El Dorado Hills show

Here is the first picture I've been able to get of Daisy seeing her dad's rock band perform for the first time. It depicts me wiping ice cream off her face, and yes, that was part of the experience. Melikes it. However, I hope to get more pictures soon, hopefully some that show Daisy dancing and rocking out to Daddy's musics!

Big girl at Funderland

Thanks so much to Robyn and Rene for taking these!

Big Girl Bed

Confession: Daisy has still been sleeping in a crib and she is almost three years old. We have known for some time now that it was time for her to make the transition to a toddler bed. But it was hard to do, mainly because she seemed to like her crib and be happy in it. It's been a long time since we've had major sleeping issues with Daisy (keeping my fingers crossed as I write that), and we were stuck in a kind of "it ain't broke, so why fix it?" mentality as far as the idea of changing her bed. But we knew the moment had to come. She is just far too big a girl now for us to be lifting her in and out of a crib, and she deserves the independence that comes with the ability to climb into your own bed (and out of it--the somewhat scary part).

So we finally set up the toddler bed in her room--about an hour ago. She was very excited, so that I could instantly see we had done the right thing. Talking a mile a minute, she climbed in and out of the bed about twenty times, saying, "Look Mama! I'm doing it by myself!" Her pride and excitement was confirmation that this was the right decision, she was ready, and if anything, we'd waited too long (yes, I know that seems obvious, but trust me--when your toddler seems happy sleeping in her crib, it is difficult to convince yourself to make a big change that will possibly skyrocket her back to the sleeping problems of yore!).

I had no idea what was going to happen, or if she'd stay in that bed, but she is actually taking a nap in her bed right now!!!!! She went right to sleep in it!!! We let her take a book, but I think she must have gone right to sleep holding it, because she didn't babble at all. So, score one point for the toddler bed, and we'll see how tonight goes.

I can hardly absorb all the changes that have happened in the last six months. Here is a brief catalogue:

1) Daisy loses interest in nursing (finally) and stops of her own accord, somewhere between two and two-and-a-half years old--closer to 2.5, I'm a bit embarrassed to admit, but there you go, and it went a lot more easily because she stopped voluntarily; my efforts to force her to wean had been really painful for us all

2) We start potty-training at around 2.5 and she gets it down very quickly; she almost never has an accident. She still sleeps in a diaper at night.

3) Daisy goes on her first amusement park ride and pony rides, as I just summarized in my last post, at very close to three years old

4) Daisy is finally sleeping in a toddler bed, at almost three years old

5) Daisy will be starting preschool in September, at just over 3 years old

So the big transitions from "kind of a baby" to "little girl" have really happened over the last 6 months or so. There are other things I could mention, such as the fact that she's stayed at a friend's house for a few hours without me (that probably doesn't seem like a big deal, but it was), and she is doing more and more eating independently with her own fork and spoon. She can almost do the potty entirely on her own now, too; if we've dressed her in the right kind of pants, she can pull them down herself and use the potty, and she's made strides toward being able to pull her clothes up afterward. (Some kids her age have already mastered this, but Daisy has always been a little behind in the physical department, so these are steps I'm really proud of.) She is running faster and faster and being a lot more adventurous physically--trying somersaults, for example. She loves dancing and is moving around a lot more than she used to. The other day at the playground, she climbed all the way up a tall, steep slide, a skill I did not know she possessed.

A lot of changes are occurring. It seemed right to note them for this blog.

Daisy's first Daddy rock show

We just got back from a fabulous trip. Okay, I know you'll be skeptical when you hear it was to Sacramento. But I am being serious here: it was the best trip. The only bad part was getting there, because we had horrible traffic the whole way, and on every freeway (37, 80, and 50). That was frustrating. Mark also made one driving error that cost us 40 minutes, so it took us something like 3.5 hours to get there. But that's where the bad news ends.

