March 2015-Spring is here!!

Today you are at the beach at Gulf Shores with your parents. It’s a beautiful day and from the pictures your Mom is “tweeting”, I know you are having a great time!!
I had a lot of good times with you in March. Monday, March 2 you came to UAB Hospital with your Mother. The 3 of us had lunch together and we walked around while your Mother had an appointment. It’s always fun to walk around the hospital with you. Friday, March 6 you didn’t have school. Your father went to your school for a parent-teacher conference & because he went camping after school and your mother was working until 8 pm, for the first time since early January I had the opportunity to give you your bath & put you to bed...and the first time ever to put you in your “big girl bed”. We had a great day. We played with dominoes and watched TV then after lunch we went to Krispy Kreme. You played there with 2 sweet girls named after flowers...Lillie & Rosie. It’s always fun to see you interact with new peers. You are very sweet with other children. Then we went to Chuck E Cheese and you were disappointed the sweet older girl, Oona, you played with last time was not there. I guess it’s normal to expect to see the same people at the same place; you remained hopeful she would appear but you did enjoy playing with some other children. On the way home we shopped at Winn Dixie and you pushed your own little grocery cart & picked out some snack items you could have. It was fun. At bedtime you were very clever to tell me your parents would put the night light into your room until you fell asleep. When I communicated with your mother she told me that was what you always asked them to do but they never actually agreed to do so. So I promptly took out the night light and you didn’t resist...you almost pulled it off! I need to be more aware of what is actually okay for you to do. Saturday morning I played with you while your mother got ready for a visit from her friend who lives in Atlanta. You were excited because her girls (Madie & Jojo) were going to spend the night at your house! You were very sweet when I left taking Sunday the dog home with me for a long visit. I love to get hugs & “I love you Granny” shouts as I leave. On March 10 there were workers at your house fixing the stairs. It was a rainy day and we almost made it to school early but a slip in the yard necessitated a last minute clean up, but we weren’t late. We ate lunch at Taziki’s and stayed a long time. It’s always good to have time with you when we are not in a hurry. After playing at home we got ready for gymnastics but we ended up having to rush. It was raining but we made it in time to stop at Brusters for ice cream to eat in the car and still get to gymnastics in time. You like for me to stand & watch you in gymnastics. It is always fun to watch you. Even though your Dad came before your class ended, I stayed until the end of gymnastics. I’m always a little sad as I leave you but it’s good to know I’ll see you again soon.

On Friday the 13^th I parked the car on the street at your school & walked you in to your class while I was carrying Annie the dog. When the weather gets warmer I’m hoping we can walk to your school together. Or maybe just walk home together since it would require an earlier start to walk to school! When we got home after school Annie got out of the car and ran down the street. You didn’t have a shirt on (it’s “itchy” and you always want to take it off in the car). It was very cool and the dog was headed to the street, I called at you to stop and you ignored me & kept running. It was scary to me and I talked to you firmly about how important it is for you to obey to stay safe. It reminded me of how little control we actually have over our children and how vulnerable they can be. It means a lot to me that you are being raised by loving parents who are doing such a good job with you. We had a fun afternoon playing together including doing a little bit of yoga from your “flash cards” as well as doing puzzles and coloring. I enjoyed learning about Bear, Bunny, Bumble Bee, Snake & Elephant breathing techniques. I need to practice them!

