Monday, April 27, 2009

Cat, by Daisy Meritt

Daisy and I have been writing stories together. We take some blank pages, stapled together, Daisy makes up the story, and I write down her words, verbatim. My plan was to have her do the illustrations. That part didn't work out so well-- she insisted that I do most of them, and I finally agreed to it because I realized she really wanted some kind of representation of the story, with recognizable images. It seemed only fair-- although my drawing ability is only slightly greater than hers, and she will soon outstrip me, I have no doubt. Anyway, I'm trying to compromise by having her do at least some of the drawing. When she is older, I will definitely have her do the illustrations as well as the text (which is what my parents used to do for me; I'd make up the story, they'd write it down, and then I'd do the drawings, in a blank book).

Daisy's first story was called Cat, and here is the entire text: "Cat falls down sometimes. He gets a cut and a boo-boo. Sometimes he has to go to bed in his own travel bed. He gets some scarves. He puts them under his chin. His friends are Big Bird and my koala bear, Shirley. They love to stand in the rain with their boots on. They love to stamp in puddles--splish, splash, splosh." Picture some hideous drawings, done by me, to go with each page, and some scribblings by Daisy in the background. Daisy specified that the boo-boo had to be on Cat's wrist, so that drawing looks particularly gruesome and I couldn't help drawing him with a Band-Aid on the next page.

Anyway, the cutest thing: today Daisy said, "Mama, I want to read Cat, by Daisy Meritt." I love it that she identified herself as the author that way. I wrote a little author's bio for her on the last page:
"The author, Daisy Meritt, is 2.5 years old. She lives in San Francisco with her parents, Mark and Sarah. Like Cat, Daisy loves to stamp in puddles when it rains." I am also going to put a little photograph of her above the bio, like in a real book where you read the author's bio on the flyleaf and there is sometimes a picture (this is what my parents used to do for me when we made these books together). A family tradition, passed along to the next generation!

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Rare pictures of me and my new hair

Soooo... no one ever takes pictures of me. I am always the one behind the camera. Come to think of it, I'm the only one in my family who HAS a camera (I mean, my parents don't take pictures and neither does Mark's mom). I have been given a hard time about not being in any pictures, but it's not deliberate; it's, again, that no one ever takes my picture. So this weekend I made a point of asking my mom to take a few pictures of me. They came out awwwwwwwwful. But here they are-- if only to make the point that I AM willing to be in pictures.
PS Yes, I know, I need new jeans. I am not trying to be all '80s ripped jeans look. I just need new jeans, and this is what I was lounging around my mom's house in.



Another action-packed weekend



This weekend Daisy and I stayed with Gommy and Gompy in Healdsburg, and my cousin Rachel and her daughter Hannah came to stay with us! It was a totally spontaneous surprise visit, and we had a great, great time. Hannie is almost four, and Daisy is almost three, and I have to say this is the best they've ever gotten along together--although they have always gotten along well. I think what made this even better was that Daisy is so much sturdier on her feet now and can keep up with Hannah much more than in the past. (Also, because they're older, they're just more capable of interaction and friendship than before.) Anyway, these two girls ran around together, played without fighting, shared toys and foods, hugged, held hands, and had NO PROBLEMS the whole weekend. It was fantastic. I feel very lucky that Hannie is the kind of girl who is interested in younger children, since I know that's not always the case. She is a truly kind, spirited big-hearted girl, that Hannie, and I am proud to be her auntie (or second cousin? I'm going with auntie, even though I know that's technically wrong). We took the girls to playgrounds and to Howarth Park in Santa Rosa, where they went on the merry-go-round and a kiddie train. This morning, we all went swimming in the pool at Rachel's motel. And there was also a lot of outdoor activity in Gommy's back yard. This is about the most tired I've ever seen Daisy... unless it was last weekend.

Friday, April 24, 2009

More of Daisy's awesome dancing

Daisy dancing with Gommy

Daisy in Gommy's kitchen, dancing to "The Blue Danube Waltz." Check out their amazing arabesques and their super fancy lift, at the end.

