While speaking to a friend on the phone the other day, I made mention of, “my baby girl.”

My friend sounded confused as to who I was referring to. But “my baby girl” knows who she is.

And if I call her peanut, or monkey, or any other pet name I have assigned her, she quickly reminds me what her real name is. “No, I’m your baby girl.”

Although, on certain occasions, she might possess the name ”Cinderella,” or “Princess,” I assure you, it’s only temporary.

As I sat blowing up this enormous beach ball – sprinkler and emptying myself of every last bit of hot air, I looked at Bella, sighed and said, “I don’t know baby girl, I might not finish until next year.”

She patted me on the leg and said as graciously as she could, “You’re doing a great job mommy.  It’s OK, take your time.”

I could only laugh and give her a big kiss for her patience and sincerity.

I wish I was a big girl like her.

I’m so thankful Mother’s Day still comes more than one day a year.

I am so totally jealous.

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Bella and I went hunting to find treasures for our treasure jar.  I didn’t have the heart to tell her the green tomatoes would rot if we keep them.

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Sarah thinks I’m a geek and not cool enough to be carrying this new bag.  But I think she’s wrong.  I’ll have to prove it I guess.

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I’ve been having a really hard time breathing with the cat around and decided as much as I like him, he had to go.  We searched high and low for a good home and finally Tim found one for him on a farm. 

I told Belle and she seemed to take it much better than I ever expected.  We talked about visiting Benny and she seemed fine with it, although she did state she would “really miss him.”

Today after grocery shopping, she walked in, found “her cat,” and pulled him into her lap.  As I walked from grocery bag to cupboard, putting things away, Belle looked up at me with the most serious face a three-year-old could muster and very calmly said….

“Mommy…..please don’t take him away; I love him.”

I have never heard a more touching statement out of anyone.  Ever. 

I almost started sobbing.

Hey, it’s only breathing; Kimmie said it was overrated.

Well, I must go now.  I have to make room in my bed for my nebulizer.  Did I mention he’ll be an outdoor cat?