On Monday, March 16 I picked you up at school and we had a picnic lunch (Grilled Cheese sandwiches from Waffle House) at Olmstead Park by the school. You enjoyed the great weather and the many kids at the park. Your Mom came about 3 pm & I went home until Wednesday morning when you & I and Annie the dog walked to school together for the first time!  After school we had lunch at the park again (this time Grilled cheese from Jimbo’s) and stayed for a long time. The crowd at the park changes as the HMS kids come out for play time & neighborhood kids come to play and some of your classmates come to play after lunch time. After we walked home you played with Emmie across the street who was visiting her grandparents with her newborn brother Wyatt. You had a busy & fun day. I stayed overnight and on Thursday you woke up early enough to hurry outside for a hug from your mother before she left for work. We walked to school again with Annie. After school we walked to the new restaurant in Mt. Laurel for lunch. You enjoyed being able to color on the paper table cloth. Because it looked like rain we walked home where you rested on the sofa watching cartoons then we played outside in the front yard until your Dad came home and I left. Wednesday March 26 I was waiting for you on the “butterfly bench” after you got out of school and we had grilled cheese sandwiches in the park again and you played with lots of kids and I enjoyed visiting with Georgia’s mother until time to walk you home because your parents were both there. Sunday, March 29 you and Sunday and Annie spent the night at our house. Your Dad was off and going to paint the bathroom on Monday and did not want to have you and the dogs around the fumes and bored because he was busy. You & Annie slept with me...you were very good (although you woke up several times due to stormy weather) but Annie did not sleep well at all! Before you went to sleep you had to make sure everything was “just so” in the bedroom...all of the drawers closed and the clothes picked up etc. It’s good you like things neat & in order! You spent the day with me until I took you home about 3 pm. We played with play doh in the basement & had Cozy Coupe rides & walked the dogs & played our first card game of “go fish” and watched Calliou. When I took you home you played in your new sandbox, which was good practice before your “Spring Break” beach trip with your parents. I’ll see you again Tuesday morning...one if the few times it will be more than a week between times I see you. I know you will have changed a lot in just a week. You are growing up so quickly. So glad I’m getting to watch it happen!

At the beach yesterday-flying a kite!

On the deck at Granny's house!

Playing at the park (Georgia in Green dress)

Resting & watching Calliou

Picnic at the park!



Pushing a friend at the park

Outside Tazkiki's



At Chuck E Cheese

Shopping with your mom in a favorite dress

February 2015--Frozen

One of your "Frozen" dresses

1112 Monaghan-Feb 26-Snow!

New "big girl bed"

February 14-Great Grandmother Hastie

Mardi Gras beads! (and Elsa dress!)

Floral Parade-Beautiful Day in Mobile

New Panda bear-for Share Day at School-studying China

Panda bear swinging-beautiful day at Olmstead Park by School



One of several February trips to Chuck E Cheese

At Head Over Heels Gymastics

Lyrics Song “Frozen”

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight, not a footprint to be seen. A kingdom of isolation and it looks like I'm the queen. The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside. Couldn't keep it in, Heaven knows I tried. Don't let them in, don't let them see. Be the good girl you always have to be. Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know. Well, now they know!

Let it go, let it go! Can't hold it back any more. Let it go, let it go! Turn away and slam the door. I don't care what they're going to say. Let the storm rage on. The cold never bothered me anyway.

It's funny how some distance, makes everything seem small. And the fears that once controlled me, can't get to me at all It's time to see what I can do, to test the limits and break through. No right, no wrong, no rules for me. I'm free!

Let it go, let it go. I am one with the wind and sky. Let it go, let it go. You'll never see me cry. Here I'll stand, and here I'll stay. Let the storm rage on.

My power flurries through the air into the ground. My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast I'm never going back; the past is in the past!

Let it go, let it go. And I'll rise like the break of dawn. Let it go, let it go That perfect girl is gone.

Here I stand, in the light of day.

Let the storm rage on! The cold never bothered me anyway...

