Big bubble bath

Tuesday eve we went hot tubbing, which Kiva really likes. she calls it the "big bubble bath". When we were done, I wrapped her in a towel, which she shrugged off immediately. She then walked through the entire house up to my upstairs bathroom, completely unclothed. When she got to my bathroom where we were going to take a shower to rinse off the spa water, she carefully shut the door announcing "we need some privacy". Too funny. [Joan]

What a charmer

Jack jack is doing great, eating like there is no tommorrow. Lots of naps, lots of cuddle and tickle time with grammie, a sun bath out in the yard on grammies lap, a regular bath in the kitchen sink and clean clothes. spent some time with granpa, granpa holding him and carrying him around in the yard....the sun has been out for a little while and it is quite warm since it is so sheltered. right now he is playing with the mobile while i check up on my email. I found out that jack...
does not like to be rocked while he eats.
does very much like to be rocked to sleep
does not like his bottle too cool
does very much like being outside and watching the trees and the dog
loves to look at you and practice his considerable charms, smiles, giggles, sly looks. what a charmer [Joan]

that's not a problem

Yesterday Kiva and Ken were getting some water from the refrigerator door when Ken spilled water on the floor. Quick as a flash, Kiva said "that's not a problem" and grabbed her tiny mop and cheerfully worked away at the spill. Maybe it doesn't sound too funny but it was hysterical at the time. Reminded me of what good parents you are to our angels. I can hear your voices being kindly understanding of her oopsies when she says "these things happen", or "that's ok" when things go wrong. [Joan]

More Independence

Friday afternoon Ken and I took Kiva to the park, where she (and we) had a great time. For the first time she really interacted with one of the other kids there...a girl probably around 4-5 years old started talking to her in the sand pit, and pretty soon they were running around all over the play area together. Kiva looked over every once in a while to make sure she knew where we were, (both of us sitting on a bench, eyes glued on our darling) but was happy running and climbing with her new pal. More independence is developing and also confidence which is great. [Joan]

Her own groupies all ready

Kiva was such a joy today, very very lively, verbal, happy. she is developing a droll sense of humor that just tickles us. Ken went with us both to the park and to the gym...he worked on the machines while we were in the pool. Kiva was so proud to show him how she could jump in the pool. She jumped in many times so I could catch her. Most times I made sure her head never went under, but every once in a while she would hold her nose and I would let her head go partially under. She didn't get upset at all. I had her watch while I put my head under too. Too funny, a group of older teenage boys noticed her repeatedly jumping into the pool and started encouraging her...yelling..."jump", "hooray you did it" and the like. Her own groupies all ready. she also practiced swimming. [Joan]

No thank you please

We had a great day again yesterday. We went to the park in the late afternoon and Kiva was enjoying the sand area. She had her bowl and spoon, I got her a bucket of water to make the sand nice and muddy, and there were other kids there and some extra toys left behind. Kiva was playing with one little boy, a little younger than her but not much. They had occasional difficulties sharing, and his mom and I were working with them. I would tell Kiva to use her words to tell him what she wanted, and his mom made sure he didn't get too pushy. Mostly they got along great. However, at one point he kept insisting on trading his shovel for hers and she did not want to exchange. She was getting pretty mad, so I told her "just tell him no thank you, you don't want to trade". Thereupon, she turned to him and just YELLED "no thank you please" at the top of her lungs. It was just hysterical, and all of the other adults just cracked up. In a few minutes they were playing together quite happily again. She gets points both for politeness and assertiveness all in one episode. [Joan]

Farm Labor

We had a fine day yesterday. Kiva took a 2 hour nap in the afternoon too, but woke up full of zest and fun. We picked lettuce for dinner and she remembered her garden shoes, even though they were put away. We had to put on mine and hers before we went to our farm. Had a lovely hot tub soak to recuperate from our farm labor.

Kiva's language is just taking off. We have long conversations now, and she knows to repeat herself or try to speak louder or clearer when Grammie doesn't understand or hear her. Lots of pretend activities with the stuffed animals too, as her imagination takes off. She has the set of mice that Joy made, and one is "grammie", one is "baby". We spent a lot of time putting them down for naps yesterday in little beds (with pillows of course). She is very tender with them and gives them little loving pats as she tucks them in.

I'm so proud of her riding the horse the other day. She was proud of herself too. [Joan]

Bompa owie?

Kiva was an adorable angel in the Dentist's office. Played with her toys, ate her snacks, sat in every one of the chairs and charmed the nurses. She was concerned about Ken going in to see the Dr..."bompa owie?", but was reassured by us that he would be fine.

Reproachful Looks

Kiva and Ken are hilarious together. We went to Sears this morning as a trio to buy a new toaster. All went well until we were just ready to pay and leave. Kiva began howling to be walking without hand holding, and since she headed for the escalator immediately that was not allowed. Ken immediately said "you pay, I'll take her to the car" rescued his little darling from mean grammie and was on his way, with reproachful looks from both of them. When I caught up with them at the car, Kiva was behind the wheel (no motor running) playing with all the levers and steering wheel, a mini mint in her mouth, and indulgent bompa standing by. After we got home they walked around outside for a while then bottle and nap (by then it was 1130). She is sleeping peacefully, but did require a supplement to her bottle (gave her 8 oz to begin with) when she requested pathetically "mo ba ba" before she could go off to sleep. [Joan]

all done seeping, more bompa?

Kiva just seems to be thriving both physically and mentally. Today I got a five word sentence!!! (the girl's a genius). I put her down for a nap at the usual time...about 11:15, she drank her bottle and then decided she wanted to get back up. She called me, and when I went in she said "all done seeping, more bompa?" Tooo cute, especially since she hadn't been sleeping at all. I told her it was nap time and rubbed her back for a while to ease her into sleepytime. She was so funny when I started to rub her back, she moved around until she was just right and perfectly comfortable, first one arm this way, then that way, then her head this way, then that way. When she was sure she was comfortable, she gave a big sigh, and settled in for back rub enjoyment. Reminded me of getting settled for a massage. Didn't take long till she was zonked out for an hour and fifteen minutes nap. [Joan]