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Journal Key:

Green = Steve | George = navy | Janet = Purple | Evelyn = Black

4/30/09 (Thursday)

I had fun giving Cara her bath this evening. For the past couple of days she's not been interested in her mermaid toy, which was hugely popular for the first few weeks we had it. Lately, she's actually gone back to having just a couple of toys: Jasmine and Battle-Cat. Actually, it's Battle-Cat, formerly known at Bottlecap, who is now referred to as Tiger-Rhino. Tiger-Rhino is Jasmine's good friend. She rides on him. She also uses his saddle as an umbrella. I'm enjoying having fewer toys in there; we've gone back to old-school games, like when Jasmine jumps back and forth and I have to touch her.

We also play pretend. Jasmine had a sore throat. She didn't need a boy doctor; boy doctors are no good for her. Her mommy could act as a doctor. Where was her mommy? No one knew. Maybe someday we'll get a big mommy mermaid.

5/1/09 (Friday)

Last night we were sitting in a booth and there were two guys sitting behind us. Cara said confidentially to us, "I think those two guys are boys."

This morning we got to Susan's really early. There were two reasons for this: 1) Cara picked out her clothes before coming downstairs in the morning; 2) I forgot to do her hair. I might not have realized it at all, but Cara reminded me in the car that she had no barrettes. Oh well! I wonder if Susan found something to make do.

Tonight was Family Fun Night! Even the rain did not keep us from going out to our local sushi place, where Cara munched on crispy noodles, shrimp dumplings, and lo mein. The waitress filled our water glasses regularly, to the extent that Cara commented, "That lady does lots of nice things." Then it was home for cookies and Curious George. If that's not a good Family Fun Night, I don't know what is.

5/2/09 (Saturday)

I was reminded this morning of my theory of how my 5:15 shower keeps Cara asleep longer, which of course was the theory I developed after she woke up well before seven for the entire week that I was home. It was a little after six thirty this morning and we were both asleep when Cara got up and came into our room looking for us. I gave her a nice hug and sent her off, probably to the bathroom, but she stopped on her way, taking her cue from what Steve does to her on weekday mornings, to open our curtains.

"Sunshine," she told us brightly. "Daytime."

5/3/09 (Sunday)

Cara and I spent a lot of time out together today. I am proud to announce that Cara is definitely an expert elevator-rider. We went on about eight of them, and she doesn't even need to hold my hand. I reflexively warned her about getting off and things, but she really didn't need me. It was nice.

We went to Sears to look for clothes. Everything was going great, and we were walking along holding hands, when suddenly Cara uttered a startled exclamation, racing back a few steps and dropping to all fours. She carefully examined something on the floor, bending her head over it and obscuring my view. Her level of intensity did not decrease as she told me breathlessly, "I think it's . . .a little piece of fluff!"

Later we went to the mall. We had a gift card to use at Build-a-Bear, and we discussed getting Deesta some new clothes. As soon as we walked in Cara picked out a cute little capri outfit, declaring it to be her favorite. I had her walk around the store just to see whether there was anything else, but there wasn't. When we got in line to pay, though, she noticed a bin of little stuffed animals, where there were some kittens just like Deesta. They were wearing T-shirts that said, "#1 Mom." I'm not sure who they think is buying something for a mom at that store, but I guess I should be more open-minded. They cost half of what the gift card was worth, so I told Cara she could have two. I thought we'd get a kitten and an elephant or something, but instead we got two identical kittens. "I need to give them a bath!" cried Cara, who had just seen other kids "washing" the new toys they'd made. We washed the kittens. We bought them.

Off we went, holding hands, Cara carrying her kitties. She was talking, so I bent over to hear her better. "No, Mommy," she said, "I'm just talking to the kitties!" This went on for rather a while.

A couple of highlights from dinner. We had pizza, and the child once again astounded me by chomping through two big slices and working partway through a third before wandering off. She also had some french fries. While we were eating, Mommy asked me to pass her a napkin. "I don't need a napkin," declared Cara, "because I have a tongue."

5/4/09 (Monday)

Cara brought one of her twin kitties to Susan's today. When Steve told me, I asked whether he knew which one it was. He did not. When I arrived to pick Cara and the kitty up, I found out. Yesterday, the cats were called "Kitty Kitty" and "Drum Kitty." Today, the one who was at Susan's was Lina. The one at home, of course, was Sarah. They're twins, after all. Susan and I then blew Cara's mind by reminding her that not only is Daddy a twin, but so is Susan. After a few seconds, Cara chose not to think about those facts.

On the way home, the twin kitties became brother and sister. To confirm my interpretation of the stream-of-consciousness monologue from the back seat, I asked whether this was so. Yes. Lina was a girl. Sarah was . . . (this was a stumbling block) a boy. Yes, a boy.

The twins are now nicely tucked in with Deesta. Cara chose to sleep with Puma tonight, except that then apparently Puma was fresh in some way. Puma wanted to sleep in her own bed, and Cara began to put her into it, but then we heard some arguing, and Cara was saying, "I don't like the way you're talking!" And then Cara took away Puma's blanket and told us that Puma's behavior was unacceptable (my words; I can't remember exactly what she said). I asked whether Puma might say sorry, but apparently she doesn't know how. That is why Cara is happily snuggled into her bed, reading stories with Daddy, while Puma lies in her little box without any blanket.

5/5/09 (Tuesday)

I had to step outside to water our new plants as soon as we got home today, so Cara had about five minutes in the house on her own. When I got inside, she had gotten out her girls and Weebalot, and she was setting all of the princesses up in the castle. By the time I had dinner sort of started and went back downstairs, the girls had all changed into regular dresses and were lined up on the floor, and Cara was running back and forth across the room, emitting a sort of musical squeal which, she explained, indicated that they were dancing. Ten minutes later, the line of girls included girls dressed as princesses; they alternated dress style in a nice pattern, and there were about eighteen girls in all. They were all dancing.

This Friday is the 8th grade semiformal at my school. I have told Cara that I will bring her there to see how the big girls and boys dress up for their dance. This afternoon we were discussing it, and it finally occurred to me to tell her that they will not be dancing ballet. This was a bit of a surprise. She still wants to know whether they will be twirling. I just honestly don't think so!

5/6/09 (Wednesday)

In Cara's room right now, Cara is happily cuddled up in her bed. Puma is happily cuddled up in her bed, which consists of two cardboard boxes, one inside the other. Deesta is happily cuddled up in her bed, which is the Elmo couch, and she has a blanket on top of her. The twin tiny kitties are happily cuddled up in their bed, which is the other end of the Elmo couch, where they share Deesta's blanket. The exciting part is that I let Cara have a shoe box today and she decided that the tiny kitties really need it to be their pillow. So they are resting their heads comfortably on a cardboard box. Several other toys are also sleeping. Many of them are so comfortable that they almost never get out of bed anymore.

Poor Steve! He is Cara's absolutely, without competition, definitely favorite reader. She really likes those Highlight magazines, and each one has a story with phrases in Spanish. I did not study Spanish in school. Steve did. "Mommy, Daddy has to read to me," said Cara tonight, "because you just don't know the Spanish!" He did tell her that they had to take a break from her favorite magazine this time, since they read it last night. However, there are plenty of other issues!

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