Sometimes it feels like Makela makes a giant leap forward in one way or another, and there I am to witness it, right as it happens. And sometimes it just happens without my even noticing right away, probably because I'm with her all the time and can't see the progress on a daily basis. It's funny how it seems as if I wake up one day, and suddenly there's a big change in my little girl.
Today was one of the former occasions. We were at Seaworld with our playgroup today, and just before we left, I took her to use the bathroom. Without warning, Makela announced the following: "Mommy, I'm going to do it all by myself." I thought that meant that she wouldn't need me to help her pull her pants down and/or help her up on the seat (both of which we've been working on). But NO -- she meant the WHOLE thing. Before I'd even finished saying, "Okay," Makela was closing the stall door on me, and then it was latched. She was SOOOO proud of herself, giving me a play-by-play commentary that the whole ladies room could hear. But she sure did it -- she went, wiped herself, and didn't even freak out because of the "augo-mag-ick" flusher. "I did it!" she proclaimed, beaming from ear to ear as she exited the stall.
Of course, Daddy pointed out what's next -- that Makela will want to go into the whole restroom by herself. But THAT'S not gonna happen anytime soon. It's one thing to be independent, another to be reckless.
I also have to mention another one of Makela's recent big changes. This is one of the gradual ones. Relatively speaking, that is.
Over the last month or so, I've found myself putting more and more of Makela's clothes into the current "outgrown" box. I knew she'd been growing, but didn't think much of it until I realized that some of the fairly new things in size 3/3T were suddenly not fitting her anymore! She just started wearing size 3's around her birthday -- how could this be happening?
Well, I'll tell you how. Makela was more than happy to oblige when I suggested we measure how tall she is at Target last week. They have these little height charts on the sides of some of the clothing racks. So she stepped in front of one, and I was positively SHOCKED to see that she was standing at 39.75 inches! She had a shoe with a small heel -- maybe 1/4" high. So I rounded down to 39.5 inches, which is STILL a whole 1.5" taller than she was at her three-year check-up at the very end of January!
Several people have commented on how tall she looks all of a sudden, especially some friends we hadn't seen in a while. But honestly -- 1.5" inches in about 2.5 months?!? Makela gives new meaning to the phrase "growing like a weed!"
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Chef & The Cook
It's been a while since I last posted. I really need to make this a daily habit. Especially after reading this really cool book by one of my favorite scrapbook designers, Cathy Zielske, called "Clean & Simple Scrapbooking". She is amazing, and now I'm totally inspired to write more and refine my scrapbooking style. Not only that, but she has the BEST ideas on how to organize scrapbooks and the layouts within them, particularly when scrapping out of chronological order. I haven't quite been able to break out of my chronological chains yet, but I may just get there now. Geez -- I think I need to go thank this cool scrapbooking guru on her blog. Take a look if you like. Cathy's blog is at www.cathyzielske.typepad.com.
Anyway, I'm tired and thinking very randomly tonight. My thoughts are scattered. But I know I need to write down a few of the recent things about Makela. Otherwise I will completely forget them, and I can't let that happen!
The first one happened last Thursday evening, as Makela and Joe were busy cooking in her play kitchen, after I'd left for my Weight Watchers meeting. Apparently, Joe asked Makela if she wanted to be a chef when we she grows up. So here is what she said in reply: "Yes, I want to be a chef when I grow up. But now I'm little, so they call me a cook."
Another funny thing happened a couple of weeks ago, when Joe was talking to Makela about using a telescope. I didn't catch the whole conversation, but I heard him telling her about using this versus just "the naked eye." Without pausing for even a second, Makela looked at her Daddy and asked, "Which one is the naked eye?" Of course Joe had to explain that this was just another one of those weird expressions that grownups use....
Anyway, I'm tired and thinking very randomly tonight. My thoughts are scattered. But I know I need to write down a few of the recent things about Makela. Otherwise I will completely forget them, and I can't let that happen!
The first one happened last Thursday evening, as Makela and Joe were busy cooking in her play kitchen, after I'd left for my Weight Watchers meeting. Apparently, Joe asked Makela if she wanted to be a chef when we she grows up. So here is what she said in reply: "Yes, I want to be a chef when I grow up. But now I'm little, so they call me a cook."
