Head in the Clouds

Sometimes with the busyness of life and all there is to juggle, it helps to put our heads in the clouds. I often try to create structure to the day because it seems to help Vanessa in the long run, but some days she is determined to send my head to the clouds . . . and I love it . . .

Yesterday as I was doing some work, she climbed into my lap and asked to see some Laurie Berkner videos on YouTube. I thought it was a great idea and time for a break, so we clicked on our shortcut link to a collection. Vanessa wanted to listen to This Hat, one of our favorites, and as it began she asked that I sing. I sang a few lines when she wrapped her arms around me and said "I like when Mommy sings. I love you." My heart melted and I decided to stay in the clouds as long as I could . . .

And it just so happened that we also played in shaving cream yesterday, to keep with the cloud theme outside and when learning inside . . . and because it's messy and fun!

Eventually Vanessa smeared her clouds up and down her arms. She even put some on her knees as knee pads and then ice skated across the floor, which is quite entertaining to watch -- she swizzles and then in a graceful manner moves to one foot while moving and holding her other leg behind and up in the air.

Robot?

Last week Vanessa and her mommy were traveling up the road to run errands. At a red light we came up behind a motorcyclist. Vanessa began to describe our position in relationship to him or her -- "Mommy, the motorcycle is following?" Mommy replied, "We're following the motorcycle. We're behind the motorcycle."

We began moving again and she continued to explain that we were following the motorcycle. Then, as we entered an area where the speed limit was 55mph, the motorcyclist gunned it. Vanessa yelled out "Come back, robot! Come back! Mommy, did you see that robot? He's fast! Robot, come back!"

I totally get why she thought the motorcyclist was a robot -- helmet and black leather gear. She tends to think that things and people that appear nonhuman or somewhat metallic or shiny are robots. I can only imagine she would've been surprised to see the person take off his helmet!

Belly Laugh

Mommy: Vanessa, would you like to go outside to play?

Vanessa: Yes! Please!

Mommy: Let's go downstairs to eat and then we'll go outside. Okay?

Vanessa: I need to fill my belly to play outside?

Mommy: Yep . . . that would be a smart thing to do.

Vanessa: But Mommy, look! My belly button IS full!

Having a Ball

On another impulse we visited COSI again. Daddy was able to join us this time. Like many toddlers, Vanessa loves balls. This time her interest was apparent in just about every room we visited.

Here Daddy showed Vanessa how to place the ball in the fountain just right.

Vanessa tried many times by throwing and tossing in the ball. This will surely take lots of practice and some height.

And forget about all the other fun things in Space -- the "ball" on the wall is just way too cool.

Mommy: It's called a planet.

Vanessa: No it's not. It's a ball!

She was up for flying to space and back with Daddy.

We visited Grossology for the first time. And we tried to learn about allergies and colds and how our noses show symptoms.

Mommy: Check out the mucus dripping from his nose.

Vanessa: Mommy, I need that ball! See . . . Mommy?!

But let's move on to grosser things! Vanessa climbed, slid and crawled through a digestive system. We're very proud.

Dream Garden

Ideas for beginning our gardens sprouted last week. On our first warmer day, before ALL the snow melted away, Vanessa had the bright idea to "plant trees." She walked around the yard picking up sticks, and I thought Wow, she likes cleaning up the yard. How lucky am I? I sat nearby but out of the way to watch. Okay . . . and to keep from muddying my shoes and jeans as well. . . :)

She proceeded to place the sticks upright in the snow and explain that she was planting trees.

She planted 6 to 8 "trees" before realizing there must be more to planting than just sticking things in the ground.

Later in the week, when the snow had melted away, the sun was shining bright and the temps were teasingly warm, we cleaned out the gardens and flower beds to get ready for the growing season. I couldn't be happier that she's anxious to tend to a garden -- to work the soil, add nutrients, plant seeds and transplants, and watch the fruit of her labor . . .

Isn't Daddy tall, Tucker?

"Hold on tight!"

Vanessa knows when it's important to hold on tight. Although I don't think she was around to warn Tucker in this instance, she often reminds herself. And since I know she loves her little cousin oodles and oodles (because of her wonderful patience for him grabbing and pulling her wild hair -- she's not always that kind and understanding with others doing such things), I can only imagine she would've shared her wisdom to "hold on tight".

Going in Circles

Vanessa likes to draw circles and color in the areas where they overlap. She describes her process really well and she fills in some of the small spaces with precision. Yesterday she dragged the easel from the kitchen into the play room so she could draw another round of circles. This was after a piece of work she finished that included "squiggle lines" and "wide lines" and "really tall lines." She asked me to take pictures of her at work, so I did.

And she wanted me to be sure to take a picture of the snowflakes she was wearing, and several pictures of many different crayons, as she named each. "Here Mommy, take a picture of the purple color."

About a year ago Grandpa drew a square for Vanessa to color. She still remembers, and while in the kitchen, she drew a "rectangle." Then in a similar manner to how Grandpa described the coloring, she talked about using the blue crayon to fill it in. Although her mind seems to be going in circles most of the time, her memory is amazing -- perhaps those circles hold everything in . . .

Happy Birthday Celia and Tucker!

Happy Birthday Luke!

Full of Expression

Vanessa loves to act out different emotions. She mastered "angry" soon before she turned 2. She furrows her brows while she sneers and pounds her fist down on her leg or nearby surface. Once last summer while in Cold Stone Creamery, Vanessa showed two little boys quite bigger than her just how intimidating she can be. They believed in her confidence and looked puzzled as to what they did to make her so angry. She followed with giggles, although they didn't seem to know how to respond and decided to avoid any further eye contact.

Right now she seems very interested in whether or not others are happy or sad. She'll announce when she's sad and crying. And when she works through it, she'll announce that she's happy again. Today she was quite tired from an adventurous morning with Grandpa. She began to melt down and cry a bit as she returned home, but she made every attempt to recover, and while wiping away her tears she said, "I'm happy now."

For a long time, and still every so often, she'll convince herself that she is okay even when she isn't. "I'm okay. I'm better."

She's wonderful at soothing herself and working through her emotions. And she'll tell you when she needs hugs and kisses, especially when it's time for bed. "I need a hug and kiss! I need another one! One more?!"