Your Last Week As A 3 Year Old: Wednesday

My beautiful, precious Cora Lakshmi,

This was our first week of spending all day together.  I have loved every minute of the time we’ve spent together.  I’m sure by now you realize that your Golly is not really babysitting, but Cora Lakshmi is Gollysitting!  You are so patient with me, even though I don’t understand all of the languages you speak, I can’t match your boundless energy, and car seat/high chair/stroller “click clicks” take forever for me to master.  You calmly remind me that the movie is supposed to be playing, even though Golly is confounded by Mommy and Daddy’s newfangled television contraption, and it takes her forever to hit the right button.  Your patience and wisdom serve you well as you learn to navigate your new surroundings.

Today was an especially busy and productive learning day.  You are always sad to say good-bye to Mommy and Daddy, but we talked about the fun things we would do today, and you were eager to begin.  You told me right away that you were going to put your swimsuit on and play outside in the “water water”.  You love to go exploring away from your little wading pool and around your big back yard.  Today, you wanted to go farther than the other days we’ve been out there together.  Hands up, learning to feel what is around you, under your feet, in front of you, your presented the perfect picture of a curious toddler.  You are a brave, adventurous little girl, and sometimes you don’t want to stop with Golly warns you that you are near something that might hurt you.  At times you want to hurry instead of using caution.  But you listen, and you rein yourself in so that you can explore safely.  You have more perseverance and persistence than many adults!

A perfect example of those traits was the “work” you did on your new slide today.  Your daddy had encouraged you, a couple of days ago, to go down the slide on your belly instead of sitting.  That had made you feel a little insecure, and he quickly told you that you didn’t have to try that.  Today, after sliding for awhile, you stopped at the top of the steps and asked me to help you.  It took me a minute to realize that you were trying to go down on your belly (I still didn’t put it together, though.).  I put my hands under you, said, “Golly’s got you,” and helped you go down the slide. You yelled, “Golly’s got you!” all the way down!  Then you went up the steps and tried it again, still with my help.  After several more tries, you finally mastered going down on your belly all by yourself.  That time, you stopped at the bottom and said, “Daddy?”  I went right into our script, “Where is Daddy?”  But this time, you continued with, “I am so proud over you!”  Sweet girl, you spent all that time learning a new skill so that your daddy would be proud of you!  And he is so proud of you, whether you go down the slide on your belly or not!

During another trip to your pool, you decided to skinny dip.  You got your Golly laughing very hard when you tried to put your swimsuit back on by yourself, feet through the straps, suit wrapped around your waist, feet through the bottom, suit on your head, and finally…hanging your swimsuit on your teeth:  (CL:  “Grrrr…it isn’t working!”  Golly:  “Would you like me to help?”  CL:  “NO!  Lakshmi do it!”)  You are such a toddler! 

We went on a quick shopping trip for garbage bags during which you took a power nap in the shopping cart, and then on to Golly’s house to walk her puppies.  Golly’s puppies are loud and a little overwhelming.  I could tell you were stressed by them, but you dealt with it all like the brave girl you show us all you are.  We finished quickly and drove back to your house for lunch and nap time.

I have to admit that nap time has become one of my favorite times of day, not because you go to sleep, but because I get to hold you, rock you, and sing to you.  My heart melts when I look at your precious face.  You rock and sing your babies to sleep, and then I get to do the same for you.  You are the best snuggler in the world!  I could just sit there rocking you all afternoon, but I put you in your bed so that you can sleep well.  You always go to sleep saying, “Mommy.  Daddy,” softly.  And I always say the same words your mommy says to you, “You are safe.  You are loved.  Mommy and Daddy will be here when you wake up.”  Those precious words touch my heart in ways you may never understand, but for many of the same reasons they touch yours.  And when you woke up, Mommy was there, Daddy came home, and Golly had to say, “Ta ta for now.”  But you said those magic words, “Golly, hold you more.”  So I did.  And I was late to choir practice.  And I didn’t even care.

After your Golly went to  choir practice, you had a visit from your Auntie Lori Jane and your Noelle. You had so much fun laughing and playing and singing! You don't understand this yet, but there are quite a few people who love you so very much! 

Your schedule got a bit off this evening, but you were a champ and didn't let it throw you off too much. As we were finishing our prayers tonight you said, "Mommy are you so so sleepy?"

And so you were!

Busy day! Busy girl!

One last thought from your Golly as you drift off to dreams:

You are safe.  You are loved.  And you are one day closer to four.