Guess we can't listen to that one anymore

Daisy is really starting to pay attention to the lyrics of songs, so we now have some problems with old favorites. Case in point: "Oh my Darling Clementine," which contains the lyrics "you are lost and gone forever" and talks about a little girl falling into the "foamy brine" of the sea. It came on one of her CDs this morning and here was our little chat.

Daisy: Mama, is Clementine lost? Did she go under the water?

Me: Uhhh, yes, she gets lost and goes underwater, but her dad finds her and saves her. (Total lie.)

[Long pause.]

Daisy: What's forever?

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Weekend at Gommy's

Videos to follow--here are some still shots.

Wading pool fun in the hot sun


Dancing to "The Blue Danube Waltz" in Gommy's kitchen



Gommy and Daisy's fancy lift

Uncoerced Love

Today I told Daisy several times that I loved her, with no reply. Later, when I was getting to read her a new library book, she spontaneously said (many hours after I'd said it), "You know, I love you too." It was so sweet! (And then she said it again, "I love you, Mom"-- my favorite four words in the English language.)

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Feeling nostalgic...

...so I decided to re-post my favorite video ever of Daisy. It is Daisy "reading" one of her Amelia Bedelia books to her dog Speck, and there is just so much of her little personality in the reading. You can tell that, even though she doesn't understand all the words, she has a strong sense of how to read dramatically; she knows how to create dynamics (there are soft parts and loud parts, dramatic climaxes and softer rising action) and that when you read dialogue, you should put on special voices for the characters. This clip was about the fifteenth time she was reading it (that's why she says "Again, again" at the beginning). Part of what amuses me is the terribly mundane nature of the story as related by an almost-two-year-old ('Oh my cream stuffs!' said Ame' Bede'. She ran to the stove--juuuuust right." "'What is that mess?' said Mr. Rogers. 'Cereal in your coffee,' said Ame' Bede'"). She is saying real words from the book at some points, and at others it kind of sounds like filler-babble. But she's got the tone of voice down so well, and she's so perfectly imitating the way I had read that book to her (a million times), with all the ups and downs and inflections, and hand gestures, and even full bodily movements to express the drama of the tale! She also does little little lip-smacking thing from time to time that she picked up from me and my mom, to add emphasis. She just seems so sweet and baby-like in this video to me. I can hardly believe it was almost a year ago.

Action-packed weekend, Part II

Daisy's first symphony was Saturday, and her first circus center performance was Sunday--today! I took Daisy home from Healdsburg, she napped in the car, and we went straight to the circus center in San Francisco to see our friend Arwen's doubles trapeze act at a "works in progress" showing. The informality was a lucky thing, because as mentioned in the previous post, Daisy can't help but talk and ask questions during performances. We got to sit right down on the gym floor, near the performers, and Daisy was thrilled to sit with Uncle Dave and Aunt Ann Marie. We stayed for 7 of the performers, which was more than I'd even hoped for. Arwen's doubles trapeze act was jaw-droppingly, mind-bendingly amazing and beautiful. We also saw several other trapeze acts, rope acts, and a gymnastics routine. Then we came home... and thus concludes Daisy's action-packed weekend. I hope she gets a good night of sleep.

On a completely unrelated note, I have been meaning to create a post about hair detangler. Hair detangler has changed my entire life. Bathtime had become a very arduous time, as Daisy absolutely hates having her hair washes and hates even more the part where I put conditioner in and comb through the rat's nest that always forms at the back of her head (she has very thick hair, for the record). But I have now discovered DETANGLER and my life has been utterly transformed. Detangler, I love thee.

