I’ve said this before, but I agree with my Dad that the best part about being a parent is getting to do things all over again. You get to experience the thrill of riding down a big slide for the first time by yourself. The amazement at your first trip to the zoo. The excitement about Christmas and the pleasure of opening presents. By participating with your kids — the things you forgot about years ago become new and fresh again.
It’s not just the big things either, it’s also the universe of little things. The things you may not realize were even AWESOME! to begin with. The other day I took NikkiZ to PetSmart to get two harnesses for the dogs. She had never been inside the place and about freaked out when she saw people with their dogs, and tanks of fishes, and cages of birds. I didn’t even realize the THRILL! potential that store had on a two-year-old. Then, I took her to watch some dogs getting groomed and she stood mesmerized for 10 minutes. Who knew a dog haircut could be so exciting? But that’s exactly what it was. When I told her we’d go back again sometime and take one of our our dogs she actually said, “I’m so excited!”
This week at the grocery store, we bought our first box of popsicles for the summer. I swear she’s had them before, but maybe not since last summer and there is a huge difference in cognition between 1 1/2 and 2 1/2. Whatever the reason – she thinks they are the most AMAZING THINGS EVER. She wakes up saying, “Can I have a popsicle after dinner?” almost every morning. Throughout the day she’ll just spout out, “I love popsicles, Momma.” When it’s time to go outside and eat our popsicle? She’ll squeal, clap her hands and announce, “I’m gonna eat a POPSICLE!” I mean – heaven forbid someone miss out on her thrilling culinary experience. We all will grab popsicles now and join her. We want to be part of the experience so some night you’ll see four people on our front porch, hanging out and eating popsicles.
And I don’t even like popsicles.
That is so funny you posted this today! I was babysitting last night and one of the boys turns 1 next Wednesday. I was thinking the same things about experiencing something new with him. It was so cool to see his eyes and how much fun he was having….it was a very cool experience and I can’t wait to have those with my own kids.
I love popsicles!!
So sweet.
Aww, she’s so sweet! My husband tells me, “You really need a little girl” because I still get a kick out of the little things in life. Like popsicles and trips to PetSmart or the car wash. Yes, the car wash.
And THIS is exactly why I can’t wait to have kids! OK, well, I guess I *can* wait because I *am* until we are in a better situation to have them, but … I am sooooo looking forward to exactly this (the tantrums and incessant “no’s” – not so much)
This just makes me so excited for this little baby to come out! Those simple pleasures of Popsicles outside so the sugar water can drip down your hands…it’s just so sweet.
Mr. W and I are always saying that the whole infant stage was so wonderful and precious but that this toddler phase is our favorite. EVERYTHING is so new and fun and exciting! The look on my little man’s face when we break out the ice cream (very rare) or how he’ll talk for days about “mommy take me inna pool. I splash. We ALLLLLLL wet!”
Can’t wait for summer in the (still) snowy northeast so I can introduce him to the popsicle!
PetSmart is like a trip to the zoo for our 3 year old. Whenever my hubby goes to get dog food, he takes her with him and they look at all the animals. It is fun to see life through her eyes 🙂
Beautifully said.
I don’t like popsicles, either. 🙂
Isn’t amazing to see the world through their eyes? I wish we could enjoy popsicles on the front porch here…It’s still a bit too chilly for that in the North East 🙁
It really is like doing things all over again … you just described how I feel about my girl playing softball. 🙂
Mmm, orange popsicles are yummy! And I think it’s a cool family thing!
Awww she’s sooo cute!!! I love the things she says, I bet it makes you smile loads. Oh and her top is adorable!!
I can’t wait to experience these things when I have children.
With that sort of joy, how can you not like popsicles.
What’s her favorite popsicle flavor?
Cuteness 🙂
nikkiz should hang out with my boyfriend. i swear he eats 10 popsicles a day. even in the middle of michigan winter.
That picture where she’s about to bite it makes my teeth hurt.
I don’t like popsicles either.
And I am finally caught up on your blog and relieved that I didn’t miss the birth of your child.
There were 40 Zoot posts in my reader. I am so lame.
Know what I get all excited about? Fruit cups, otter pops & fun bandaids. I don’t even have kids! 🙂
I am jealous of NZ’s eyelashes, too!
That post is so wonderfully written it reminded me that I should stop ignoring my 5 year old to read blogs, and go discover what she is excited about! Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for this… I think it’s the first blog entry I’ve seen that hasn’t made me say, “Yep, kids are not for me.”
(How’s that for a double-negative?)
In any case, it’s nice to hear about the upside, as my husband has mentioned the kid-thing once or twice now.
She’s so cute 🙂
Your “enjoy the little things” post (even though you didn’t say that, you made me realize how many great things there are in the world) made me feel better today after a really crappy morning so far. Thank you for making me feel better —
I need to enjoy the little things my kids do that are just awesome, and I need to start BLOGGING more about it all —
😉
Wow you took the words out of my mouth. This is EXACTLY why I like being a mom. I have always been a kid at heart and have always loved the kid activities and for some years I couldn’t figure out why the zoo, the egg hunts weren’t giving me the same thrill. Then I married a guy with a kid and holy cow, excitement all over again just watching the happiness on his face.
Mmmm, popsicles.
We are big fans of Otter Pops. But we call them Little Willies. I no longer remember why.
awww!
We can’t go to the mall with out stopping to say hello to the puppies at the pet store.
Must stop for popsicles on the way home. Or tomorrow.