Songwriters
ROBERT LOPEZ, KRISTEN ANDERSON-LOPEZ

The movie Frozen was released November 14. I’m not sure when you first saw the movie, but you have the DVD and have watched it many times. Your Dad posted a precious video of you singing the song in the back seat of the car. Of course you didn’t sing all of the words, but you know a lot of them. I enjoy hearing you sing the song! Since this has become one of the most popular animated movies ever, I imagine your generation will have memories of singing this song for many years. Although all of February wasn’t “frozen” (there was some beautiful weather), we also had some very cold weather that necessitated several late starts at school and one day school was cancelled…and a little snow. It did snow more at other places such as Saba Rafi’s in Jasper, but there was only a small amount at your Shelby County home. This month I took you to 3 of 4 Tuesday gymnastics classes. You enjoy gymnastics and seem to be getting better & better. We always stop at Bruster’s ice cream before gymnastics…a treat that has become a habit! But it is a nice one. You have stopped taking daily naps in hope you will sleep better at night. You have a new beautiful “big girl bed” because you were climbing out of your crib at night while wearing a “sleep sack” which could result in a fall! Right now you are waking up during the night which is difficult for your parents. I’m sure eventually you will sleep all night again which will be good for all involved! You have also had a phase of misbehaving that resulted in consequences such as you not being able to wear your “light up” shoes to school if you don’t cooperate with dressing in the morning. You have favorite dresses you like to wear to school (Elsa dress & blue “twirly” dress for example) and won’t give in to wearing other dresses. You are a “strong-willed” child. But because your parents are loving but firm, you are learning to have fewer episodes of misbehaving. I bought you a panda bear to take to school for your “share” because you were studying animals in Asia. You were delighted when you got the bear and she went to the park with us & joined the crowd of animals who sleeps with you. Valentine’s Day-Mardi Gras weekend we went to Mobile to visit with Great Grandmother Hastie at Crowne Assisted Living where she lives. You really enjoyed getting Mardi Gras beads and impressed Great Grandmother by counting the beads (in 3 languages…English, Spanish & Hebrew)  and sorting them by color. Annie the Dog made the trip with you and visited Great Grandmother too. The weather was beautiful for the Saturday Floral Parade which we watched with Great Aunt Linda, Uncles Mike and cousin Thomas Kelley. You really enjoyed it and you were so sweet when we ate at The Dew Drop Inn afterwards. You sat by Linda and told her you loved her. After the parade you and your parents visited Great Grandmother & played outside in the beautiful weather. It was very cold when I was with you Feb 18-19 but we played at the park for a short while on Wednesday and ate at Taziki and shopped at Hobby Lobby, but Thursday was a late start at school and we planned inside doing puzzles and playing with your castle. On Monday, Feb 23 you came to my house for a short time after school and eating at “Liberty Park” Taziki’s and taking your mother to pick up her car at Mountain Brook High School faculty parking lot. I had to pack to spend the night since bad weather was predicted. We didn’t stay long but did a few “Cozy Coupe” rides down our driveway. We stopped at Chuck E Cheese on the way home and you had a great time playing with a very patient older girl named Oona who was very sweet to you. School started at 10:00 am Tuesday and you stayed for “lunch bunch” then we played inside until time for Bruster’s & gymnastics as usual. Then I took you home to spend the night again. Wednesday was a “snow day” and your Dad & I were both home with you all day. It was an unusual day…your Dad fixed a lot of good food and you took a nap and we played a lot. It finally snowed about 9:00 pm and you saw the small amount on the ground Thursday morning. I took you to late-start school then headed home to my house since your mother was at home.

One special person in your life is your best friend at school Madilyn Yang who has a rare medical disorder Central Congenital Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS) also called Ondine’s Curse which necessitates her having a tracheostomy tube in her neck. There was a great article about her in the Birmingham News Sunday, February 22. Madie was in your class at HMS last year and you are together this year too. You love Madie and it is wonderful she is your best friend.

I’m not sure if it’s meaningful for me to write so many details about what we do together. I sometimes leave out the emotions associated with seeing you do sweet and loving things (which is often) as well as when you loudly and firmly disobey (which is much less often). One reason I want to record things is that I worry about losing my memories in the future, And I want both of us to have memories of doing fun things together and having the opportunity to share so much time together. I am fortunate to be able to retire at age 62 and be available to be with you as much as I am. You are so beautiful and smart and loving and kind and very sensitive to the people and things in the world around you. I love you and look forward to many times together!

