I don't Beleive

 It’s a broken record…it’s raining……..repeat.

So let’s forget about the rain that is keeping us indoors…….What should I talk about? Well, it is Sunday so that mean, BRUNCH! Did I forget to mention that it is cold out…No, I didn’t? Well, it’s still cold out. We set out for the “Blu” as we now call it. It’s about a 20 minute walk from our apartment. By the time we got home the girls needed to update their travel blogs.

I have to take a break for a second to tell you about Nata’s manipulative powers. When we received the court papers describing Nata they spoke of her powers to get what she wants. Now, these powers are useless when it comes to daddy, here’s why? All it takes for either of my girls to get what they want from me is to smile and say. “I love you daddy”. Yep, I’m a pillar of strength! But for Sheri, she is steadfast, cut and dry, my word is the law.  That is true unless you throw in a 4 foot ball of cuteness who is very cunning. Sheri gave Nata 2 options and in no way was she getting the third option. Let’s just say, Sheri is with Nata right now….doing the third option. Oh Sheri, you collapsed! If you can’t say no to her, who can?

Okay, back to my story. After the travel journals were updated it was playtime for the kids, and I’m including daddy when I say kids. Eventually, after one twisted ankle, Sheri took the girls out for about an hour to do a little Christmas shopping. Upon their return it was fitness time, which included climbing the stair eight times (up and down 5 flights of stairs equaled 1-time)  and a whole host of knee-bends, push-ups and jumping jacks.

As I did not have a chance to eat lunch with the girls I decided to go to my new favorite Latvian Chinese Wok-to-Walk restaurant. That was not what made it special. What made it so special is that my youngest daughter, Nata, wanted to join me.  Together, we had fun running down the street and playing LavaShark (I’ll explain later). But having my youngest with me, there was no-way I was going to go home after eating. So we walked through our local Galleria and went shopping. Nata wanted to get something special for Sanija, Mommy and me. When we walked into the toy store (this is how sweet she is) she put a doll back on the shelf I said I would buy her in exchange for two smaller dolls. One for her and the other Sanija. My vocabulary does not have the words to verbally tell you just how much she loves Sanija.  It is simply the sweetest thing in the world.  Keep in mind, this child never got gifts and what dolls she does have are second hand. For her to give up a $15 doll for (2) two - $3.99 dolls shows that her wants don’t even come in as a close second to her love for Sanija. Still hunting for a gift for mommy, Nata went into just about every store and was getting frustrated. Until she found the flower shop. She picked out the flower, paid the cashier and managed to pocket the change from daddy. She was soooooo excited to give them to mommy, we ran the entire way back to the apartment.

Before bedtime the girls really wanted to watch Nanny MePhee Returns. The second film in the two film series. Sheri once again made some healthy popcorn for the girls before putting them to bed.

Our pre-bed ritual is something we have done since our first night with Sanija a year ago. Basically, we do a group family hug followed by individual kiss from everybody. Then all of us give 2 “gratefuls” from the day’s events.  I’m grateful for this or we did that or anything really. Then we recently added that the girls need to give us two things that we don’t know about them.  Some of them have revealed a lot. I would tell you but……well, that’s for our family only – sorry!

It got exciting when during Sanija’s reveal, Nata stool up with a panic look on her face, kinda yelled and ran into the bathroom. I, along with the others, jumped up and ran with her. She ran to the sink and started spitting out blood and there was a lot of it. After a few seconds with blood dripping from her mouth she muttered, “my tooth came out”. Within seconds she spit out the tooth in her bloodied hand. Eventually, we got the bleeding to stop, cleaned her up and got her off to bed. I didn’t want her to lay down because of swallowing the blood so we all sat up and talked awhile.  When I told her I personally know the tooth fairy she told me there was no such thing as the tooth fairy because she always puts her tooth under the pillow and she never comes.  Well, that’s gonna change tonight, I’ll tell you! We cleaned up her tooth, placed it right to her favorite pig stuffy and said, “We’ll see”.

During our post tooth talk Sheri brought up a subject that I’m so grateful she did. I’ve had my feelings hurt to many times to mention. The girls and I have tons of fun together but when it comes to simply “loving” things I am usually the outsider. Example; during tonight movie if I would go to put my arm around Nata , or Sanija for that matter, would typically pull away. If I tried to have Nata snuggle up with me she would lean forward to the edge of the couch or go get something from the kitchen. After a while it starts to take its toll and I get a little frustrated….and the girls know it. So Sheri told the girls that she understands that the men in their lives were not affectionate or loving to them as they were growing up. She also asked the girls if they had ever heard the term, “Daddy’s Girl” which neither one did. She went on to explain that she was a Daddy’s girl and it’s a very special relationship between a father and a daughter. And, that someday if they give me a chance they will have the privilege of becoming a “Daddy’s Girl”.  I let the girls know that I understand as well and I will be there for them for the rest of my life. I know it will take time and I promise to be as patient as I can be. “Now, give me a hug and kiss and go to bed!