October 2014-"Make it into a ball!!"

Halloween Day at School

Ready for gymnastics & Halloween
 



In the air at gymnastics!

Sunday & Annie napping



Your wonderful school!



New back yard (pre-fence)

New Neighborhood



Taziki's!

Nose must not be indented!


 

October 2014

“Make it into a ball” was a mystery of the month. Nap time & bedtime is always preceded by many routines…closing all drawers, positioning the pillow in the chair, being sure the vitamins aren’t visible behind the picture, lining up & counting your 8 bed-mates--2 bunnies, 2 sheepies, owl, brown puppy, owl & nanny—and being sure owl’s beak is not inverted. And books & songs & “high 5,4,3,2,1,0 and water then ending with your sweet “good night I love you see you in the morning” (even at naptime). But recently the request to make nanny into a ball was added and it was very frustrating to all that we did not know what you meant! Your mother finally figured out you had seen a commercial for “hideaway pets” that curl up into a ball to “hide away”. Of course I ordered you one (the white cat was what you chose—I hope you’re not disappointed when it comes). But I thought it was interesting you would have seen a commercial for a toy that became a ball and you would assume we could convert your current favorite toy into a ball.  I think that’s a great idea and maybe one day you can discover a way to make that happen. Maybe you just assumed your amazing parents could do anything? You do have amazing parents who love you very much and do good things for you including making you feel loved and also helping you learn to obey and have self-control. And provide you a great house & neighborhood to live in and an exceptional school to attend. And much more. October, my first month of retirement, was a good month. On the 3^rd I took you to your pediatrician for your flu shot and to Dairy Queen before the shot & to Krispy Kreme donut after. Then we went to the Mt. Laurel park, watched Calliou had pasta supper & I put you to bed & spent the night at your house. I took you to gymnastics twice (only got lost the 1^st time!) and realized it’s tough to get in a nap on gymnastics day! You are so cute & do so well at gymnastics! Your new puppy Annie moved into your house. It took her awhile to stop crying all night, but she has adapted. That’s a good reminder that the adage “this too shall pass” and “everything is just for now” apply to the annoying things…and to the precious wonderful things as well. One night I was at your house after you Dad put you to bed and we could hear you sweetly singing on the monitor. It was so touching. I took you to eat supper at Taziki’s twice in the evenings while your Dad was working on your new fence. One time I got lost trying to find Taziki’s & the other time I missed the turn onto Highway 41 coming back. But I’m beginning to get used to a new area of town for me. You really like going to Taziki’s! You pay attention to the people around you & ask questions about them like “where is the mommy?”. And you recognized an older child from your school. You are very observant. When the fence is finished it will be great to be able to let the dogs out in the back yard and for you to play there too. You are very particular and know what you want and don’t want which is a good trait in the long run but sometimes difficult in the short run! Your mom bought you a cute Unicorn costume which you were ambivalent about. And a simple “back up” dog costume with ears &  nose & tail & a cute dog-face shirt. But you ended up wearing a Disney princess shirt & skirt—and you looked precious in the parade at school! I am lucky to spend a lot of time with you and I feel very inadequate at times…I am not good at making piggy tails (I get the part crooked) and can’t put cute outfits together. And I feed you too much mac & cheese because I can’t cook. But I love being with you and know that you are growing so quickly and will not be a toddler for long. One day I went to your class to listen to children read. There are 3, 4 & 5 year olds in your class and it was a window into what is ahead for you at your wonderful school. It was sweet to see you do your jobs & watch you obey the teachers and keep an eye on me as I was listening to the new readers read…and realize it won’t be long before you are reading! But I hope you will let me read bedtime & naptime books to you for a long time! Today is November 1st…another fun month with you!