Another funny thing happened a couple of weeks ago, when Joe was talking to Makela about using a telescope. I didn't catch the whole conversation, but I heard him telling her about using this versus just "the naked eye." Without pausing for even a second, Makela looked at her Daddy and asked, "Which one is the naked eye?" Of course Joe had to explain that this was just another one of those weird expressions that grownups use....
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Makela Speak
Kids say some funny things. I especially enjoy the misspoken words that Makela says.
Just this morning, as I was getting dressed and ready for the day, Makela asked me what I was going to do next. Before I could really say anything, she answered herself by saying, "Mommy, you need to put in your eyetacks."
There are tons of other examples. Makela commonly uses the "f" sound instead of "s" and the "v" instead of "b," and sometimes the "g" sound instead of a "t." A few of my favorites:
She sings about the "Itsy Bitsy Fider" -- and how it "went up duh water fout."
She calls her cow "Buh-tello" instead of "Vitello."
Vanilla sounds like "baninna," as in "baninna milk" from Starbucks.
Instead of "supposed," she says "fost" (rhymes with "most").
Her first six syllable word, "automatically," comes out sounding like "augo-mag-ig-ly."
Just this morning, as I was getting dressed and ready for the day, Makela asked me what I was going to do next. Before I could really say anything, she answered herself by saying, "Mommy, you need to put in your eyetacks."
There are tons of other examples. Makela commonly uses the "f" sound instead of "s" and the "v" instead of "b," and sometimes the "g" sound instead of a "t." A few of my favorites:
She sings about the "Itsy Bitsy Fider" -- and how it "went up duh water fout."
She calls her cow "Buh-tello" instead of "Vitello."
Vanilla sounds like "baninna," as in "baninna milk" from Starbucks.
Instead of "supposed," she says "fost" (rhymes with "most").
Her first six syllable word, "automatically," comes out sounding like "augo-mag-ig-ly."
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter SUNday
It was a fun Easter Sunday. Makela was in a terrific mood all day long. She loved her Easter basket and had fun hunting down the candy-filled eggs that the Easter Bunny hid for her throughout the living room. And at Gram's suggestion, we ventured out to the beach this afternoon after quiet time. Daddy had to return to work around noon, but the three of us girls had a grand time at La Jolla Shores -- we had to wait FOREVER for the cars to move in the parking lot, but then ended up with a PRIME parking spot.
We had fun building another huge sand castle (several times), complete with surrounding moat. We played in the warm sunshine and in the water -- it actually wasn't THAT cold after you got used to it. As usual, Makela would have walked to Hawaii if we'd let her. And we played some "football," although it mostly consisted of Makela throwing or kicking the ball away from herself and chasing after it, calling "I'll get it! I'll get it!"
Makela also said something very funny relatively early on in our beach adventure. We were working on our first version of the sand castle, and she was happily splashing in the moat and playing with her watering can. Suddenly she looked at me, her eyes big as saucers, and said, "Mommy? Maybe someday we can have some ocean next to our house. AND some sand!" Gram was right there next to us, and she looked at me and grinned, then said, "Makela has great ideas." ;-)
We had fun building another huge sand castle (several times), complete with surrounding moat. We played in the warm sunshine and in the water -- it actually wasn't THAT cold after you got used to it. As usual, Makela would have walked to Hawaii if we'd let her. And we played some "football," although it mostly consisted of Makela throwing or kicking the ball away from herself and chasing after it, calling "I'll get it! I'll get it!"
Makela also said something very funny relatively early on in our beach adventure. We were working on our first version of the sand castle, and she was happily splashing in the moat and playing with her watering can. Suddenly she looked at me, her eyes big as saucers, and said, "Mommy? Maybe someday we can have some ocean next to our house. AND some sand!" Gram was right there next to us, and she looked at me and grinned, then said, "Makela has great ideas." ;-)
"D" is for Daddy
Date: Friday, March 21, 2008
Time: Approximately 5:00 pm
Location: Home, sitting at the little white craft table
What: Makela wrote her first letter!
I was minding my own business, trying to get some desperately needed laundry done by hanging up some damp clothing to air dry in our bedroom closet. Just around the corner and outside the bedroom door from me, Makela was busy working at her craft table. While I was hanging things up, she told me, "I'm making a happy note. It's for Daddy." Then, after a short pause, I heard this: "I'm writing a 'D' for Daddy." I figured she was scribbling her usual "writing" on her artwork. So imagine my shock when I finished the laundry, rounded the corner to take a look, and saw an actual "D" written on her page!
