This weekend was full of perfect Pip visits. Jake and I were able to be civil to each other, but we agreed we could have easily fought over Pip’s affection the whole weekend. Tooth and nail I tell you. She was a pure delight to be around. Smiley, charming and silly.
When Piperjane moved rooms recently, they really didn’t want us bringing a lot of stuff with us. Clothes and toys only. So we’ve tried to be good about it, but we finally caved and decided to bring Pip’s chair with us on Saturday. Jake kept mentioning that Pippy would sit on the ground when playing with her toys and since that’s kind of gross in a hospital, we decided it would be ok to stretch the rules.
Piper has always liked this chair that Jake made for her, but this is different. It’s like she suddenly understands it’s function, and that it’s just for her. She laughed when I sat in it, she laughed when her pink blanket “sat” in it and she entertained herself the whole day simply getting in and out of the chair. Sitting down, smiling, standing back up, looking quite pleased with herself, making sure we noticed her grand accomplishment, then repeating. It was hysterical. On Sunday she did the same thing, but added sitting in our laps to the rotation. She had us in stitches. This is seriously great material for a 4 year old.
When it was time to settle down and get ready to go home, we had some snuggle time in her bed. I started feeling the first signs of a cold (you know that little tingle in your nose/throat/ears?) on Sunday and I’m sad to say it’s full force today (monday).Β I couldn’t go up to visit her, so I’m extra happy to see these pictures and remember that the visits we had were perfect down to the last minute. I’m also happy after realizing she shares my huge love for Alice In Wonderland since she carried Alice around with her everywhere. Piper Jane’s love for little figurines will never falter.
I’ve really been having an extra amped up love for Piperjane lately. Like we have a new bond since she’s been more little girl instead of baby-girl. I’ve always had this fear that the older she gets, the harder this whole thing will be. It’s true in some ways, but it’s not true in others. For one, we still have her, and she is blossoming more beautifully than I ever imagined. She is smart and funny in her own right. She gets things that I never thought her little mind could put make sense of. She’s really a special little thing, my Pip. Excuse me while I go cry in my sick bed.
I needed to see her today.
sounds like someone’s addicted to the natural doob.
i hope you get better and see her soon!
So glad you guys had such a sweet time together.
And I love PipJ’s love of figurines.
PiperJane is the cutest little girl ever (and I can say that as I only have Feel better soon!
Feel better soon.
–Mari
There has to be a genius inside that head of hers. And a huge amount of love for you that even god himself wouldn’t be able to comprehend.
You are an amazing mama
Thank you for sharing your love for Pip & Pip herself with us. I always feel a special connection to Pip since her birthday is so close to my Dudes, this age is so amazing. I try to soak it all up like an orange soda on a hot summer day 
xoxox
Anya
My heart aches for you Reagan …I just don’t know how you cope?…I’d be a mess….all the time….your incredible and a beautiful mumma bear to your pippy…xoxoxo
I love those last two pictures, they are very sweet. A mummy loving her big girl!
Get well soon!
You’re right, Piper has definitely turned into a little girl, and a pretty cool one actually. I can’t really offer any smart advice on those hard things, I thing you have probably already figured out the ‘taking and enjoying things as they come’ by yourself
This is such a sweet heartfelt post from a Mama. Thank you so much for sharing your heart and your precious baby girl with us! She will always be your baby–no matter how big she gets! Take it from a Mama who knows. ; )
Reagan, you rock my socks and then some! I tagged you (and Pip and Jake) in a recent blog post: http://www.neveraplainjane.blogspot.com/2012/02/recovery-and-naval-gazing.html
If you have time, will you play our little Q&A game? I know you’ve done FAQs before, but I just can’t get enough. Thanks for all the sweet, quirky, loveliness you give to the blogosphere.
This is such a sweet post for your Piper. Also, I think since she kept playing on the chair that it totally counts as a toy, so the hospital surely can’t find anything wrong with having it in her room.
Bummer Reags that you are feeling crummy… Especially since you “need” your girl today. Hopefully your cold is short lived and you will be reunited with her soon!
She is such a little cutie patootie that pipster!
Also… I wanted to tell you that your feelings are justifiable… your circumstances are unique and don’t let anyone take those feelings away from you. My baby is 13 and doesn’t need me as much anymore and that makes me sad.
XOXOXOXOOXOXOXO and more!
To live life fully it is often necessary to break the rules!!! Loving the pics and your furry vest -jealous!
LOVE the pics of Pip enjoying her chair (and her figurines). Feel better, Reagan!
Hope you get better soon and that PJ stays well too! Thanks so much for the Piper post!
