Hi, Mama!

Said with a big smile, bright eyes and arms stretched wide~ these are my favorite words to hear when I walk through the door. I may have only been gone for an hour, but she is always happy to see me return. It warms my heart. My boys are equally happy to see me return. I wasn't gone that long! But, I love it! It makes me a happy Mama to know that I am loved. It is cold this week so I am staying warm - at home! And I have watched Eliana's excitement when Daddy comes to the door. "Yay!" she says and runs, arms outstretched, to welcome Daddy home. I have taught her this. I think is important to welcome Daddy home with smiles - I just hadn't realized before that it was teaching her to welcome me too!

Yesterday, I asked her to get me something from the kitchen and she says "Yep!" willingly, then pauses, looks at me and says, "Please?" "Please," I say with a smile and she runs to the kitchen. I LOVE it!

We have had lots of fun with my digital camera since we got it. I have lots of requests from the littles to "take my picture!" Except as soon as I get ready to take a picture, Eliana wants to "see" before I get a chance to actually take her picture. She's not happy here as I told her to wait. Later, I showed her the picture of her crying and she said, "Crying." "Yes", I said, "You were sad." I want to her to help her understand what she is feeling so she can learn to recognize and express her emotions in a healthy way!