DOG (3 YRS OLD)

S sounded out "d-o-g" yesterday night, while putting together the Dora Dora puzzle. Amazing! When did she learn that?!

MOSQUITO BAIT (3 YRS OLD)

Poor S, she's covered in mosquito bites. They have been keeping her up at night. She has over a dozen bites alone on her left leg and also probably that many on her right legs and arms, including two bites on her behind. Due to the rain, it's mosquito season. She's been scratching up a storm and doesn't want any itch medicine on her.

P.S. Her 3 yr old check up was today. S is 75% for both weight and height (34 lbs and 38 inches). Not bad for someone who came home from the hospital weighing 4 lbs and 8 oz.

TREATS & TANTRUMS (3 YRS OLD)

S has been having many tantrums during the day, from big things to small things. She had a tantrum today because momma didn't let her play in her tent when it was dinner time. But, she also had a tantrum because she wanted a juice box while momma was driving.

Well, lately, she's been asking for a piece of candy at the end of her tantrums. Momma realized today that S thinks tantrums and treats are related. After agreeing to give her a piece of candy today after crying because momma didn't pick her up fast enough, S said happily, "You give me candy after I cry." Just to check, momma asked S, "why did I give you a piece of candy?" "Because I cry" responded S.

Momma guesses she has been giving in to S demands for candy because it does stop her from crying and having a tantrum. Momma didn't realize she was sending the wrong signal, nor did she realize she was being manipulated.

LITTLE GYM PARTY (3 YRS)

S had her big kid birthday party at Little Gym on Saturday. She had 14 guests, ranging in age from 2 years old (Raymond and cousin Sarai) to 7 years old (Cousin Matthew). Many of her close friends were there too: Talia, Paul and Alexandra.

There were so many activities to do from the gym equipment to hula hoops to scarves. Daddy was amazed that all the children participated together in the group activity: running on the red mat, parachute, and smashing the cheese. When the electricity went out, the kids continued to play without a pause. Momma and daddy enjoyed seeing all the happy chaos around them. Most importantly, S had fun!

S BIRTHDAY (3 YRS OLD)

S turned THREE today. To celebrate, S had a small birthday dinner with Mimi, Poppy, Aunt Jenny & Uncle Glen, Cousins Ariana & Miranda, and Aunt Cindy tonight. She had such a fun time that she barely ate dinner. She entertained herself by going from lap to lap, crawling under the table, and hugging/ being hugged by various individuals. To top it off, there was strawberry cake (no candles). What a great celebration!

S also loved her gifts! She played "it's raining" in the car with her new Sponge Bob umbrella (from Aunt Phu) and daddy with his pretend umbrella on the ride home. S did her bedtime routine wearing her new princess costume and magic wand (from Aunt Jenny & Uncle Glen, Ariana, & Miranda). Momma thinks she will also enjoy her other toys: pom-pom from Aunt Cindy, and Build-A-Bear from Mimi and Poppy.

SARAH'S VACATION (3 YRS OLD)

S spent a week and a half with Mimi and Poppy (while daddy and momma were in Greece). They called the visit, "Sarah's Vacation." S was so excited about the visit that for a couple of days before, she would ask to go. Finally, when the day arrived, she was so excited, she forgot to put on her panties (she was on the potty when Mimi and Poppy arrived for her). Mimi filled out a calendar, recording everything she did. There was everything from playdates to parties on the calendar.

What a wonderful vacation S had!

OTHERS ADULTS (35 MONTHS, 2 WKS)

Momma is constantly amazed how much S is maturing. She's often not the clingy, momma only, child anymore.

At Little Gym for the past four weeks, when asked her name, she responds and often complies with the short demo. S just beams smiles at Ms. Sara.

When Maria had to leave this evening, S asked for just one more minute with her and gave Maria a hug and a kiss when she left.

When momma had to leave to run errands tonight, S just jumped into daddy's lap and asked for the Pooh book. Momma and daddy have been reading the book, House at Pooh Corner, a classic and favorite of daddy as a child. (In momma's humble opinion, daddy does a better job with putting S to sleep than she does.)

