If you like pina coladas...

Maliana ~

Dang girl! Second week in a row that Ms. Ashley has made a comment about how smart you are and what a big personality you have. During speech therapy you were ornery and made her earn every penny of the session...however she complimented your grasp of the language and was genuinely impressed with you. One example of how smart (but mostly cute) you are...is this week when you were trying to say that you wanted Daddy and I both to take a nap with you, and instead of saying "everybody" you say "all the bodies". I love hearing your cute little twists on words! Once we get all the mechanics of speech worked out...heaven only knows what kind of stuff we'll finally be able to understand you saying. It's exciting, and on the other hand, yikes! Ha ha. 

After speech, Audrey Ayi came over to visit and you played together while I made dinner, chatting and giggling the whole time. Once Daddy came home, I enjoyed listening to you laughing and wrestling upstairs with him too. I tell you, it's such a sweet sound to hear you talking and giggling in the other room with those you love while I finish up in the kitchen. After dinner, we all had a good chuckle as we teased you and sang the pina colada song (because you were drinking a banana colada drink with dinner), and you began answering us...(like, "If you like pina coladas..." to which you answered, "Me!" and "If you're not into yoga..." to which you answered, "Not me!") We cracked up! Another 10 minutes later and you were planted in front of You Tube singing along with the chorus. You are hilarious!

The next day this week, we headed down to the Short North to exchange something at American Apparel. Once we left, you asked me if I wanted to go on a date with you, to take a walk down the street. It was so cute, how could I say no? We ended up window-shopping and stopped at White Castle for a bite. You were so funny, strutting down High Street, completely proud of yourself.  

The Pina Colada song fascination continued through the week, with you requesting to watch it again on You Tube. This time, I actually found a live version from 1979, with Rupert Holmes on stage singing it, polyester clothes and those hideously enormous 70’s thick-framed tinted glasses. You watched for a while and then asked me, “Why he no have no doggie?” I couldn’t figure it out for a while, but then it dawned on me. You and I had seen someone who was visually impaired and was using a guide dog when we were out somewhere the other day, and had a conversation about it. Therefore, when you saw Rupert Holmes with his big 70’s glasses, you assumed he was visually impaired too, and wanted to know where his guide dog was. Wow! Your brain amazes me…you are always thinking and putting things together.

Disney recently came out with another teen movie, Lemonade Mouth. They had been hyping it for a while so we all watched it a while back, and have been watching it a few more times since then. Confirming Daddy is just a kid at heart; he downloaded a bunch of their songs and was jamming to them at work this week. You and Daddy probably have more in common than we realize. After the most recent viewing of the movie, you put on quite the performance for us with the songs on Daddy’s MP3 player. You had this little sneer and swagger that cracked us up. If you decide to go into show business, you have that whole stage presence thing down pat!

Picking you up from school is tricky most days, with you not wanting to leave because you are having so much fun with your friends. Thursday this week was no different, especially since you had gotten a hold of one of the coveted bikes on the playground and were zooming down the sidewalk like a mad woman. In order to minimize tears and screaming, I agreed to take you and your tricycle to Safety Town so you could cruise around for a bit after school. Audrey was coming over for a visit again so we all piled into the car and headed to that miniature little town so you could go crazy. Afterwards we all treated ourselves to some ice cream on the way home. 

Ice Cream + Audrey Ayi = Very Happy Mali

Once home, Lao Lao stopped over and Daddy came home too. I love listening to you squealing and laughing with all of your grown up buddies, it makes my heart smile. Lao Lao, Audrey, and I headed out for a walk together while you and Daddy took off to the store to get my birthday present. We all met at home later, and Daddy said you were so patient the entire time he was at the store picking out and wrapping my gift. It was quite remarkable. When you left, he took you to $5 and Below and let you pick out a toy, a brown bear “Pillow Pet”. You love this thing and thanked Daddy profusely, “Thank you for my toy Daddy!” I’m so proud of how appreciative you are. Such a sweet kid.

Friday night was a nice and quiet evening, movie night at home with just the three of us. You and I headed to Giant Eagle for snacks and the Redbox. We saw a police officer at Giant Eagle and you walked right up to him and said, “Hi!” When he replied and asked how you were, you had a few questions for him, one of them being, “Why you not in your car?” Ha ha. He didn’t have a very satisfying answer for you on that one…but he and I had a good laugh. You were so stoked to just go to the store with me, and excited to lay out pillows, blankets, and all of our treats, then settle in together to watch the movies. We rented Mars Needs Moms for you, then Source Code for Daddy and me (assuming you’d fall asleep after yours). Boy, were we wrong! You hung in there and watched the entire double feature, and I think enjoyed Source Code even more than Mars Needs Moms. It was nearly midnight before we all headed to bed!

