Growing

We have learned that August 17 is moving day at daycare. Since all the pre-k kids start kindergarten, all the other kids move up into their spots. Mia didn't move last year because things are different for babies. But Miss Mia is a toddler now, so she does what the big kids do. Since she's not yet 2, she'll go to a transition room instead of the two year-old room. She has moved a lot in her 15 months there, but I think it's because they try to keep the kids on a steady progression of learning and of trying to keep them with children their same age and developmental level. It is a large place so they can do that. I'm sad she'll be leaving her teachers. We have been very happy with them and the care they've given Mia. But we're confident her next group of teachers will be just as wonderful and we look forward to watching her learn and grow even more.

Along the same lines of growing, Mia is "growing" some more teeth and she is very fussy tonight. She has a very low-grade temp, was super-tired when we got home tonight and went to bed about 6:30, only to wake up an hour later, crying and not knowing what she wanted to do. She has screamed and cried "no" to everything for almost two hours. She's back in bed but not really sleeping. She's just going in and out of a fitful sleep. It's been a long time since our girl has had any troubles like this, so it's frustrating. She still can't really tell us what she needs, but she is very vocal about what she doesn't want. She doesn't want to be in bed, read a book, cuddle, sleep, walk around, etc. We fed her and gave her some milk but that was only a temporary fix. So we'll see how tonight goes. There's just nothing worse than when she cries out in a sad little voice, "Mama", and I don't know how to make it all better.

Dinner with Mamaw and Papaw

Last Sunday at the Park

BPAS

After reading my last post, Dad and Sue informed me that Mia has a vast array of musical tastes. Apparently at their house she loves the Dixie Chicks. She points to the radio so they know she wants to dance. She likes to hold onto the freezer handle for balance while she gets her groove on. Last night she wore out Mom and Bruce with Ring Around the Rosie (which she refers to as "Ashes"), and this morning she started dancing even without music. Apparently I was right all those months ago, Mia is a Dancing Bean!

Last night Mia and I were looking at pictures and when we got to a Wilson family shot I asked her to point to Aunt Miss. She did and said "Ah Mish". So of course we had to call Missy and let her say it a few times for her. She still struggles with Grace, Granny and Grampy, so I think the Gs are hanging her up. Otherwise, she's completely brilliant and I'm sure will be accepted to some elite baby performing arts school any day now. :-)

Vacation Week

Mike and I are pretty overwhelmed with life right now and I think that’s gotten in the way of my blogging. Mia continues to be our source of joy and inspiration and is getting us through a difficult time with her smiles, hugs and laughter.

Mike and I took a vacation last week – the entire week – and Mia stayed here with her grandparents. We missed her terribly! I cried when Mom picked her up, we called her everyday (usually a couple times each day), and we came home a day early because Sue sent us a picture of her and she looked so cute and grown up we were afraid we were missing out on too much. We really needed to get away, but we missed our girl! She stayed with Mom and Bruce until Monday, then stayed with Dad and Sue until Thursday and finished off the week with Brent and Carol. I don’t think she really missed us while we were gone. She loves spending time with her grandparents and was busy having fun. But she was so excited to see us when we got home! She ran to us and wanted hugs and kisses all night. She kept cuddling up between the two of us, and she cried if one of us left the room. She’s been more affectionate than usual this week and I think that may be continue to be the reason why. Of course we are eating it up!

On Sunday we took her to the park and played, then we went shopping, out to dinner and to the bookstore. We had to cram a week’s worth of activities into one day! She delighted us with all the cute new things she’s doing and saying.

• She tells us when she’s gone “poop”.
• She often repeats phrases she’s heard us say, such as “I don’t know” (she lifts her hands and shoulders when she says this one) and “almost there”.
• She now shocks me by picking up or pointing to things she’s never mentioned before and saying their names, like glasses, cracker, bug.
• Mia loves to dance, especially with her Mawmaw. Carol sings Beyonce’s Single Ladies, and Mia does this little squatting/bouncing dance, chiming in with “oh oh oh, oh oh oh”. They put on a show at Famous Dave’s on Sunday and it was hilarious. I’ll try to download the video when I can.
• Mia’s favorite song is Ring Around the Rosie. She runs around in circle saying “ashes, ashes” then falling to the ground.
• She loves to kiss the dogs. Open-mouthed. And with her tongue.

More weekend fun

Fun at Nana and Papa's