I really love the word "smattering"

I know I've been pretty quiet around here. And by quiet, I realize this means non-existent for the month of April.

It's been a busy month in our household with lots of highs and lows.

(This post will also include a smattering of photos which do not correlate with any statements made and serve no purpose other than proving how adorable my kid is.)

(Also, if these photos make you think I now walk around with a camera, you are sorely mistaken. I'm stealing them all from Jen.)

The highs are as follows:

Madeline is living and breathing for two upcoming events, her birthday next month and the start of preschool next August. If you come within a five mile radius of her, she will hear you approaching and a) remind you that her birthday comes after Easter and b) she can no longer schedule play dates because she is going to school.

If you think I'm exaggerating, you can ask anyone we know in real life, including but not limited to: family, friends, the waitstaff at Cafe Patachou and a kind mom with a real heart for listening in Chick-Fil-A last week.

We've blown through 17 possible birthday themes because her opinion is like a tumbleweed just blowin' with the wind. Currently, she is begging for a guard theme. As in she wants to dress up like the male guard in Tangled, complete with a hat with a feather and brown gloves. Oh, and she wants a real horse to authenticate the ensemble.

Mama says what??

Me: "Um, can we just do a Rapunzel theme?"

Madeline: "I just really really want to have a guard birthday, Mama."

I might whip out my executive mom card with this one. (It's gold-plated.)

And preschool, ah preschool. To say Madeline is excited to go to school is like saying I just kinda like Leona Lewis singing "Bleeding Love." If you tell her, "see you soon," chances are good that she'll respond, "I'm so sorry I can't. I have school."

I think some people in Indianapolis are getting the impression that I'm shipping Madeline off tomorrow to a year-round boarding academy instead of waiting four months to drive her three mornings a week to the church preschool down the road.

Another high was attending a super fun wedding which reminded me that I will totally rue the day when Journey and Black Eyed Peas are not part of the dance floor rotation. Nothing makes me throw my hands in the air like "Don't Stop Believing" and "I Gotta Feeling."

However, nearly every wedding reminds me of my sheltered childhood and how I totally missed the boat on "Thriller." For reals, I don't know any words or dance moves to that song. I just observe and morosely ponder why that song was (and is still) so popular.

And while we're talking about my feelings about wedding dance songs, let me just take this moment to also express my extreme sadness after walking back to the dance floor from taking Madeline to the bathroom and realizing I was hearing the last few lines of "Bye, Bye, Bye."

Being 28 years old in 2011 doesn't allow for many chances for me to jump up and down and flop my arms to 'N Sync.

I've come to realize that sometimes in life, I will start questioning all my parenting methods and wonder if I'm a good mom or just messing up my kid. And sometimes the clouds part and warm sunshine will dapple the floor and life will remind me that I'm doing okay and Madeline will be just fine. The wedding/dance party presented one of those moments.

Madeline hit the dance floor for every single song (save "Bye Bye Bye" SNIFF!) and when each song began, she would look around to catch eye contact with someone, throw her hands up and scream like a college girl on a Thursday night and bust her moves.

I was so proud.

I was going to write about the lows but that was because I didn't know how much I could ramble about preschool and 'N Synce. I'll be back tomorrow. Promise.