 

At Floral parade with parents-Mobile, AL

We are Part of Life's Eternal Rhyme

How very special are we
For just a moment to be
Part of life’s eternal rhyme
How very special are we
To have on our family tree
Mother Earth and Father Time

He turns the seasons around
And so she changes her gown
But they always look in their prime
They go on dancing their dance
Of every lasting romance
Mother Earth and Father Time

The summer larks return to sing
Oh what a gift they give
Then autumn days grow short and cold
Oh what a joy to live

How very special are we
For just a moment to be
Part of life’s eternal rhyme
How very special are we
To have on our family tree
Mother Earth and Father Time

The autumn days grow short and cold
Its Christmas time again
The snows of winter slowly melt
The days grow short and then
He turns the seasons around
And so she changes her gown
Mother Earth and Father Time
How very special are we
For just a moment to be
Part of life’s….eternal….rhyme

I have heard your sweet Mother sing this beautiful song to you several times. It was sung by Debbie Reynolds in the 1973 version of Charlotte’s Web. (Debbie Reynolds was born in 1932 and was once known as “America’s Sweetheart”.) Charlotte’s Web was a cartoon so only her voice was a part of the movie, and this song was especially beautiful and somewhat haunting. Your mother loved this sweet & inspiring but some what sad story of the friendship between a pig and a spider. Charlotte knew her life would be short and Wilbur the pig didn’t understand until after he heard this song. Fortunately our lives are longer than a spider’s, but we are very special to be part of ”life’s eternal rhyme” even for just a moment. On Tuesday this week the mother of your Saba Rafi died in Israel. She was your Dad’s grandmother and your great-grandmother. You never met her but your Mother and Daddy visited her on a trip to Israel before you were born. On the night you were born I sat in the Labor & Delivery waiting room with Rafi and he told me the story of his father escaping from Nazi Germany when he was a teenager; his parents (Rafi's grandparents) did not escape. He made his way to Palestine where he entered illegally but stayed and made his life there. His grandson, your Dad, was born in Israel. I didn’t think to ask Rafi about his Mother. But the night of her death I was with you while your Dad was bathing you and he told me she also escaped from Nazi-occupied Europe when she was a teenager. She and her sister were able to escape from a train because a guard who had once dated your great-grandmother, turned his head and gave them a chance to flee. I’ll need to learn more about her when I have a chance to talk with Rafi again. Maybe we will have another time together one day waiting for a Rotter baby to be born. But you are the descendent of survivors, strong and brave people who would be proud of you and rejoiced when you arrived to be a part of the joy of living. I have enjoyed the moments I have spent with you this month! January 8 was one of the coldest days ever in Birmingham. Because it was so cold (below 10 degrees) your school opened late but I took you to school bundled in your warmest coat! After you went to bed for your nap, I heard you singing this sweet song. On January 12 your Uncle Alan came to visit & you enjoyed showing him your trampoline skills and playing Candy Land and "Matching Game" with him and your Daddy! They watched the college national champion (Ohio defeated Oregon 42 to 20). One daily challenge with you is deciding what you will wear to work. Some mornings you will wear what your mother has laid out  for you. But some mornings it is the fourth outfit before you finally will decide to actually wear it! You love to wear skirts that allow you to twirl! We have started spending time in your “big girl room” playing with puzzles and trucks. It is always fun and you are learning how to put puzzles together, a good skill since life is full of puzzles! One beautiful warm Tuesday after you got out of school I met you and your mother at Pablo’s restaurant and we ate outside. We went back to your house and played outside with play doh before I took you to gymnastics where your Dad met us to take you home. It was a wonderful visit. Because you have to be at gymnastics at 4:00 pm we have started skipping a nap on Tuesdays. You really enjoy gymnastics and you are very good at it. It is fun to watch you in class. On Thursday, January 22 I was at your house early and you woke up singing “Tomorrow” from Annie. We had a good morning and a fun time playing after school with only a short “test of Granny” in the morning getting ready and in the afternoon pre-nap. It is so hard for me to be firm with you. But I know you have to make it to school on time and you need an afternoon nap, so as the representative of your parents, I have to set limits regarding how many times you can change your mind about clothes and how long you can stall before taking a nap!  You seem to feel an obligation to test my commitment to you doing what's right at least once or twice a day! On Sunday, January 25 you went to the circus with me, your Mom & Aunt Kristina and Eli and Maggie Rae. Everyone had a great time! We had good seats and you really enjoyed the show & the souvenirs and your cousins. It was fun to watch you enjoy the circus and your cousins. The most recent two days I spent with you were especially nice. The weather was great and other than a brief time the morning you finally wore the 4th outfit you picked out, it was a perfect visit. After school both days we played at the park close to your school. It was fun to watch you negotiate turns with other children and for me to go down the slides multiple times with you. Tuesday the 27th was the day your great-grandmother died. After school we  did not go home until after gymnastics. We went to Taziki’s for lunch after our time at the park, then to Bruster’s for ice cream where we went down the slide many times (and ate a little ice cream) and shopped at Dollar Tree before gymnastics. You really enjoyed gymnastics and we had a good ride home where we found both of your parents there and happy to see you. After your bath I took a cute picture of you with your Daddy. You are so special and so funny and happy and excited about life. I am so glad our moments as part of “life’s eternal rhyme” are overlapping for this season of time...which I hope is long enough for you to have memories of me and to tell my great-grandchildren about our season together.

