I working

Kiva helped me do the dishes in the bathroom sink. She loves helping, and yesterday was following Ken around the kitchen with her tape measure, telling me "I working". Very funny, and also interesting that she has got the right usage of "I". [Joan]

all done bye bye

Kiva is in a fey mood today. Lots and lots of hugs and snuggling, playing her music books and singing....life is sooo hard for grammie. heh heh heh. Kiva ate a good breakfast and at around 920 I was going to take her with me to the store and go to the pet store next door to look at the hamsters, fish and so on.....our little mini zoo. She wanted to go, then turned into a solid board when I tried to put her in the car seat, shrieks of protest, no no no. Went back into the house, loud sobs she wanted to bye bye, back to front door, won't put on her jacket, back to the living room, tears, wanted to go bye bye, back to the front door, won't put on her jacket "all done bye bye". What a funny little drama queen she is. It is such a struggle to be two years old. I decided she needed a rest to regroup so fixed her a bottle and she is contentedly snuggled in her bed. :-) [Joan]

No MOM

Kiva sprung out of bed this morning at the mention of your name, then headed for the door in her nightgown :-) !
Her new thing to tell me now is, "No MOM" Doesn't matter what I've asked her to do, that is her response :-) I kind of thought I'd be Mommy till she at least a little older :-)
The other thing she is playfully saying is, "you get back here" I must say that a lot with out realizing it. She'll say it then run for me to chase her…..she's a hoot. [Vanessa]

Miss Independence

Kiva is too funny today. Tried a few temper tantrums and when they didn't work, went on her way like nothing had happened. She was very angry that I was helping her down the stairs. Two steps below her was too close. I had to be three steps down. She was yelling and waving me away until I got far enough away to suit Miss Independence. She also spotted the halloween candy bowl which thankfully is almost empty with the help of our construction staff, and set up a hissy fit for chocolate. Since it was 9am the answer was no, not until later, and after a minute or two of yelling (watching me carefully from the corner of her eye), she went on to play with her toys. Kiva is in a good mood, ate a good breakfast of scrambled egg, and has been busy measuring things with her own pocket tape measure. Also carrying her baby around on her hip, or pushing her in the shopping cart. Helped granpa pick lemons in the yard and fed the dog. Very loving too, lots of hugs. [Joan]

My Bompa

Kiva has learned a new gambit. When she doesn't want to take a nap and I start rocking her to sooth her, she starts sobbing for "my bompa" which usually works. In he comes and picks her up. [Joan]

Bananas

Kiva actually used the potty last night!!! She was very pleased with herself and of course I screamed and went bananas, she thought that was a riot. So, she's making the connection….very exciting! [Vanessa]

Tank You

I took Kiva with me to Raley's. We walked down to Noah's and Kiva got a blueberry bagel. Kiva really really likes Noah's bagels, either the blueberry or the raisin. She was the darling of the store workers and customers by time she left. Effortless charmer with her "hi" "tank you" and "bye bye". Back to Raley's where she got a mini pumpkin that she just looooooves. When we checked out the clerk gave her a little tiny plastic bag to carry it in and she was so proud walking out of the store with her groceries. Kiva said "tank you" to the clerk too. I swear twenty people in Raley's told me how beautiful and well behaved she is. I said of course "ya think? I hadn't noticed." :-) Well not really. [Joan]

'Mo Cheese Please

I bought some american reduced fat cheese and on the way home gave Kiva a piece which she liked a lot. I was eating one too, and she asked for "mo". I told her that when she was done she could have more. A couple of minutes later there was no cheese in her hand and she was asking for more, so I gave her the rest of mine. She ate that then pulled the rest of her piece out from where she had stashed it and proceeded to eat with perfect equanimity. Darn, I think she aced me out of my piece of cheese! Think it was deliberate? I was laughing out loud in the car when I realized that she had conned me...too funny. She looked so innocent and unconcerned too, with just a SLIGHT tinge of triumph. [Joan]

Little Monkey Uses Tools

One thing Kiva has been doing lately that is too cute. When she is shown how something works, she makes this surprised little laugh that is very funny. She is quite tickled at toys that move or gizmos she can open and shut. Ken has shown her how to use screwdrivers and she loves to stand in the shop and use a screwdriver on the screws that are holding some of his tool stands togeather. She can't turn any of the screws, but is very very intent on getting the screwdriver just so in the slot. [Joan]

Miss America

Your darling Kiva is excellent, had a fun morning and then after nap and lunch went to costco to do party shopping. she was a riot in the store. Ken and I always take separate carts and split up for shopping. I had Kiva in my cart, and about half way through she decided she wanted bompa and started yelling his name. He heard her clear accross the store. When we checked out she very kindly said bye bye to all of the clerks and customers, along with the miss america hand wave. [Joan]