Today, we took you to see only your fourth movie in the theater: Disney's "The Tooth Fairy." It was cute and had Julie Andrews in it, so you loved it. But you spent a good portion of the movie in my lap -- when you don't know what's coming or it gets a little intense, you get scared.
You're funny about movies. As I mentioned, until now we've only been able to get you to three other movies in the theater:
1) "Horton Hears a Who" (Your first movie. It's about an elephant - so done deal.)
2) "Madagascar 2" (You loved the first one on DVD. But we almost had to carry you out of the theater after the first two minutes when the poachers go after Baby Alex.)
3) "Monsters Vs. Aliens" (Grandma and Grandpa wanted to see this so you decided it would be ok.)
Some of this could stem from trying to show you "The Incredibles" when you were two. You wouldn't watch that, so we turned on the cartoon short with Baby Jack-Jack... who burst into flames every time he hiccuped. Your eyes grew to the size of tires as you cried, "The baby is fire... the baby is FIRE!" Yeah, we should have screened that first.
Your favorite movie of ALL TIME is "Cars." But other than that, you don't like branching out into new movies and you certainly don't like anything REMOTELY scary. When you were two and "The Little Mermaid" came out on DVD, I was SOOOOOO excited to watch that with you. Then came Ursula... and you've never watched that movie again. You won't go near "Beauty and the Beast" or "Sleeping Beauty." At Parents Night Out, the teachers know that you'd rather watch Thomas the Train or almost anything than the movie. (And if they don't know, you'll walk up and tell them, "This movie is to scary for me.")
Don't know if this is just a phase... or if you'll be very much like your Grandma and stick to G-rated stuff. But for today, we had a great time at the movies.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Giving Back
My Dearest Molly,
I know I'm doing something right when we have conversations like this:
Scene: Reading one of your books about elephants, specifically the last page that references elephants being hunted into near extinction.
Me: So that's why we have to take care of elephants and animals any way that we can.
Molly: Mommy? I want to send some of my money to the Elephant Sanctuary... and the Zoo too. And I want to send the baby elephant's mommy a card.
Me: Sure thing, sweetie. We'll do that tomorrow.
Molly: Is there a tiger sanctuary? I want to take care of the tigers too. And is there a dolphin sanctuary? I LOOOOOOVE dolphins.
My little girl - saving the world, one animal sanctuary at a time.
I know I'm doing something right when we have conversations like this:
Scene: Reading one of your books about elephants, specifically the last page that references elephants being hunted into near extinction.
Me: So that's why we have to take care of elephants and animals any way that we can.
Molly: Mommy? I want to send some of my money to the Elephant Sanctuary... and the Zoo too. And I want to send the baby elephant's mommy a card.
Me: Sure thing, sweetie. We'll do that tomorrow.
Molly: Is there a tiger sanctuary? I want to take care of the tigers too. And is there a dolphin sanctuary? I LOOOOOOVE dolphins.
My little girl - saving the world, one animal sanctuary at a time.
Friday, January 29, 2010
The Luckiest Girl...Part Two
It's amazing what a sweet, loving, and LUCKY little girl you are, Molly. Daddy and I just shake our heads and laugh some days at your good fortune... like the time you won the digital camera at school.
Then there was today. I picked you up and you crawled into the van with a basketball.
"Um, Molly -- what's that?"
"I won it today!"
(Of course you did.) "How did you win it?"
"It was Career Day and we had an Army man talk to us. He's a computertologist."
"A what?"
"You know, a computertologist. And he handed us each a blue card with a different job on it and told us that all of those jobs are in the Army. And then he said whoever had computertologist on their blue card would win the basketball... and it said computertologist on my card and I raised my hand and I won the basketball."
Then there was today. I picked you up and you crawled into the van with a basketball.
"Um, Molly -- what's that?"
"I won it today!"
(Of course you did.) "How did you win it?"
"It was Career Day and we had an Army man talk to us. He's a computertologist."
"A what?"
