Tete A Tot First: Apple Picking

Last Molly and Mommy day (a.k.a. Friday), we met a friend of mine and her little girl (almost one) at a local farm to enjoy some apple picking. (The pumpkins aren't out yet.) You had a blast. It was a GLORIOUS day outside -- beautiful weather, big fluffy clouds... and I soaked in every minute of it... knowing that this is our last year of Molly and Mommy days.

I am so going to miss them. But we'll cherish every one we have left before you start Kindergarten next year.

Love you, peanut.

Rockin' Out - Molly Style

Thank goodness for mp3 players... (maybe the mp stands for Molly Paige... but I digress.)

Anyway, Daddy loaded up mine with all kinds of American Idol music -- Taylor, Daughtry, Kathryn McPhee, Blake Lewis... plus all the David Cook we could get our hands on. Even a couple Michael Johns numbers, too. (Don't worry, Brooke and Carly - we're getting ready to download you too!)

The good news, Molly, is that you have a diverse taste in music. Everything from Dan Zanes to Queen. However, the bad news is that you think "Daytripper" (one of your favorite songs) is by David Cook... and that Michael Johns is the only one to sing "Dream On" and "We Are the Champions." (And I'm not sure I'm ready to tell you about Aerosmith or Queen quite yet... or ever.)

Saturday night, I went out to meet some friends and left you and Daddy watching Rain on PBS -- a Beatles tribute band. You L O V E D it. You were entranced by the music and the performance. "Mommy! They're singing David Cook!" (Ok, so we're working on that.) Then you watched Matchbox Twenty on Soundstage. (God bless you, PBS!) Now, you're telling everyone your new favorite band in the Beatles. And you want to go to the Rain concert this spring.

Rock on, little girl. Rock on.

The Return of Ballet and Pancakes

Last week, we started the second year of our favorite Friday tradition: Ballet and Pancakes. We even added a new step this year: the library!

It's amazing how much you've grown since last year. As we were leaving, the class of three year-olds was lining up to start. They looked so... little!

I only get to stay and watch the first Friday of the month each year instead of every Friday. But watching you, I thought that this time next year, you'll be in Kindergarten, and I'll be back working five days a week... so this is our last year of Molly and Mommy days. And I'm cherishing every one.

Love you, ballerina!

First Day of Pre-K

Here you are, Peanut... ready for your first day in the Pre-K room at school.

You wanted to wear a dress - and you picked out this one Grandma got you for your birthday because it had polka dots and you love polka dots.

You had a great day in your new room. On your daily sheet, at the very bottom, your new teacher wrote, "Molly is very polite." Daddy and I couldn't be more proud.

(Of course, your first day of Pre-K is making me realize that this time next year, it will be your first day of Kindergarten... and I don't know if I'm ready for that...)

Good While It Lasted...

Last year, when I asked you want you wanted for Christmas, you pondered the question for a moment, then replied very earnestly: "I want two things: a backpack and an oven mitt."

You later amended this to include a third item, the My Friends Tigger and Pooh Christmas DVD. Thanks, Playhouse Disney.) But all through the holiday season, you stuck to those three items. When anybody -- grandmas, teachers, people at the mall, random waitresses -- asked you what you wanted for Christmas, you had your reply down pat:

"I would like three things: a backpack, an oven mitt, and myfriendstiggerandpoohdvd."

And these people would give us a quizzical look, like, "Have you not told this poor child about real toys?" And we smile, shrug our shoulders, and think - "How sweet. How wonderful. The commercial crush of Christmas has not spoiled our precious little girl."

Fast forward eight months.

We're playing in the basement playroom, cleaning up our toys, when you asked the following: "Mommy, you know what I want for Christmas?

"What, sweetie?" I reply. (Oh, what lovely, thoughtful things would she like this year? A new school bag... a donation to the homeless...)

"A Hannah Montana guitar and a tv for my room."

And scene.