We actually went to Eldorado Hills (15 or 20 miles northeast of Sacramento), because that's where Mark's band Godz of Rock had a show. We stayed in a Holiday Inn Express that was very nice, much nicer than I would have expected. Our room was big and clean and comfy and had a balcony, which thrilled Daisy--she is totally into balconies these days, for some reason. It was swelteringly hot, so Daisy and I got to go swimming in the hotel pool while Mark went to do a sound check at the park where his show was taking place. Then he came and picked us up and took us to the park. Mark's band was playing on a stage in front of a MASSIVE park space all set up for this event; there were lots of vendors around selling ice cream and pizza and other things, and a bouncy house for kids. People came in droves with their whole families and set up picnic blankets; there were kids running everywhere, throwing balls and frisbees, and adults sipping beers and talking, and all in all we thought there were probably more than a thousand people there (!!!), maybe something like 1,500.

So Mark's band got to play for a huge, relaxed summer crowd, and kids were totally welcome; it was the perfect setting for Daisy's first viewing of her dad's music. It was a hot day, and it stayed warm the whole time we were there (till 9:30 or ten), so Daisy was able to run around comfortably in just a dress and bare feet, no worries about sweaters or blankets or anything. I had no idea how she'd do staying up so late, especially with a short nap (less than an hour) in the car and already being tired from swimming in the pool. But she stayed in a great mood the whole time, and she had so much fun. During the break she got up on stage and danced, and a few other little kids asked to go up there with her so they all danced together. Then she and a bunch of kids danced in the grass in front of the stage while the band played their second set. It was more fun than I have had in a long time--I wish all rock shows could be this way, instead of in smelly, yucky bars. When the sun went down the stage was lit up with these cool blue lights, and there was a smoke machine--it felt like a big show, and it really was one--as I mentioned, at least a thousand people. And they loved the band, which always helps. They asked for Judas Priest, Journey, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Guns and Roses, and others in the hard rock '70s-'80s vein, and of course, Mark's band can deliver these songs brilliantly. (They have already been asked back for another show in September, as a side note!) Mark inserted G-rated lyrics into some of the songs (Man in the Box, Fight for Your Right to Party) and they did an impromptu, unrehearsed tribute to Michael Jackson--a version of "Beat It" which quickly devolved into "Eat It" because Mark knows the lyrics to that one better. Some of the little girls were asking for songs by the Jonas Brothers at the end; I'm afraid Godz of Rock couldn't deliver on that one.

For the last half hour of the show I had to hold Daisy in the Ergo, as she was absolutely exhausted, but she was fine, just resting her head on my shoulder. Then I was a little worried about how she'd be back at the hotel, but even that part went smoothly. I had her travel bed all set up next to our bed, with her pillow and blanket and her favorite doll, so it was very cozy and appealing, and I read her two books. Then, to my relief, she went right to sleep, and she slept until 7:30 the next morning. I had thought she might wake up and be scared, not knowing where she was, but she was completely fine.

We went swimming again in the morning, and then we met our neighbors Robyn, Rene, and Eli at FUNDERLAND in Sacramento!! I had no idea if Daisy was ready for an amusement park, and I thought she might be frightened, but she had a fantastic time. She went on three pony rides on three different ponies (Caramel, Rocky, and Ladybug), and then she rode the merry-go-round, the train, the log ride (a mini-Flume for kids), AND--drum roll, please--her very first real amusement park ride, an octopus with long legs that went up and down as it spun in a circle. Now, the amazing thing, from my point of view, was how Daisy reacted to all these new experiences. She marched straight up to the ponies without any hesitation and let a stranger put her on them, and she never showed any sign of fear. And the octopus ride: she had to go on that by herself while I waited on the other side of the fence, and she did. She marched straight through that gate, let a stranger put her in the fish car at the end of the octopus's leg and belt her in, and off she went! This ride was fast and scary, trust me, and she has never done anything like it before, but she was all smiles every time she went by.