"You know, a computertologist. And he handed us each a blue card with a different job on it and told us that all of those jobs are in the Army. And then he said whoever had computertologist on their blue card would win the basketball... and it said computertologist on my card and I raised my hand and I won the basketball."
The 100th Day of School!
Molly,
You've experienced so many special days and milestones this year as a Kindergartner... but one that I did not realize was such a big, momentous, special day was the 100th Day of School. (I kept asking people, "I didn't know the 100th Day was a thing? When did it become a thing?)
Sidenote: the night we got the letter from your teacher about all the 100th Day festivities, I was at a bookstore and saw the book Fancy Nancy: The 100th Day of School. Ok, if Fancy Nancy says it's a big deal, then it must be!
Your (read: Mommy's) assignment was three-fold:
1) Bring in a collection of 100 things to display in the 100 museum
2) Create a t-shirt to wear to the 100th Day celebration
3) Bring in a canned good to help us collect and donate 100 cans of food to people in need
Number three was easy. Number one we debated about -- Daddy wanted to send you to school with 100 baseballs. (He said this while giggling.) You finally decided on taking 100 seashells from our trip to Ft. Myers Beach. So we counted them out, sorting them into groups of 10. Conveniently, they all fit into a baseball cube for easy transportation and a fun little display.
Number two was the toughest. You couldn't decide what you wanted on your shirt. One-hundred elephants? The number 100 written 100 times? A drawing of your entire class and Mrs. C. and Dr. P (the principal) and Mrs. W. (the librarian) standing and waving in front of your school? (Yes - this was your idea, which Mommy promptly nixed.) Daddy wanted to put your face on a $100 bill and write "In Mrs. C. We Trust." I thought that would be funny... but you didn't want that. So, we finally settled on your name in a heart (Daddy's part) and sewing on 100 buttons (Mommy's part).
Sewing on the buttons seemed like a good idea at the time... meaning before I started sewing. But I didn't want to hot glue them on and have all the buttons fall off during the day. So I sewed every last button on. Luckily, this was your reaction:
You've experienced so many special days and milestones this year as a Kindergartner... but one that I did not realize was such a big, momentous, special day was the 100th Day of School. (I kept asking people, "I didn't know the 100th Day was a thing? When did it become a thing?)
Sidenote: the night we got the letter from your teacher about all the 100th Day festivities, I was at a bookstore and saw the book Fancy Nancy: The 100th Day of School. Ok, if Fancy Nancy says it's a big deal, then it must be!
Your (read: Mommy's) assignment was three-fold:
1) Bring in a collection of 100 things to display in the 100 museum
2) Create a t-shirt to wear to the 100th Day celebration
3) Bring in a canned good to help us collect and donate 100 cans of food to people in need
Number three was easy. Number one we debated about -- Daddy wanted to send you to school with 100 baseballs. (He said this while giggling.) You finally decided on taking 100 seashells from our trip to Ft. Myers Beach. So we counted them out, sorting them into groups of 10. Conveniently, they all fit into a baseball cube for easy transportation and a fun little display.
Number two was the toughest. You couldn't decide what you wanted on your shirt. One-hundred elephants? The number 100 written 100 times? A drawing of your entire class and Mrs. C. and Dr. P (the principal) and Mrs. W. (the librarian) standing and waving in front of your school? (Yes - this was your idea, which Mommy promptly nixed.) Daddy wanted to put your face on a $100 bill and write "In Mrs. C. We Trust." I thought that would be funny... but you didn't want that. So, we finally settled on your name in a heart (Daddy's part) and sewing on 100 buttons (Mommy's part).
Sewing on the buttons seemed like a good idea at the time... meaning before I started sewing. But I didn't want to hot glue them on and have all the buttons fall off during the day. So I sewed every last button on. Luckily, this was your reaction:
I learned that the 100th Day of School is a big deal. It's a great big number - and you can now count and write to 100! You're halfway through Kindergarten. And for you, you're halfway to six. You've learned and grown so much in your first 100 days... I can only imagine how much MORE you'll know at the end of the next 100.
