When I posted about cling being a good thing the other day, I was appalled that I don’t have any current pictures of Grace and I together.

That’s why I included one of us from the archives.

These days I either don’t shower and look gross all day because I’m working from home – or – I’ve worked all day and I’m too tired to think of getting a picture with her.

She’s not easy to catch with the camera as it is, and then getting a picture of the two of us where I don’t loathe how I look is an entirely other thing.

I need to get over it.

I don’t want her to grow up and not have any pictures with me because I’m too vain!

Ashley over at The Domestic Wannabe participates in a blog link up called Embrace the Camera which is hosted by Emily at The Anderson Crew.

It’s a challenge for moms to get in front of the camera and into the pictures with their kids.

I’ve decided to embrace this challenge!

So here are a couple of not-so-great, grainy pictures from my iPhone this week. 

This is not good cling.

Source

But when Grace gets clingy and wants Mama more than anything else?

That’s awesome cling.

From the start, Grace has been a feisty, independent little thing.  The moment she could hold her head up, she stopped laying on my shoulder.  As soon as she could stand on her own two feet, she stopped cuddling in my arms.

She knows what she wants and she does what it takes to make it happen.  (Hmm…who does that sound like?)

So lately, when Grace wants nothing more than to be in my arms, it melts my heart.

It’s tough when I’m planted in front of my computer on days I work from home.  She’s not good at just sitting on my lap.  She wants to open my desk drawers, pull all my papers onto the floor, eat my USB cords, use my ruler as a drumstick, type on my laptop and draw on everything with my pens and highlighters.

It’s caused me to institute a “no desk” rule with her.

The outcome?

She stands by my side wailing and carrying on until I pick her up and comfort her.

It can be so stressful when I’m trying to work, but I realize that these days are numbered.

When she’s 16 years old and running off with her friends, I’ll wish with all my heart that she was still this sweet little thing with messy hair and big blue teary eyes crying for me to bring her close.

I’m learning that there’s always a minute or two for a quick hug and a well-planned distraction.

Books, puzzles, cars, baby dolls or (God forbid!) television, will generally make her forget how hard it was to be away from me for those few moments.

At her core, Grace is a Daddy’s Girl.  Andy is the world’s best dad and she knows it.  He’s so kind, gentle and patient with her.  His very presence will often calm her down and make her happy.

Sharing cereal :)

As such, she’s often wanted him and pined for him when he’s not around.  I totally get it.  She’s spent many of her days with him while I’ve been working and they’ve forged a precious bond.  Honestly, it makes me grin from ear to ear.

But you better believe that I drove home a little faster today when I heard that Grace had been watching the door and crying for me ever since she woke up from her nap this afternoon.

Mama’s got a place in that sweet little heart of hers too and I’m lovin’ every minute of being the one she’s calling for :)

Flashback

We got our first significant snow last night.

I’ve got to admit that there was something peaceful and pretty about it.

Andy and I snuggled on the couch last night watching How I Met Your Mother episodes on Netflix while the landscape outside our front window became whiter and whiter.

One of my favorite things about a fresh snowfall is how light the sky looks from the reflection of the white, snow-covered ground.

At the risk of sounding cheesy, there’s something magical about it.

This morning after breakfast, Andy went out to shovel our driveway and sidewalk lest our fine city slap us with a citation.

Yes, we’ve been cited for an overly long, lush lawn and they hand out tickets if you don’t clear your snowy walkways soon enough too.

And no, I don’t live in a fancy suburb so I’m not sure why they make such a fuss.

Grace has been suffering from a bit of cabin fever, so I decided to bundle her up and take her out into the snow for a while.

After breaking into a full body sweat just getting her boots, snow pants, mittens, coat and hat on, we were ready to go.  I had flashbacks of the mom in A Christmas Story when she was turning Randy into a mummy before he walked to school.  “Mom, I can’t put my arms down!”

We headed out the side door and I set Grace onto the driveway.  Normally she’s a mover and a shaker and can’t be bothered with sitting still, but she stood there in one place and didn’t move.

I’m not sure whether her boots felt funny or she was overly bundled, but it was like pulling teeth getting her to walk!

I finally coaxed her into walking down the driveway with me but as soon as I let go over her hand she stopped walking and just stood there.

It was too funny!

I wanted to see what would happen if I set her down on the snowy lawn, and when I did she just stood there.  I pleaded with her to walk over to me and when she finally did, she totally face-planted right into the snow!

Poor thing!  Her face was covered in snow and she was freaked out.

After picking her up and dusting her off, we moved back onto the pavement where she could at least keep her balance.

My little adventurer isn’t so sure of the snow just yet.  Maybe she’ll like it better when we take her sledding tomorrow!