Before I had girls I was sure I was going to have boys. Honestly, I was afraid to have girls. They seem so complicated. And hormonal.
And now I have two. So far the best part is celebrating their girly-ness. And lately I'm ever-aware of it. Evyn loves to stand in the bathroom while I'm putting on makeup. She tells me I'm pretty, compliments my shoes, asks if she can have a dab of blush…wonders out loud when is she going to be thirty-one so she can wear makeup and shoes and drive a car, too?
Frankly, it's awesome. And it gets more awe-some the older they get.
A few weeks ago Evyn asked if we could paint her nails. This is an easy enough task to turn into a sensory treat, so I thought I'd share our process [and maybe encourage those of you who plan to wear sandals au naturale to slap some paint on those piggies already! ;)]:
We started by making a homemade foot and hand scrub**:
- 3 parts ground oats (I used our coffee grinder)
- 3 parts brown sugar
- 3 parts aloe vera gel
- 1 part olive oil
- 1 part lemon juice
Then we rolled up our sleeves and pants and set about scrubbing our hands and feet. Be very careful – your feet will be slippery – in fact, my quick tip for childproofing a tub floor is to lay down a towel, not worrying about it getting soaked.
After a lukewarm rinse and peppermint lotion, I set out a few paints for her to choose from. She picked a cheerful poppy color.
We sat for a few minutes, marveling at our fingers and toes, and exchanged kisses on the cheek.
I know someday in the tweens and teens she'll roll her eyes at me. She'll quit hanging on my every word. Maybe even be embarrassed by me. But I'm prayerful she'll still secretly always be a little awed by me.
Just as I am by her.
Other girly celebrations to admire: Eve's Tea Party, Mother Daughter Book Club, Camp Avonlea
**note the slight edit to the recipe – just add as much or little of ingredient as you need for your desired consistency
Do you remember sittin in your living rm in WA and being so sad that Evyn finally had an arch and her baby feet were gone? I love the memories you both created with each other, thanks for sharing.
AWWWE thats why I wanted a girl. At 2 my boys were looking like that at me when I put my make up on and even asked for a little lipstick but the hubby wasn’t having it.
i have a little girl. she came after a boy. i never thought i’d have her as there are mostly (nearly all) boys in hubby’s family. so, when she came, it was….exciting.
she’s too little for mani/pedis, but i love this idea! homemade scrub. it’s awesome!
That is a great color! Sounds like you two had a fabulous time, and you’re right, cherish these moments for later when things become challenging! Although, I do have to say, I think I have more respect and admiration for my own mother now than I did when I was little, so perhaps after you get over the hump it only gets better?
I don’t have a girl and I want one more now than ever! My son Noah is awesome but there is just something about a Mom and Daughter. Maybe someday God will bless me with a girl to be girly with 🙂
Crystal – I am all teary eyed now. I have 2 girls 5 & 3 and I think we’ll be painting our toes this weekend 🙂
I have two girls, 7 and 6. They are the center of my world, my life.
I did this last night with my 7 year old. I buffed and shaped her little hands, it was late so tonight we finish polishing and the toes! The 6 year old likes to do her own but maybe after the foot bath comes out she will join the fun.
My 7 year old already rolls her eyes when I kiss her at school but I know she still very much wants me to kiss her goodbye.
Thank you so much for posting this. My daughter absolutely LOVES doing manis and pedis together. We have a girly weekend planned with my mom in a few weeks. Sweet will have to make this to take as a hostess gift for grandma.
I too love the girliness of my little girl. When I was little I would sneak to my Mums wardrobe and try her shoes on, I know how much my little one loves shoes so she know she just has to ask to open my wardrobe doors and it occupies her for ages staring at herself in the mirror trying on each pair. Yesterday I even had to put music on because the shoes needed to be tested to see if she could dance in them!
How fun and what sweet momma daughter memories! Just in case you wonder (since you have two girls), boys are every bit as hormonal as girls, they just won’t talk about it! Arghhh. (I have two younger brothers. 😉 I speak from experience.)
Aw, that’s so sweet!
I have a girl (my only so far) and girls are awesome!
Personally, I wouldn’t have any idea how to raise a boy.
I’ll have to try that scrub.
I have been an anonymous lurker of your blog for some time now, and have never commented before today – but today’s post made me de-lurk to tell you how much I love reading your posts and today’s brought a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat. I too have 1 girl and I never thought I would have any children, and as my girl is almost 4, I find we have and are having some of the same experiences as our child(ren) grow. I look forward to reading more about you and your family, and I will definitely be trying out today’s “recipe” with my little girl too!