Top of Slide Mt. Laurel Park

 

Piloting the new see-saw airplane at the park!

 

Circus Jan 25 with cousins!

Front row circus seats!

Pre-gymnastics slide at Bruster's Ice Cream



Candyland with Dad & Uncle

Trampoline time!

Learning to play Matching game

Post-bath time!

Now 2014 is over and it's 2015!

In December both of your parents had a birthday and I kept you while they went to a movie the night of  December 4, your Mother's 35th birthday. It was the first night I spent the night at your new house and bathed you and put you to bed. The other nights I spent at your house were while your mother was working and your Dad had the honor of putting you to bed. Your bed has continued to get more crowded. I think there are now 17 stuffed animals who sleep with you! December 11 was the second time I went to your class and listened to students read aloud. (I think you will be reading soon!) While I was there I got to go with you to a holiday musical performance by the older students. One song they sang was an original composition by the HMS music teacher titled "Maria Montesori" about the Italian physician and educator who developed the wonderful method of teaching at your school. It was quite a catchy tune! It was fun to sit with you among all of your classmates and listen to the program. You have a great school! On Monday, December 15 I got to go to your school again for "Muffins with Mom". Your mom was on call and able to attend as well. After I took you home, both of the dogs had been sick and vomited on the rug. Yuck! On Thursday, December 18 I kept you while your parents went to an appointment. You were really coughing and didn't seem to feel well. The next morning you had a fever and didn't go to school. I was very sorry you didn't get to go to the Holiday party & Pajama Day, but you really weren't feeling well. You were very sweet and we, and your 17 animals, took a long nap together! After your Dad got home I took the dogs home with me because you were heading to the beach the next day. Unfortunately you & your parents were all sick and didn't have as much fun at the beach as you deserved! By Tuesday, December 23 when you returned, I wasn't feeling good either. I brought your dogs home to you after I went to the doctor & started antibiotics. The next time I saw you was Christmas morning and I stayed with you until I went home again to stay after your Dad returned home the morning of January 2 from a camping trip in New Mexico, and a long drive through Texas in snow and ice and cold. It was great to have your family back together again! Although you really hated taking the yucky white medicine (you had both strep throat and the flu!), you eventually began to feel better and we got to do some fun things. Your mother and I put together the trampoline Great Grandmother Hastie gave you for Christmas and you really enjoyed jumping in it! Your gymnastics classes have helped you develop your jumping skills! You got a Candyland game which is a longtime traditional children's game & we played quite a few rounds of it. Your mother wasn't feeling well and on Friday I took you to the Hoover Library and then met Nitza at Galleria Mall where you rode the carousel with her. And then we ate at your favorite place--Chace Lake Taziki's! On Saturday your former neighbors Dustyn and her almost 2 year old son Camdyn came to visit from Florida. You walked to the Mt. Laurel pizza place & had lunch with your mom & Dustyn while I kept Camdyn. You were quite grown up! That night I sat with you and your mom while your mom put you to bed. You have added a sweet part to your bedtime routine when you & your mom "talk a little bit". You want to have your new Barbie Doll with you while you read a book about Barbie the Gymnist and you want