Happy 100th Day, Peanut. I love you... 100 times.
Love,
Mommy
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Fini...
Molly -
It's funny, getting bigger. There are some things that you don't want to give up - like your baby gate on your bed. And there are some things you don't want to learn - like how to tie your shoes. It's like, "If I don't do these things, then I can still be the baby of the house." (Even though you want to be a big sister SO VERY BADLY.)
And there are days like Tuesday night: as Daddy and I were fixing dinner, you were setting the table. Without a word to either of us, you pulled out your chair, removed your booster seat, and set it by the basement stairs (where all things go to go away...). And that was it. You're officially done with it.
Two weeks before your second birthday, you acted the same way about your high chair. It was time for breakfast. We had just been at Papa and Grandma's house for a visit, and Grandma had a booster seat for you. As I was fixing breakfast, you crawled up into the chair opposite your high chair, grabbed your spoon, and looked at me as if to say, "This is where I'm sitting now."
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end..."
Love you, big girl.
It's funny, getting bigger. There are some things that you don't want to give up - like your baby gate on your bed. And there are some things you don't want to learn - like how to tie your shoes. It's like, "If I don't do these things, then I can still be the baby of the house." (Even though you want to be a big sister SO VERY BADLY.)
And there are days like Tuesday night: as Daddy and I were fixing dinner, you were setting the table. Without a word to either of us, you pulled out your chair, removed your booster seat, and set it by the basement stairs (where all things go to go away...). And that was it. You're officially done with it.
Two weeks before your second birthday, you acted the same way about your high chair. It was time for breakfast. We had just been at Papa and Grandma's house for a visit, and Grandma had a booster seat for you. As I was fixing breakfast, you crawled up into the chair opposite your high chair, grabbed your spoon, and looked at me as if to say, "This is where I'm sitting now."
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end..."
Love you, big girl.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Things Daddies Think About - Redux
Long before you ever started playing sports, your Daddy surprised me with a deep, l e n g h t y conversation about selecting the right jersey number.
And tonight, you got the call... picking your first number.
You were supposed to have your first indoor soccer practice today (see last entry for why you were not there...). Miss Kim offered to pick up your shirt for you. She called and asked you what number you wanted to be -- 12, 17, or 21. You picked 17.
"Is that ok, Daddy?"
"Sure..." Daddy replies, not getting what I'm hinting at.
"No, Daddy - is that number ok? You know... is it a good number? Did you vet it?"
"Oh no! I didn't think of that!" And immediately, Daddy starts Googling sports numbers...
After a couple minutes, I hear a giant sigh of relief. "Dizzy Dean from the Cardinals. Dizzy was 17. Pitcher. Hall of Famer. Retired number. We're good."
Of course, the search continued...
"Matt Kenseth... he's great." (Mommy agrees - I met him his rookie season and wrote a speech for him. Very, very nice guy.) "Oh, and John Havlicek from the Celtics. Ok, 17 is good."
And tonight, you got the call... picking your first number.
You were supposed to have your first indoor soccer practice today (see last entry for why you were not there...). Miss Kim offered to pick up your shirt for you. She called and asked you what number you wanted to be -- 12, 17, or 21. You picked 17.
"Is that ok, Daddy?"
"Sure..." Daddy replies, not getting what I'm hinting at.
"No, Daddy - is that number ok? You know... is it a good number? Did you vet it?"
"Oh no! I didn't think of that!" And immediately, Daddy starts Googling sports numbers...
After a couple minutes, I hear a giant sigh of relief. "Dizzy Dean from the Cardinals. Dizzy was 17. Pitcher. Hall of Famer. Retired number. We're good."
Of course, the search continued...
"Matt Kenseth... he's great." (Mommy agrees - I met him his rookie season and wrote a speech for him. Very, very nice guy.) "Oh, and John Havlicek from the Celtics. Ok, 17 is good."
