Swingin' along

We've survived another round of colds and are finally enjoying Opa's visit. This time the cold wasn't too bad, but it hit everyone, even Clara. The poor girl still can't breathe, which makes just about everything important (like nursing and sleeping) difficult. It was a pretty good domino effect: first Nona, then mama, Opa, Molly, and finally daddy & Clara.

On Vacation

We're on vacation visiting my folks. Uncle Nouri came down for the weekend to join us. Here we are with him enjoying a snack at the farmers' market. (Molly was practicing pouring her fresh apple juice into a little cup and then drinking it)

Molly's Three!

happy belated third birthday, Molly. You went to your 3-year checkup today and everything looks good. It's funny, looking back, I see that I often wait until the "official checkup" to write a "letter" to you. Maybe that's why last year's letter never really got finished. Between getting pregnant with Clara and waiting for the results of your MRI, it just didn't happen.

Anyhow, it's looking like this one will be written. First, I want to say how completely grown-up you seemed to me today. Okay. We say that every six months. But really! It's true! This time I am specifically comparing you to every other time I've taken you to the doctor. You were super today - following directions, talking to the nurses & to Dr. Saba, etc. I remember last year when they tried to measure your height you wouldn't stand next to the ruler even. And when they tried to take your blood pressure pre-MRI there was no way you would let that happen. And even in our recent visits for your various illnesses (earaches, vomit, etc) you were much more hesistant with everything, although I guess those were different because you were actually sick.

Anyhow, today the nurse tested your eyes (this was cool - they had an eye chart with line drawings of apples, houses, and umbrellas instead of letters). Then she weighed and measured you (by the way, you're no longer considered "obese" like you were last year - now you're just "borderline overweight"). Then Dr. Saba did more tests, but called them questions and games ("what's your name", "are you a girl or a boy", "how old are you", "draw a circle for me", "walk over here and get these stickers", etc.). She also said it's okay that you can't pedal a tricycle yet.

The funnest test was the hearing test. You sat on my lap and the nurse put earphones on you and asked you to raise your hand when you heard a beep in either ear. At first you just announced that you heard a beep and pointed to your ear, but it was neat watching you remember that she wanted you to raise your hand. By the end you were raising your hand on the beep like a pro.

Anyhow, why am I describing your doctor's visit in such detail? In a way, to me, it's a way to describe how grown up you seem now. Zach commented after your birthday that you suddenly seemed much older - the difference between 2-year old Molly and 3-year old Molly becoming apparent almost overnight. I agree with him but I've been struggling to come up with concrete examples, so, I'm using your checkup as an example.

But it doesn't cover some of the other things that are slightly more subtle - things like giving us sassy answers that are actually intended to be sassy. Or anticipating answers or events.

It also doesn't cover all the crazy changes that have occured in your life this past year: potty training, preschool, and let's not forget your little sister! Each one of these things are huge and I wouldn't say that they were easy for you, but you certainly did well.

So, Miss Molly - happy being 3! I know you're looking forward to "when I'm a grown up", but you seem to be doing a durn good job enjoying being a little big kid.

First Foods

After much anticipation, Molly and Clara shared a few bites of rice cereal this afternoon. Clara was a little confused, but excited and gamely sucked the spoon clean. Molly narrated the whole event and enjoyed chowing on one of her favorite foods, but later threw it up.

And with this, I suppose, we have to say goodbye to the breastmilk baby poops.

Reading Rainbow

Scene: Sofia enters Molly's room at the end of her afternoon "one hour rest" (she doesn't like to call it nap time lest she be pigeonholed into actually napping). Molly is looking at books in her bed.

Sofi: Your hour is over.
Molly: I'm reading books!
S: That's great.
M: But I don't know how to read!
S: That's okay, you can look at the pictures.
M: Can you teach me to read?

So much for my Waldorfian visions of letting her wait until first grade to read. I should have known I never had a chance with her dads early reading and my own self-starter reading pre-Waldorf first grade.

We proceeded to talk about letters having sounds, letters making words, etc. "Dhuh!" "Dhuh!" she says. "That's the sound that D makes!".

Zach suggested making letter cards, so we sat down and made a few cards with letters (she already recognizes them all) and short word/picture combinations on the back. Any other suggestions on how to channel this reading excitement without turning it into a chore? Or where to start with this?

Puke-o-Rama

Molly has some sort of stomach virus so we've been knee-deep in throw up over here. Just when we thought we were all done, she announced another round this evening. Other than the puking, though, she seems to be pretty much fine. With the first round, she gleefully exclaimed: "Guess who's sick?! Molly is!". And with tonights round, when she finished vomiting I had to hold her back to stop her from trying to do a slip-slidey dance in the stuff. Yum.

In the shade

[March 9, 2008: Clara, fascinated by her sister; really fascinated; Molly sharing her sand-filled sock ("here! eat it! it's yummy! it's soup!"); More sock ("it's for you!"); Zach and his ladies.]