The other day, I crawled into her bed as she watched a Sesame Street DVD, just to keep her company. As I read my book, she stared at me. Each time I looked over her, she smiled and made quiet little happy noises. I adjusted my arm so she could put her head on it. She wrapped her free arm around my torso and lay there, peacefully, taking turns looking at me and the TV.
Then there are the dancing moments. She finds her favorite Taylor Swift or Dixie Chicks video while playing with her iPad in the kitchen. She looks at me and tries to get me involved, slowly swaying back and forth. “Let’s dance, Bree,” I say, and she happily puts down her Little Pony and jumps up. We hold hands and sway. I turn her under my arm. She returns the favor. If it’s a fast song, like “Shake it up,” there might be jumping and running. Whatever it takes to make her laugh and smile. Sometimes I will take her in my arms, and she buries her face in my torso as I softly sing to her.
I love to watch her swim. She has her good and bad years. This past year she didn’t really love the cold water. But in past years, once she was in the pool it was tough to get her out. Last summer, I would cajole her outside and we would stand next to the diving board. After many minutes of her giggling but not jumping in, I would softly nudge her into the water. She would come up laughing and smiling. She would make noises to encourage me into the water too. Have I mentioned I hate cold pool water? HATE it. But I cannot say no to this smiling kid. H And once I was in she would grab my hands and jump with this look of glee on her face. Then she would swim her way to the ladder and make her way to the diving board, where she does this jump that makes me laugh each time. She would jump to the side, for some reason, with one leg bent more than the other and this crazy happy look on her face. She is , laughing as she hit the wats, and then she comes back up quickly for another round.
There are times we walk over to the park. She always holds my hand when we walk anywhere. She likes to break out running without any warning, dragging me into a run, then stopping just as suddenly. Then we get there and she heads right for the playground equipment. She likes to climb the slide set, or swing on the swings, or walk the balance beam. She always likes it more if I am right there with her on the equipment, so most times I am. After a while we sit down on a bench and take a break. If we are at the park near my house, it is next to a huge open field, and she loves to just run across it. Sometimes I will chase her, and other times I will just watch her in her glory.
She goes horseback riding every other Sunday. Most times, her teacher/babysitter will take her so that I can get a few chores done and/or spend a little one-on-one time with my son. This past weekend, I took her. She has no fear of the horse. She waits her turn, giggling as her times draws near. Then she jumps up while I help her with her helmet. The instructor takes her up a few stairs and she climbs on the horse with little help. She has three helpers with her, one leading the horse and the other two by Bree’s side. I sit on a bench and watch her make her way around the indoor track. The instructors work with her on holding her reins, pulling them to make the horse go one way or another. They work with her on standing up, on holding a ball and then throwing it into a little basketball net while she’s still on the horse. If she gets tired or cranky, I try to blast some of her favorite music, and that usually does the trick. It’s only a half hour lesson. It takes more than a half hour to get there and home, but it is a special thing for her. She enjoys it, and I marvel at her up there on the horse.
In recent weeks, she has begun sitting next to me or between my legs as I am on the couch, and watching her iPad. This is something new, and I adore it. She used to insist on watching her iPad only at the kitchen table. But I convinced her to sit with me one day, and it’s like she suddenly discovered the comfort of the couch! It is just so nice to have her join the action instead of keeping away from it.
Then there are her nightly baths. We usually stick to a plan. I play Dixie Chicks and/or Taylor Swift while she gets in the bath. She sways and smiles while I help her clean up. Then I shut the shower curtain for a few, and she lies down in the bath to enjoy it. After a few minutes, I open the curtain and help out get out and sit down. Now she can hear the music better so she starts swaying and looks at me to sing. Yes, she actually likes my singing voice. I towel-dry her hair, as she buries her face in my front and relaxes. Then I brush her hair and help her get dressed, and she runs out of the bathroom, into her room, and jumps on the bed to get comfy and watch a DVD.
Not one word spoken, yet so many incredible moments to treasure.
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