Oh.... Strep
So far this cold and flu season, we've avoided the flu, the swine flu, the avian flu, chicken pox, monkey pox, and most other dreadful diseases.
It was too good to last.
Saturday night, you went to be about 8:30. At 9 p.m., I hear a croupy cough coming from your room. At 9:30, I hear, "Mommy! My throat hurts!"
I got you some ice chips to suck on and rocked you back to sleep. In the morning, you slept in until almost 9:30. I had you open your mouth and I saw them. Little red spots - all over the back of your throat. All. Over. Just like right before your birthday...
Rats.
I called the pediatrician's exchange -- which made me realize that was the first time since you've been born that I've called your doctor after hours or on the weekend. So for that I was EXTREMELY thankful. (Either you're one healthy little kid... or you only get sick during office hours.) The nurse told me what to watch for and how to keep you comfortable. You were fine all day until bedtime. You had a hard time falling asleep (maybe it was the three hour nap!). And your throat hurt. About 10 p.m., I went in to check on you -- you surprised me by asking, "Can I have some ice chips and can we rock?" (Just a note: I will NEVER turn you down when you ask me to rock. Ever.)
You stayed home with Daddy today. Luckily, Dr. A. said you had a mild case... so with a little amoxycilin, you should be good to go.
It was too good to last.
Saturday night, you went to be about 8:30. At 9 p.m., I hear a croupy cough coming from your room. At 9:30, I hear, "Mommy! My throat hurts!"
I got you some ice chips to suck on and rocked you back to sleep. In the morning, you slept in until almost 9:30. I had you open your mouth and I saw them. Little red spots - all over the back of your throat. All. Over. Just like right before your birthday...
Rats.
I called the pediatrician's exchange -- which made me realize that was the first time since you've been born that I've called your doctor after hours or on the weekend. So for that I was EXTREMELY thankful. (Either you're one healthy little kid... or you only get sick during office hours.) The nurse told me what to watch for and how to keep you comfortable. You were fine all day until bedtime. You had a hard time falling asleep (maybe it was the three hour nap!). And your throat hurt. About 10 p.m., I went in to check on you -- you surprised me by asking, "Can I have some ice chips and can we rock?" (Just a note: I will NEVER turn you down when you ask me to rock. Ever.)
You stayed home with Daddy today. Luckily, Dr. A. said you had a mild case... so with a little amoxycilin, you should be good to go.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Note Home from School...
Molly,
You brought a note home from school today -- it was from your teacher, Mrs. C. It read:
"Mollyu was tested in reading to see how she has advanced. She did well! Passed level 3 with good comprehension and a nice flow to her reading. Level 4 is where she will now be working in. She also knows all her words for 1st grade and even more. Molly is doing great. I am proud of her! She has been working hard."
Not only were you SO proud of doing well for your teacher today, you were even PROUDER to bring home this note to us, with Mrs. C. telling us how proud she is of you.
We are so thankful that you have such a caring teacher, who realizes the importance and power of a few kinds words home every so often. Not only is Mrs. C. teaching you how to read, she's instilling in you a love of learning.
We're proud of you too!
You brought a note home from school today -- it was from your teacher, Mrs. C. It read:
"Mollyu was tested in reading to see how she has advanced. She did well! Passed level 3 with good comprehension and a nice flow to her reading. Level 4 is where she will now be working in. She also knows all her words for 1st grade and even more. Molly is doing great. I am proud of her! She has been working hard."
Not only were you SO proud of doing well for your teacher today, you were even PROUDER to bring home this note to us, with Mrs. C. telling us how proud she is of you.
We are so thankful that you have such a caring teacher, who realizes the importance and power of a few kinds words home every so often. Not only is Mrs. C. teaching you how to read, she's instilling in you a love of learning.
We're proud of you too!
Sweet Dreams
Dearest Molly,
Daddy and I are continually amazed at your thoughtfulness. Last night, as I was helping you get ready for bed, you shut the door to the master bedroom and said, "Mommy, I have a surprise in there for you and I want to show it to you when you're ready."
