Tell It Like It Is

Esmé came in from outside with a half dead ant on her finger, its leg still twitching.
E: "Look, Mama, I caught an ant!"
Me: "Um, it looks like it's dead."
E: "No, I think it's just pretty tired.  I'm going to take it for a walk now."

Dragonoid Fridgsmith

For the second time in a row, we had a great boy's name all picked out and then found out we are having a girl.  Now we are searching for a name again, and are ready for your suggestions!  Send them our way when you think of them.  (If it starts with a 'K' or even a 'C' you get bonus points.)

Out of the suggestions we have had already, Dragonoid is the very feminine name suggested to us by Lawrence, age 8.  And Fridgsmith is actually the first name of my 12th great-grandmother from Stonehenge, c. 1600.  This is true, I'm not even joking.

Bookworm

Sometimes I see a glimpse of a much older Esmé.  Small moments that reveal so much about her personality and what type of person she'll grow to be.  Two is a fun age, but I'm really excited to know her as she gets older.  I can only imagine that my adoration of her will grow over time as she discovers the world and herself.  As she learns how to fit in and stand out, how to love and to fight, and how to fill the space around her.

This moment here: sprawled on her bed, nose in a book, legs swinging.  My little teenager.

Kites and Ice Cream

Tell It Like It Is

As Esmé's vocabulary has been increasing, she has started to say such funny things.  I've been really excited for this stage because I love hearing all the silly and clever things that come out of young kids' mouths.  Although Esmé is nowhere near coming up with the gems like my LovelyMonkey nephews, I'd like to remember some of my favourites.

Kyle: "Do you want to go swimming today?"
Esmé: "But the water's cold."
K: "Do you still want to go?"
E: "Sure! I'll just wear a sweater."

E: "Mom, can you eat like a dinosaur like this?"
I try a bite.
E: "Good job, Mom!  But keep practicing."

A man gets on the elevator and has one of those moustaches that curl up on the ends.  Esmé points to the man and yells: "Look, Mom! That man is funny!" Awkward elevator ride to follow.

Early in my pregnancy when I was nauseous and threw up for the first time, Esmé was quite intrigued.  I don't think she had seen me or anyone else throw up before.  So she stood right next to me making observations.
Esmé: "Mom, you are coughing into the toilet?"
Me: Ack, cough, "No, honey," gag, "I'm barfing."
E: "Oh, you're barfing like a cat?"
Me: Gag, "No, it's not a hairball."
She watches me for a bit and then strokes my shoulder, "It's okay Mommy, it's okay."
I suddenly felt better...

After church one day:
E: "When the baby comes can we put it in a basket and throw it in the river like Moses?"

E: "Can I have some milk?"
Me: I nod with "Mm Hmm."
E: "Mom, talk with using your mouth."
Linguistics from a 2 yr old?

Her "I love you" is getting longer and longer as she adds on something new every few weeks.  Now it's, "I love you so much, in all the world, all the time, in his hands, and in a chair."  (I have no idea.)

The Cost of Quiet

As the saying goes, if it's quiet, then they are probably getting into something they shouldn't.  But sometimes I love that quiet moment a little too much.  It's a fine balance between how much I need that moment to myself and how much time I want to spend repairing/cleaning the damage.

This time though, was probably a time that I really should have been a little more attentive.  After deciding that the few minutes of peace were a bit too long and too quiet, I found Esmé in my bedroom.  She had found my paramedic scissors.  The heavy duty ones that can cut through seat belts, and I bet little fingers.  And somehow she managed to figure them out and alter her pyjamas while keeping all 10 fingers.  Oh, the guilt of a negligent mom!

We are having a....