Action-packed weekend, Part I

This weekend, Daisy attended her first symphony-- a rehearsal of the Santa Rosa symphony orchestra, performing three pieces from Gayane, by Khachaturian. We had listened to some of it before, to get ready and so that some of the music would be familiar to Daisy. The famous "Sabre Dance" from Gayane is a piece everyone's heard and that can't help being exciting for anyone to hear, including a two-year-old. On the day of the symphony (yesterday), Daisy did not take a nap, and part of the problem was that the symphony was at 2, when she'd ordinarily be getting ready for her nap. Also, she'd only had 9 hours of sleep the night before. Nevertheless, we were happy with Daisy's first symphony experience (Gommy, Gompy, and I). She sat on Gommy's lap and focused on the conductor, who was a particularly dynamic, exciting one to watch. She was tired, but good. The only problem was that she wanted to ask questions throughout and she isn't particularly good at whispering. So we only stayed for the Khachaturian pieces (there was also a cello concerto, and then some Prokofiev after intermission) and went home after that. Well, actually, Daisy got to touch some of the instruments on display in the lobby on our way out; she plucked a cello, and was especially taken with the French horn. I can definitely imagine doing this again, and I know it will get easier as she gets older. I also really want to take her to dance performances, because she seems particularly taken with dance right now.

It was a very nice day. Gommy had packed a great picnic lunch for us and we ate it on a picnic blanket outside the recital hall before the performance. It made me realize that I miss going to things like this. Even though "Sabre Dance" is a piece I've heard a million times, and in very trite and commercial contexts, it seemed entirely different being played live, in front of me, with all the energy and dynamism of a live performance. It was also fun to hear the conductor giving critiques to the players and seeing how they modified the performance.

Daisy had lots more fun outside at Gommy and Gompy's house, playing in her wading pool and going to the playground. I have never seen her so tired as she was that night when she went to bed... unless it was THIS evening when she went to bed. I have some pictures and video of Daisy and Gommy dancing in the kitchen to "The Blue Danube Waltz," which I will upload when I get a chance.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Daisy and the bunkhouse

My strange little girl has taken to putting the laundry basket on her head, crawling into it, and declaring she is "in the bunkhouse." The other day she spent about 45 minutes in the bunkhouse, telling stories to her smiley-faced yellow ball. Here she is!

Rough Patch

For the last few days I've been going through a hard time with Daisy. I'd been thinking, "Maybe it's finally here-- the terrible twos I've heard so much about." I honestly thought I'd bypassed them, though if experience has taught me anything, it's that you should never grow too complacent about any particular phase your child seems to be in. Anyway... for the last couple days, she's been quite a bit more bellicose than I've ever seen her, and giving us lots of "No." She wants to wear her fairy costume from Halloween, or her bathing suit, pretty much at all times. And she wants to wear them OUTDOORS. With no coat, sweater, or protective garment of any kind. Yesterday, both Mark and I struggled mightily to get her into clothes, and we finally gave up on the sweater point and let her go outside coatless, thinking as soon as she got cold, she'd cave in and ask for the sweater. Nope. I think that girl was willing to freeze rather than take back her decision NOT TO WEAR COATS.

In general, it just feels like we've been getting more whining, shrieking, and "Nooooo!" in the last couple days. She even worked herself up to the point where her eyes were welling with tears (about having to take off her bathing suit and put on clothes to go outside).

Then, today. It's been pretty much like the terrible twos are gone and she's back to her old self-- cheerful and obliging. Could it be that she slept later this morning? She's been waking up around 6:45, but today she slept till 7:45 and didn't require attention till 8. Maybe this wasn't the terrible twos after all, but just sleep deprivation? One thing I noticed yesterday is that she was tired when she woke up. She kept yawning, all morning. Now, this frustrates me. If she is tired, why won't she sleep later? Why does she wake up, and walk around all cranky, rather than sleep as much as she obviously needs? She seems to be a different person when well rested. But I have no idea how I can possibly *make* her sleep later. Bedtime is fine-- we do our rituals (granted, they're kind of long), but we're able to put her down awake in her crib, say goodnight, and leave. It's not like we're rocking her to sleep or anything. Sometimes, she talks in her crib for up to an hour before falling asleep, though. Again-- what can I do about that? I can make her go to bed earlier, but I can't make her fall asleep until she's ready. So, that brings up diet, and admittedly, she's been more sugared than usual because she got some Easter candy. But I can't say these periods where she talks in her crib for an hour correspond to times she's had a lot of sugar. Sometimes (self-servingly, I suppose), I think she has a hard time falling asleep because she's intelligent-- her neurons are firing, and it's hard to get into a dull-brained, placid state in order to fall asleep. This has been a problem for me all my life. Not that I'm so intelligent (ha), but I do find that it's hard to get my thoughts to stop coming when I'm trying to fall asleep at night, and one thought leads to the next thought till I have: insomnia.

