Sometimes it's the little things....and sometimes the little things are huge to some of us.

Sometimes it's hard to gauge whether Addy is making progress or not. Maybe it's because I'm with her so much every day, but it can be hard at times to see significant progress.

But every once in a while something happens in our day that allows me to pause and think about how much this sweet little one is learning. It's encouraging.

The other day in the tub, Addy and Brylers got lucky and got a super bubbly bubble bath. Addy gathered up some bubbles, looked at me and said, "Look, Mama, I have ice-cream. Yummy!" Then she was pretending to eat her "ice-cream," give herself more, et cetera.

Random sidenote, why does Addy call me momma? No idea. I've never referred to myself as momma, but that's what she always calls me.

Anyway, most parents probably wouldn't think twice about their child playing with bubbles and pretending it's ice-cream, but for me it's a big deal. Why? Pretend play. This is not something that comes naturally to Addy and pretty much always has to be initiated by me or whoever is working with her. But this was completely unprompted and all on her own! So a little thing? Maybe. Awesome? You betcha.

The day didn't end there, however. No, no, no, no. After the girls' bath, Brylee was less than happy to go to bed (to put it VERY mildly). The way she was screaming and throwing her little tantrum, I'm just glad the cops or CPA didn't show up or something. I finally just put them to bed, shut the door, and walked out with Brylee screaming bloody murder at the top of her lungs. Figured I'd give her ten minutes or so to chill out and me ten minutes or so to chill out. And possibly eat something sugary. Don't judge. I just happen to be a stress eater of sorts. At times. Oftentimes. With sugar. It's complicated.

So I went upstairs and worked on these little skirts for Sunday.

About ten minutes later and a possibly a half pound heavier I went back downstairs. All was quiet in the realm of the little girls' room, so I opened the door and found Addy sitting on the bed with Brylee giving her tickles on her stomach and face and singing to her. (Just as an aside, the song she was singing was the nice, soothing melody of Bingo, so the tickles had to stop for her to clap-i-n-g-o). But between the tickles and singing, Brylee was totally calm, and it made me so happy to see Addy have love and emotion toward her sister. Now, I don't know how much of this is "learned behavior" (as in she's seen us sing or give the kids tickles enough times that she's mimicking what was seen), but I really don't care. It's progress. And it's wonderful to see her expressing such a positive and loving emotion.

And, yes, those may be little things, but to me they are a big dealeo. It's the little things that make me so grateful that I'm able to now be home with my kids all the time, that I'm able to focus my energy on helping them achieve their greatest potential, and to have a husband who works so incredibly hard that I'm able to do so.

Little things. Tender mercies.

" I believe I have come to better understand that the Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ." - David A. Bednar