Dear Sophie,
Today, you walked into the room where I was working, stretched out your arms, and said, "Hug?"
I love you!
Mommy
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Come on, Mom!
Dear Sophie,
Yesterday, I ran in the 4-mile Kansas City Zoo Run, a charity run benefiting the zoo's Sumatran tiger. You'll know someday that I love animals, especially our dog Lucy and cats Blue and Junior, and one of my favorite channels to watch on TV is the Animal Planet. I hope someday you, too, will share my love for animals. So, I registered for the race.
Needless to say, with only a few 3-mile jog/walks in the few weeks leading up to the race, I was ill-prepared. I started the race with three co-workers from the Federal Reserve. Two quickly separated from the group about one mile into the run. The other stayed with me for another mile and half or so. She kept me encouraged with positive words along the way, but at approximately two and a half miles, I suggested she could go on without me. I just couldn't keep up with her! So, I found myself running without a companion.
It just so happens that right about then I had caught up with two young girls. I soon learned that they were running with their mom. The oldest girl, perhaps about fifteen or sixteen, yelled back at her mom every few yards or so, "Come on, Mom! Keep running! You can do it!" She repeated this numerous times. The effect on me was inspiring.
I thought about you and how you sometimes grab my shirt or my hand and pull me in the direction of something you want to do. You say, "Mon, Mommy," which translates to, "Come on, Mommy!"
I loved seeing the relationship between the teenage daughter and her mom during the Zoo run. This was something they did together. I imagine that you and I will do many things together, and I hope someday that when you're a teenager we maintain that togetherness.
Love you, Sweetie!
Mommy
Yesterday, I ran in the 4-mile Kansas City Zoo Run, a charity run benefiting the zoo's Sumatran tiger. You'll know someday that I love animals, especially our dog Lucy and cats Blue and Junior, and one of my favorite channels to watch on TV is the Animal Planet. I hope someday you, too, will share my love for animals. So, I registered for the race.
Needless to say, with only a few 3-mile jog/walks in the few weeks leading up to the race, I was ill-prepared. I started the race with three co-workers from the Federal Reserve. Two quickly separated from the group about one mile into the run. The other stayed with me for another mile and half or so. She kept me encouraged with positive words along the way, but at approximately two and a half miles, I suggested she could go on without me. I just couldn't keep up with her! So, I found myself running without a companion.
It just so happens that right about then I had caught up with two young girls. I soon learned that they were running with their mom. The oldest girl, perhaps about fifteen or sixteen, yelled back at her mom every few yards or so, "Come on, Mom! Keep running! You can do it!" She repeated this numerous times. The effect on me was inspiring.
I thought about you and how you sometimes grab my shirt or my hand and pull me in the direction of something you want to do. You say, "Mon, Mommy," which translates to, "Come on, Mommy!"
I loved seeing the relationship between the teenage daughter and her mom during the Zoo run. This was something they did together. I imagine that you and I will do many things together, and I hope someday that when you're a teenager we maintain that togetherness.
Love you, Sweetie!
Mommy
Sunday, August 26, 2012
The "BB"
Dear Sophie,
Today, I realized you'd learned a new word. Unlike other words that we had made a conscious effort to enunciate for you and encourage you to repeat, "BB" (easily recognized as "TV" with your emphatic pointing at the big flat screen) must have been absorbed from our daily conversations. That causes me two concerns: (1) You are listening to us adults even when I don't think you're listening, and (2) "TV" must be a frequent word on our lips.
This morning, I lifted you out of your crib, and as I often do in order to impress the English language upon you, I explained to you what we were doing. "I'm going to change your diaper, and then we're going to get breakfast." You pointed somewhere in the direction towards the front of the house, and said, "bibi?" Misunderstanding, I asked if you wanted your "binky" and despite your obvious frustration with me, I put a binky in your mouth. You impatiently squirmed while I struggled to change your diaper. We proceeded with breakfast, and then to the living room to relax.
