Good Eats at the Olive Garden...

I'm taking Deidra out tonight for some mommy/daughter time. I'm taking her to the Olive Garden for dinner. Andy's going to stay here with the kids and Little J wanted burritos for dinner, so he's going to make them for her and do something fun here at home for them. Deidra's been getting a mouth on her lately and with her breakdown the other day after getting bit by Little J for the umpeenth time I figure that a little one-on-one time will do her some good and maybe we can get her back on track. She really wants us to be able to adopt Baby J too and I keep telling her that I just don't know yet. She prays for it every night...we just love that baby to pieces. He's a little handful lately but he is just too adorable with what he does and the things that he says. But, I think having some time to herself and getting away with me for awhile will be good for her and she's lookign forward to it. Little J got upset about it, but I told her that she gets to go to her visit with her parents today and spend time with them. Deidra just needs some time with her parents too. I really wish I knew how to make Little J see that she doesn't need to be the center of attention all the time. I try so hard not to get mad at her, I give her her own time with me each day, but the minute I turn to Deidra or to the boys, she has to find a way to get my attention back to her. She's made a little progress and she seemed to do fine with it after I talked to her although she was still pouting about it, but I know tonight we'll probably leave her here crying because she'll be all upset. We've tried letting her go out alone on errands and out to eat and so forth with us to give her one-on-one time by herself, but she just has a hard time when it's anybody elses turn but hers.

Anyway, back to Deidra...I really am proud of her for everything that she puts up with from Little J and I want to do something to reward her for how well she does with everything...so I'm hoping a special dinner out with Mommy will help. She really does have such a huge heart for a little girl...despite everything she's thankful for Little J and she wants her to be here. I just hope that one day Little J will appreciate Deidra for the great big sister that she definitely tries to be.