Six

I have a six year old today!  It's not possible really, it was only just last week that we were picking out nursery furniture. 

It's amazing that after knowing her for only six years, I know without a doubt my life would be completely meaningless without her (or her sister).  But I suppose I knew that after knowing her for only six seconds, six years ago.  It's amazing and wonderful and terrifying to say that about another human being, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Things I know about my six year old Lady M:

When she is surprised or exasperated or rolling her eyes at me she says, "Oh man!" and can't stop herself.

She likes to repeat her own punch line.  For example, while examining my cake decorating skills, "Mom, love the fish, but where are the eyes!  Ha,ha, I'm like, 'but where are the eyes'!"  Very odd little speech habit she's started.  Oh, and she's begun to inflect up at the end of her sentences, like a Kardashian, is that a generational characteristic?  I hope it's not permanent.

She says she wants to be an artist when she grows up, I think she'll end up a scientist. Although counting by rote is not her forte, she can fly through a math workbook.  And watching her roam the house with her magnifying glass, notepad, and pencil warms my heart.  Who knew hearing your child explain the form and function of the small and large intestines could inspire such joy?  Stay curious my girl - and artistic. 

She is too kind and gentle to realize that anyone could be anything other than a friend.  It breaks my heart a little actually.

She takes being called a weirdo as a compliment and relishes the fact that we are a family of goofballs.  She is dramatic and emotional, but boy is she strong.  I wouldn't describe her as adventurous, but she sure is brave.  She's one of my three favorite people in the whole wide world and I can't imagine this world without her in it.  I know all of this and so much more, and six years and one day ago, we hadn't even met.  Unbelievable.

Signs that Winter Should End

Catie and I were waiting in the car at the bus stop the other day, chit-chatting about her day, when all of a sudden she spies something strange out the window.  "Mom, Mom!  Look over there!  Look, look, look, quick!"  She drops her voice to a whisper for the big reveal, "I think I just saw a penguin! "

If there are penguins roaming around Chicagoland right now, I have to say that is the last straw.  We're moving to California.

Spill Police

Catie illustrates to me that she should not throw her blanket (Lala) like THIS... flinging it around with gusto... and explains that this is because it might spill some water, or some M&Ms, or some soda, or some wine.  Well, at least water made the list.  Calhoun house of healthy habits... we are not.

Calliou... Man of Her Dreams

Blast from the Past... an unpublished post... probably around Oct. 2012...

I recently read a friends Facebook post that referenced another bloggers rant about the evil little bald-headed bastard that is Calliou.  What is it about Calliou that makes him the Justin Bieber of the toddler set?  Catie has watched Calliou so much over the past week that she literally dreams Calliou.  She unexpectantly feel asleep on the basement couch (watching Calliou) the other night.  When I lifted her sleepy, limp body to carry her to bed she cried out, "Calliou!  I want Calliou," while still sleeping!  Shhh, shhh, honey, Calliou is over, you can watch it tomorrow. 

Anybody Out There

More than a year since my last post... that makes me sad.  I was going through Catie's baby book today, trying to write in some updates, and I realized that so much of her first two years were written about in this blog.  Hardly anything is written in the book.  Times change. 

Reading past entries it seems obvious now that I've started a sort of memoir for them.  This blog contains so much of me and them and us... I miss it.  I need to start writing again.

So welcome back me!  Older, slightly wiser me - well, if not wiser, maybe a little more experienced me.  While I've been away we've started a real estate business and have become landlords.  We've moved to our "dream" property - three acres with oak trees and a pond.  And we've had many, many fun times together... all of which I should have been writing about!

We've all grown-up some, and we're all big girls now with big girl schedules.  kindergarten, preschool, swim class, dance class, gymnastics, exploring, learning, travelling, shopping, lunching, these are the things we love and spend our time doing.  We've made wonderful, hopefully life-long, friendships with some amazing people.  My, how time flies when you're having fun with a three year old and a five (almost six!) year old.

I don't know if I'll ever try to fill in the blanks from the past year, but I may try, we'll see.  For now, I'll start with today.  What can I tell you about today...

Awhile back I wrote a story for my kids about Sneezle, the sneezing weasel-impersonating dog.  Every once in a while we talk about what Sneezle would be up to if he had another story to tell.  His friend Coffee (get it - Cough-ey) was a fun addition from Granny last year, and tonight we discussed whether or not Coffee would be a good alias for Steve, our big dumb dog.  Maggie suggested, secretly (don't tell anyone Mom!  it's embarrassing!), that Sneezle's new friend look like Steve and be called Tootie!  I think you can assume from the name what Tootie's special trick is... and it is oh so appropriate a moniker for good ol' Steve.  Love that funny kid.

More tomorrow... hopefully...