Taco Bell

Dear Em,
I hope your Valentine's Day was as amazing to you as it was for Daddy & I. Last night we took you out to Taco Bell. Yup, Taco Bell. Taco Bell on Valentine's Day.

When Daddy & I were dating, we spent a fun Valentine's Day skiing all day. We had plans to return home & go out for a nice dinner. When we got home, I was exhausted & sore (from falling all day, I'm not the best skier). I didn't really have the energy to get into the shower & get dolled up. Neither of us had anything in our kitchens, typical for college students. So, I asked Daddy if we could go to Taco Bell for dinner & then watch a movie on the couch. Daddy's friends couldn't believe I had not just agreed to go to Taco Bell for Valentine's Day, but I had suggested it. They told Daddy I was definitely a keeper.

So, when I asked Daddy what he wanted to do for Valentine's Day this year, he asked if we could take you to Taco Bell, KFC-Taco Bell to be exact. I smiled & said why not.

On the way there, Daddy joked that we were going to a fancy restaurant. I told him that we were going to make you really confused about food. You told me that you were Daddy's Valentine & he was yours. I asked you who was my Valentine & you told me that I was my own Valentine. Who worked that out? Luckily, by the time we got to Taco Bell you were OK with being both of our Valentine's.

Daddy & I enjoyed the Taco Bell we get maybe twice a year (I heart Cheesy Gordita Crunches) while you ate popcorn chicken & potato wedges. You kept saying, "I like this fancy west-a-want," which kept Daddy & I laughing throughout dinner. It was definitely your type of Valentine's Day place. You finished off your dinner with a chocolate parfait for dessert (you & Daddy shared), because you have to have dessert on Valentine's Day (a glass of red wine was my dessert later at home).

So, I hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day, my little love. It wasn't what most people would plan for their perfect Valentine's Day, but it was perfect for me.

I love you so,

Mommy

P.S. Daddy got me the newest Twilight movie for Valentine's Day. You know what that means? Twilight movie marathon this weekend (well, during your naps & after your bedtime)!

the story of us

Dear Em,
Your papi thought I would grow up & be a politician. Your nonnie hoped I would be an author. I'm still not sure ultimately what I want to be when I grow up, but I'm pretty sure I will be neither of those. However, my love for you led me to do something I never thought I would. I wrote & published (well, not exactly) my first book: The Story of Us.

As a girl, I would love to have your nonnie tell me the story of how I came to be. I swooned to hear the story of how your nonnie & papi met, fell in love, & got married. As you were growing inside my belly, I could hardly wait to share your story, the story of us, with you. After you were born, I rocked your newborn body & softly whispered our story in your tiny ears. Your tiny body grew & grew. Your curiosity & love of stories & books grew too. One of your very favorite books is a family picture book that your aunt & your nonnie created for you. Your eyes light up as you point to your family members and we read you the love messages from each one. That's when i realized how fun it would be for you to read & interact with our story too.

I already had the photos (as I take more pictures than both you & your daddy like). I just had to put words to our story. Putting words to the love in my heart was sometimes tricky and difficult, but it felt so amazing see the finished pages filled with our adventure.

I found out about to adoramapix. The wonderful thing about making photobooks with adoramapix is that the pages are thicker than with most photobooks. This is perfect for a little love like you. You really love your books- I mean really, really love your books. Your favorite books are torn & bent & missing pages because of the amazing love you have for your books. You come running to me with sad tears in your eyes because of a new gash in your beloved pages. I quickly & calmly transition into the role of a book surgeon, deftly using tape to repair the possession you so greatly love. The sturdy pages from your adoramapix book have endured countless turns from your chubby toddler hands & still remain intact. This gives me hope that our story will survive and perhaps be read by your own little loves someday.

It puts a smile in my heart every time you plop your book into my lap and say, "Us! Us!" I love that you point out everyone from our family and some of our closest friends by name. I love that you clap your hands as we read about mommy & daddy getting married. I love that we can share our story together. I hope you enjoy the story of us as much as I enjoy watching you read it. I can't wait to live each new chapter with you.

I love you so,
Mommy