Why? What's THAT?

Vi has officially entered the very, very curious stage. She asks "Why?" about nearly everything.

Dan: Vi, please leave Riley's food where it is.
Vi: Why?
Dan: Because it's a big bin and it could spill and make a big mess.
Vi: Why?
Dan: I don't know why. That's just how it is. Did you hear my message?

And so on... We tried to go to a new indoor kids' gym today, Peek-a-boo. The whole way there, she was full of questions:
Vi: Where's the New Gym?
Me: It's i Westbrook.
Vi: Ooo-ooo-ooh!
(Moments pass)
Vi: Where's the New Gym?
Me (pointing): It's that way.
Vi: Why?
Me: Because that's where they decided to build it.
Vi: Why?
Me: I'm not sure.
Vi: Where's Adam & Dylan and Sass-a-lee?

And so on...

As I type this, she is having bedtime storytime with Dan. They are reading "Goodnight, Maine," which, all of you parents of toddlers know is NOT a very exciting book. Here's what I'm hearing:
Vi: What's that?
Dan: That is a mountain.
Vi: What's that?
Dan: That's another mountain.
Vi: What's that?
Dan: That's the moon.
Vi: What's that?
Dan: That's a tree.

I hope it's obvious to you that she KNOWS what these things are. It's just her way of stretching out story time and getting Dan wrapped more and more around her little finger. He answers so patiently and so sweetly - I love it. He is really good at bedtime, actually. I hear him keep himself calm, and use every tool in his possession to get her to sleep. She was pitching a major fit the other night, and I was so impressed with how he handled it! He said, "I hear you saying you're all done. It's bedtime, though, and I need you to get back in your bed." It's just really amazing to listen to the two of them talk.

One of Vi's current reading favorites is One Morning In Maine. She recites the first page by herself! "One morning in Maine, Sal woke up. She peeked over the covers, and excitedlymumblingunintelligiblewordstotakeupspaceuntilshecansay Going to Buck's Harbor!!!"

(Pause.)

"Where's Buck's Harbor?"

Chuck E Cheese

We went to Chuck E Cheese for the first time - it was pretty fun! The photo booths were, well, photo booths! It was a nice, blizzardy evening to do something active - indoors.

33!

It's my birthday! I'm 33! Hurray!

Happy Birthday, everyone! I hope it's a great day for all of you!

Preschool!

Vi starts pre-school next week! She is so excited, she keeps telling everyone. The classrooms all have animal names - right now, she's an Inchworm, and her preschool classroom is the Hoppy Frogs. She says, "I be a hoppy frog!!!" When she visited the classroom a couple of weeks ago, she walked in, threw her hands in the air and said, "I'm a hoppy frog!" (Her inchworm teacher almost cried. Oh, the tongue-in-cheek glare we got from her today when we told her Vi officially starts next week!)

I had a tour of the new classroom this morning, and saw their "Circle Time." The teachers are so great - they really work letters and counting into everything. They have mastered the art of combining play and learning - perfect for this age group. When wrapping up the tour with the director, I got weepy telling her how pleased we are with her teachers and facility. We talked about how happy and loving her employees are, how dedicated they are, and how Dan and I both feel so blessed to have a child care situation that is so closely aligned with our own values. She then got weepy, too, and said how sad she feels that not all children have this sort of a child care situation. And, how the world would be a better place if that weren't the case, and we paid more attention, gave more love, and showed our "little ones" how to be respectful, kind and loving.

*Sigh.*

I love our daycare.