Dinosaurs and Back to School

Maliana ~

It was both Martin Luther King Jr. and President Obama's 2nd Inauguration Day on Monday. Very cold too. So while we weren't spending our time visiting Uncle Joe, Aunt Tina, Sam and Erin, we were holed up at home under warm blankets and in jammies, reading and watching TV. I particularly loved the moment, with each of us on our own separate couches, when you came over to my couch, crawled up into my arms and layed with me for a while, simply for the purpose of being close together and getting a snuggle in before resuming our own activities. It was so sweet and innocent. I love these long weekends and cozy winter days.

I headed back to work on Tuesday while Daddy held down the fort at home. You went to breakfast with Memaw and Papaw and enjoyed yourself over pancakes, then relaxed the rest of the day. I got home and you were bathed and well rested...and I noticed once again that I love your "new" laugh. Since your surgery, your voice is less stressed sounding, likely due to the requirement for you to be a bit more gentle with your throat and vocal cords, but possibly because you are able to produce more distinct sounds with much less effort than before. Your laugh is so cute...with a super silly and almost melodious quality, like the kind of angelic giggles that you hear on soundtracks in music and movies when they want it to sound like the quintessential voice of children's unbridled, in-the-moment kind of joy. Not to say that your laugh before surgery was not amazingly spectacular and beloved and my favorite sound in the whole wide world too...but it's equally amazing and captivating to watch and listen to this new development in your life and how you sound. I love it all!

Besides, it took me 37 years to rediscover and realize the strength of my voice and what a powerful tool and asset it is in this great big world...so please promise me you will take care of yours. Don't be afraid of it, but rather embrace it. Try to remember how valuable it is, in spite of some who may try to diminish it. And most of all, treasure and enjoy it! You will have so many important ways you can use it for good in your life and in the lives of others. Don't ever lose it.

As for using your voice for good...you got off to a good start by leaving some messages for your other grandparents (Memaw Lisa, Wai Gong, and Lao Lao) and I LOVE hearing your tiny little voice sending little tidbits of appreciation or "thinking of you" messages for them...your articulation has gotten so much better in just over a week since surgery. It's truly remarkable! And while your articulation has gotten a lot better, you still have your cute little Mali-isms. For example, when Lao Lao stopped by to visit on her way home from work, you kicked me out of your room saying that you were having a "medium" (aka meeting) with her. Ha ha.

By Wednesday, Daddy could take the night off. We used our extra time together to take care of something we've needed to do for a while. On Christmas day 2011, Daddy gifted me with a smart phone. This week, 394 days later, I finally activated it. Do you want to know the reason I waited so long? Because I can't stand to have to wait around for the snail's pace customer service at Verizon. And tonight, just like I foresaw, all of us had to wait around for what seemed like FOREVER. But you know what, I have to give you major props as I tell this story, and here's why. In the two plus hours we were stuck there, you never once whined, made a mess, sassed anyone, got into anything you weren't supposed to, fussed, cried, or did anything else remotely showing any inkling of impatience that a typical 4 year old would do in a really boring situation. I complimented you on the way out saying, "Mali, you are a rock star of patience...I am so proud of you!" and proceeded to share with you all the things you did that we appreciated while waiting in the store with us. Sometimes I forget that you are not even 5 yet since you carry yourself so much more maturely than some adults I know (myself included!) Way to go monkey! We are so thankful for you...how did we get so lucky?

Thursday Daddy had to go back to work so Memaw and Papaw came over to hang with you. You accompanied them to Memaw's dermatologist and evidently took notes with a pencil and paper (just like Memaw does for Daddy sometimes) as the doctor talked to her about how to remove her wart. At the end, you said, "Memaw, you need to take care of your wart...and stop touching frogs!" No idea but I have a feeling that Memaw was probably filling you in on the old wives' tale about how one gets warts. Ha.

With you staying home and able to sleep in during the week, you've been going to bed late, even after me some nights (since I hit the sack pretty early to be at work by 6am). On one particular night, you softly came in the bedroom, rubbed my shoulder to wake me up a bit and let me know that you were going downstairs with Daddy. In case I needed you, I would know where to find you. You then gave me a goodnight kiss, tucked me in, and gave Abby a goodnight kiss on the way out the door. You are such a sweetheart.

