Normal Miracles
I had many random thoughts today, everyday things that amaze me. I decided to get share, hopefully coherently, instead of post 20 status updates in a day.
Right now, at 8:30pm, Tim is reading to Sara Ellen. I just read her 6 short books. This is quite unusual for me, but we started early and I was happy to do so, cozy in my big bed with candles glowing. Tim has been doing the tucking-in so that Sara Ellen cannot cling to me. Anyway, he is reading one of her favorites, The Cat in the Hat, and as they started Sara Ellen was contributing many of the words. It was so cute, and everyday miracle, to hear my 3 1/2 year do something so cool.
Most of our days are good, some great. Some days that we spend at home can be boring, but we did many different things at home today. Lately, she has been so sweet. Obviously not all the time but she is becoming what I was called as a child, a kissing bandit. She freely gives out kisses. Sometimes when I am carrying her, she will kiss my cheek successively. Sometimes she shows normal shyness towards people she doesn’t know, and other times she is very open, there have been times when I wish that had not been the case.
For probably two years now, we have taken Sara Ellen to the church nursery. In the last year, she has been able to attend Sunday School. Our new church is suppose to have child care at all services. She can be in SS at 9:30. I recently gave in her registration but she is still not on a list, so she could go anywhere really, which I wish were not the case. Nursery is suppose to be available at 11:15 and 5:30 but the last few times we’ve gone at 11:15, no one has been there. I saw nothing in the email about it “by request”. Last time, Father’s day, we went home. Yesterday we stayed and she did great. I even had my new iPhone with games and declined to give it to her. She drew on the kids page, looked at the Hymnal, and lay down while we stood for music.
This afternoon, we played hopscotch in our backyard. We can use sidewalk chalk on the patio flooring. Over the weekend I’d drawn the frame and numbers. Today, Sara Ellen traced over the faded numbers herself with no prompting from me. It was so cool. Also in our garden we have been playing baseball with a soft ball and bat. The bat is not all soft, but covered in soft material, except for the ends. Sara Ellen has been getting better at getting a hit. It goes in all directions of course but it’s good progress. Pitching doesn’t go as well but it’s cool.
Later we went to Target. Sara Ellen saw a woman’s bikini and said “when I grow I can wear one of those.” Me -”No, you won’t be wearing one of those.” S pointing to her chest -”But these will grow.” Me – “I still won’t be buying you that.” She’s been slowly learning about anatomy and it was a few months ago that she referred to a bikini top as “mommy milk things.”
We have been coloring in a Strawberry Shortcake coloring book a lot lately. She’s actually pretty good at focusing where she wants to color. She can tell where writing is required, like crossword puzzles or “how many words can you find in this name”. She’s been flipping through the pages and doesn’t want to color, she skips the picture-only to where there is writing and asks what it says.
Sara Ellen was bequeathed a Fisher-Price kitchen from L’Ecole de Danse friends and Linda, it *is* one of her favorite things. I have a cookbook from Tollhouse for desserts that’s actually in boardbook form, and often Sara Ellen will ask for a recipe book and I’ll give it to her. It’s very cute to see her gather her cups together. It reminds me of Fauna in Sleeping Beauty gathering her “cups, cups, cups, cups, cups” for Briar Rose’s birthday cake.
Tomorrow, Apple is paying for Tim’s team and their families to visit Great America. We’ve been telling Sara Ellen that we’re going to an amusement park and that we’ll meet some of the people that Daddy works with. We told her the park is like Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, with the rides, but bigger. Regarding the co-workers, she’s said “I’m going to be shy at them.” We told her that’s fine of course.
Heather and Rohan in Santa Cruz have been our greatest friends here. Though Rohan and Sara Ellen don’t talk to eachother saying this, each has told us mothers that the other is their best friend and they love them. Sara Ellen, at least, has said the later. They play so well together, whether they are doing separate activities or shared. Heather told me on our way to the Oakland Zoo last week that at a recent party with a less known group of friends that Rohan was a little uncomfortable until he saw a girl with light, curly hair and ran to her, thinking it was Sara Ellen. So sweet! Sara Ellen wants to visit Santa Cruz almost everyday.
My cousin Barrie visited us for a few days a month ago. Sara Ellen has been talking about her ever since. Tonight at dinner she mentioned the extra space at the table. In the smaller formation of our dining table, there is room for four places. For a while I didn’t have it set, but then after a guest I left the place mat and chair because it just looks friendlier. Tonight Sara Ellen asked if it was for Barrie.
I think that’s enough random acts of sweetness for one night.
Please Leave a Comment: