Girl Night

I am so in love with my daughter tonight, I can barely stand it. We went shopping. We went to dinner together at a restaurant. We had gourmet chocolate dipped marshmallows on sticks. We went to see a middle school production of High School Musical 2.

Riley got her first pair of jeans today. She was so stinking cute in the fitting room, checking herself out in the mirror. She still can't manage the button, so I'm taking them to a tailor and replacing it with a snap. My baby wants jeans, she's getting them damn it. And oh my God how adorable she is in them. No sensory issues to speak of.

We ate at a noodle place and she diligently used the kiddie chop sticks. She even ate her french fries with them. We sat cozy together on the same side of the booth.

On the way home, we saw an advertisement for the play. So being the spontaneous girls we are, we went.

Do you know how long I've waited for jeans? For spontaneous anything? For taking her to a play? I tried it when she was five. She was so traumatized from the raucous applause and hooting she went into the silent scream cry, her eyes begging me to get her out of there.

Tonight Riley was the one doing the hooting. She clapped along with great enthusiasm for each number. She was so happy. So engaged. We had conversations!

I'm inclined to say I never thought it would happen, but upon reflection that would be untrue.

Back when we lived in Virginia, Todd and I had a standing 10PM date. Each night we dropped everything and together we visualized a good life for this girl. We imagined the kids at random ages in the future, healthy and thriving. We envisioned Riley doing all kinds of amazing things.

I'll admit, it isn't always peaches and cream. But tonight it was chocolate dipped marshmallows.

And I'm not taking one second of it for granted.