I am in awe of this little girl. The only bummer is that, as usual, I forgot my camera. However, I am in hopes of getting some pictures. The woman who booked Mark's band at the Eldorado Hills park took some pictures of her, as did the bass player's dad (thank you, Bill Buck's dad); and at Funderland, Robyn and Rene took some pictures. As always, I am indebted to other people for having greater planning skills than mine. I hope I can get some pictures and post them.

There was just something different about this weekend that felt really prophetic of the changes to come. Daisy was so grown up, so much more like a girl than a baby or toddler... attending her dad's show and being so mature, staying up late at night for it and not getting fussy, and then going to sleep so easily in a strange place; and then at the amusement park, I just really was not prepared for how excited she was to go on the rides. This is my own ignorance, that I didn't realize she was ready for these things and was still thinking of her as kind of a baby when clearly she is not one. I just didn't realize how grown up she truly is. I am very proud of her this weekend, and more than that, she is someone really fun to be around (not that she wasn't fun as a baby, but this is a whole different level of fun, where we are all enjoying the same activities together, mutually). I am feeling very happy and satisfied with family life right now.

No cavities!!!

Daisy got a positive review at the dentist today--WHEW. She behaved very, very well and was patient for the whole inspection, cleaning, polishing, and fluoride. Not a fussy moment--she was better behaved than she is for us at her nightly tooth-brushing session. The dentist said she has no cavities, which is a big relief, and opined that kids inherit their teeth from the mother 80% of the time. I see no reason why this would be true, but I hope it is, because I have never had a cavity (and never needed a retainer, braces, or any form of correction of my teeth). I was very proud of Daisy today.

Then I went to jury duty, filled out a hardship form, and was excused. I knew I had to do it, but I was actually kind of disappointed. It might be interesting to be on a jury. This was a civil trial and I gleaned it might have had something to do with asbestos or another workplace hazards type of lawsuit. It would have met four days a week till July 31, however, and I don't see how I would have managed child care with that schedule.

My sweetheart

At our friends John and Rachel's house this weekend. As usual, I am indebted to my friends for taking the pictures!! Thank you, John and Rachel.

Discovery Museum

Selling fish


Wind and Wave Room


Sailing a pirate ship


Bumblebees


Hopping on lilypads



Exploring outside the museum

Synesthesia?

Daisy hadn't mentioned the colors of songs in awhile, but just now she asked Mark and me to put on her Monkees CD and she said, "My favorites are the purple ones." We were baffled for a moment, and then she explained, "Mary Mary and I'm Not Your Stepping Stone. Those are the purple ones." Like it was the most obvious thing in the world!

We asked her a few more questions, and she told us that "I'm a Believer and "I Want to Be Free" are blue. Mark tells me that those songs are both in the same key (and that the purple ones are both in a minor key), so... is it possible there's some system running underneath these observations?? Maybe, or maybe these are just coincidences. But, anyway, it's interesting.

While watching "So You Think You Can Dance"....

Daisy commented, "That looks just like Daisy and Daddy dancing!"

Daisy and giants

Whenever something comes up that is new to Daisy or that she doesn't fully understand, she proposes the answer, "a giant?" Here is an example from today. We were driving, listening to my "Down from the Mountain" CD, and the Allison Krauss song came on that has the lines, "As I went down to the river to pray, studying about the good old way." Here is my little exchange with Daisy.

Daisy: What is "the good old way"?

Me (not exactly prepared for this question): Uhhh... it means living a good life, being kind to others and doing good things.

Daisy: Is it a giant or something?

Daisy also asked me a lot of questions about the man singing "You Are My Sunshine." I actually don't know who is singing that song (though I could find out easily enough, I suppose, if it's listed on the CD somewhere), but she was asking me who he was, whether he was playing the guitar, etc. Finally, after a thoughtful period, she said, "I'd like to meet him sometime, please."