I'm not so sure what the point of this post is. I want to say something about my own helplessness and frustration when Daisy is being difficult, but that's starting to seem like a different post. So I'll just say: I am not too happy with myself about how I've coped with Daisy's hard days. I don't yell or scream or do anything cruel; I don't kick into gear with a nice, solid, untraumatic form of discipline; I just seem to shut down.

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

My girl is growing up

If I keep writing this blog, I'm sure I'll be writing many an entry with that title. Sigh.

Daisy is starting preschool in September. She will be just over three years old. The school, from everything I can see, is a great Montessori school, we're lucky to be accepted there, and I have every reason to believe it'll be a very positive experience. I hope I don't turn into the stereotypical parent for whom preschool is harder than for her own three-year-old, but maybe it's inevitable.

Daisy is potty-trained. She got the whole thing down in two weeks, give or take, and has not had a single accident since that first month of training. (She still wears a pullup at night, of course.) Potty-training was one of the requirements for the preschool, and look at my girl go-- she's got it.

Daisy loves her music class. We recently went up to the big kids' level at the place where we take classes; instead of being one of the older kids in a mixed-age class, she's now among the youngest in a class that ranges from 2.9-year-olds to 5-year-olds. When I see her participating in the class, I can tell she's just about ready for preschool. She gets totally engaged, she sits by herself (often) instead of with me, she involves herself fully and doesn't constantly look to me for reassurance. In this older kids' class, she's learning to play games that have rules, to take direction from the teacher, to wait for her turn and give other kids a turn, etc. I thought it might take some time to adjust, but from day one she seemed like a full-fledged member of the class. (She also, I have to brag, is completely up to the verbal demands of the class, and when our beloved teacher Seth calls on her, she usually responds just as fluently as any of the older kids.)

Sooo... yeah. Not a baby anymore.

I have been realizing lately that I'm just not facing the fact that Daisy isn't a baby anymore... I mean, not fully. I have a hard time putting clothes that are now too small away in boxes. I have a hard time deciding to put babyish toys away. And I keep acting like she's a baby, in certain ways. For example, the other day we had a battle of wills over the fact that she wouldn't try on a pair of purple crocs I thought were especially cute. I was getting frustrated, feeling that she SHOULD try on these crocs, and that she was putting up her will against mine like a typical two-year-old. It took me about a day to admit that, actually, she is old enough now to have a say in what she wears!! I can't be forcing her to wear purple crocs just because I think they're cute. That's treating her like a baby. As silly as it sounds, for some reason, in certain areas, I keep thinking in the baby way... like, "I can still dress her any way I want. She is my baby."

For a two-year-old, Daisy doesn't do much arbitrary "battle of the wills" type of stuff with me. She just wanted to pick her own shoes. It meant so much to her that she got teary-eyed when I kept insisting on the crocs. It made me remember how, when I was a little kid, I hated being barefoot for some reason. I have pictures of myself at Daisy's age sitting in a sandbox wearing socks. I just really hated the feeling of barefootness. And for whatever reason, right now, Daisy wants to wear her sneakers, not sandals or other footwear. I was the one who was wrong in this case, and the two-year-old was right.

She is becoming her own person, and I have to let her. I wouldn't think that would be hard for me, but in certain small ways, it is.

Monday, April 06, 2009

My sensitive girl

At two-and-a-half, my little Daisy is doing an impressive job of articulating her feelings, I think. This evening I was reading her a book that is ordinarily one of her favorites: the crazy, bizarre Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower. Midway through, Daisy asked me to stop reading because, she said, "Mrs. Rogers yells at Amelia Bedelia." She told me, "I don't like it when Mrs. Rogers yells at her." I was so proud of her for putting that into words. We ended up agreeing to read the rest of the book, but skip the yelling part. I have the feeling Daisy is a bit of a sensitive soul... which reminds me of myself and is hence a little scary.