Christmas

December 25, 2007

I'm almost certain that Katie set the 2007 Eastern Time Zone record for sleep by a child on Christmas morning when she slept until 9:45.

The previous day, we had hosted a Christmas Eve gathering at our home and Katie apparently wore herself out showing off her "flying" skills as she leaped to and fro almost non-stop from the ottoman to the couch. If the guests weren't "wowed" by the Katie show, they very well should have been.

Following her Christmas morning sleep-in, Katie then prolonged the anticipation of the present unwrapping by declaring that she would need more time upstairs to watch tv and get in the mood to open her gifts.

Finally, at nearly 10:30, she announced that she was ready to begin Christmas.

Including all time zones in the continental US, I'm nearly certain that Katie was the last child in the nation to open her gifts. With an audience of Melissa and I and Grandmommy and Papa, Katie walked into the living room to marvel at the new bistro table loaded down with gifts. For the first time in her life, she seemed genuinely happy with the prospect of tackling a pile of presents. Also firsts this year included her joy in actually opening the gifts herself and the excitement of the gifts themselves. Last year, she didn't show any interest in opening her presents and paid little mind to them when they were unwrapped for her.

Her favorite gift was a Littlest Pet Shop treehouse play set. But her most memorable exclamation was uttered as she peered into an oversized gift bag loaded with various gifts. She looked over the side of the bag, stuck her hand inside, and exclaimed "Oh my gosh!" As we collectively wondered what treasure had evoked such excitement, she pulled out a tube of four small My Little Ponies. Who would have known that she'd be so astonished at such a simple gift. A cute moment.

When Grandmommy and Papa had to leave for Charlotte a few minutes after the gifts were eventually opened, the three of us played with Katie's assortment of new toys. With still a lot of day remaining, we decided to go see Alvin and the Chipmunks, which Katie enjoyed. Until she finished her sucker.


The Pile



Her Favorite Gift



Fancy Lollipop

Togetherness

A couple of nights ago, Katie and I ventured out to the Wal-Mart to get a few ingredients for Melissa's baking needs and to get out of the house for a few minutes. We had a fine time in the store looking at the toys and the fish.

On our return to the van:

Me: I sure like going shopping with you. Do you like going shopping with me?
Katie: Sure I do. But I like it when Mommy goes better.
Me: You mean that you like going shopping better when just Mommy goes with you?
Katie: No, I like it when we all go together.

First Performance

December 19, 2007

Katie sings all the time. And always has. Ever since she was a toddler in her crib, she'd sing. But for today's preschool Christmas program, a show that she and her little friends have been practicing for a couple of weeks - a chance to really shine and show the world her performance skills - Katie had promised that she wouldn't sing a word.

With Nana and Melissa positioned in the audience and me on the far aisle with a obsolete camcorder at the ready, we awaited Katie and her class for her first ever public performance. The kidlets filed in and Katie was positioned on the first row, in direct eyesight of Melissa. She found Melissa in the audience and firmly reminded her, "I'm not going to sing, Mommy." Chuckles emanated from those who heard her.

She delivered on that promise.

With a host of children lined up on three rows singing their rehearsed songs, Katie stood silent. She rang a little jingle bell at the appropriate time during the song with the bells, but she remained silent.

It was a good thing that the battery of our ancient camcorder only held about a two minute charge, despite an overnight refill. After all, a 15-minute video of Katie not singing can only be so entertaining.

Were we disappointed with the performance?

Not at all!

Despite her stubborness, Katie mesmerized us with her new skills at keeping control in an unfamiliar situation.

We were proud of her.

Over Lunch at the Taco Bell

December 16, 2007

We stopped by the Taco Bell for a quick lunch today. Katie was especially conversational. We had all been eating for a couple of minutes and were momentarily quiet. Katie broke the silence by engaging Melissa in a pleasant conversation:

Katie: "So how was your day today, mom?"
Melissa: "It's been a good day."
Katie: "What have you done today?"
Melissa: "Well, I took a shower..."
Katie: "That sounds good. What else have you done?"
Melissa: "I also printed up some Christmas card envelopes and ...."

And Katie seemed genuinely interested in everything Melissa had to say. It's fascinating to hear ourselves through her conversations.

