A daughter is a day brightener and a heart warmer. ~Author Unknown
Hello friends, it’s a deliciously rainy morning here. Ethan and Caleb are sick, so we plan on staying home together as a family, as snug as 7 little bugs can be. It’s the sort of day that you don’t even want to turn on the lights–the sort of day to keep things dim, light some candles and cuddle in blankets (crocheted by Grandma). I have my scrapbook things spread out on the living room floor, getting ready to work on my “Summer of 2007” album.
Yesterday, my daughter Grace and I were able to go have some quality time together-just the two of us. It was a bright sunny day, perfect for an adventure. I didn’t take my camera along because I wanted to focus just on her.
Since becoming a parent, I’ve been afraid of spoiling my children and giving them too much. But, after a day of spending money on Grace–pampering her–I realized that yes, there is a time for everything. In my opinion, it was time and money well spent, as our relationship was strengthened, and we were able to talk to each other and look at each other without interruptions. I remembered again that I have a sweet and precious little daughter who needs time with me.
She is almost 8 years old and has 4 brothers. It was time to get out with just Mommy and get away from “boy air” for a while.
It was a milestone day, she had her ears pierced. (She was so sweet. When it came to picking out her first earrings, she knew exactly what she wanted out of about 25 choices, her birthstone.)
We both had our hair cut.
We ordered treats at Panera together. (I had a pumpkin muffin and a latte. She had a strawberry smoothie and a frosted brownie)
We went to Bath and Body works and she picked out an American Girl nail polish set and sniffed all the bubble bath until she decided on a favorite–Lemon Ice Tea.
We held hands everywhere we went.
She talked a lot.
I think Grace is beautiful. It was lovely to have an afternoon of looking at my daughter, and thanking God for her.
She’s my one and only.
I really hope, and do believe, that she will remember this day her whole life.
my little love
And thou shalt in thy daughter see,
This picture, once, resembled thee.
~Ambrose Philips
Good to be Home 
What a wonderful and special day. I am sure it will always remain with her.
What a precious memory! Haley and I had a day like that in January. Just a girls day out. We are going to do it again and take Ally along with us this time. I think it will become a tradition for us. =]
The earrings look lovely =]
I am so looking forward to it. Yes!!!
I’ve been away from xanga for a while. I’m so glad I chose today to read because otherwise I would have missed one of the most beautiful entries I’ve ever read. I have three daughters and they were adults before I was able to have any one-on-one time with any of them. What beautiful memories you’re making for your children. Kudos to Grace; I’d have chosen Lemon Ice Tea also.:)
What a lovely day! You have a beautiful daughter, and she’s lucky to have a mom who takes time just for her!
What a wonderful relationship you have with Grace. You are totally right, she needs that time away from those 4 brothers of hers.My brother has 3 sisters, so he is in kind of the opposite boat. However, he still kept a lot of his boy activities going, but he did play Barbies and My Little Ponies with us. He now is an actor living in New York City. He was always the most creative one, probably because he had to think of ways to be himself amongst all these girls. But, he got that time with our dad to really teach him what it meant to be a child of God and a husband and father some day…Cherish the time you have with your children, because it will pass by very fast. I am aware of that fact every time I look at my younger siblings and seen how much they have grown (since I remember the day they were born).
Love it. Just love it! She is sweet. I cannot wait for the many mom & daughter days Abby and I will share together. She loves to help me cook, so my current project is sewing matching aprons for us. 🙂
“She’s my one and only.” And the lone tear escapes my eye. Very very precious.
Daughters, day brighteners…How true it is. : ) What a blessing they are! Have a blessed day, and you are both beautiful girls indeed. ~Amelia
That is such a beautiful post!
That is so sweet. She looks very grown up with that hair cut and pierced ears! I’m sure both treasured that “girl time.”
I try to spend a day alone with each of my daughters (ages 5, 6, & 7). We shop, eat out in a nice restaurant, talk and talk and talk, and hold hands. A girl’s day out each month means every 3 months one of my daughters is treated super special. I don’t think a day here and there spent “spoiling them” really spoils them at all. Much more like a “bonding” experience. The precious part: when I buy one of my daughters something special, she always wants to buy a little something for the other two sisters who stayed at home! Spoiled? No way! I was glad to hear y’all had a fun day together!
