SUCH a big heart

Coranelle and I threw and spur-of-the-moment tea party on Friday. She got all dressed up, helped me make cookies, sandwiches with the crusts cut off, fruit teas, snacks, and name cards!
Getting all set up for her friends!
She even let me braid her hair and she put on her special dress that "twirls and swooooshes" when she dances.
Her Valentines Day flowers from her daddy!

It is 9:30am and quiet at my house. It has not been quiet at my house at this time since Coranelle was 10 months old and taking a morning nap!

Sheldon is upstairs sleeping and Coranelle is enjoying a sleepover and special morning with her Grams. Heidi had the day off for Presidents day, so Coranelle spent the night with Grams and PopPops. She has had a great time- soaking up all the one on one attention. Sheldon is also basking in the attention that Ryan and I doted on him. I am SO glad that I have two kids! I love them with my whole heart, but it is so fun for them to be spoiled and get one on one attention!

Since I had a few seconds to blog, I thought I'd share a touching story about my girl. On Thursday this past week, I took the kids to the mall play place. It was cold and windy... again, and we were going stir crazy... again. After running, climbing, playing, crawling and wearing themselves out, we got ready to leave and head home for lunch. Coranelle spotted this really cool, bright red, firetruck stroller that you can rent at the mall. Without really thinking, she crawled into the empty seat as the mother tried to park her firetruck in the busy stroller parking. Meanwhile, I had Sheldon in one arm and was trying to dig our stroller out of the chaos. I told Coranelle she couldn't get in the stroller, as it wasn't ours. Since my hands were full, I couldn't physically remove her. The beautiful, sweet mom behind her stroller jokingly said, "Oh, that's okay. She can stay in. She's pretty cute and I wouldn't mind taking her home with me." I smiled and laughed and asked the woman if she would mind if my daughter sat there until I could put my son down in our stroller where he wouldn't get stepped on.

Coranelle, on the other hand, did not realize that the woman was teasing. She just melted down and began balling and yelling, "I don't want to go home with her. No mommy, no. No!" She quickly became hysterical as I pulled her out of the firetruck and tried to convince her that she wasn't going home with anyone but me. I told her I loved her and would never let someone else take her home. Anyhow, it took me about 15 minutes to fully calm her down.

So, I thought that the episode was over and she understood that the woman was just teasing and complimenting her. I was wrong. Later that night, I got Coranelle out of her bath and she was sitting on my lap as I put lotion on her. This is our usual cuddle time and I put my arms around her and told her I loved her. Out of nowhere, she just melts down all over again. Quickly becoming hysterical. She turns around in my lap and just blubbers, "Mommy, I don't like firetrucks! I don't want to go with that other mommy! Mommy, I just love you too much. I just love you too much." It took me a while to figure out what she was talking about. And then it took another 10 minutes to get her to calm down.

Meanwhile, Josh, Claire, Ryan and Sheldon were downstairs listening to her wail- probably thinking that she had cracked her head open. I think they were all a little surprised to know that she was crying because she "loved me too much". Bless her heart!

Now, suggestions on how to explain to 2 year olds that some things are said literally and others are not? Who knew?! At least I know she loves me and wants to continue coming home with me! ;-)