By Friday, Papaw came over to watch you in the morning until I could get home early from work. Once I was home, you and I hit the road to get down to the Discover the Dinosaurs exhibit at the convention center. Originally I had an outfit all picked out for you, but you insisted on your own choices, complete with your newest fashion statement...

one green and one white Converse!

We eventually made it to our destination and it took you a bit to warm up to it, but once you did there was no stopping you! You loved the numerous bouncey houses we (yes, you made me cram my huge body through all of them too) climbed into, exclaiming "Radical!" at one point as you slid down the slide. You also fell in love with the dinosaur mascot that was walking around the exhibit, so much so that if I were to use the term "stalking" to describe your behavior, I wouldn't be that far off! And all of that Dinosaur Train that you watch on the Ipad is paying off to some degree because not only did you correct my mis-pronunciation of "ornithomimus", but you also used the term "carion" at dinner that night when we were discussing the chicken. Man...you pay attention to EVERYthing! I love it.

ahh...fun with the green screen. I was impressed
that you look genuinely scared!

we found Alvin Allosaurus!

and Laura Giganotosaurus!

Trudy Triceratops!

your buddy, as you kept calling him

dino dig

and you found him again

the really nice guy who got you all set up to
mine for gems and fossils

 

this was so cool! (of course, never mind the old IV tape
that you are refusing to let us remove from your arm)

pretty good haul, kid!

After the dinosaur show, we drove to Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse for Uncle Flint's birthday. It was nice to see everyone and as usual, you had a ball. The chefs at these steakhouses are quite entertaining and I am delighted to see you understanding a lot of the subtle jokes that our chef was throwing out to us all night. You are growing up so fast!

Uncle Forge (and Lily), Alan and Enay Wanda, Uncle Flint
(and Monica), Lao Lao, Papaw Rick, and us

Papaw Rick smiling at you as you
laughed at him in his balloon hat

Papaw Rick made a hand-blown glass pumpkin and
gave it to you at dinner...pretty cool

Saturday morning we woke up late, letting you get some much needed rest, then I wrote your name in pancakes (per your request) for breakfast. We got quite a bit of snow the day before and so we all headed outside to take Abby for a romp on the trail and through the woods near our house. By the time we got home we were all pretty cold but there is definitely nothing like getting outside and breathing that fresh air. And there's also nothing like coming in from an afternoon like that and eating some hot grilled cheese sandwiches with a bowl of steaming tomato soup.

As for the rest of the weekend, here's a quick funny from our lazy Sunday...my Facebook status:
~ so Mali is wanting to help me clip coupons and I tell her that she can use my scissors and "go to town" on the coupons when I'm finished...her reply? "Yay! We're going to the town!!"



Not a ton to tell about Sunday. I got to go to a yoga class with Aunt Tina while you went to KDB at Easton with Daddy where you both played games and racked up your ticket total to make it a whopping 1,000! You are saving up for something big and I am so proud of you for recognizing that in order to get what you really want, you need to hold off on the purchase and keep saving a little while longer. I'm pretty sure that most four year olds would not understand the concept of delayed gratification as much as you already do. Heck, I know a lot of adults who still struggle with it more than you!

Sunday evening Natalia came over to play with you while Daddy and I went to a movie with Aunt Tina and Uncle Joe. We came home to a very happy kiddo who told me you played lots of things, including "pretending to be grown ups" (wonder what that entailed?) You love your Lali time! So thankful for such a sweet and responsible kid, who is willing to babysit at the drop of a hat, right next door. We're very lucky.

By bedtime, I was starting to get a little nervous for you, having to go back to school after a whole two weeks off. By Monday morning though, the texts from Daddy showed me I had nothing to worry about...I love your class and teachers!

Daddy said this was right after a big group hug for you!
everyone was so happy to have you back in class
and anxious to hear about your surgery

When Daddy came back to pick you up, you didn't want to leave and had been sitting and shooting the breeze with the director of the agency in her office. Just hanging out. You are such a little adult. So happy you love school so much.

Monday we rounded out the night enjoying an unseasonably warm evening by taking Abby for a walk and with you using your "light eyes" from the Spy Gear you got for Christmas. I loved listening to you tell me about your day as we walked hand in hand along the quiet street. And I giggled every time I'd look at you in this get-up...ha.

you were examining everything on the ground
with the magnification lens...so funny

Love,
Mama