Snowman Shuffle

Today was the Snowman Shuffle, a winter dance at school for the girls. (I don't know how, but I forgot to take pictures, shoot!)

Audrey is still at an easy age. She let me help pick out her outfit, pick out funky socks and boots and put some curls in her hair. Simple, no fuss . . . pre-pre teen.

Zoe is anything but that.

I am beginning to notice just how much Zoe is growing up.

I think that she is changing faster right now, because she is trying to find her place in a new group of friends. I know that she's at a much more difficult age than Audrey.

I have been unpacking boxes of clothing and having the girls try on the majority of it. They've been deciding what is going in their closets, what is too small and what is still too big.

There is suddenly another category that I didn't expect. The pile of clothes that Zoe decided she won't wear.

This is a new thing to me, because she is my garage saler, my deal shopper. Well, she was. Now she's looking at the tags.

Within the last few weeks, I've noticed that I no longer know what she likes.

I am learning a new set of rules. I have been asking Zoe "is this cool?" lately. And this is a new "cool" that I thought I knew, but have been told that I don't.

Cute is for kids. I'm learning not to use the word when referring to her.
Embroidered jeans are only acceptable if they are peace signs, not hearts or flowers.
Neon is the coolest. The brighter the better.
Hair must cover half the face. Which I know I did as a pre-teen, and I now hate it as much as I know my mother did.
Big hair accessories are a must. Bigger the better.

This is only the beginning . . . I know. I'm trying to keep up.

She started getting ready this morning. Took a shower, laid out her outfit, hair accessories, matching nail polish and then proceeded to practice hair styles all afternoon. Before dinnertime she came to me with her DSI in hand. She had taken a series of pictures of ways she was thinking of doing her hair.

This is not my Zoe . . . but it is.

I pointed out my favorite picture, which she agreed on  :) Shocked me that I got that right.

I'm not sure how much I like her growing up. But like all mothers, I don't think I have a choice . . .

But she's not so pre-teen that I can't get her to act like my little girl some of the time : )

My Little Man

I put my Cameron to bed tonight and said "Goodnight my 3 year old little man" and he replied "Goodnight my 10 year old mommie" :)

I can't believe the next time I see him, he will officially be 4 years old.

He has a little special place in my heart (as all my children do), but he is the one I spend most of my time with. If I favor talking about him and posting pictures of him, it's because he is the one that is always at my side. My buddy.

When he came into my life, I thought he was going to always be my baby. The one that I would treat like a little prince for his whole life. Then out of nowhere, he became the middle child.

I still choose to treat him like my little prince :)

I love his imagination, young humor and charm . . . he oozes every one of them.

I look forward to his smiles and get upset by his tears and watch for his understanding and glow with his accomplishments.

I look forward to watching him grow into a man.

Even if it breaks my heart.

I love you, my little man, my Cameron

She's Growing Up.

I've been having a debate with my 10 year old for about a year now.

It started in the Spring of last year.

She wanted to shave her legs.

I wanted her to stay my little girl  :(

I wasn't ready for her to take that step last year. She accepted defeat well and continued to be that little girl, even if it was for one last summer.

It started up again a few weeks ago, as the weather started to warm up.

She got me to cave. I agreed that when summer started, she could start shaving.

She is cursed by dark hair, as am I. I remember wanting to shave my legs before my mother let me. I started in 5th grade and I remember being embarrassed before that.

Then I noticed that she was only wearing her long dresses, otherwise she was wearing fun pattern tights to hide her legs. She was wearing capris instead of shorts.

I realized something.

I don't want my little girl to be embarrassed by her body. I don't want her hiding. I feel that it's important that she feels comfortable in her own skin.

So last night I plugged in the electric razor.

And tonight, my baby, shaved her legs for the first time.

Tears ... because I know this is only the beginning of a lot more "big girl" things.

I want her to know that I am here to talk to and that I am willing to listen to her. That I will be open to the "new things" in her life.

As her mother, I just want her to be happy . . . always.

This may sound silly, but with her being my oldest . . . this was a very big step for me.

But it was worth it to see the smile on her face :)