Last night while playing, Eliza stopped, looked at her new tricycle (which she calls a bicycle) and said:
“Mommy, my bicycle is sad.”
It took Betsy a few minutes to figure out what she meant, but she was focused on the wheel above. She then went over to the bike, patted it, and said “It’s ok bicycle, I’m right here.”
Happy Birthday, my big girl!
You can run, jump, dance, climb, sing, hum, make funny faces, play tickle monster, and make people laugh. You love books and to “read” to your stuffed animals and baby dolls (and sometimes to mommy and daddy). You’re a little addicted to Ni Hao, Kai Lan. But sometimes you like to watch the old Frosty the Snowman cartoon. Your favorite toys change from day-to-day, but you adore your new tricycle, Mr. Potato Heads, kitchen stuff, tea sets, play doh, markers and paper, bath crayons, and all your “lovies.”
Your favorite place is Shan’s Chinese Buffet, which is where we had your birthday party, since you love it so much. You ate noodles, broccoli, fish, and chicken plus two bowls of ice cream and most of the icing off your cake (vanilla, of course, your favorite).
You love “school,” especially art and music class, and you have so much fun with your friends and your wonderful teachers.
We are so proud of you and, to quote one of your favorite books, “We love everything that you will be and all the things you are.”
On this blog, I don’t often wax poetic about my family. On Twitter and over on Brand New World, sure, but I usually keep this area for stuff about some aspect of my life outside of my wonderful wife and amazing daughter…professional, if you will. But today, Eliza turns two, and I thought I should pause for just a moment and just make sure that everyone knows:
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She is fucking awesome. |
I hope that someday she’ll be able to look at the things that I’ve written and the photos I’ve taken and that she can feel even some of the love that I have for her. She’s my monkey, that daughter of mine, and she gets more amazing every day.
Daddy loves you, Eliza Rhea.
Eliza is really, really into playing with her little kitchen, plastic food, and play pots and pans. So today, when we let her “help” us bake Christmas cookies, she was in heaven.
She stood on a step stool for no less than 45 minutes in complete and total concentration: pouring flour, sugar, and salt from one bowl to another, stirring, adding cinnamon, feeling it with her fingers, trying out the measuring cups and spoons, having an absolute blast. She got herself (and the kitchen) so messy, but it was so interesting to see her so focused and so joyful.
Maybe she’s a famous chef in the making? Nothing would make us prouder, I believe!
Eliza doing her first Christmas decorating, helping Mom and Dad trim the tree. She loved it for about 15 minutes, then got bored.
She has no fear, and giggled madly for minutes afterwards.
She’s gonna be riding rollercoasters with me in no time.
After spending all day Friday as a clown, Eliza changed her mind and decided she would trick-or-treat as a butterfly. Good thing we had a backup costume. Here she is with her dad, trick-or-treating at the mall in Chattanooga. Hard to tell who had a better time.
For over a month, any time we’ve asked Eliza what she wants to be for Halloween, she has replied “a clown.” Not a fairy, not a princess, not a butterfly or a bumblebee. Not even her beloved friends like Dora, Foofa, or Muno. A clown. Why??? We’re not sure.
Here’s a sneak peak of Eliza, trick-or-treating this weekend as a cute little clown!
