Questions, questions, and more questions...

Maliana ~

Oh. My. Gosh. You are firmly planted in the age of "What's that?" How's it work?" "Who's that?" "How you do that?" and so forth...thus, explaining the title of this post. I now know why people would say, "Be careful what you wish for" when I'd lament that I couldn't wait until you could speak. It is wonderful to hear you ask so many questions and be so curious about the world around you...but, WOW!! You have so many questions!!! Many days I just try to keep up with answering all of them somewhat intelligently.

So, this past week was a good one. I have to catch up a bit with a little tidbit from last Sunday night (after I had already updated your blog). You were entertaining Daddy and I, dancing and singing to the Black Eyed Peas, "I Gotta Feeling". Your booty shaking is unparalleled! Then, when Daddy put you to bed, you gave me one of the biggest hugs and kisses that you've doled out in a long time. I loved it!

dancing around with one of our leftover New Year's Eve hats

more fun with the hat

Unfortunately, you woke up on Sunday night/Monday morning at 2am, needing medicine for an earache. We all got up and got it for you, then you snuggled back onto my chest and went back to sleep. It was just another one of those moments that I appreciate as a Mom. Being able to comfort you when you hurt, help you feel better enough to go back to a sound sleep, makes me remember my own mom, Lao Lao, doing the same thing for me...that old "Mom Magic" is what I call it.

We met Daddy, Memaw, and Papaw at Bob Evans for dinner on Monday night. On the way home, the song by Bruno Mars, "Just The Way You Are" came on the radio and I told you that it reminded me of you and asked you to listen to the lyrics.  I sang it to you, which you got a kick out of, and then you in turn began acting out the lyrics...like, smiling really big and pointing to your mouth when it says, "When you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while". It was really cute. When the song ended, you said, "More Mommy". I'm glad you like it. I'm planning on using it in your video slide show of this past year for our Gotcha/Family Day celebration. When we got home, I put it on your MP3 player you got for Christmas. You have got some really good taste in music kiddo.

On Tuesday, Audrey Ayi came over and we played in the snow, sledding down our crazy steep backyard. We only sent you down a few times, and then you were content to just shovel the snow around on the deck. But, not before throwing yourself face down in a huge snowbank...between you and the dog, you both can't get enough snow in your snouts! After coming inside, you and Audrey played while I made dinner. You informed Audrey that both you and she had babies in your bellies. I am guessing this is due to the lesson that you learned last weekend about babies growing inside bellies after seeing Michelle, Mia's mom, who is about halfway done with her pregnancy. It threw Audrey for a loop, but I was happy to see you using your imagination and showing that you had once again been paying attention to what we were explaining to you. That night, you also put your jammies on nearly all by yourself. You are getting so self-sufficient. It's awesome to watch!

playing in the snow with Audrey Ayi

got the pants on...figuring out your jammie top

finishing the last button...look at that concentration!

On Thursday, I had already packed all of our sledding gear before I went to work, so we headed to the sledding hill at Blendon Woods Park right after school. You were pretty tired, so we only went down the hill one time. But, what you really enjoyed was checking out the nature center. You liked handling all of the animal skulls they had found in the forest, and were enamored by the pet box turtle they had. His name was Don Juan-sta...and when I asked where that name came from, the naturalist said it's because he's a boy turtle and whenever they put a girl in the cage with him...he always "wantsta". Horny little thing.

finding out what an animal skull feels like

waiting for Don the turtle to move

After we left the park, we went to Friendly's and got some dinner. You perked up a bit at dinner, and were very engaging with our server. She commented on how smart and chatty you were, then asked how old you were...to which you piped in, "I'm 3, my birthday March 6" and then you attempted to hold up 3 fingers again. I never appreciated how much coordination that takes...but you are getting it, slowly but surely. As we left Friendly's, you heard some music outside and couldn't help but boogie just a bit. At bedtime, I sang "Lullaby" by the Dixie Chicks to you and you were spellbound, saying "More Mama" at the end, and laughing right on cue at the lyric that goes, "and your laugh is like a serenade". You are too precious. I've always enjoyed singing, but have been horribly self-conscious when singing in front of others. Thanks to you, at least for the time being, I have an appreciative audience and an outlet for what I enjoy. Thank you Mali.

