Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Thumbs

Dear Cordelia,

My mom assured me that once you turned three you would magically give up sucking your thumb. You are now closing in on four years old and still sucking strong. We have brought up the idea of stopping, but you have no interest at all. Some days, I think it is actually glued there on your tongue. I have warned you that on your fourth birthday you are done and we will not be allowing you to suck your thumb anymore. You give me dubious looks when I say this. I really don't want to have to, but I will get that gross-tasting stuff for your thumb if I have to.

The other day, you got a scratch on your right thumb (the one you suck). I happily allowed you to wear a Hello Kitty bandaid wrapped around it. You couldn't suck your thumb. Then you proudly announced that you could suck your OTHER thumb while that one heeled. You were so pleased. ;)

On Tuesday, I let you put nailpolish on. I told you that you were not allowed to put it on your thumbs because you suck them. You insisted and assured me that you would NOT suck your thumb if nailpolish were on it, that you absolutely had to paint your thumbs as well. With some hesitation, I let you do it. For whatever reason, this worked. You haven't sucked your thumb since! You're so proud of your orange and green nails, I think they will probably be painted for the next year as long as you keep them out of your mouth.

Love Mommy

Moving

Dear Cordie,

We've been talking to you a lot lately about moving and building a new house and what that will be like so that you are excited for it and prepared when it happens. So far, you are taking it in stride. You did have a little concern last week (out of nowhere) about whether or not I'd allow you to get all new craft supplies for the new house. You and Rach seem to have to be reminded over and over that we're bringing everything with us.

Your bestest friend at school is still Ava. On Tuesday, you were very excited to show her your newly painted fingernails and then you told her that you're moving to a new house. I'm not quite sure how the conversation went since I wasn't there, but Ava went home quite distraught and told her mother (through sobs) that she no longer wanted to go to preschool because you were moving and wouldn't be there anymore. Her mom called Teacher Terry, who called me to ask when we were moving and why she was asking. I assured her that you were not moving anytime soon and that you would be at preschool right up until the end of the year. Poor Ava.

I love that you have a sweet friend who cares so much about you and I love imagining the little talks the two of you have. I wish we could take her with us when we move or at least that you're able to find more friends just like her.

Love Mommy

Monday, November 14, 2011

You Right Now

I can't get enough of your little mouth and the way you talk. You're at that most adorable phase of saying the most bizarrely funny things like: "hey mom. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" which apparently I was not because your thoughts involved ladybugs.

When I ask you Why? You always start your sentence with: "oh, because..."

You have a lisp. It's very cute, but I wonder if I should see someone about it.

If someone says something and you didn't hear or don't know the answer you respond with: "what" only it's not said as a question or with any inflection almost like I had asked, 'name one of the five wh- words...'

Sumpin' is how you say something. Actually, you end most -ing words with -in' instead.

If you're mad at Rachel 99% of the time you'll accuse her of snatching something. Snatching is the worst offense imaginable, according to you.

I just love the things you say. You always make me laugh.

Love Mommy

Thursday, September 8, 2011

When I Grow Up...

Dear Cordie,

You are standing beside me right now (waaaay past your bedtime - you had a nap this afternoon) talking to Daddy about what you want to be when you grow up. You said that Rachie told you to be a Lady Bug Hunter, so that's what you're going to be. You're explaining how you are going to first get a jar and then catch the ladybugs and put them in the jar and put some holes so they can breath and then put in some grass and leaves and then they'll be happy! But no water oh because ladybugs don't float.

You learnt the last bit the hard way. We spent a week at a cottage this summer and your favourite thing to do at the beach was to collect ladybugs. Then you would play with them until they went to sleep and would 'fly away' as soon as you turned your back and I could dump out the dead bug. One lasted a whole 24 hours until you were convinced that it wanted to swim. It did not want to swim. Ladybugs don't float.

You also want to be a ladybug for Halloween this year. I'm on the hunt for the perfect costume.

Love you, Mommy

Monday, June 13, 2011

Firsts

Dear Cordelia,

Turning three seems to be the time when babyhood ends for good and yet for you there have been so many firsts in the past few months, it's like babyhood all over again! You have reminded me yet again what a brave, confident little girl you really are.

First, you had your first trip to the eye doctor. Rachel had gone before, but did not remember it so the two of you were quite nervous and not sure what to expect. Your eye doctor was very nice and you immediately warmed up to him. Rachel went first, but you and I were in the room watching. When it was your turn in the chair, you were hesitant but began responding and doing what he asked in no time. Your vision is perfect.

Next up was the dentist. Rachel doesn't mind the dentist, so you were less apprehensive about this one. You do know Dr. Vern, but of course you are shy. When we got there, Rachel went first again and you surprised me by hopping up in the chair right away and opening your mouth. You had a full cleaning and polishing! Afterward, Vern gave you a lot of toothbrushes and stickers. Perfect teeth!

Waiting for your cleaning to begin.

Helping out the hygenist doing the flouride.

Holding the sucking thing.

Cheese! Look, Ma! No Cavitites! 

Third, you had to go have your three year check up with the doctor. This was an appointment that you and I attended on your own, so you didn't have your sister to show you that there was nothing to be afraid of. There were no needles, nothing to be scared of. You bravely sat on my lap while Dr. Hyndman looked you over and declared that you are healthy and well.