Ho! I remember her looking pipsqeaky small in that chair when Jake first built it! Boy, what a difference in her comprehension since then, too! Just like categorizing all her different figurines on the ledge, it’s great that she’s learning what things are for and who they belong to — knowing what’s appropriate and what’s silly. Like when my 4 year old put her shorts on her head and laughed and laughed and laughed. She thought she was a Jimmy Kimmel because she knew shorts didn’t GO on her head. She’s 30 years old now, but I’ve still got that picture at home of her with the shorts on her head. One of my all time faves! Remember the old days when you weren’t even sure Pippy recognized you? Super Pip, defying odds every day!!
She is one special little girl. I can’t believe how big she is getting…so beautiful. I love her long fingers. Thank you for allowing the rest of us to enjoy your little blessing. Get well soon.
And you Reagan are a ‘special little thing’ also my dear. Hugs.
Piper is such a cutie! Loves!
a lovely tribute by and of two lovely girls
I just love you two. Ok, three. Jake is pretty great as well. You all three have so much love for each other, and just looking at pictures of you staring at your Pip makes my heart swell up. Just beautiful.
This must be so hard. Not to have her at your beckon call every moment, every day. Get better Reagan. Thanks for sharing such sweet photos of your Pip. She is a pleasure to get to know and love.
You are such a great mama to your girl. I love the photos of you together- you are looking at her with such love. She is one lucky Pip! I hope you feel better soon and get to resume your visits!
You are a wonderful woman, with such a special love for her little girl, it melts my heart. I hope you are feeling better real, real soon.
Reags. I’ve known you for some time and even your situation with Pip in a hospital and all that since the beginning. But something about reading your blog today hit me when I realized, “Oh my gosh. They have to say goodbye. Every visit, they have to say good bye.”
You’re a stronger mama bear than I think most of us even realize. Hugs to you and that sweet Pip.
Never underestimate the power of God and the love of fantastic mama and papa bears. Pip thrives in her own ways and at her own rate.
Seems to me she has more figured out than most of us. Heck, if I could make people feel complete and utter joy the way Pip does, wow what a market to have cornered.
Even on rainy days, her joy lights up the room.
I’m so happy you got to have a perfect weekend with your Pip. I love all of the photos, and I’m dying over that chair. Get well soon!
No one loves her as much as you guys, of course, but I just have to say how much I LOVE your little Pip! She is such a wonderful little girl, and I’m so glad you share her with us. (Cute to see her wearing her Piper Janes [shoes] too!)
I keep finding myself coming back to your blob today (bet I’m not the only one). One of the statements you made in talking about good things in your life was that you ‘still had her’ . That has stayed with me all day. You brought home, acutely, how you must simultaneously rejoice in her wonderful post-baby progress, and at the same time never get to completely forget how fragile she is. Well, I think you’re nailing it. Your joy in her smiling, happy, silliness shows it all. YOU’RE NAILING IT!
It’s ok to miss her. She’s beautiful and those special mother-daughter times are so delicious! Thanks for sharing her with us! She always warms my heart and makes me smile.
Such a sweet post, I had a definite lump in my throat reading it x
If the hospital threatens to take away her beloved wee chair I say we make a petition that it STAYS! (Sort of kidding
I agree, the Pip pics always make me smile. Thanks for sharing them with us
“I needed to see her today” Oh my heart, bless yours. I just smiled and smiled and smiled, that Piper Jane is epic.
I hope your damn cold goes away.
Sheβs really a special little thing, my Pip.
And then I cried, too…
love and get well.
xo, misha
ugh, such a sweet post. a chair made by dad, and a whole lotta snuggles from mom? i’m glad you guys have each other.
Ugh, not fair that you have to be sick and missing your girl!
Your last paragraph combined with those photos of you and Piper made me all misty. That fierce love between you is a beautiful thing to witness.
I’m so sorry you weren’t able to see your girlie because you were sick. I hope you’re feeling better soon!
My heart hurts knowing that you have to miss her so much…like others have said those last two pics and your last paragraph were really lovely. My boys were in the nicu for three months; you are beyond amazing to be living away from your piper for years now. praying for strength for your sweet piper and your amazing heart.
Hope you’re feeling better momma!
Hey Reagan, I hope by now you are feeling better –both physically AND emotionally! I read your posts after this one and you just sounded so sad…made me want to give you a big hug and a “There, there, it’s going to be okay…really it is!” NOT that that would have helped but it woulda been kinda funny because I don’t think I’ve ever said “there, there…” to anyone as a way of comfort or for any other reason for that matter lol!
You are doing AWESOME, Reagan but I understand it’s GOTTA be exhausting sometimes keeping up the pace that you do. Is there any way you can simplify–even if only for a bit to sort of recharge your batteries? Any vacations coming up where you can sit home or at the Pip’s house and do absolutely nothing? (After sleeping in late of course lol!)
Love the photos–the one of Pip with her chair is cute but I always melt when I see her snuggling with her mama and daddy. The ones of you two snuggling in her bed together are precious! That Pippy sure is growing up but, like some others have said, she’ll never STOP being your baby.