Fall stuff

I haven't quite got the hang of posting regularly. I know Dave and I doing this as much for a record of all those precious moments a parent gets to enjoy but seem to loose memory of over time as much as for friends or family to "see" Keira from a distance.

My cute thing is how much I have been enjoying just daily interactions with K. Of course, she is 2 and all the challenges that come with that. She is learning to do so much for herself like dress, turn on light switches, open doors all that kind of stuff and she can really fly off the handle if her little agenda is challenged by a mama in a rush. But in between helping her learn self control and negotiation skills and how to rest when she isn't sleepy I am getting a huge kick out of sharing her life. We were at Starbucks the other day waiting for some friends. Keira had to bring her purse in with her so I asked her what she was toting around inside it. She pulled out keys, a cell phone, a small pad and pencil, plastic fruit, a mirror and a "monkey George" toy. "That's all" she said. "Just stuff girls need" I observed to her that the things she packed in her bad looked a lot like what mom carries around in my purse. "Yep" she says casually. By now I am giggling. I did have to ask about the plastic fruit. "For snack mama". Makes sense. I always have a snack in my purse for myself and/or her. "What about monkey George?" I asked. "In case Peanut (what we are calling the baby in the belly for now) gets bored when she comes out and needs a toy to play with" Again, made sense, I often have a toy or 2 in my purse to entertain Miss Grace when life finds us in a place where I need her to sit still. Love this kid. By the end of our conversation I was not only entertained but fascinated at Keira's observations and imitations of me. Honored really.

I know parenting isn't for everyone, but I am so blessed and wouldn't miss it for the world.

Another Day

I never realized just how big a leap it is for a child to understand the differences in time. I know that my child is smart and seems to have the ability to pick up concepts fairly quickly. I hope that common sense keeps growing as she get older. Please! Please!

Anyway, for a while now Amy and I have been using the timer on the Microwave as a means to initiate a change in tasking for K. What I mean is that we set the timer for 2 minutes and then when the timer goes off, is K knows that it is time for dinner, or bath, or nap. It seems to work very well for her. It has also worked in the sense that she has started to negoiate for more time on the clock. Yes, yes I know that I am real trouble.

For a while K has been saying things like, " When I am 5 Pappa, I can do..." But recently that has changed to "Pappa, I can do that Another Day?" "Another day I went to the Park and played on the Swing." "Another day, I will go to your work and ..."

It is amazing to me that she is seeing that fact that "Another day" means the present, the past and the future. The say context determines meaning, right? what do you do with a 2 year old that understands the context of the situation but is still learning the words to descirbe them. I know encourage her.

So she knows all of her letters, she knows all of her sounds. Recently she was in the car with her mama and Amy heard this from the backseat, " hhh ...oooo...ttttt" Mama that says "hot"
Is it wrong for me to dream that she will be reading by 3. Is that such a far off idea.
I do know that it will be "Another day"

Toliet Trees?

It is so funny how little ones process the information around them. They take everything at face value. This morning I was making a shopping list and I asked Dave if he needed any toiletries. Keira looks at me and then back at Dave and says, with her brow furrowed, "Toilet Trees????" I didn't get what the question. I started to explain about shampoo and toothpaste and Dave says "Am, say is syllable at a time" I was just buzzin' through the morning and would have missed the joke entirely probably. Love my little girl and how much she helps me to slow down and appreciate life.

Lets Go Walking

The other day after dinner Keira asked if we could go outside. It was a cloudy day and even had rained in spots. But after I explained that she would have to wear her boots, she was all for it.

At first she didn't really want to leave the driveway, but when I told her that I was going to the mailbox, she quickly consented and the next thing I know, her hand reached up and grabbed a hold of two of my fingers.
WHen we got to the mailbox, I made a move to remove my hand from her grasp, she just strengthened her grip and said, " Lets keep walking Pappa." So we did.

Marching along the sidewalk, I kept thinking that at any moment she would want to turn around or worse that since we didn't have her stroller, that I would have to carry her back. But every step was with confidence. Every time she stopped at the end of the street to look for cars, and then proceed to cross the street, she walked like she knew what she was doing.

About half way to the "waterfall park" there is a hill. I thought for sure that this would be the point that I would start doing the carrying. But nope, she kept walking. I did laugh when she got to the middle of the hill and stopped and looked at me and said, " I need to catch my breath." Then proceeded to breath heavily for one or two breaths. (Thanks Nanny!) Then we continued.

She didn't even want to stop at the waterfall park. We kept right on walking. We were more than half way around the walk before she even realized that we didnt' have a stroller. She kept walking. I will say more than half way was enough of holding onto Papa's hand. But she kept walking. And she made it the whole way.

I am so proud of her. That is a big walk for me sometimes when Amy is speed racer mode. She talked to me the whole time and was very engaging. I am sure anyone driving by had to smile just by the smile on my own face. She said more than once " I like it when it is just you and me, Papa." Then she would say, " I like it when it is Mama, Papa, Smer, and Nanny and Granddad too." It is almost like she was working out how to say that she like walking with me but didn't want the rest of her family to feel any less important cause she was having a good time. Maybe I am reading too much into it, but she said it about 7 times on our walk.

And one final thought to any parent out there. Remember that your brains grow when you take your naps. Just ask Keira.

The Wind Blows Me Silly

If I didn't have a calendar to reference I would be convinced that it is March up here in Washington and not June. It has been the coldest June on record so far. Rain, chill and even Spring like wind storms. Yesterday we were out and about in the blustery weather and Keira started running around in circles saying over and over "I am running in the sun!" and "The wind blows me silly" That last one had me cracking up. Where do they come up with this stuff? Here are some recent pictures.

Female and Males

First of all I didn't realize that it has been over a month since the last time I posted. I am not sure anyone is reading this but I really think I should codify these wonderful moments that we are having with Keira.

So yesterday she and I were in the kitchen and we were getting ready to make dinner. She was standing in her chair and eating the heads of of her animal cookies. Having a wonderful time at it I might add.
So I said "Keira, would you like a grilled cheese sandwich?" She looked at me and said "that would be a great idea, Pappa." She thought for a a moment and said," Pappa, I would like a grilled cheese sandwich. Would you like a boy cheese sandwich?"

Who knew sandwiches had a gender. Certainly not I.