I turned on a DVD, the Blue Planet. You love watching the fish and the birds. This morning you easily identified "bear" which was gorging itself on salmon. You were pleased for the moment. Later in the day, though, when Daddy had left the the news on the TV and had gone down to the basement to try to make some progress on a toy box he is building for you, you retrieved the remote control and thrust it into my hands. "Bibi!" you demanded and pointed at the news show. It was then that I realized you were saying "TV." "Yes," I nodded my approval, "that's right. TV." You shook the remote in my hands, and it finally donned on me that you didn't want to watch the news. We flipped to channel 29, Nick Junior, and you settled in for an episode of "Go Diego Go."
This evening, at dinner, we discovered just how addicted to the "bibi" you had become. The television was on in the background, and we were all at the dining room table. Although you had a fork, you dug into the pasta and tomato meat sauce with your little fingers, picking out the parmesan cheese - how you love cheese! You aren't much of an eater, as it is, but Daddy noticed that you were distracted by the TV. You kept turning around to look at it, while your food was getting colder and colder. Daddy tried to refocus your attention on your dinner plate, but when it became obvious that the "Family Guy" (which Daddy himself is hooked on) was more important to you, he turned the TV off.
Two things happened in this moment that amazed me: (1) Your daddy actually turned off a rerun of the Family Guy, and (2) you were instantly in temper tantrum mode, crying and yelling "BB!" And that was it. You weren't going to have another bite. Not one bite more. Not even a piece of parmesan cheese!
The crying and yelling persisted. We put you in a time out, and though you bore your punishment for the single minute of your typical timeout, you weren't reformed, and we had to put you in a second time out. The second time out was no more corrective than the first. It was Daddy who stayed strong and did not turn on the TV despite your kicking and screaming. I was ready to cave in because it was Sunday night and I wanted to eat dinner in peace.
No such peace was made without a great effort. Seeing that your Daddy was determined not to give you your way, I scarfed the rest of my dinner (I'm always last to finish our meals) - Daddy was going to need my full support. "Don't turn on the TV yet," he ordered. Though it's much easier to drop you in front of the TV while we clear the table and tidy the kitchen, we didn't do that this time. We distracted you from your fit of rage by engaging your assistance in the dinner clean up effort. I gave you plates to carry from the dinner table to the kitchen, and I supervised your every step as you dutifully bore them, one by one, to Daddy who was doing the dishes. You took the soiled napkins I gave you, and put them in the trash receptacle. Daddy instructed you to close the dishwasher after we had fully loaded it. By the time we were done, your tears were dried up, and you were wiggling with pride at having helped Mommy and Daddy.
The work all done, Daddy scooped you up, grabbed the bag of snap pea snacks that you love (because he knew you'd still be hungry), and plopped down onto his recliner with you on his lap. The Family Guy resumed. I looked over at you and your daddy. He caught me observing the two the of you, and asked "What?" "Nothing," I answered unconvincingly. Nothing but a daughter like her daddy.
It gives me relief to think that a few days ago I had heard you clearly say the word "book." You learned "book" before "BB," and that has to count for something, right?
Love you!
Mommy
Today, I realized you'd learned a new word. Unlike other words that we had made a conscious effort to enunciate for you and encourage you to repeat, "BB" (easily recognized as "TV" with your emphatic pointing at the big flat screen) must have been absorbed from our daily conversations. That causes me two concerns: (1) You are listening to us adults even when I don't think you're listening, and (2) "TV" must be a frequent word on our lips.
This morning, I lifted you out of your crib, and as I often do in order to impress the English language upon you, I explained to you what we were doing. "I'm going to change your diaper, and then we're going to get breakfast." You pointed somewhere in the direction towards the front of the house, and said, "bibi?" Misunderstanding, I asked if you wanted your "binky" and despite your obvious frustration with me, I put a binky in your mouth. You impatiently squirmed while I struggled to change your diaper. We proceeded with breakfast, and then to the living room to relax.
