What CD is up to now. . .

There is something about watching CD develop that is just extraordinarily joyful for me. Perhaps its because I haven't had a toddler in so many years. Perhaps, as my Israeli friend mentioned (using a Hebrew phrase), it is because she is a baby I had in old age (I am 38 today, not sure if that qualifies as old age, but it is older than the 24 I was when J was born).

So I marvel when she gets up on the coffee table, spreads out her arms and says, "ready?" as she is about to put on a performance. Her performances are usually sing-a-longs in which she runs directly through the alphabet, twinkle, twinkle little star, Old McDonald, You are my Sunshine and somehow back to the alphabet again.

I marvel at the way, at two and a half, she has become her own little person with her unique personality that we can see unfolding every day. She is a little Mommy and assistant teacher. When her classmate misbehaved yesterday and started throwing her shoes in the garbage, CD apparently used a play phone to call the child's mother. At home, if her brother falls asleep on the couch, she covers him with a blanket, gives him a stuffed animal and pats him on the back. This morning when she asked, "Where J go" and I told her that he was sleeping and he is sick, she let me know that I should take him to the doctor.

I love the ways she gets excited to go in the backyard with my husband in search of bunnies and "big bugs." I love the way we can have an entire conversation while driving in the car about the birds she sees and her thoughts about them.

CD: Look mommy, I see birds in sky

Me: Yes, I see them too. How many birds are there?

CD: So many birds. I like it the birds. Fly in sky. With wings.

Me: That's right. I know you like the birds.

CD: They pretty Mommy. Sarah (her teacher) like it the birds too. David (her friend) like it the birds too.

Me: Are you going to tell Sarah about the birds when we get to school?

CD: I tell Sarah

Really, it is riveting from my point of view. She makes me laugh, she makes me smile. I am so incredibly lucky to have her in my life for another birthday.

*thank you to readers who write asking for updates when I haven't posted in a while. To answer the questions, no, CD's mother has not come for any more visits since my last post. No other news. Our next court date is in October.