About a week after all of these appointments you told me that you were sick and had to go see the doctor in the hospital like Kingsley. Kingsley goes to a lot of doctor appointments, and up until now you had no reason to be jealous of that fact. Now, however, you see the doctors as somewhere that you get a lot of attention, praise and stickers.  You are all over that.

Today was the latest in your list of firsts. At three years, three weeks old, you had your first hair cut. Finally! You didn't have any fear of this one. I told you it wasn't going to hurt and you believed me. You even told me that we could just get Daddy's clippers and buzz your hair. Um. No. Just a little bit? No. Just on top? No. I am going to hide the clippers because I'm not sure where that idea came from, but I wouldn't put it past you to try it out.

You watched Kingsley get his haircut (his third) and then sat up in the big chair to get yours done. The stylist trimmed off the dry baby hair in the back and evened out the length. It looks very sweet, just like you.

Before - total bed head!

All wet and ready for your trim!

Getting a feel for what was there.

Snip, snip! All done and even. Beautiful!

Love Mommy

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Trouble

Dear Cordelia,

Oh, my Cordie. What on earth am I going to do with you? I was ready to sell you to gypsies yesterday.

For starters, your main method of communication right now is screaming and whining, with a side of crying. You want to do things your way and your way only. You and I butt heads countless times in a day.

We somehow survived getting ready for school without too much blowout, only to get in the van and realize that you had played with the lights and left the trunk light on and killed the battery. When I finally got that resolved (thanks to a rescue from Nana and Grandpa), I was sitting at the kitchen table and realized that you had taken a bingo dabber to the white carpet in the computer room.

When I picked you up from school, you were on a fast track to chaos. You yelled, screamed, argued, smacked a glass of milk out of my hand, pulled Rachel's hair, you screamed and woke Kingsley up from his nap, broke your doorknob cover when I tried to put you in your room... it went on and on and on. I finally dragged you guys out to the mall to get out of the house and give Kingsley some time to practice wheeling around. You ran around like you'd never been let out of your house before. It was a bit of a disaster.

This morning, you woke up with the biggest smile and bounced out of your bed to go see Kinglsey and smother him with kisses. And all of yesterday was a distant memory. It amazes me how you are sugar and spice, so blended together. One minute I want to lock you in your room, the next minute I want to be in there with you.  I love you so much, Cordelia. I hope we survive this phase. ;)

Love Mommy

Monday, June 6, 2011

Three

Hi Sweetheart,

You are now three! You had an awesome birthday. With all of the birthday's that happen in the first few months of the year (Kamille, Kingsley, Aunt Kristi, Uncle Kevin, me, Rachel, Eric) you were asking for weeks when it was going to be your turn. Once in March, Rachel told you your birthday wasn't for another month and you immediately burst into tears and insisted that she was wrong - there was NO WAY you had to wait that long for your birthday.

And then finally it was here! I had been planning it for ages.  You are still in love with Jessie the cowgirl, so we did a Toy Story theme.

Your birthday fell on a Friday. Daddy had to get off to work early, so we woke you up together and he gave you birthday hugs and kisses before leaving. Then you and Rachel joined me in Kingsley's room and while I fed him you opened your presents. You were so adorable opening them up and getting so excited about each one. We gave you a Jessie t-shirt, a stuffed dog that you have to teach to be house trained, a dress, a Toy Story game and a Toy Story book. You and Rachel loved the dog and thought it was HILARIOUS that you could feed it a bottle and then it would pee. You played with it all morning after we dropped Rachel off at school.

You, Kingsley and I went grocery shopping for your party and then shopping at the Party Store so that you could pick out the treats for the loot bags and prizes for the games. Going to the party store for your birthday party is a favourite thing of you and Rachel and something you look forward to each time someones birthday comes around.  Grandma and Nana both came to visit you during the day. Grandma brought you some small pink roses which she does for every birthday.

It was a gorgeous day, so we spent a lot of the afternoon outside. You played in the sandbox and in the water table and blew bubbles. We had pizza for dinner, which was your request. We ate it outside when Daddy came home, then came inside for cupcakes.  After dinner, Daddy and I gave you two more birthday presents: pink cowgirl boots and a new Barbie tricycle. Both were pretty exciting. 

After all of that, it was time for bed! You had to get to sleep so that you'd be fresh for your party the next day.


Your birthday party day started out with breakfast in bed - something we did with Rachel this year and you felt pretty special to be getting as well. Mini waffles, fruit and juice.


I made Daddy keep you and Rachel occupied all day so that I could clean the house and get the final things ready for your party. It started at 3pm. Nana, Grandpa, Grandma, Aunt Carol Anne, Eric, Scarlet, Molly, Nicole and some of my friends all came. You guys played freeze dance and pin the badge on Woody. There was a lot of playing with your friends, eating, dancing and running around. You had a great time! I made chocolate cupcakes with orange buttercream icing, which was what you had asked for, then topped them with Toy Story figurines. You got a lot of really nice gifts such as clothing, books, a sprinkler for outside, and stuffed Jessie and Bullseye dolls.  Grandma also got you a picnic table for outside, which went well with the picnic basket that Aunt Kristi sent you.






After the party, Daddy had to leave for another party and we just hung out here until bedtime. You were all tired and worn out from the great day. You fell asleep almost instantly.

I loved watching my sweet little Strawberry Bug be the centre of attention and get all of the love and adoration you deserve. I hope every birthday is as happy as this one.

Love, Mommy