getting it all down in cyberspace

My mom was notorious for forgetting things about my childhood, especially when it was convenient to forget them. Things like putting me to bed at 4:30 in the afternoon one day because my parents were having company for dinner and didn't want a little kid interrupting them. I distinctly remember going to bed during the summer while it was still daylight out; the shades weren't pulled down on my bedroom window and from my position in the top bunk, I could see kids running around and playing in the street. Mom had forgotten the 4:30 tidbit and used to swear (well, okay, mom never "swore" about anything, but she'd insist on it vehemently) that she never put me to bed early enough to see other kids playing, but then one day she was listening to her journal tapes (she'd audiotape herself or us talking) and, yep, there was the 4:30 confession. Then, of course, she conveniently forgot about the tape and, within a year, was back to swearing (insisting) that she never would have done that and I there must be something wrong with my memory. I'm not to the point of convenient memory loss yet with my daughter, but there are some things that I don't want to forget because they're just so precious. So, instead of audiotapes (which I'll find someday and ask God to tell mom, "Told ya so"), I'm using cyberspace, digital photos, and video.

I know I write this every time, but I cannot believe how fast Bridget's changing and growing up. Suddenly she's speaking in sentences. Her personality's shining through more and more, and she has pronounced opinions and big attitudes. And every day I can't help but believe how much I love and am blessed by this little girl.

Recently, Bridget's been telling people to give her high fives; proudly proclaiming, "I'm one!" with her finger stuck out in front of her; and letting everyone around her know that she's a funny girl (by literally saying, "I'm funny"). I've captured two of the three on video here. Al loves the way she runs—from the back you see her twisting her upper body back and forth with her arms stuck up in the air, kind-of like Phoebe in that Friends episode and wants to get that on video. She's also decided that the perfect place for her baby is in our bedroom closet on top of Al's work shirts. She loves Mya, and when we were at the park the other day and saw a man with a doberman, she was very concerned that he was taking Mya for a walk without us (she kept asking where Mya was going). And last night when I had a headache and was laying listlessly on the couch, she kept coming up to me, patting my face and back (we rub her back when we put her to bed), and giving me hugs and telling me, "Night night, mommy." She has the sweetest temperament. Well, at times.

It's becoming very apparent that Bridget's got my stubborn, I-want-it-my-way streak, because when she doesn't get her way she dramatically (and very deliberately) lays down on the floor, puts her head in her arms, and starts "sobbing." There are very rarely any real tears accompanying these tirades. She's also recently decided that she'd rather not go to bed alone, so after a year and a half of great bedtime routines, she's begun to make a fuss and try to connive her way into letting us fall asleep in our arms instead of her crib—and sleep with her all night if she happens to wake up and have her way about it. There have been a few times when I have ended up sleeping with her on the couch in the family room—it all started because she's been having a horrible time teething lately (her canines are all coming in) and she had a cold and/or allergies on top of it. But I'm determined not to make this a regular occurrence—and since I've had much more practice at being stubborn than she has, I'm sure I'll win out eventually. It's just the nights when I want something resembling sleep and she seems to be in a lot of pain that I give in (I'm a very light sleeper, so crying Bridget=no sleep for mommy. Al doesn't wake up enough to ever help in this area.).

All of these random thoughts/memories to say that I'm going to make more of an effort to get stuff committed to memory (and cyberspace) more often. Let's say, maybe twice a week. So see you next month. ;)