After you brushed your teeth, you led me into the room with my eyes closed. Earlier in the night, we were playing "Mary Poppins" -- and you showed me my room, just like the scene from the movie. (You carried your little carpet bag up too.) So, now that it was time for bed, you'd taken the plush flowers in a vase from your room and set those on my nightstand. You also took some little picture frame ornaments off your pegboard, and my night eye mask, and put those by the bed too... "All of the things you need for bed. And I know you like flowers." This was followed by the world's biggest hug.
Love you, peanut.
Daddy and I are continually amazed at your thoughtfulness. Last night, as I was helping you get ready for bed, you shut the door to the master bedroom and said, "Mommy, I have a surprise in there for you and I want to show it to you when you're ready."
After you brushed your teeth, you led me into the room with my eyes closed. Earlier in the night, we were playing "Mary Poppins" -- and you showed me my room, just like the scene from the movie. (You carried your little carpet bag up too.) So, now that it was time for bed, you'd taken the plush flowers in a vase from your room and set those on my nightstand. You also took some little picture frame ornaments off your pegboard, and my night eye mask, and put those by the bed too... "All of the things you need for bed. And I know you like flowers." This was followed by the world's biggest hug.
Love you, peanut.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Decorating the Tree
My Dearest Molly,
Every year, one of my most FAVORITE things you do is make ornaments at school. Your teachers have been very creative -- we have reindeer with construction paper versions of your tiny baby hands as the antlers... a wreath made of green construction paper scraps you glued together... and a reindeer head you made out of painted puzzle pieces. We'd get one, maybe two each year. And when you brought them home, you were so excited to give them to us and we'd hang them on the tree together.
Then came Kindergarten... and an avalanche of Christmas ornaments:
First, an ornament you made with Shiloh, your third-grade buddy...
Then this little Rudolph, which make me smile every time I look at it...
The scratch-off skate you decorated at your class party...
And two glittery gems you made at after-care...
Then we went to Glazed and Confused and made a couple more! (Yes, that's your thumbprint and Ellie's thumbprint as reindeer.)
And last, but not least, this beautiful ornament you made in Mrs. C.'s glass as a Christmas present for Daddy and me:
I can't wait until next year.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Catching Up...
Ok, so a LOT has happened since my last post... but December was a crazy month (as it always turns out to be) with an unexpected overnight trip for me (which turned into an unexpected two-night trip, thanks to fog in Atlanta...). But it was a great month - with a lot of fun happenings. You love the holidays as much as I do, which I LOVE.
Here's a quick recap (I'll embelish more later - I promise.)
- You and Daddy took a road trip to visit Papa and Grandma - your first-ever road trip with just you and Daddy! You had a great time... and even saw Santa Claus at Home Depot day! And Mommy just sat at home quietly and waited for you to get home... :)
- Wobbly tooth turned into a missing tooth on Dec. 12!
- You had your Five-A-Palooza friends over for our first-ever (and annual?) cookie party the next day.
- Papa and Grandma came up for an early Christmas visit.
- I took you and Ellie to Glazed and Confused for some last-minute Christmas presents.
Here's a quick recap (I'll embelish more later - I promise.)
- You and Daddy took a road trip to visit Papa and Grandma - your first-ever road trip with just you and Daddy! You had a great time... and even saw Santa Claus at Home Depot day! And Mommy just sat at home quietly and waited for you to get home... :)
- Wobbly tooth turned into a missing tooth on Dec. 12!
- You had your Five-A-Palooza friends over for our first-ever (and annual?) cookie party the next day.
- You went to your friend Izzye's birthday party - she had it at a local cooking school and you had a blast.
- I took you and Ellie to Glazed and Confused for some last-minute Christmas presents.
And that doesn't even include your open house at Ballet, your Christmas party at school, Christmas day, or our trip to Florida and your first-ever visit to the beach!
Whew... no wonder I'm behind in my posts.
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