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So far this year, 2013, newly turned three, it’s all about what you’re SAYING. Your vocabulary is growing exponentially and it is a revelation! All the things we weren’t sure you understood for so long? Now we have evidence that you’ve been listening and learning and storing up information all along. Suddenly it’s pouring out of your mouth. There is almost never a day that goes by that you don’t make me giggle with some new phrase I’ve never heard you say before, some new inflection I didn’t know you grasped, some concept expressed in words I never would have guessed you understood. It’s so fun to reach this new level of communication with you. Suddenly, you are that much more grown up. I have a few random things jotted down in a notebook. It’s not nearly comprehensive, but I’m going to devote the next part of this post to recording some of the ones I remember. Keep in mind that you just started forming sentences a couple of months ago.
“You’re kidding me!?” you gasped when we were reading a bedtime story, incredulous at all the animals driving bumper cars in “If you Give a Pig a Party.” I laughed out loud at that one.
“This place is ridiculous!” you exclaimed upon walking into the bright and beeping lights of Best Buy.
“I love you, Momma” you whisper spontaneously and often with so much feeling it’s made me tear up more than once. When you’re in a goofy mood, you’ve also taken to saying “I love you, Honey” to Daddy and to me. You think it’s hilarious. You know that “Daddy is Momma’s Honey,” but you like to call us that as a joke. It’s really cute, and it kind of amazes me that you “get it,” that you know that you calling us our monikers for each other is funny. Next you’ll be calling me “Cakes.” 🙂
“You Betcha!” you answer when I ask you to do something and you’re in an obliging mood.
“You’re fired!” you giggle when I mess up. (Thanks to Natasha, you’re babysitter, for that one.)
“Safe & sound,” you state when putting something you care about, a toy or “friend” (stuffed animal) away for the night in a place where it will be easily found in the morning.
“I want gum,” you CORRECTLY say when you see me pop a piece in my mouth. You’re replacing “me” with “I” at least 50% of the time now. Good job, baby! Still working on “my” vs. “me.”
“Thank you, Jesus, for this delicious food!” you pray spontaneously when you find dinner especially tasty. You randomly thank Jesus for all sorts of things. It’s awesome. And hearing you say “delicious” tickles me too.
“Thank you so much!” you cheer when you’re especially grateful. And you say it with the most grown up inflection.
“That’s sooooo perfect!” you chime whenever something strikes your fancy. You also like to say “soooooo wonderful!” and “sooooo beautiful!” and “sooooo fabulous!”
A couple of stories I related on facebook as they happened (which I’m finding is a great aid in my memory-keeping endeavors!), that I was to record in your scrapbook as well…
- On January 3rd…Kids are always listening, even when you don’t know it. I’ve seen this proved true to my shame and also much to my encouragement.Last night a remake of “He’s Alive” came on the radio when we were driving home from Home Depot. (Not sure who did the remake, but the original by Don Fransisco is a major childhood memory for me. We played it often on cassette in our kitchen. And I’ve always been moved by it, then and now.) If you’re not familiar, it’s a song written and sung from the perspective of Peter after Jesus was crucified, what those painful hours might have been like from the disciples’ perspective.Anyway, it’s a lyrically complicated song. Not really many repeating refrains because the whole thing is telling a story. I didn’t even know that she was listening. But when it got to the point when Jesus appears to the disciples and the powerful chorus started resounding, “He’s Alive! He’s Alive!” Adela spontaneously raised her hands and with a gigantic smile on her face she said “Jesus! Jesus!” I’m tearing up thinking about it. I don’t even know when they actually said “Jesus” in the song. It’s at least several lines back. He speaks. To little ones too.
- On January 15… The first time Adela ever “read” a book to me was today. Of course she didn’t actually read, but she managed to get across the whole story and remembered key lines and phrases during a telling of “Where the Wild Things Are” (at which time she was also “putting me to bed” complete with nightlight turned on and sippy cup full of water provided.) It was all very impressive and incredibly sweet. And the first word she ever truly read? “m-a-x, MAX” she says every time she sees it on his boat. Our little girl has come a long way.
- On January 30…Just brought Adela to the park on a whim. She exclaims, “so warm outside now. Jesus fixed it! So perfect!! Thank you, Jesus.” Haha, oh my girl… I love that she sees the good things in her life as gifts from him. 🙂
Words you say all the time, but say in your own way – sometimes to the point of it being a completely foreign language – are, in part, as follows: chapstick is catchsup, num-a-nay-uhs are M&Ms, oatmeal is oh-poo (no idea, haha), napkin (which you are obsessed with making sure you have accessible at every mean) is gah-kin. Oh gosh, there are more… I’ll try to remember more for my next post.
Other things you’re in to? Princess everything, especially Cinderella, STILL. You regularly put on your “bootiful” dress, gloves, crown, makeup, neck-a-laces, and your “sippas.” Did I mention last post that we’re not allowed to use the word “shoes” in this house? They are all “slippas.” You get “ready for the ball” at least once per day. You love me to do your hair for real every morning (“My hair’s a mess!” you say when you get up.) Lately you’ve been really into a “beauty shop set” that you got for Christmas. You blow dry, curl, straighten and style your dolls and stuffed animals hair, and mine, and Siah’s. You’re really into pretend in general, and you don’t always need props. You can get ready for the ball and have every item be completely intangible. You take turns with the real items and the pretend ones.
Oh one story I forgot to record on facebook that I just remembered… a few weeks ago Daddy and I were with you and Siah and Mimi at Best Buy (the same day you told us that that place was “ridiculous” actually.) We were shopping for phones and, although we knew where you were, we were a bit distracted. All of the sudden, an associate comes up to me and asks if you’re my daughter and proceeds to inform me that you had dialed 911 on a live phone!! HAHA. I had to go over and talk to the dispatcher and explain that my 3 year old accidentally dialed. I got a scolding on speaker phone in Best Buy. Sigh. Annoying. But funny. I had no idea the phones were live!
Here’s a little peek at your first taste of Kumquat when we visited Great Grandma Mac in Burbank.
And you are truly a great big sister. I think ‘Siah is still a little afraid of you. But for a 3-year-old you really are amazingly gentle and kind to him.
You started Awanas a few weeks ago. You are now officially a little Cubbie, earning your vest and book last night! 🙂 So, so cute! (I’ll try for a photo next update.) I can’t believe how easily and well you can learn Bible verses. It’s so cool to hear. You are understanding Jesus more and more. It always amazes me the capacity you have even at this young age to understand basic things. You told me last night that Jesus died for us. And today you told me that Jesus loves me. 🙂 🙂 🙂 I’m so proud of you. I love listening to you pray at night. We always spend a few minutes thanking Jesus for things that are important and special in your life (one prayer I recorded on facebook from January was as follows: “Dear Jesus, thank you for me cookies, and chocolate and cheese and carrots and broccoli. Thank you for my windows and walls and for me books and me ladybug (her nightlight). Jesus, please help me not scared of monsters. And, and, and thank you, Jesus, for cookies. ” 🙂 ) or asking for help. I want you to know Him and love him all your life. I pray He helps me to show you who He is, to help you get to know him. It’s amazing how our little efforts go such a long way because He is the one who works when we are willing!