Apple picking? Already?!

Maliana ~

I love your enthusiasm to show me or tell me what you've done the minute I walk into school. I also love how you are already thinking about what you want to be when you grow up (right now it's either a hip hop/breakdancer or a firefighting ballerina). Over dinner tonight you had Daddy and I cracking up, showing us how you learned that the inside of your eyes turn red when you pull the bottom lids down, or how your imaginary friend Manna had "someone" tell her to turn off Barney and come to dinner and therefore you didn't want me to do it to you either because you didn't like it..."Mom, when someone is watching their show, just let them watch it! (insert your exasperated sigh here)" (ha ha, nice try). And I love how you were so proud of your name-plate you made at school, complete with a little flower drawn (with good detail) on the bottom, that you wanted to hang it on our bedroom door because, as you told us, "I have a good idea! Now you can see it every time you go to work!"

the sign proudly hanging on our bedroom door to
remind us of you every day before work

I also love how you drink your cocoa out of the mug that Ggma got you for Valentine's Day like a little grown up now...

crossed legs and everything!

This week we are trying something new. Daddy is going to work out in the wee hours of the morning and I am going to work a little bit later to accommodate his new routine. The only snafu so far has been you waking up and following me down to the elliptical at 5am. You sat and diligently watched the DVR'ed Democratic National Convention with me the first morning, then waited patiently while I showered and crawled back into bed with you until Daddy got home and took over. But what actually broke my heart is when you began to cry because you did not want me to go to work...completely tore me apart. You are just not used to spending time with me in the morning because I am usually at work by the time you shake the sleep from your eyelids. Nonetheless, you were appeased by my promising to think of you all day, send you hugs with my mind and heart, and also bring you a surprise after work. I'm not sure which of those three things was most appealing but by the time I headed to work, you were again fast asleep. Thank goodness!

After school Audrey Ayi came over for a visit and we had a silly dinner and then a raucous game of hide and seek with some new crazy flair ~ adding a squirt bottle as ammo for the "seeker". It makes being found a little soggy but very hilarious. Ha. You also incorporated your sense of smell into your seeking tools. Audrey noticed you sniffing the air as you tried to find your masterfully hidden Mommy (I must say I'm pretty darn good, hee hee)...and I had to stifle a laugh.

After our nutty game, you took a break with silkie. I love how you've been using it lately...

a silkie mustache

and of course I can't forget to mention you
and Audrey's really fun popsicle stick puppet show!

Friday we headed to Lynd Fruit Farm for some apple picking with our friends Sue, Lian, Michelle, Mia, and Freddy. It was a hot hot afternoon, but by the time we were done picking, playing, and shopping in the market, we drove through a nice rain to cool things off on the way home. I asked you a question as we drove through that storm that made me laugh when you replied, "I don't know, you're the boss!" Ha. Seriously? What a nut!

we had the entire golden supreme section to ourself!

picking the perfect apple

first taste = delicious

getting a boost from Mom (Sue and Lian)

Mia, Michelle, and Freddy

crunch!

Mia, Lian, and you

something about all of you girls, and your pose
 in particular, makes me think "album cover"

having fun with Freddy in the playhouse

excited to take home some trail bologna
from their market

While I stayed home and figured out what to do with all of our apples, you and Daddy headed off to tang soo do on Saturday morning. You were one of only two kids who had their sparring gear and since there was a competition that morning, you graciously shared your gear so all the kids could participate. You even helped the kids get suited up in it too. It was so nice that Master Circle and Master Han honored your generosity with some generosity of their own and gave you a gift certificate for 30 min. of a private lesson for free! What a great way to kick off the weekend! So proud of you and so grateful that such a wonderful do jang (and all its staff) is so close to us!

Daddy texted this one to me as "the faceless fighter" ha ha

ready to spar!
(your gear is so big, it's hard for you to even bow)

Lao Lao came over later and we decided to make apple crisp with at least some of the gobs of apples we now have.

it turned out great!

Then Sunday morning called for a walk with Abby in our matching owl jammies (your idea for the jammies). Three years ago I may have thought twice about marching around my neighborhood like this...but now that you're here, what other people think matters even less. We're here to make memories, after all. Wish I would have realized that sooner, and I hope you never forget that what other people think or say matters very little, if at all.

Oh, and by the way...all those streamers are because we transformed our living room into a "rock concert stage" last night. Yeah, that's how we roll on a Saturday night at home.

During our "jammie walk", we got a nice compliment from a passing car. A lady and her son were driving by, slowed down, and said to us, "Lookin' good!" Then our fortune continued as we passed a buckeye tree and loaded your pockets with buckeyes to take home. We even saw instructor Stanley-Wolfe from tang soo do (who just happens to live in our neighborhood) driving by and he stopped to say hello as well. Nothing like a morning walk in the mild sunshine of late summer to start our day off right!

found one!

my favorite little nut and her buckeye

You had a date with Daddy this afternoon while Aunt Tina and I went running at Sharon Woods. From what Daddy told me, we should probably bring a tip jar with us when we take you anywhere. Evidently, you drew quite the attention of passersby as you watched your own reflection while dancing to Daddy's phone playing Beastie Boys. I guess you were really bringing the moves too. The best part about it is that you generally have no idea that anyone is watching you. You're just clearly in the moment and having fun. Love that about you.

Every morning when I wake up I'm not sure my heart can hold any more love than it already does for you, but then I prove myself wrong each night as I climb into bed, realizing my love for you has just multiplied itself ten fold in one day. And it will happen all over again tomorrow too. Amazing.

 

Love,

Mama

 

oh, and P.S.
I have to share this little tidbit that had me freaked out and impressed all at the same time this week. On Wednesday I got a call on my cell phone, from Dr. Pearson. Your surgeon. He said that in spite of the scope and fluoroscopy not working out, he wanted to go ahead with the surgery for you. He feels that he knows what needs to be done and is confident he can do it, even without the imaging. I questioned him, expressed my concerns, and generally tried to take it all in. He was wonderful and patient with all that I had to ask and say. I was very impressed that he personally took the time to call me and discuss the options at this point, and freaked out to think that it might all be happening faster than I had thought it would when we left the hospital after your fluoro. But, hey. At the end of the day, I am looking forward to moving on and being able to put all of this behind us again. We can do this. One step at a time. With the strength and love of our family, and the talents of the amazing team at Nationwide Children's Hospital, we'll be fine.