What a precious post! I hope to have at least one daughter one day. The other night I dreamed I had a baby girl, and it was soooo sweet! (No – I’m not pregnant as far as I know ) Even though I don’t have daughters yet, I have always loved my little sisters, and some of my girl piano students, almost as thought they were my own. These pictures of Grace remind me of my 10- and 12-year-old sisters: fresh, innocent, sweet, and pretty. Reading the account of your special day made me long for my next chance to be with my sisters. I am so glad you had that “girl time” together, and I am sure Grace will always remember it! I think she looks like you with her warm eyes, clear skin, and beautiful smile.
This post is so precious! What a beautiful day you had with Grace- making memories. You are such a wonderful mom, Shan!
What a sweet post! I love to have “girl’s nights” with my 2 girls as well. My oldest, especially, seems to really appreciate the one on one time spent together. Last year, for her 10th birthday, we had a similar night- shopping around, getting haircuts and getting her ears pierced. Precious time…
~Laurel
Priceless!
A great post , i have two daughter that are grown up now but we always had tryed to spend one and one time together and even now as they are older, and my mother and i have always been close, what a blessing to be able to do this ,praying for your sons that they feel better,
GOD BLESS,
SANDY
Awww, how sweet. Ya’ll needed a mom/daughter day! Congrats to Grace on her first set of earrings, they look lovely on her!! Suz
very special :o)
What a beautiful post … I have two precious girls and need to remember to set aside days like these more often. I love the last picture of the two of you!
Hello, I saw you stopped by & wanted to say hi. I have been meaning to stop by your site, I see our comments on some of the same people’s sites. Your daughter is beautiful! that is very nice that you were able to spend the day with her like that. I have one daugther that will be 8 in march, one is 6, and a son that will be 2 next month. They love the American Girl stuff at Bath & Body works to. The lip gloss is their favorite. Tonight we had nail night, we watched a movie while I painted their nails:) Have a great weekend!
What a fun girl day. 🙂 Congrats to her on her new earrings. 🙂 She’s a very pretty girl. Must take after her Mom. Hope Ethan and Caleb are feeling better soon!Blessings
I agree… She is one beautiful girl!!! (just like mama). All the things my girls and I love to do together. I don’t as much anymore, but when my son was little Grandma use to watch the girls and I would take him to the arcade or sports emporium, so he could be “boy” things without his sisters interfering. and I would do the same with my girls individually. It’s such a special time to spend alone with your child when they have siblings… it lets them know they are individuals and not “the kids” as if they are one unit. Your a wonderful mama!!! Blessings
Praying Ethan and Caleb feel better.
What a lovely post. I’m sure she will always remember her special day with her mama!
so sweet….makes me want to have a special day with my “one and only” =)
How sweet to spend such a special day with Grace. That is one area that I always feel I am failing as a Mother. With large families you have to be creative to get that one on one time in. Since Faith was born I haven’t been doing much of it.
You’re both beautiful girls. This is a very heart-warming post for me! I have a “one and only” daughter too, my youngest—now 3. I just can’t believe how fast they all grow up. My oldest is 22 and out on his own now. It won’t be long before they all follow suit…This reminds me that our relationship with our daughters is very precious… a gift not to be squandered. Thanks for sharing!~C
What a great thing to plan and do! A bond between a mother and daughter is like no other. What a great gift you are to eachother! Love, Lish
She’s beautiful ~ as well as precious ~
One more voice telling how beautiful Grace is. She does resemble thee. I see sweet love and a gentle heart reflected from her moma’s eyes. She is well named! blessings and love, m in sc.
Just beautiful, thanks for sharing…God bless, evalyne
Shanda, what a sweet mother/daughter day you had with Grace. She is pretty as a picture and you both look adorable with your new haircuts. I love doing those things with Madison and Morgan too. Tell her that I think she looks so pretty with her new earrings.
Grace, I do believe you picked the exact, right earings. They look beautiful! What a special day!!
*Thanking God for my daughters as I read your post*
I am sad how quickly time is passing, she is beautiful and I am sure she will remember this day always, it really does seem like each post she looks older.