I turned on a DVD, the Blue Planet. You love watching the fish and the birds. This morning you easily identified "bear" which was gorging itself on salmon. You were pleased for the moment. Later in the day, though, when Daddy had left the the news on the TV and had gone down to the basement to try to make some progress on a toy box he is building for you, you retrieved the remote control and thrust it into my hands. "Bibi!" you demanded and pointed at the news show. It was then that I realized you were saying "TV." "Yes," I nodded my approval, "that's right. TV." You shook the remote in my hands, and it finally donned on me that you didn't want to watch the news. We flipped to channel 29, Nick Junior, and you settled in for an episode of "Go Diego Go."
This evening, at dinner, we discovered just how addicted to the "bibi" you had become. The television was on in the background, and we were all at the dining room table. Although you had a fork, you dug into the pasta and tomato meat sauce with your little fingers, picking out the parmesan cheese - how you love cheese! You aren't much of an eater, as it is, but Daddy noticed that you were distracted by the TV. You kept turning around to look at it, while your food was getting colder and colder. Daddy tried to refocus your attention on your dinner plate, but when it became obvious that the "Family Guy" (which Daddy himself is hooked on) was more important to you, he turned the TV off.
Two things happened in this moment that amazed me: (1) Your daddy actually turned off a rerun of the Family Guy, and (2) you were instantly in temper tantrum mode, crying and yelling "BB!" And that was it. You weren't going to have another bite. Not one bite more. Not even a piece of parmesan cheese!
The crying and yelling persisted. We put you in a time out, and though you bore your punishment for the single minute of your typical timeout, you weren't reformed, and we had to put you in a second time out. The second time out was no more corrective than the first. It was Daddy who stayed strong and did not turn on the TV despite your kicking and screaming. I was ready to cave in because it was Sunday night and I wanted to eat dinner in peace.
No such peace was made without a great effort. Seeing that your Daddy was determined not to give you your way, I scarfed the rest of my dinner (I'm always last to finish our meals) - Daddy was going to need my full support. "Don't turn on the TV yet," he ordered. Though it's much easier to drop you in front of the TV while we clear the table and tidy the kitchen, we didn't do that this time. We distracted you from your fit of rage by engaging your assistance in the dinner clean up effort. I gave you plates to carry from the dinner table to the kitchen, and I supervised your every step as you dutifully bore them, one by one, to Daddy who was doing the dishes. You took the soiled napkins I gave you, and put them in the trash receptacle. Daddy instructed you to close the dishwasher after we had fully loaded it. By the time we were done, your tears were dried up, and you were wiggling with pride at having helped Mommy and Daddy.
The work all done, Daddy scooped you up, grabbed the bag of snap pea snacks that you love (because he knew you'd still be hungry), and plopped down onto his recliner with you on his lap. The Family Guy resumed. I looked over at you and your daddy. He caught me observing the two the of you, and asked "What?" "Nothing," I answered unconvincingly. Nothing but a daughter like her daddy.
It gives me relief to think that a few days ago I had heard you clearly say the word "book." You learned "book" before "BB," and that has to count for something, right?
Love you!
Mommy
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Busy Weekend!
Dear Sophie,
Daddy and Lucy went on a weekend trip, so it was just a girls weekend - you and me. Friday night, we went to the Ethnic Enrichment Festival to eat some Filipino food at the Filino Association booth. You ate barbecue, adobo chicken, pancit, lumpia, turon, halo halo, and cantaloupe drink. You also watched the Sinag Tala perform several traditional dances. You seemed most interested in the Tinikling and Silat dances.
On Saturday, we spent lunch and early afternoon at the zoo because today was KC Fed Day at the zoo. We only had time to visit Africa before it became obvious that you needed a nap. I asked you if you liked the elephants, and your serious answer was "noooooo." Would you like the elephants to visit you? Again, "Noooooo." I think the elephant's sheer size intimidated you. You were happy to watch from afar.
