I absolutely love nights like tonight. You had had such a good day, slaphappy enough tonight to be giggling and belly laughing at the simplest things. One of those nights where you are so tired but just can't stop having fun. Your laugh, the deep laugh of a happy child, is music to my ears.
The day started with a terrific drop off at school. Dad said you got down and wanted to walk in all by yourself. The kids from the different rooms all wanted to say hi and flocked around you, actually so much so that Miss Marie had to scoop and push them away so you could get to your table for breakfast. You are quite the little celebrity! You looked at Dad, said “be right back”, and then settled right in to eat breakfast, without a second thought. Then pick up went just as smooth for me this afternoon. You are getting to be such a big girl. And of course, as usual, a lot of the kids (and teachers) all said bye to you on the way out as well. So cute!
You and I went to lunch with Audrey at Red Robin today, then back to the house for a nap and playtime before swim lessons. You got sad when Audrey had to leave, first time ever of actually saying, “sad, cry”, when someone was leaving. I love that you are able to voice your feelings already. You perked up though when we told you that Lao Lao was coming to watch you in your last swim lesson class. And oh boy, what a class!
You have come a LONG way since that first lesson. You are a champ at going under water, paddling your arms and kicking your legs (although not always at the same time), and just generally getting a lot more comfortable in the water. It is awesome to see you progress. Tonight was the big finale and we all went off the DIVING BOARD! I was terrified and Tuesday when they told us what we were doing tonight, I thought they were joking. I told Dad, “The hell she is! I'm not letting her go off the diving board, that’s ridiculous!” But tonight, when I saw how they were doing it, it seemed ok. But, I was still pretty scared. Dad got in the water with the swim instructor and I walked you to the end of the board. You were so excited, bouncing up and down, hardly able to contain yourself until we reached the end to jump off. I lowered you down to Dad the first time and you did GREAT! Multiple more times later and you actually jumped! You are a kamikaze kid! After a while you became disenchanted with it, but mostly because I thought you were tired, not at all because of being scared. Man, I think we have a little daredevil on our hands! Lao Lao said that that first time you went off the board, the people next to her watching were whispering, “Oh my, she’s just so small!” (Ha, I thought. Don’t let her size fool you – she’s a pistol!) Anyway, I couldn’t have been prouder of you. I know I couldn’t do that at your age, you are such the brave little trooper – who would have guessed that just a short year ago tomorrow we were about to board a plane to fly home with you from China? Amazing, isn’t it? You’ve come so far, literally and figuratively.
Lao Lao took you out for dinner and playground time after the swim lesson, which you loved as well. You had a great time with her, which brings me back to how slaphappy and full of joy you were at bedtime tonight. Awesomely hysterical!
And so, here are some more quick snippets of your cuteness from the week. Evidently, we are now entering the territory of “monster drama” – your imagination is in full swing now. You informed me on Tuesday that there are monsters in our laundry room and have begun to be very dramatic about clinging to me and pretending to be scared. It is pretty funny, and so cool to see your creativity and imagination developing. Then Wednesday, as we got in our hot car after grocery shopping, I noticed you holding your mouth very close to your car seat but I couldn’t quite tell what you were doing. As I finished putting the groceries in the back, I finally realized what you had been doing. The car and carseat were so hot and I realized you had been blowing on them, the same way we blow on your food when it’s too hot. Ha ha! I must admit, it makes perfect sense (in that two year old thought process kind of way). You are so funny. And really beginning to be more independent now too. For instance, you keep insisting on putting on and taking off your own clothes and diaper now, at least, trying your best anyway. It is pretty fun to watch you try to figure it out, and you get darn close too. You did put on your shoes by yourself, and nearly put your bathing suit on your own too! Only one little nipple and butt cheek hanging out – not too shabby for a first try! The only thing that is tricky sometimes is when you won’t wait for me to get wipes ready before you start peeling off your diaper. It’s ok unless you’ve got some poop in there – yikes! Mama’s got to be a bit faster on the draw with those diapers!
Anyway, off to bed now. I am so exhausted, as were you. Tomorrow is the first anniversary of your homecoming to America. Hard to believe it's been that long already, huh? What a wild and wonderful year.
Love you sweetie,
Mama
P.S.
I wish we could have gotten a shot of you flailing around in mid-air, but alas, each drop happened so fast, this is all we could capture. C'est la vie. I'm sure there will be plenty more opportunities to capture you in mid-air in the coming days, months, years...given how much you LOVE to swim!
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