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Update on Miss K

Thought I'd share a typical morning with Miss K. K woke up with a start as soon as I opened her bedroom door (sometimes I'll find her sitting up in the dark or talking to herself). She immediately shouted "Wow, look at my binkies!" and started "herding" them in her crib. Then I got the "Mommy, what to wear?" question. Kira loves picking out her shirts every morning, although she sometimes decides she loves two shirts so much that she has to wear both. Once the shirt of the day is chosen, it's time to hop out of the crib and run to show Daddy what "she wear today".

Getting K dressed is somewhat like herding cats, what with all the "work" that she needs to do. This morning, K felt that Daddy needed extra help, and pulled his deoderant out of the bathroom drawer to give to him. She then of course proceeded to systematically ask the names of all things in that same drawer. Luckily, in order to do this, K was relatively motionless, so I managed to wrangle a clean diaper on her and get her liquid vitamins in her mouth. She then whipped her head around and said "OH NO! TOOTH BRUSH!" -- she knows what comes next in the routine.

After tooth brushing, she says "bye daddy, I go dress" and runs towards the living room. This begins the wrangling of clothing (K would only wear a diaper all day if she could get away with it). Today, she was fine with the shirt, but did not want to wear pants. So there was wailing and gnashing of teeth while mom pins K down to put on the dreaded pants.

Once clothes are on, suddenly K becomes starving for breakfast. "I want some pan-cakes pease" Bing-bing is K's name for the microwave. She likes to touch the pancake to verify that yes, indeed it is cold, and requires microwaving (Oh, NO! COLD! Pancake go bing bing!). Once pancakes are made, we settle into high chair mode while K happily eats her pancakes while Mom does K's hair, socks and shoes.

Once Frank is all ready, K's remaining breakfast goes in a sandwich bag for safe transport, and she slowly makes her way down the stairs. It's very dramatic for her. Today, she wanted to count, but kept getting stuck on four (one, two, three....six!). She decided today that she was walking out the door on her own, and turned around half way to say "Bye Mommy, I have good day."

So there's a typical morning for Miss K.

The Pirates Next Door

Kira watched in fascination as our neighbor backed up their huge boat into their backyard while I was grabbing the mail. When I got back in the car, she said "Shit!"-- and my head swiveled around. No worries, she was saying "Ship!". And then...

"Pirates. Pirate Ship. Arr...Arr...Bye Pirates, bye Ship tomorrow!"

And every day after that, she says hi to the pirates. Cute!

A Good Start

This morning, K was no trouble at all. It was the first morning for months that Kira did not have at least one crying fit or balk during her morning routine.

How amazing to see her grab her clothes, demand to be changed/dressed, and willingly brush her teeth. Throughout the whole routine, she was smiling and enthusiastic. She even had time to walk into our closet and consult on Daddy's wardrobe ("What WEAR??? Pants???") She egged Frank on out the door ("Come ON! DADDY!"), and at the end, blew me a kiss as she walked out the garage door and into the car.

Sounds like such a small thing, but it was like a star appeared and all the angels sang to me and Frank. I know every morning is not going to be like this, but even the fact that a no cry - no struggle morning is possible is reassuring.

Alpenglow!

ATTENTION

To the woodland creatures on the wall runner in Kira's room:
Please stop pestering my daughter. I am tired of hearing about it at night and in the morning. No more "bunking of the head" no "moose poking the eye" and by all means no "eagle poop de pants!".

And which one of you is talking to her about Darfur?
K this morning: "Darfur! Momma Darfur!"
Me "What? What are you learning in circle time?"
K: "No. Darfur. RAWR!"
Me: "Ah, Dinosaur!"
So..dinosaurs. Stop having discussions with my political activist baby. Next thing you know she'll be lobbying for health care reform, and that's the type of discussion I'm not expecting to have for at least a few months.

And as for Swiper...no Swiping. OK? If I hear another sippy drop to the ground and "Oh, NO! Swiper STOP!" or "Oh, NO! Swiper hide de BOOTS" I'm coming after you!

And which one of you goes by "SUPER-POOPY!" Let's have none of that super poop either.

Thank you,
the managment

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