Halloween with Auntie Suz

We had a wonderful Halloween weekend with Suzanne, Peter's sister this past weekend.  Some highlight included dressing Clara in her Ladybug costume and parading her around Pearl St. in Boulder, cooking nice meals and a morning hike in Lyons, CO on Saturday morning.  Thanks to Suz for braving the rediculous crowd with us in downtown Boulder on Halloween and enduring the moments on the hike when Clara had other opinions on how to spend the morning!  One thing I am realizing as Clara gets a bit older and embarks on full-blown toddlerdom is that she is no longer a baby.

She has opinions, she knows stuff.  This portion of life is a lesson for me in relinquishing control.  I can't make her eat, I can't force her to sleep and I can't ensure that she won't mess her diaper the second after I change her! I can't even predict entirely how she will respond to a new situation. Of course there is always lots of preparation involved, but for the most part I realize that as she grows the sands of control slowly slip from my fingertips. It's funny how the people that come into your life shape who you are in ways you don't realize until after the moments have passed.
I hope that I don't miss the precious lessons this little person has in store for me along the way, however frustrating it may feel at times.  I will tell you, that when you are covered in banana two minutes before leaving for work and have to wash the blueberry syrup out of your toddler's hair- it's pretty darn easy to miss the forest for the trees!  I digress...

Most of all- I am thankful today for the wonderful family we have far and wide.  Thank you Suz for coming out and celebrating Halloween with us.  You are a wonderful Aunt and Clara is lucky to have someone like you in her life.  It makes me smile and laugh out loud when I think of each person Clara has as her Aunt and Uncle.  We are so blessed to know & love these individuals who shape our own lives, and even more so when I think of what they all mean to this little girl. After all, I know that Aunts & Uncles are ALWAYS "cooler" than "Mom & Dad!"

Happy Halloween!!!!