Dinner with Nora

I have heard and read about horror stories of dining out with toddlers.  But I have to just brag on my little girl tonight.

We decided to go out to eat @ Ruby Tuesdays tonight, sort of to celebrate Jordan's new job.

Nora was a rockstar!

She colored until the food came.  We had 3 crayons and she insisted that we color with her.  She was so sweet and inclusive.  Of course she said Hi and waved to people.  So great.

Then when appetizers came she sat next to me eating with a fork and insisting she had to dip her chicken in the dip bowl, not the dip I had placed on her plate. :)  Then she started coloring again until dinner came.  Again she was just so prim and proper eating her food (well as prim and proper as a toddler can be.)  She was very excited about her daddy's fries and asked for dip (ketchup).  Then we played with her stuffed animal she had brought and she would get down and back up on the booth.

So thankful we got a corner booth so she had an area she could be rowdy in.  She even got down to dance at one point.  I highly recommend booths when you go out with kiddos, controlled freedom. :)

Then the best part; dessert!  I got a triple chocolate cake and Jordan got cheesecake.  She got all excited and climbed next to me and said "bite?"  I gave her a bite and she put her hands up to her face, "mmmm!" HAHA! we were dying laughing!  Then Jordan offered her some cheesecake and she says "No no no no no!"  even pushing Jordan's hand away and then leans toward me with her mouth wide open.  Again riotous laughing.  She takes after her momma!

I just love how she is just our little buddy and how friendly she is when people stop to say hi or watch her cuteness.  It is not always like this, but what a fun night!

O and the food was grrrrrreat!!!  My steak could be pulled apart with a fork. sooooooooooo good!  yea it was a great night.  Alright thats all, no revelations just wanted to remember this and brag on my baby girl.

musings

I remember back during our first couple months of marriage, in our beyond tiny apartment, Jordan and I had a conversation.

Jordan: "When we have kids, we should have a rule that they are not allowed to talk to us when we are going to the bathroom.  That we would get to go to the bathroom in peace."

Me:  "Ooo, that's a good idea. Yep, lets make that happen."

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Looking back on it all I can do is chuckle to myself.  Oh, how naive we were.

But it gets me to thinking, remembering (or at least trying to) what it was like to live without Nora.  Only having to think about each other and what we wanted to do.  I didn't have to dress another person and prep snacks etc before I ran to store for 3 things, only to come home 2 hours later.

Honestly, there is much I miss about that kind of freedom.  But then I realize how much joy there is in hearing my girl say banana or watching her take of her own coat, zipper and all, or how she insists I wear my hat too.  How much fun it is to tell her what we are getting at the grocery store and hear her try and say the words.  Or letting her pick out the produce and put it in the bag.  And yes even when she comes bursting into the bathroom yelling for me as I pee, I love my life with her in it.

It just blows my mind to think how little I knew life with a child would be like.  I'm convinced there is no preparing for life with your first child.  Not for the challenges, the lack of sleep, the rediscovery of the simple things or the joys they bring every moment of the day.

But most of all our children teach us of how fleeting life is.  All to soon moments are gone, stages are passed and all you are left with are memories and hopes of what's to come.

That's why I hold tight, close my eyes, take a deep breath and try to memorize the way it feels everytime Nora gives me a long hug.