Computer Lesson

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A Room Full of Girls, Just Waiting for a Boy

We're having donuts and Tom and Jerry this morning with the King girls. The King parents are off to the hospital, and we're all eagerly anticipating Baby Edgar's arrival. It's like Christmas in October!

Madeline at (a little more than) Two and a Half

Madi 2.5:

• Perhaps not as nutty as we once thought.
• When determined to be nutty (some might say defiant/disobedient) she is incredibly strong willed.
• This, however, is coupled with a complete aversion to punishment. 99% of the time she cries tragically at even a fake spanking (You know the sort -- where you only make contact with the diaper and she probably didn't actually feel anything).
• She's still funny. She has an ear for funny phrases and noises and repeats them at funny times.
• I can't tell yet if she's shy or not, but she's definitely happiest in groups if she's being held. She's super affectionate--patting and scratching our backs all the time. But make no mistake--she clings. (Which I've just decided to enjoy.)
• So, she can be clingy in a group, but at home, she plays more independently than Mer usually did/does. She doesn't mind being on her own. She "re-boots" best by sitting on our bed with a stack of books.
• She tells people to call her Madi-Poo. We don't know where this came from. Needless to say, it's not exactly the nickname we might have chosen. If you call her something silly, like "Crazy girl," she'll correct you and say, "No, I Madi-Poo." Awesome. She's correcting her teachers, too.
• She's a weird eater. Won't eat if she's tired. Likes to eat the same thing over and over--3 bowls of sweet potatoes, 4 containers of yogurt. Overall, favors fat over lean. My girl.
• Meredith loves it when her sister quick steps/stomps through the downstairs rooms.
• Meredith loves it when Madi dances spontaneously (and there's usually not music). What's not to love?

Now We Are Six

Now We Are Six

A. A. Milne

When I was one,

I had just begun.

When I was two,

I was nearly new.

When I was three,

I was hardly me.

When I was four,

I was not much more.

When I was five,

I was just alive.

But now I am six,

I'm as clever as clever.

So I think I'll be six

now and forever.

She is, you know. Clever. And all it implies. The man who gave us Winnie the Poo was a genius, as any fool knows, and he nailed the age of six. She is clever. Meaning aware. Meaning not so little anymore. And it's all going to be more complicated now.

Don't worry. She's still very much a little girl. But she is becoming more Meredith in all she does. Stronger, funnier, weirder, smarter, more frustrated, more focused...

Here's a list of Meredith attributes. Sorry that I have no choice but to filter her through the lens of Kate.

* she's a really good speller. YES!

* she can dance like you would not believe.

* she doesn't care enough about handwriting. (I am trying not to say a word. I am fully aware that handwriting matters not a whit.)

* she's still obsessed with the empty Sears distribution tower at the end of the street, and would like to raise money to help restore it. I have mentioned that people need food and water, but she feels we should address that AND the Sears building.

* she makes eye contact with me, and we laugh at things. This is awesome. Obviously.

* she tries really hard to learn things, when she's in the mood to do so. Which is, praise God, more often than not.

* she is either completely, endlessly patient with her sister, or not at all. This reminds me very much of me.

* she loves to go out to eat. Again, she is my daughter. Like me, though, she is not terribly picky. "Out" is not complicated.

* she is weirdly responsible about some things. "Mom, my map of Kenya is due in TWO weeks. When are we going to start?!"

* she adores Chris and ranges between miffed and furious when his schedule takes him away from her. And does not hesitate to lecture him.

There's so much more. And there always will be. Love you, Mer.

Birthday with community group.

Combined birthday with Lea. They are literal BFFs. Born 2 days apart and have been hanging out since they were 3 months old. Their parents, brilliantly, decided on a combined party this year.

Opening the birthday box from Marme. Hilarity ensued. There are many pics equally as good as this one, and we weren't prompting them.

Party in the sun!