On Friday, I got to school to pick you up early. You were still sitting down for snack with your friends, so I decided to sit down with you and got to know all of your friends' names. As I talked to Ms. Brandi, she had an interesting story about you and "smoking a hot dog". Apparently, you will sit back at playtime, prop your feet up, and put a large brown wooden toy hot dog (although it looks more like a bratwurst) in your mouth, and pretend to smoke it. You are pretty convincing too. I asked, where did you see that (since neither Daddy or I smoke) and you said, "Daddy...cigar." Ahh, makes sense now. Except that you have only seen Daddy smoke a cigar about 2 times, and the last time was about 6 months ago! Man, you don't miss a beat or forget a thing! I guess Ms. Brandi and Ms. Adrienne were pretty amused and wondered about this for a while. Thankfully, the mystery has been solved at where you learned that.

Saturday morning was the best wake up I've had in a long time, Eskimo (or nosey) kisses from the one and only Mali! You went off to breakfast and shopping with Memaw and Papaw and Daddy, where they bought you some 'twinkle toes' shoes, little sneakers that light up on, you guessed it, the toes. You love them! Refusing to take them off all day. Lao Lao and I went for a long walk in the snow with Abby while you were off shopping, and then when we got back it was your nap time. You made Lao Lao read you a book, 3 times in a row, stalling as usual, and of course enjoying your time with Lao Lao. After nap, I gave you a bath and you insisted on bringing your baby with you. You are getting really good at mothering her, washing her in the tub about as well as I wash you. Then of course, you also insisted on diapering your baby, which I had to quickly fashion out of a paper towel and scotch tape. Not too shabby.



munching on a 7-layer burrito, which you have decided that you love, just like Lao Lao



so proud of bathing and wrapping your baby

This morning, you have been trying to be so helpful. But, at almost 3 years old, what is "helpful", can also be a bit frustrating too. I am sorry that I got a little flustered with you, when you kept insisting (and not taking no for an answer) on helping me with the microwave at breakfast. You try so hard to be right there in the mix with us all, I easily forget that you are simply trying to be of assistance, instead of just being "under foot". Sometimes I have to take a step back, take a deep breath, and get perspective again...which is what happened this morning. I'll keep working on this, ok honey?
 
Anyway, nap time today brought a dry diaper. As soon as you got up, you came out to get me and then proceeded to do your 'pee pee dance' and ask me to help you turn on the light in the bathroom so you could go. While I know that this is no big feat for you at school (you are routinely dry there). At home, we aren't as regimented with a schedule. So, when you are dry after nap here, it really shows your progress! Yay Mali!
 
Tonight we went to a Thai restaurant to celebrate Uncle Flint's birthday. Earlier today, you came in and asked, "Mom, are you ready?" and when I asked for what, you said, "The birthday!" You have been pretty excited about celebrating this birthday all day. And, this was quite obvious with what a great mood you were in at dinner. You were so animated and talkative the whole time. It was hilarious to watch you! Anay Wanda even made the comment about how independent you are, and was amazed at how much you are talking. Grandpa Rick brought you a present too, a remote control car. You loved it and couldn't wait to open it when we got home. Before we left, you said thank you again to Grandpa Rick and even went over to track him down to give him a hug. Once home, you had us cracking up, learning how to use the controls and saying, "Ooh! Oohkaayy!" every time we would tell you how it worked. You love anything electronic!

hammin' it up at dinner

trying some variations on showing that you are going to be 3 this year...diligently working on your finger coordination

you were a bit slap happy by the end of the meal

learning how to use your new RC car

Well, while you may love anything electronic, I just love anything Mali.
Mama