to hold Olivia while you read a book about her pretending to be in the circus. Although you finally go to sleep well you really like to drag it out as much as possible! On Sunday we went to celebrate the holidays with Sabba Raffi and Granna in Jasper. You were very sweet and got lots of presents and had fun. There are a lot of people who love you a lot! On Monday you and I went to see the new version of the musical Annie. We went to the 10:30 am show and there were very few people there. It was the most fun I can remember having at a movie! You enjoyed it so much and sang along with some of the songs and really paid attention to it. We stayed through all of the credits and I would have stayed and watched it again with you if we could have! On Tuesday you joyfully took the last dose of your antibiotic. We met your mom for lunch at Zoe's in Homewood then I met you at TCBY in Homewood after I had a doctor's appointment and took you home while your mom had a hair appointment! On the way home was another sweet time while you sang along with your "old favorites" on the Toddler Tunes CD we listened to a lot when you were younger. After we got home your new neighbors (one house down) came over to play for awhile. Carlie is 4 years old and maybe she'll be a long term play mate. Tata & Sabba Koplan kept you while I went to the Greystone Y. Wednesday, December 31 your mom had to work. Nitza came over and played with you while I walked the dogs & grocery shopped. After she left we enjoyed watching Frozen together and I tried unsuccessfully to get you to nap in the bed with me. You were very sweet at bedtime until fireworks started going off in the neighborhood! It was hard for you to go to sleep. But you finally did and 2014 quietly ended and 2015 began! On New Year's Day your mom had to work again and we learned your Dad's return was going to be delayed due to bad weather. You visited at Nitza's for a few hours on New Year's Day and went to Starlight Lake and had a great time with her. Both Auburn and Alabama lost their Bowl games!  Because you took a nap and your mom was able to leave work a little early you were very happy to have your mom put you to bed Friday night! You have a wonderful mother! On Friday I took Sunday to the local dog groomer for a bath and your mom & I took you to buy some "twirly skirts" at the local children's clothes shop where you also bought some mittens you loved! Then we went to Chuck E Cheese for lunch & play time. You like to play & eat there, but you don't like Chuck E! You missed a nap but went to bed early. During the night your father came home so even though your mom had to go to work Saturday morning you were very happy to see your Dad after you woke up. I packed up and headed home to stay until the next time I get to come to your house. Although the "non-routine" of holidays was a good change-of-pace for you, it will be good to have you back in your routine of school and regular wake up & bed times. You have a wonderful school and wonderful friends and wonderful parents & a wonderful house...and a Granny who loves you and is so grateful to be a part of your wonderful life! Looking forward to many good times with you in 2015!



At Chuck E Cheese in new Twirly Skirt!

Christmas Day presents

New Mittens!

Your first Barbie Doll!!

Snack at Galleria Mall with Tata

Lunch at Chace Lake Tazki's

After wonderful time at movie with you!!!

New trampoline!!

Visit with Sabba Raffi in Jasper

Words to song!

I know you'll be playing & singing one day!

Dec 4-1st bath by Granny at new house!

November 2014-Cousins & Autumn Weather & Growing Up Fast

Cozy coupe at Granny's-numerous rides down hill!



Almost headless "leaf angel"

Walking Sunday at Granny's

Silly faces with cousin Abigail & Annie!

