Notable Quotes

We were a little slow getting ourselves organized this morning. A bit too slow for RR, who took charge of proceedings with some definite ideas about who would do what:

 "Ok, daddy, you drive me and K to the bookstore. Mommy, you stay home, and do the dishes. And clean the house. Because... well, look at this place!"

She is also fond of suggesting rather inadvisable scenarios, and in the shocked parental silence that follows her enthusiastic proposal, she quickly follows up with "...OK? Sounds like we have a deal!"

RR on memory: "When I want to think of something, I scrunch up my eyes and squeeze my brain and then it comes to me!"

On video selection: "I want to watch Rudolph!  I don't want to watch Frosty or the Little Plumber Boy..."

When watching a "scary movie" (Beauty and the Beast): "K is too young, so I intend to have the headphones on."

New Shoes

RR has started going to a tap/ballet/gym class on Saturdays, and seems to really like it, so we went out and got ballet slippers and tap shoes for her. Her first dance shoes! Although I danced regularly for about 15 years, I never tried either tap or ballet, so it will be interesting to see how this goes.

She is quite outgoing, often asking "What's your name?" to random passers-by. Her conversation can be a bit unexpected- she mentioned that a girl in the dance class asked how old she was, and she held up four and a quarter fingers because she is 4 1/4 years old. (well, she's actually more like 4 1/3).  She is also getting better at playing with her sister, who at least sometimes appreciates the attention.

Said sister, approaching-2-years Toddler K continues to be a girl of relatively few words. She has not yet to my knowledge ever spoken her real name, but she refers to herself as "baby" or "me".  After watching a video of herself recently, she waved at the screen and said "bye-bye me".  She does make distinguishable one syllable sounds to indicate favorite foods like grapes, berries, juice, and milk. She's never said "yes" but she has a very natural and casual-sounding "yeah".  And she's pretty good on a rocking horse.

And now a few words from our girls.

RR turned 4 last month, and we mark the occasion with a few quotes from her:

 "Ok daddy, you pretend to be a person."
 (She was about to turn me into a caterpillar with her magic wand, and I guess she just wanted to start from a known state.)

 "I can't go potty now, I'm too pretty."
(She wearing a new dress and I think concerned about getting it wrinkled.)

 "No veggies. No clothes. Just toys."
(Explaining what she wants for birthday presents.)

"Today is TODAY! And the sky is sunny. That's funny!"
(While riding in the car... maybe she's been reading too much Dr. Seuss.)

 "Daddy, this house doesn't have much color. I think we should paint the walls green. Dark green, and the ceiling should be pink."
(I'm trying, but failing, to imagine what that might be like.)

Meanwhile, Toddler K has been increasing her vocabulary which now includes:
 dada, mama, deesheee (DG), [sister's name], hi, buh-bye, mo' or mah (more), ~muh (milk), up'n'down, boo!, bubba (bubble), buh (bird), bok (dog), dapa (diaper), tee (tree), mmmbah! (blowing a kiss, like 'mwah'), ahpwah (airplane), ank'ou (thank you).

Giraffe Trouble

RR has accumulated many stuffed animals. We gave Baby K a few animals for her own, and now of course those are the only ones RR wants to play with. One of them is a giraffe she calls "Mrs. Donner" (after Rudolph's mom in the Rudolph Christmas Special). Our scene this evening opens with RR reluctant to go to bed, as per usual.

Me: ...and Thomas and Percy were happy to be best friends again. The End.
RR: Daddy, can we read another book?
Me: That was two books already, sweetie, time to go to bed.
RR: ...Oh wait! Where is Mrs. Donner? I need Mrs. Donner! Where is she?
Me: Behind the the sofa where she fell off after you balanced her standing on the edge.
RR: I'll be right back, I must get her. You stay here. [rushes out]
RR: [returning with toy] ...and Mrs. Donner looked around and there were all the others and (...etc.)
Me: Time to go to bed, sweetie. [helping RR into bed]
RR: ...and Mrs. Donner turned her head all around [fiercely attempting to turn the giraffe's neck a full 360 degrees]
Me: [pulling up the covers] Night-night, sweetie. No talking now.
RR: [wailing] DADDY, Mrs. Donner's neck is bent, I want it to be straight!
Me: Sleep time now sweetie. Let her alone and maybe her neck will get straighter.
RR: Nooo, Daddy, it's all bent. I want you to fix it. You can put some tape on it.
Me: Tape is just for fixing paper sweetie. Mrs. Donner will be better tomorrow. Night night now.

RR tosses & turns, muttering. About 20 minutes later...

RR: [moans] ...Today was an awful day and I had do what D.G. wanted me to do and she left before I wanted her to and I never get do to what *I* want to do. And NOW... [sob] ...and now I have giraffe trouble.

Quotable Quotes

Here are a few recent comments from RR:

While getting ready for bed:
"Mommy, I remember something from yesterday. There was a little bubble and I was thinking it."

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"Tomorrow I'll be a grown-up."
Context was she wants to be a grown-up and get her own money so she can buy her own toothpaste and squeeze out LOTS at a time instead of the annoyingly pea-size amount her cruel mother limits her to.

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Having re-watched the 1964 "Rudolph" Christmas Special the night before:

"Daddy, I have an idea. You and me can be independent together. ...Independent means you are very strong. You can carry (...thoughtful pause...) fifteen toys!"