Tonight, we'll go back to the Ethnic Enrichment Festival and see what other good foods we can eat, but until then, you are crashed out in your crib - fast asleep!
Thank you, little sweetie, for a wonderful girls weekend.
Love you,
Mommy
Daddy and Lucy went on a weekend trip, so it was just a girls weekend - you and me. Friday night, we went to the Ethnic Enrichment Festival to eat some Filipino food at the Filino Association booth. You ate barbecue, adobo chicken, pancit, lumpia, turon, halo halo, and cantaloupe drink. You also watched the Sinag Tala perform several traditional dances. You seemed most interested in the Tinikling and Silat dances.
On Saturday, we spent lunch and early afternoon at the zoo because today was KC Fed Day at the zoo. We only had time to visit Africa before it became obvious that you needed a nap. I asked you if you liked the elephants, and your serious answer was "noooooo." Would you like the elephants to visit you? Again, "Noooooo." I think the elephant's sheer size intimidated you. You were happy to watch from afar.
Tonight, we'll go back to the Ethnic Enrichment Festival and see what other good foods we can eat, but until then, you are crashed out in your crib - fast asleep!
Thank you, little sweetie, for a wonderful girls weekend.
Love you,
Mommy
Monday, August 6, 2012
Toes and Potatoes
Dear Sophie,
We had potatoes for dinner tonight, and when daddy and I told you to eat your potatoes, you happily repeated, "Toes!" That's exactly the same thing you say when I point to your little piggies and ask what they are: "Toes!" I sure hope you know the difference.
You're learning more and more words every day! And although you can't say them, we see that you understand us. You brought a book to me, and I was too busy at the moment to read to you. So I advised you to take your book to your chair and read it yourself. True to the instructions, we found you sitting in your little recliner, with the book open on your lap, and when daddy walked by, you shouted up to him, "Read!"
Daddy says, "We have a funny little girl."
Love you to pieces,
Mommy
We had potatoes for dinner tonight, and when daddy and I told you to eat your potatoes, you happily repeated, "Toes!" That's exactly the same thing you say when I point to your little piggies and ask what they are: "Toes!" I sure hope you know the difference.
You're learning more and more words every day! And although you can't say them, we see that you understand us. You brought a book to me, and I was too busy at the moment to read to you. So I advised you to take your book to your chair and read it yourself. True to the instructions, we found you sitting in your little recliner, with the book open on your lap, and when daddy walked by, you shouted up to him, "Read!"
Daddy says, "We have a funny little girl."
Love you to pieces,
Mommy
Friday, July 13, 2012
Don't Bite Your Friends
Dear Sophie,
One of your favorite tv shows is Yo Gabba Gabba, and on that show, there's a song with the repeated lyric, "Don't Bite Your Friends." I've heard stories about biters and their victims, but today it wasn't just a story from someone else. My dear little, Sophie, you bit one of your friends at school today. This was a first. Ms. Robin called me at work to report the incident. She didn't tell me the name of your victim, but she said she thinks that the other child "invaded your space." When I picked you up from day care at the end of the day, the program director, Ms. Melissa Smytson, told me that you were just frustrated.
Whatever the reason, I hope we can nip that in the bud. I hope you'll grow up to become kind and patient. Unfortunately, with your Daddy's genes, patience might not be in your nature.
I love you, Baby Girl. Don't bite your friends.
Mommy
One of your favorite tv shows is Yo Gabba Gabba, and on that show, there's a song with the repeated lyric, "Don't Bite Your Friends." I've heard stories about biters and their victims, but today it wasn't just a story from someone else. My dear little, Sophie, you bit one of your friends at school today. This was a first. Ms. Robin called me at work to report the incident. She didn't tell me the name of your victim, but she said she thinks that the other child "invaded your space." When I picked you up from day care at the end of the day, the program director, Ms. Melissa Smytson, told me that you were just frustrated.