Annie actually slept w/ Granny!



Baths at Granny's (but no "hair night"!)



Cartoons with cousins Jackson & Abigail



This Thanksgiving-10 yr old Abigail "favorite cousin"!



Practicing medical skills!



The 3 girl cousins! T'giving day at Roseanne's!



Hideaway pets-1st ride to school!



Listening to students read in Ms. Shelley's class last month



Beautiful girl & day at Mt. Laurel park after school

Patient concerned about what MD may be hearing?

Dec 2, 2014

Today is your Daddy’s 40^th birthday & Thursday will be your Mother’s 35^th birthday! While they went out of town for an early celebration you spent 3 days & 2 nights with Granny!  

A lot of things happened this month: Annie stopped crying at night & your Dad finished the fence in your back yard. We had lunch at Jimbo’s & I took you to gymnastics once (and we arrived early!). You are doing great at Gymnastics! We watched a lot of Dora the Explorer & Calliou & ate a lot of mac & cheese. The “hide-away pet” cats arrived & you love them! We solved the mystery of the lost shoes--they had been stuffed back in the shelf by the front door when you changed shoes to go out & play. We shopped with your mother at Toys R Us and had lunch at Johnny Rockets where you saw your sweet friend Georgia (who had a b’day party this month where you rode a horse named Lillie). One day it rained so much Highway 280 flooded and there were several days of unseasonably cold weather and I had  several especially sweet & delightful days with you. The last pre-Thanksgiving Day with you we discovered your silver shoes had been left at school. I put you & Annie in your wagon & pulled you to school to get them. As we passed the park on the way home you wanted to stop. Since there were lots of HMS students there and the weather was great we did. It was so much fun and you were so sweet. Annie drew a lot of attention which you really liked. And so many of the older students were so nice to you, which you also liked! You did a lot of swinging and sliding and you were sweet when it was time to leave. It was a special time at the park. Your parents brought you to the “Stuedeman” Thanksgiving Day  Gathering. You had a blast! You played outside at the neighborhood playground & inside with 1^st cousins Abigail (10) and Jackson (7) Green & Eli (4) and Maggie Rae (6) Brown and some other kids as well. Eli & Maggie Rae went to visit you at your house. The morning of  Friday after Thanksgiving your parents dropped off you & the 2 dogs on the way to their trip to North Carolina. You had a great morning playing with your 4 cousins before the Browns headed home to Mississippi & the Greens went to Demopolis to pick up Jacob who had been deer hunting. The weather was great & you & I played outside in the leaves with the dogs & had lots of Cozy Coupe rides down the driveway & played with Play Doh & swang in porch swing & took a nap together. You watched Calliou and after supper enjoyed your playtime during your bath & went to bed sweetly. Soon after you called out you forgot to poop! You told me you “tooted” and it reminded you that you needed to poop. I love the way you are so comfortable about using the bathroom & you do it so well. I can’t remember any “accidents” post initial toilet training! The Greens came back while you were asleep & you really enjoyed playing with Jackson & Abigail & Jacob again. Jacob pulled you all around on a blanket & the 4 of you played a lot without me until they left about 1:00 pm. Then we went to see the movie “Penguins of Madagascar”. You enjoyed the popcorn and paid attention to the movie, but it wasn’t a really great movie. Since we skipped a nap you were in bed asleep about 7 pm..after a fairly long “play bath”! Sunday morning I heard what I thought was the neighbor doing some early morning hammering but it was you banging on the crib rails with one of your animals! We had a great day playing outside in the leaves & walking dogs & many more Cozy Coupe rides down the hill before we went to your house. We had temporary crisis when we thought we lost Nanny pre-nap but you found her in the covers. Since you were late going to sleep I let you sleep until about 5:15 then you & I were outside on the porch when your parents returned before 6 pm. You were very happy and I headed home. Now it’s December & I’m looking forward to another month with Lyla!!