A few minutes later, she engaged Melissa again:

Katie: "Mom, when I was a little girl, I called you "Mommy."
Melissa: "I know. And I wish you'd still call me that now."
Katie: "But I'm a big girl now, and I call you 'Mom.'"
Melissa: "But I wish you'd call me 'mommy.'"
Katie: "When I'm a really big girl, I will call you 'Mother.'"
Melissa: "Oh, boy..."




Jumpin' in the leaf pile

Parties and Photographs

December 15, 2007

This will be remembered as the day when Katie attended two birthday parties and photographed her first pictures.

Katie was in a great mood today. She and I played and had a pillow fight. And she likes it when I swing her by her feet. This little trick has evolved from something less extreme when, a few weeks ago, Papa had picked her up by her feet hung her straight down. Pretty simple, but she loved it. From that, I now pick her up by her feet and whirl her in an up-and-down, high-thrill, dizzying and dazzling carnivalesque trick. It's exhausting.

Melissa took Katie to her first birthday party of the day, which was held at a dance studio. There, she dressed in a princess leotard and danced around with the other princesses. Melissa said that Katie had a fine time. They returned home from that party and Katie lay on the couch. She was pretty tired and wanted to rest. But there was little time for rest as we had to make haste and head to Chili's where we joined Nana and Little Papa. She fell asleep in the van on the 20-minute trip to the restaurant. To her credit, as exhausted as she was, she was very well behaved for the remainder of the evening. Encouraging.

After a nice Chili's dinner, we returned home with Nana and Little Papa for a birthday dessert of a decorated chocolate chip cookie. Katie had been waiting to dig into it all day. She wasn't disappointed with it, and even stole a couple of bites of cookie from Nana, the birthday girl.

After dessert and gifts, Katie grabbed our camera, for whatever reason, and decided that she wanted to take pictures. Here are her first ever photographs:

First Photo: "Nana"



"Nana With Wand"



"Little Papa"


"Daddy and Little Papa"


The Artist

Dry Nights

December 13, 2007

Two nights ago, Katie spent the night with her Nana. During the bedtime preparations, Katie announced that she wouldn't be wearing a pullup to bed. She'd be wearing underwear to bed, just like a grownup. Skeptical, Nana allowed Katie to try a night without a pullup.

To Nana's amazement, and ours, Katie went the entire night without incident. She awoke dry!

Again, last night while changing into her pajamas, Katie again stated to Melissa that she would be sleeping in underwear. Like a grownup. And again, Katie awoke dry.

Tonight, just to test her, I said the usual "Go get on your pullup." She stopped and laughed, stating that she doesn't wear pullups anymore. I asked her what prompted this decision. She said it was because she's almost four-years-old and didn't want to live with the potential embarrasment of being a four-year-old who still wears a pullup to bed.

This decision to stop wearing pullups was similar to her decision to stop taking a pacifier to bed. During her two-year checkup, the doctor stated that it was time for her to wean herself off of a pacifier. After a couple days of coaxing, she simply announced during nap preparations that she didn't need a passy anymore. Passies were for babies.

When she makes a decision to accomplish a new task, she masters it.

Figuring out Christmas

December 6, 2007

Last night, Melissa wrapped one of Katie's gifts and placed it under the tree, thinking that Katie would be excited by seeing it....

Apparently, the workings of the Christmas season are still foreign to Katie. After sliding it under the tree, Melissa said to Katie something like "There's your present under the tree. On Christmas day, you'll get to open it."

Strangely upset, Katie responded with "On Christmas day, I won't open it. I'll open ZERO presents." There was a sense of hurt in her voice.

Melissa, trying to get her to understand said "But on Christmas, everyone else will be opening their presents."

Still, Katie held firm with "I will open ZERO presents." Still, with a sadness in her voice.

Melissa thinks that Katie was wanting to open the present right then. NOT on Christmas! In her classic toughie style, however, there was just no way she'd let her mommy know that she was a little bit upset at not having permission to open the gift right then.

==============

We're seeing a dramatic improvement in Katie's behavior in preschool. Three consecutive days now of near perfect behavior. And she had a great playgroup outing at the Chuck E Cheese today.