Are three-year-olds supposed to be teaching themselves to write? I'm guessing probably not. This kid continues to amaze me.
Time: Approximately 5:00 pm
Location: Home, sitting at the little white craft table
What: Makela wrote her first letter!
I was minding my own business, trying to get some desperately needed laundry done by hanging up some damp clothing to air dry in our bedroom closet. Just around the corner and outside the bedroom door from me, Makela was busy working at her craft table. While I was hanging things up, she told me, "I'm making a happy note. It's for Daddy." Then, after a short pause, I heard this: "I'm writing a 'D' for Daddy." I figured she was scribbling her usual "writing" on her artwork. So imagine my shock when I finished the laundry, rounded the corner to take a look, and saw an actual "D" written on her page!
Are three-year-olds supposed to be teaching themselves to write? I'm guessing probably not. This kid continues to amaze me.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Makela at Three Years & Two Months(ish)
Since I'm also using this blog to refer back to when scrapbooking, I wanted to put down some adjectives that came to mind about Makela today. It was a LONG day at that. We are in a bad sleeping phase again.
With that in mind, at three years and two months (or so), Makela is:
Artistic
Musical
Intense
Passionate
Stubborn
Energetic
Funny
Afraid of monsters in her room
Athletic
Coordinated
Left-handed (we think)
In love with books and words
With that in mind, at three years and two months (or so), Makela is:
Artistic
Musical
Intense
Passionate
Stubborn
Energetic
Funny
Afraid of monsters in her room
Athletic
Coordinated
Left-handed (we think)
In love with books and words
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Makela Hatches Another Question
Another day, another amazing question. Well, it was actually yesterday, but here's the story.
Makela bounded into our room yesterday morning and jumped on the bed. Daddy was wearing his old, favorite t-shirt with the sharks on it. Although Makela knows what it says, she asked about it again. Daddy told her: "Guess which one's the lawyer?" Then Makela pointed to the one wearing the tie and said: "Dat one." After a long enough pause to make us think she had moved on to another line of thought, Makela came out of left field with the following question.
"Daddy, do sharks hatch or are dey born?"
After Joe picked his jaw up off the covers, he looked at her and said, "That's a really good question. Both, actually. Some sharks hatch out of eggs, and some are born live. It just depends on what kind of shark it is."
Not to be sidetracked, Makela then pointed to Daddy's t-shirt and asked, "Which kind are dese?"
"I think these are born alive, Makela."
While Makela definitely surprised us, she has been really interested in learning about different animals this week. We checked out a book called "Verdi" by Janell Cannon, who also wrote the classic "Stellaluna". It's all about a baby python that grows up but doesn't grow old, and the back includes information on how snakes hatch. And I had a big conversation about birds and how they hatch out of eggs. As an aside/one final note, Makela also asked me while looking at the windshield from her carseat yesterday, "Mommy, why do birds poop in the sky?"
Makela bounded into our room yesterday morning and jumped on the bed. Daddy was wearing his old, favorite t-shirt with the sharks on it. Although Makela knows what it says, she asked about it again. Daddy told her: "Guess which one's the lawyer?" Then Makela pointed to the one wearing the tie and said: "Dat one." After a long enough pause to make us think she had moved on to another line of thought, Makela came out of left field with the following question.
"Daddy, do sharks hatch or are dey born?"
After Joe picked his jaw up off the covers, he looked at her and said, "That's a really good question. Both, actually. Some sharks hatch out of eggs, and some are born live. It just depends on what kind of shark it is."
Not to be sidetracked, Makela then pointed to Daddy's t-shirt and asked, "Which kind are dese?"
"I think these are born alive, Makela."
While Makela definitely surprised us, she has been really interested in learning about different animals this week. We checked out a book called "Verdi" by Janell Cannon, who also wrote the classic "Stellaluna". It's all about a baby python that grows up but doesn't grow old, and the back includes information on how snakes hatch. And I had a big conversation about birds and how they hatch out of eggs. As an aside/one final note, Makela also asked me while looking at the windshield from her carseat yesterday, "Mommy, why do birds poop in the sky?"
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