FUNNY THINGS (35 MONTHS, 2 WKS)

Here are some of the funny things that happened today:

Momma told S that Mimi was picking her up tomorrow and asked rhetorically if that was okay. S surprised momma by responding, "No, I want her to pick me up today."

Momma pulled over the side of the road (off of Mary Moore Searight park) and peeled a banana for S, which is very unlike momma, but the road wasn't very busy and it was lunchtime for S. S was wonderous and asked why momma stopped. Then when momma got back on the busy main road, S kept asking momma to pull over and stop.

Momma took S to buy some new shoes. S has been refusing to wear her shoes and walking barefeet, which is unlike her. It turns out her shoe size is 8 1/2 and she's been wearing size 7 shoes.

At dinner time, S finally acquiesced and tried some spinach. After trying it, she responded with "I do like it." Momma responded that "maybe, it's because she's getting bigger." S added that she still doesn't like onions. Sometimes, life seems to mirror Dr. Seuss books.

SENTENCES AND CONVERSATION (35 MONTHS, 2 WKS)

S has been talking in full sentences and having conversations with momma and daddy for quite awhile that momma and daddy have taken it for granted. It's not just new vocabulary now that pops up but it's new ideas/ concepts that comes out of her mouth that surprises momma and daddy.

Recently, she's taken up describing what happens when she eats. She starts by describing how the food goes into the mouth, then it gets chewed. It goes through her belly and out her vagina. Sometimes, it goes through her legs and out her toes. Or, up her toes, up her legs, past her vagina, past her belly and back into her mouth. Momma tries not to laugh because momma can tell that S is trying to put all this together. (Momma needs a Grey Anatomy book).

P.S. Her most often used phrased recently is "We should do this everyday," especially when she finds something she likes.

GOD (35 MONTHS, 2 WKS)

S asks occassionally about God. It's a difficult topic to discuss to a toddler. On Saturday night, she wanted to know how to talk to God and if God could help daddy with his back. Momma responded that God could help daddy with his back and we can talk to God by praying. S asked "How can God help daddy?" momma said, "God is like a mommy or daddy. If you get hurt, he can clean it and put a bandaid on it, but the the rest of it is up to you." Momma's not sure how much S really understands about this conversation. Momma and daddy are constantly surprised about how much S wants to know and to what depth.

MARIA (35 MONTHS, 1 WK)

Maria, the mother's helper, and S have started to get along well. Instead of hiding from her and acting shy, S looks forward to Maria arrival. This past week she announced that she and Maria were going to play legos. Last week, Maria and her made Mother's Day cards and did some face painting. Momma hopes this relationship will continue to grow and hopefully S will have another "adult" friend.

REFRIGERATOR FISHES (35 MONTHS, 1 WK)

Aunt Phu, who was here visiting this weekend, asked if the salt-dough fishes on the refrigerator were baked. Momma responded, "Yes" but to momma surprised when she touched the fishes they were rubbery and soft. Momma wondered if S had something to do with it. She remembered S playing with them this last week.

Later, momma asked S what happened to the fish. S responded that she took the fish for a swim. Momma guesses it was in the bathroom sink. Then, S ended her long explanation with, "I put them back on the refrigerator." Momma thanked her and smiled.

Daddy responded the story later with, "Momma doesn't know everything that's happening." Well, no, sometimes, momma is busy picking up after husband and little girl!

P.S. S has a great time with Aunt Phu and Uncle Joe here on Friday and Saturday!

KISSES AND HUGS (35 MONTHS, 1 WK)

S has been refusing to kiss and hug daddy when he leaves for work. He still gets her with "flying" kisses. When he blows her a kiss, S use to get upset but now she swats them away. Daddy and her make a game of swatting them away.

Daddy and S has another game they often play together. She will often ask him, "Do you like my hat?" and he replies, "No, I do not." The dialogue is from the book Go, Dogs, Go.

P.S. S will also occassionally refuse to kiss and hug momma. Momma hopes not all good things end.