The simplicity of Friday night made me realize something too. I tend to forget that the most basic and “every day” types of things can make for the best moments and memories. I often feel like I need to pack our time together with all sorts of events and activities, attending any and all nearby festivals and exposing you to all the experiences that I can. I, myself, can feel bored at home quite easily, and always want to be out and moving, trying new things and seeing new places. However, seeing how your face lit up by a family movie night…making a big “thing” out of spending time together as a family at home…helped me see that it’s those little moments that we pause to celebrate together that are all going to add up to make a full childhood for you. I shouldn’t feel so much pressure to get out and do or see everything…but rather feel more drawn to take pause in each day and be fully present, making the most of exactly where we are and not thinking ahead to what big thing we have planned next. Spending most of the day at home on Saturday, cleaning, putzing, and playing around the house (a luxury in our life lately) confirmed this revelation. More cozy, fun, and simple time at home on a more regular basis should be a family goal this winter.

So anyway, both you and Daddy were excited to give me my birthday present this year, so you surprised me early with it. You were so enthusiastic, giddily squealing as you helped me tear open the packages, which revealed a Keurig coffee maker that makes all sorts of drinks, including cocoa (which you are thrilled about!) We all drank beverages from our new toy all weekend. You had the first cup on Saturday morning, some cocoa that you made nearly all by yourself…proud to be the taste tester for us all.

ornery little grin and bed head

Now every time I make a cup of coffee…you say, “Happy Birthday Mama!” and pat me on the leg. So funny. I wonder how long that will last.

Saturday evening brought our official Mid Autumn Moon Festival celebration through COFCC. It was a perfect night, sunny but cool and dry. You weren’t as much into dancing and singing at this celebration, it was pretty loud and you were a bit grumpy. However, you loved the playground, hanging out until well after dark, virtually shutting it down with your buddy Niubei. I have clearly underestimated how much fun a playground can be after dark. All I could hear were you and Niubei’s intermittent shrieks and chipmunk giggles through the darkness. It was very cute. Earlier in the evening, you were making the most of the playground with your buddy Mia too. You both crack me up…chasing each other around in circles, falling onto the grass laughing, and running towards each other to embrace (well Mia tried to hug you anyway, you’re a little more stingy with your PDA) like long lost BFF’s. All three of you, along with many other COFCC children, marched in the lantern parade after sunset and were some of the most adorable kids in the world, (if I do say so myself!)

moon cakes!

crafts!

running in circles and collapsing in the grass with Mia
(over and over and over and...)

then falling over backwards with Mia at the playground
(woopsie daisy ~ silly girls!)

and this night, the sunset means one thing...

the lantern parade with your friends! (you, Niubei, and Mia)

couldn't quite make it through the whole parade without needing help from silkie

so awesome that Uncles Flint and Forge, along with Lao Lao could come celebrate with us too!

what a pretty night...Happy Mid Autumn Moon!

Sunday you and I woke up and made some coffee and cocoa with our new Keurig, then headed down to the playground with our travel mugs and Abby. It was a beautiful morning and a great way to wrap up the old and start the new week.

Daddy was working from home, so I took you to soccer by myself again on Sunday afternoon. We had your team pictures, but you were pretty tired and grouchy, insisting on having silkie in each picture with you. Afterwards, you wanted nothing to do with practice. I kept trying to get you out there, but you refused saying that it was too hard because you can’t kick the ball. We sat and watched for a while, but then left halfway through. As soon as I got you back to the car, your demeanor changed. You began smiling and seemed relieved. We’ll keep trying to get you back out there and at least try it again for the rest of your sessions, but I’m not going to push it. I really think it’s the aggressiveness that I mentioned in this blog last week that has turned you off. You have another soccer program that comes to your school, which they tell me that you really love. I suspect it’s the difference in the coaches (I’m not too keen on the Sunday afternoon COSA coach), and the program set up. I’ll have to send Daddy on some recon to your school on Tuesday of this coming week (since he’s off work that day) to watch the Soccer Shots program and get some pointers on how to make it more enjoyable for you. When I saw your smile in the car, I realized that that right there is more important than any hopes or wishes that Daddy and I have for you…making sure you’re in an activity that you enjoy will trump any of our own desires for you every time.

front row, second from the right (the one with the silkie)

Once home, you and I had dinner and played until bedtime. The later it got, the sillier you got. I was equally surprised and impressed with your writing both a letter “T” and letter “H” nearly perfectly and all by yourself while we drew pictures together. I had no idea that your skills had gotten so good…they are clearly doing some great work with you in school! By the time we were trying to wrangle you into bed, you were beyond slaphappy. Your animation in general, but particularly while in imaginative play is unprecedented. The older you get, the more outlandish your ideas. It’s awesome. You especially love to play doctor (informing me tonight that I needed a new head because my old head had gotten “yucky”), grocery store, and mommy/daddy/baby right now. A constant plea each time I reminded you about going to bed was “just one more”. Each passing day you continue to finely tune your stall tactics and intensify your persistence in utilizing them. It’s astonishing.

Love,
Mama