Whatever the reason, I hope we can nip that in the bud. I hope you'll grow up to become kind and patient. Unfortunately, with your Daddy's genes, patience might not be in your nature.
I love you, Baby Girl. Don't bite your friends.
Mommy
Funny Little Girl
Dear Sophie,
These are just a few little funny stories I wanted to remember to tell you someday.
Constipation
Your day care teacher, Ms. Robin, relayed this one to me. She said one day it became hilariously obvious that you were somewhat constipated. You went over to the bookcase, leaned against it and braced yourself, grunted and pushed as hard as you could. After a few minutes struggling to produce the desired result, you picked up one of your legs, stretched it back behind you, shook it, and then grunted ferociously again. Ms. Robin demonstrated for me how you did the leg shake technique, which apparently worked for you. As Ms. Robin told me the story, both of us laughed so hard we had tears in our eyes.
Bear Wave
It's a wonderful and yet scary thing when I realize you've been observing me all along and calculating how to imitate me. One morning, after I had dressed you and sat you up on your dresser so that I could put shoes on you, I gave you one of your favorite stuffed animals, Pop (from Hop on Pop). You held up one of Pop's arms, waved it at me, and said, "Hiiiiiiii!" As if you knew just how cute you were, you beamed proudly with a big smile, knowing that you had caused Mommy to laugh, and then you joined in with your own laughing while repeating the bear wave. This was one of many moments that I was astonished at you. You may have simply been mimicking something I had done to entertain you, but it sure seemed that you understood you were personifying Pop.
Secret Hiding Places
Daddy and I have learned where to look when something goes missing. One afternoon, I heard my cellphone ringing, and by the muffled sound, I knew it wasn't where I'd left it. I followed the ring until it grew louder and located my cell phone in the trunk of your "princess car" - a riding toy with storage space. We have also learned to check the trash cans before emptying them. We have found clothes, toys, shoes, and all kinds of other inappropriately abandoned items in those bins.
I'm sure there will be plenty more funny stories to tell. You make me laugh and smile every day.
I love you, my little clown!
Mommy
These are just a few little funny stories I wanted to remember to tell you someday.
Constipation
Your day care teacher, Ms. Robin, relayed this one to me. She said one day it became hilariously obvious that you were somewhat constipated. You went over to the bookcase, leaned against it and braced yourself, grunted and pushed as hard as you could. After a few minutes struggling to produce the desired result, you picked up one of your legs, stretched it back behind you, shook it, and then grunted ferociously again. Ms. Robin demonstrated for me how you did the leg shake technique, which apparently worked for you. As Ms. Robin told me the story, both of us laughed so hard we had tears in our eyes.
Bear Wave
It's a wonderful and yet scary thing when I realize you've been observing me all along and calculating how to imitate me. One morning, after I had dressed you and sat you up on your dresser so that I could put shoes on you, I gave you one of your favorite stuffed animals, Pop (from Hop on Pop). You held up one of Pop's arms, waved it at me, and said, "Hiiiiiiii!" As if you knew just how cute you were, you beamed proudly with a big smile, knowing that you had caused Mommy to laugh, and then you joined in with your own laughing while repeating the bear wave. This was one of many moments that I was astonished at you. You may have simply been mimicking something I had done to entertain you, but it sure seemed that you understood you were personifying Pop.
Secret Hiding Places
Daddy and I have learned where to look when something goes missing. One afternoon, I heard my cellphone ringing, and by the muffled sound, I knew it wasn't where I'd left it. I followed the ring until it grew louder and located my cell phone in the trunk of your "princess car" - a riding toy with storage space. We have also learned to check the trash cans before emptying them. We have found clothes, toys, shoes, and all kinds of other inappropriately abandoned items in those bins.
I'm sure there will be plenty more funny stories to tell. You make me laugh and smile every day.
I love you, my little clown!
Mommy
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