Jekyll and Hyde

Hi Shira,
I know it may seem harsh to be compared to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde but I think you're earning it.  You can be the sweetest, most agreeable, lovable, mature, and winsome little girl.  However, in a snap you can become ornery, stubborn, sour,  contentious, and a screaming little monster who can't be pleased by any normal parenting strategy. 

Admittedly, Mr. Hyde was showing his colors more frequently when you were battling a recent illness.  Yet now that you've beaten that he still comes out from time to time.  He mostly appears when you're not getting your way about something.  I've included a video that shows a brief appearance of your dark side.  We have a longer one I could have included but it's not very flattering so I chose the shorter one.  In the video you show your displeasure with your big sister for committing the awful crime of going down the slide with you at JJ Jump. 

I've noticed recently how you seem to have picked up some of my personality traits.  You are pretty stubborn and you like to do things yourself.  In one example you had been battling the flu all week and after a visit to the doctor we had learned that you also showed signs of a developing ear infection.  The flu we had to ride out but the ear infection could be treated with an antibiotic.  One morning you needed incentive to take your meds.  I offered a chocolate kiss.  You countered with "smarties?" (smarties are a like a SweetTart and come in a roll).  I considered that and what the pharmacist had said about foods that would go well with the medicine.  I said, "No, a Kiss."  You responded, "Two?"

I like how your independent streak causes you to want to do things for yourself.  The only problem is when you think you can to more than you really can.  For example, the first time you brought your plate from the breakfast table to the kitchen sink, you turned it upside down before you got it over the sink and your sticky waffles went on the kitchen floor.  You are getting pretty good and putting on pants, slippers, and sometimes socks.  I am leery of the time when you try to take full control of your toothbrush.  As yet, your skills aren't good enough to do a good job of that. 

Some time ago you rejected the assistance of a booster chair at the dinner table.  You've done ok with that and are still using your fork and spoon both righty and lefty.  You've staked out a spot at the table and I was telling your mom just this morning that you will probably sit there as long as you live in this house.

We lowered one side of your crib so that you can get in and out on your own.  You made it out once with the rails up so we decided that it would be safer for you to get out if one side was down.  You can make it on that side because you can go in and out from Sidra's bed that way.  You are pretty good about going in on your own when it's bedtime or nap time.  In fact, you will say "I want to take a nap" when you get tired. 

Sometimes at bedtime you might not be ready to sleep because you napped too long.  In a recent case your sister had gone to sleep and you were still awake.  I noticed the hall light go on (from the motion sensor) and peeked out to see what was going on.  You were tip toeing toward our room.  It was pretty cute, but I convinced you to get back in bed and go to sleep. 

Your speech is getting better.  It's still tough to understand you at times but your sentences are lengthening and you are pretty perceptive and a sponge for new stuff.  Yesterday when you got up, I was downstairs having breakfast.  You were pretty sure that's where I was.  You went to the top of the stairs and said, "can you hear me dad?"  Today Sidra was paging through a CD organizer and you asked, "What are you looking for, Sidra?"  Today after Sidra's piano teacher left you played around on the keys a little.  I wondered what you were up to and you dead panned, "the thumb trick and The Postman." 

You can see from the pictures that your hair is pretty crazy when it's not tied up.  You also like to pick your clothes and show off what you're wearing.  That is, when we can get you out of your two nighties.  You have one that has Tinker Bell on it and the other one is Rapunzel.  When you are showing off your outfit you put your arms out and do a little twirl.  It's pretty cute.  So are your dimples, if you smile. 

We've tried to get you in a swim lesson a couple of times but it hasn't worked out.  Maybe the classes are a little too big, and maybe you're just not ready.  We hope that that changes by summer time which a long way off by your standards. 

Loving watching you grow up,
aba

I have dimples

This is how I show off

I bounced out of my hair tie

This is my wild hair look

I can climb!

I am bushed!

I have a flower