Three point five

Self-portrait. Pretty Valley, 10 January 2018. 

Life at 3.5.

• Tintin is the best and she talks about going to Kathmandu. Totally understood and was compelled by the story of the Yeti.
• Rides with training wheels and riding gloves. Loves going fast. Good using her brakes. Hasn't practised scooter yet.
• Sleeps through. Sleeps great in tent.
• Mostly wet nappies, overnight, but desperately wants to rid them. Not yet.
• Lately gets sore tummy and gets upset and distracted by it. Joy when a poo comes.
• Great at remembering directions, landmarks, where to turn.
• Tells us she loves us.
• Gets a little sweaty head. We're so glad her hair got cut.
• Loves princesses and talks about magic. Occasionally puts spells on us when angry!
• Gives excellent hugs and hangs on so tight with feet and legs when carried.
• Everything has to be negotiated. She has her own ideas about how things should be.
• Started to get noticeably physically stronger.
• Doesn't deal with sugar very well. Usually sends her loopy.

Sick day

Milla is three years old and so healthy. Thriving. Growing. Sleeps well. Most weeks we stand her in the doorway to see if she's grown. Today she said 'iPad' which was a surprise. We don't even have one. Who taught her that? Looking at the candle on the restaurant table last night at dinner, she told us the word for 'fire' in Chinese.

We were at an Indian restaurant. She was sooky and annoying and didn't eat. The staff had lots of 'mango' specials on the menu, including dessert. The owner wanted to give some but we declined on grounds that she had refused all her dinner. He told her to eat it so she could have ice-cream. She shoveled it all down. Loved the ice-cream and shared it voluntarily with all at the table, and didn't finish it all.

This morning at 4am I woke to her in the hallway, crying because she left her backpack on the train. Sweet little confused creature went back to sleep so easily with consoling.

Who's that peeping? 

Mondays are a 6am gym day for me, I'm home at 7am to a kid with a runny bottom. Panic as we both have busy workdays. Then sweet relief when I remember a set of grandparents have handily retired. Hurrah.

Three years old

Three years old and planned her party: chocolate cake, orange jelly and presents. Lego from Charlie. Much nose breathing as she concentrates. 

Bum wiggle dance going strong.

Does letters and numbers in record time.

Recognises M and W are the same, reversed, as are 6 and 9.

Schools us in Chinese, can count to ten and name colours, and sometimes say 'wash your face' in Chinese. Intonation impressive to us and we never get it right when we try to copy her.

Last night, milestone, three years and three weeks, she got up in the night to have a wee by herself, negotiating her layers of PJs and to her potty in the dark.

Can write her name with a somewhat disconnected 'a'. Draws maps and rainbows and mountains and zigzags. Says she can't draw animals or trees.

Managed to serve dessert. Tower to fridge, container of fruit, bowl and spoon from drawer, tower to bench...

Very affectionate. Insists on lots of goodbye kisses and cuddles. This week very clingy and hard to say goodbye. 

Talks about the twins in her tummy.