Bella Notte

This is a fun parenting stage. Well, not always, but for the most part, this kid is keeping us laughing, her imagination is running wild, and she is starting to ask really poignant questions. I wanted to be sure to record one of the sweetest memories we've made so far.

I had purchased a new dress to wear to a wedding. I don't buy dresses hardly at all (just for weddings and funerals) and so I tried it on to to show Justin. I came strolling out in the dress and the shoes, hoping, as most wives do, for a positive reaction from my hubby. Amber Joy was in the hallway outside our bedroom and saw me coming. She immediately knew this outfit was out of the ordinary for me and said, "stop mom!" She then proceeded to "announce" my arrival into the living room to Justin, who was sitting on the couch watching TV. She said, "presenting, princess mommy!" Then she fell to one knee with both arms pointing my direction. I chuckled, wondering where she had learned this. So I walked into the living room and she kept going. "Daddy get up and dance with the princess!" Justin reluctantly got up, told me he liked the dress, then began to dance with me. Amber Joy grabbed a marker that was close by and began to sing, "for this is the night, it's a beautiful night and we call it Bella Notte..." She sang the whole song. By heart. She made us keep dancing.

As I danced with my husband as our daughter serenaded us, I thought to myself, "this is what life is all about."

I'm in love with my family.

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