Reading to Mommy

When I come home from work, I am always greeted by a very enthusiastic 2 year old, who dances and shouts "It's the Mommy!" Angie and I then go to the bedroom, tickle, sing and generally enjoy some time together.

Today, Angie was carrying a book about a little car with her. When we climbed into bed, she opened the book and began to read to me. It went something like this:

"One upon a time there waw a liddle cawr. (turn page) One day there was a biiiig birdie. Tweet, tweet, tweet. (turn page) An a budderfwy [trans. butterfly]. Fwap, fwap, fwap. [trans flap, flap, flap accompanied by flapping motions](turn page) An a fwoggie! Ribbit, ribbit, ribbit. (turn page) An a bee. Buzzz buzzz bzzzzzzzzz. (turn page and repeat various combinations of the preceding. turn final page). An a swee col pa du google issa noshaw goo (trans: This mommy hasn't got a clue what that meant) THE END!"

Then she read it to me again. The story wasn't quite the same upon the second reading.

It was the best story anyone ever read to me.

Noticeable growth spurt

Yesterday, Angie did not seem to stop eating all day.

She had a couple bowls of cereal for breatfast, soup with extra pasta at lunch, pretzels, lots of carrots and some cheese as a snack, then nine large ravoli with tomato sauce and garlic bread for dinner with a bowl of ice cream for dessert.

Before I left for work this morning, I looked at her stretched across the bed and thought, "She seems to be taking up much more space...."

When I spoke to Chas later this morning he told me that he let her sleep in because she "seemed to need it." Then he said "She seems longer today."

I think she had a nice growth spurt in the last twenty four hours.

Still More Music

Angie has started singing quite a lot recently. Her independent singing started in September or October, but lately she is singing all the time.

Her current repertoire includes:
1. The Sesame Street Theme
2. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
3. The Jojo's Circus song
4. The ABC song.
5. Where is Thumbkin?
6. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps (the theme to BBC America's Coupling--Chas and I guess we have about six months left of watching this show with Angie before we would be forced to start answering a lot of questions from our inquisitive child).

She will occasionally sing the good bye song from Gymboree but she needs a pretend microphone.

If she is really pleased with her song, she will bow and say, "Thank you, thank you."

She may be ready for the stage.

More Music

On Saturdays we go to Angie's Music class at Gymboree. It can be a battle because if we are just a few minutes late and miss the opening songs, Angie will express her displeasure quite vocally and we usually have to leave the class entirely. Additionally, sometimes she is tempted by the large play area and would rather go on the slides than go into the small room for music. On these occasions, if I force the issue and take her to the Music Room, she again expresses her displeasure and we have to leave.

Today, the roads were slushy and we were slightly late. Fortunately the teacher had not started class. Several kids were playing in the "gym" area and when the teacher opened the door, I was afraid Angie would run for the slides. Instead, she heard music playing and darted into the music room and began dancing. I checked the syllabus and learned that Celtic music would be the theme for the day. The teacher came in and commented that Angie was apparently trying to do her own Riverdance. I was so proud of her fondness for the Celtic music.

Angie was excellent in class today and she seemed to have a great time. After each Celtic song finished, she said, "that was wonderful!" When the teacher opened the big box of instruments, Angie rejoiced, "Ooooooo, Instruments!"

She tends to chart her own lesson plan: she spends more time building towers with the shakers rather than actually shaking them. She lines all the bells up in a row so she can count them. She refuses to do a lap ride or even sit down for two seconds in a row. Instead, she dances around the room. She'll sing her own little songs during instrument time--usually imitating the Play class teacher's action during the Play class Good bye song and walk up to other kids in the class and sing "gooood byyyye you-you." The music teacher doesn't know quite what to make of Angie.

I think she is incredible. I may be a little biased.

Our Little Conductor

Chas and I were recently amazed (and a little frightened) to discover that Angie has developed a sense of timing.

We have both seen her anticipate a song about to begin on one of her videos, then count, "One! Two! Three! Go!" after which the song immediately starts.

I don't know where she got the idea to count before the song starts and I'm astounded that her timing is so perfect when she does it.

Yes we knew she was a genius but....