conversation

The three of us are sitting at the dinner table. Daddy said with 100% of admiration to Sana, " you are so beautiful. If you were my age, I would have married you."

"That's silly." Sana responded.

Growing!

Sana has got a few new things to say.

"You are right!" Even though I personally do not encourage the idea of restricting young kids' thinking (like to tell them this is what it is, nothing else), Sana still sounds cute when she says this. This is clearly from our current babysitter, who really emphasizes on kids being correct. I do not oppose the idea of appropriate behavior, but I do not completely agree that they have to name things or playing some not-so-creative games (like the sticky dinosaur) correctly. Why do I have to put down so many words yet still feel I haven't expressed explicitly? It is all one word "creativity" that I am after. This is one of those times that I wish I could afford (financially, physically, and emotionally) to be with my kid(s) and watch them closely at least until they are 6.

"Which one do you like?" And she really would give you the one you like. This fact I love. And please do not get it wrong. She has boundaries. She does not share everything. I always wonder at such miracle. This is not only Sana, it is about kids, young kids. I call it a miracle because sharing with certain boundaries is such a complicated idea yet these little persons have been gracefully handling it since such an early age.

" I've got a plan!" Then she went on elaborating about it, most of it understood by herself only. Then she would ask, "ok?" If you said "ok". She would be so excited and tell you, "follow me". Then all you have to do is to follow her lead. I always let her take the lead when time allows and safety issue is under control.

" Are you ready to go?" She is such a bundle of energy, always on the go. This has two positive effects: she gets ready by herself; and she sometimes helps you to get ready by bringing your shoes and reminding you of the keys...

"Awesome!" This one sounds so surreal coming out of a two-year-old!

" Too~~~ Pre~~~tty~~~" What a girly girl!

Sana's First I Love You

Daddy has been away for three weeks now. Sana is missing him every day. On the first few nights, Sana would turn around to face me in bed and utter a sad word, "daddy". I asked her if she was missing daddy and she answered yes. "Are you missing daddy so much that you cannot sleep right now?" This question returned a nod.

So I try my best to cheer her up. I keep a busy schedule with her. She goes to our babysitter for the day while I work. When I finish working, our program starts. Sometimes I take her to see bunnies, sometimes on the swing at the playground, sometimes we go for a ride.

Last night, I told her that we would go run a few errands and then we would go for ice cream. She was so looking forward to it, the ice cream part. We went to the mall after the housing office, the bank, and the library. I got her an ice cream and then borrowed the car from the mall. Sana was in heaven, riding in the car with an ice cream cone in hand.

When I was scrutinizing in the store, Sana was enjoying her ice cream and the ride. We both won, I told myself. Right that moment, Sana said, " I love you, mommy."

Well, in the end I think I won. She only responded " I love you (too/three)" if we initiated it before.