Elin loves playing in the sun room and she especially loves looking out the big picture window. As soon as she could pull herself to a stand, she was standing on her tiptoes and gazing out the window. She is always talking and pointing at the birds in the trees out the window and she also likes to look out at the golfers on the course behind our house.

Everyday after work, I pick her up from my mom’s house and when we get home, the first thing we do is let the dogs out of their crate and take them outside. In the warmer weather, Elin loves to come outside with me, but during the winter months she has to stay inside and she stands at the back window the whole time. She smiles and waves and most recently, she stands there and blows kisses the whole time I am outside. I think it’s the sweetest thing and I don’t want to forget the memory of her standing there. She is always so happy and all smiles the whole time. I can hear her in the there chanting “hi, hi, hi” over and over.

Not only do I love the fact that I know where she is and she not getting into mischief, but I think it’s just so very sweet. Pretty soon it will be warm enough for her to come out with me and she will just love that.

It may just be a little moment of our day, but it’s something that brings a smile to my face every time. I know that someday probably all too soon she will no longer find it exciting to watch me take the dogs out and I won’t see her cheerful face in the window.

Linking up with Jess and Ashley for the Little Things link up.

I am thrilled to be  linking up again with Jess and Ashley for the Little Things link up.

Something that may seem little or insignificant is a nightly routine, but my daughter Elin’s nightly routine is very special to me and her. Every evening after she gets her pajamas on, we sit in her pink chair and read anywhere from three to eight (depending on how tired she is) books.

Then when I get up to turn off her light, I turn on her piano music box. She received this box from us for her first birthday. When you turn the piano on by pressing the keys, it plays music, lights up, and tiny ballet dancers twirl around and appear to be dancing. It’s so detailed and Elin loves it! She loves to watch it, but perhaps her favorite part now is that when I turn it on, I twirl her around and dance. She has the biggest smile on her face and she laughs the most precious laugh.

Then the next part of the routine is turning off the light and rocking her in her rocking chair a couple minutes. Long enough to sing, “You are my Sunshine” and then “You are my Elin” to the tune of “You are my Sunshine”. Honestly, she doesn’t need this part at all anymore, but I do it anyway because I like this part. Especially because she lays her head on my shoulder and holds my hand. She doesn’t sit still very long during the day, so this moment in the bedtime routine is very precious to me.

It may just be a “little thing”, but Elin loves it and I think she loves that she can expect it every time I am the one to put her to sleep. Elin has been the best sleeper and miraculously she has never had any issues with waking up at odd hours of the night. I don’t know how we got so lucky, but I like to think her consistent and happy bedtime routine has something to do with it. I hope she continues to love her stories, music box, and rocking before bed.

Today I am participating in my first link-up! I was thrilled to learn about this link series with Jess and Ashley because the topic is just perfect for my blog theme.

My special little moment happened on a busy Saturday the week after Christmas. Our Saturdays tend to be filled with many errands after Elin’s Gymboree class and this weekend was no different. In fact, we went on many extra errands for post-holiday storage containers and specialty items. Elin is always very good in the car and even though I know she doesn’t enjoy shopping and errands, she is usually pretty good—today was no exception. Despite the recent cold, it was sunny and unusually warm for that time of year, so after being cooped up in the car, I decided to take Elin to our local park. We got lucky and there was hardly anyone there! This was not surprising since it was a holiday weekend in December but, it was so nice out. Elin had such a blast swinging and getting some time outdoors.

As I was swinging her and watching her smile and giggle, I kept thinking about how it was so nice to do an activity that was completely for her benefit and not be distracted by anything. If I am playing at home with Elin, I get distracted by looking around the room and noticing all the toys that need put away or looking at the floors that need to be vacuumed. Even the dogs will come along and distract me by barking or demanding to be petted (they are still jealous about sharing time with Elin). At the park, I find that I can completely focus on her and be more in the moment with her. I make it a point to never have my phone out texting or sending emails. If my phone is out at the park, it’s solely to take pictures of Elin.

It was just one of those moments that was simple but sweet and reminded me to make time to completely focus on her and nothing else. Even though she is not old enough to completely tell me what she would rather to be doing throughout the day, her smiles and attitude let me know she was appreciative of a spontaneous side trip to the park in December.