s grasp, he carries her around the yard and talks to her about flowers and tomato plants, he reads her books and wipes the avocado off her face, and anytime she does something, she always looks to make sure he is watching. He can’t help but think she is a piece of paradise after raising me!
Subject #4: Grandpa (my dad). He affectionately calls her Ollie, and I absolutely love it! Just about as much as they love each other. Aside from my two dogs, I think she is his favorite person on the planet. He laughs at her antics, he plays tireless games with her (how many times CAN we put the golf ball in the bag?), and he feeds her goldfish (a sure fire way to win her heart). She is the topic of most of his conversations and he beams with pride each time he gets to hold her. So glad he is a part of her life!
Subject #5: Grandma (Mike’s mom). Olivia’s is one of the most fashionable chicks on the planet thanks to her grandma! She is also going to be one of the smartest because of this wonderful woman. She finds the craziest educational toys; some even give me a run for my money. She constantly reminds Olivia that she is loved through memento’s, phone calls and visits and Olivia lights up at the mere sight of her. She is a wonderful grandma… and for that we could not be more thankful.
Subject #6: Grandpa (Mike’s dad). Each time they are together you can’t help but feel happy. Maybe it is the huge smile plastered on his face anytime she is around. He sings her the ABC song, he refers to her as ‘little dudette’, he will drive for 10 days to see her for 30 minutes, he is the first to comfort her when she is upset, he bounces her until she squeals with delight, and he holds her so close that their cheeks touch… which melts my heart.
Subject #7: RaRa… as Olivia has affectionately named her. She is one of the biggest blessings in our little lives. She is Olivia’s caretaker, but she is so much more than that. Olivia LOVES this woman and I can totally see why. She taught her sign language (which Olivia promptly taught me), she lets her play with paint and markers, she encourages her confidence with cheers, she reads her the same book 50 times in a row, and she lets her play with her food (in a good way). In fact, I am sure she is mostly responsible for shaping my baby into the toddler she is today. You rock Rebecca!
Subject #8: Aunt Kathy. Kathy is my sister from another mother (and from another father for that matter). She is mama’s savior…which relates directly to Olivia’s happiness. Everyone knows when mama’s happy, everyone is happy! She is my favorite wino, the first person I call when I am in tears, my silly (and sometimes grotesque) picture buddy, my nursing outlet, my partner in crime, and I love her more than I should admit. And if you think this is great, you should see her with Olivia.
Whew, that is a lot of people. So next time I am feeling sorry for my self and feel as though I am drowning with no one to throw me a life vest, point me back to this post. It seriously made me smile just thinking of all of these wonderful people.
XOXO,
Mama T
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