Miss Gives Away Her Birthday Gifts

When we were planning Little Miss's Kitty party, the cat adoption activity brought on a talk about animal shelters and cats that don't have families to live with.  It made Missy sad, and She asked if we could bring some birthday cake to the "sad kitties" to cheer them up.  I had to explain that cake probably wasn't the best food for a cat, but that She could always choose to ask for cat things at Her party, and share those.  Missy jumped at that plan, and so instead of gifts for Herself, She chose to ask guests to bring cat items to be donated to the local shelter.  This past weekend we gathered everything up and headed over to deliver them in person.

Miss at the shelter with some of Her birthday gifts  

Helping Hands

The shelter volunteers were wonderful; they were very excited about the supplies and even gave Miss a birthday cupcake as a thank-you.

Missy was pretty excited about that, but the best part was getting to go into the cat room to give toys and play with the cats.


She was in Little Miss heaven.  She gently pet and talked to all the cats, and one black and white kitty was especially fond of Her.  She got in lots of furry cuddles and was all smiles!

We dosed Little One that morning with allergy medicine, dressed Her in layers so She could peel off Her furry cardigan, and washed all over in the bathroom right after. So She got to participate in the visit, too, and though She sneezed and itched a little the rest of the day, it was worth it.

The girls also got a personal tour of the shelter, visiting dogs, bunnies, ferrets, rats, and birds.

We wrapped it up with an outing to our family's favorite restaurant for lunch, and it was an awesome day!  In our family, we do make-a-fuss birthday parties, and we consider that to be our gift to our birthday child.  So almost all the packages Miss unwrapped this year went to the shelter.
It's true that little kids love getting presents on their birthdays. But a new toy loses its novelty value and soon ends up with the others on a shelf somewhere.  Our Littles are very lucky to have generous grandparents and aunts who never let them go a year without a box arriving with something special just for them, and I think that the gifts they receive are more appreciated when they come from revered grandparents, and don't get lost in a mountain of coloring books and plastic ponies.
Besides which, I can honestly say to all the friends who brought donations to Her party, that they gave Her a gift far beyond the value of a bag of cat food.  For the worlds' greatest lover of cats, a whole morning surrounded by kitties was priceless.  I don't think any object could possibly have pleased Her more.
And though of course I can only surmise, I think that the feeling of being thanked by the shelter staff and seeing the cats bat at and chase the toys She brought them will outlast the memory of any toy we could have bought Her.
Sometimes, the best gift is the chance to give.

Little Mister FOUR Months

Four months.   FOUR! So it's official; Mister is no longer a "newborn".  He's a real, bouncing, BABY boy.  Now that we are in full baby-mode, Mister has lots of news to share.

Accomplishments:

BIG one! He rolled over!  Hanging out with me and my mom, rocking some tummy time, I was just saying how close He was to rolling, when He flipped over onto His back! He did it a few more times, just to show off, and was very proud of Himself.  We were too!

He has discovered feet.  Funny little devils.  Fun to stare at, chase after, and fun to kick stuff with. Kicking stuff has become almost as fun as hitting stuff. ( Insert gender-biased boy comment here).

He has perfected the Grab, and all persons with dangly earrings and/or long hair beware!  Most recently, He can also grab and shake, and it it pretty exciting.  I mean He shakes both the toy, and Himself.  

He has moved from the cradle in our room to His own crib in His own room.  With mixed results.  Mister can make it about a six hour stretch at night- but doesn't love to.  He would highly prefer, of course, to be snuggled all night.  And all day.  And just all the time.  But we are working on getting Him to fly solo at night.

It may be a long effort, though, because He continues to have some feeding issues probably due to his tongue-tie. Yeah, apparently that's like a real thing.  He may have to get snipped, but His sissy of a mama is dragging feet.  However, as a full night's sleep seems to get no nearer, I am reconsidering.  The problem is that He can't get enough milk to get really full unless He takes a bottle, and so He tends to wake every four hours still, starving.

He'd love to be a bottle-fed baby.  There is so little effort involved that He just kicks back like He's on the beach with a margarita and gets this glazed over look as He glugs it down.  Too bad for Mister, I am stubborn and He can just forget it.  But He has other likes that I can give in to:

- Bath.  Of course.  Still a huge fan, and getting very splashy.
- Books.  Loving trying to grab the pictures off the page, the more colorful the better.
- Sisters.  Nothing makes Him smile and wiggle quite like hearing His sisters come in the door, or getting one face-to-face.  It's awesome.
- Any direct attention.  He looks so honored when anyone talks right to Him.  "Me? Who ME? Are you talking to ME?! WELL HI THERE!!!"
- And loves a good back and forth conversation.  Even the serious talks eventually turn into comedy. This guy loves to laugh.
- Seeing the world.  During the day, His preference is to be carried around; going on a walk is even better, but getting toted about the house is also good, so long as we keep moving so the scenery changes.
- Hi sleep sack and pacifier.  OOooooh COzy.  He loves to snuggle in.
- Swings, gently being lifted up and down, getting danced around with.  A man of action!
- His hands.  Those things are delicious.  And fascinating! Did you know they can attach to one another?  Whoa.
- Baby toys.  He is finally erudite enough to appreciate the finer qualities of blue fuzzy elephants.  The ones that rattle are for sure the best ones.  Especially the blue, fuzzy elephant that rattles.

A few things still don't make that happy list:
-Boredom.  The worst thing ever is to be left on the play mat a few seconds past interesting.  Or to read one page past novelty value.  Or to be in a gosh-darn Evil Chair (car seat) for more than about two blocks.  BORing!
- Nursing.  It's a love-hate thing.  But for the most part, this necessary endeavor is frustrating and even a little painful for our poor guy.
- Poo.  He can't stand a dirty diaper.  And loves to be changed.  Unsnapping His onesie makes Him grin and gurgle.  It might also be the partial nudity involved, but He definitely loves to get clean.
-Hats.  So sad, because He is so bald and it is still cold.  We battle it out.
- Other people's sneezes.  He can take a lot in stride, including (thanks to the Sisters) a lot of noise.  But people sneezing freak Him out.
- Being upset.  Being upset, makes Him upset.  If I don't attend to Him right away, He seems to forget what He was crying about. All He knows is that He's unhappy, and He's going to scream about it until forever.  If He fusses from hunger and I don't get to Him before He's worked Himself up, then trying to feed Him only makes Him more mad.  "AHHHH! I'm already SO upset and now you're shoving stuff in my face! YOU MONSTER!"  If He fusses because He's dirty and I can't change Him right away, laying Him on the changing pad makes Him rage.  "AAAH! I'm already SO upset and now you're abandoning me on this surface of some sort! YOU MONSTER!"  If He's sleepy and I don't get Him settled into His crib before He melts down, putting Him in His beloved sleep sack only amplifies the screaming.  "AAAHHHH! I'm already SO upset and now you're cramming me into this sausage casing! WHY ME?! YOU MONSTER!!"  I have learned that when He gets going, I have to calm Him first, and then solve the underlying issue.  This can lead to some extreme measures.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm ready to try out for the circus, should I ever require a career change.

But I'm not looking to run off to the circus any time soon.  For one thing, with three kids, two dogs, and a move coming up, I can't imagine it would be a whole lot more exciting.  For another, even fuzzy tigers and dogs in tutus have nothing on the cuteness I get to indulge in here.
The newborn stage flew by so awfully fast, and I know that Mister's babyhood will too.  I can't slow it down, but the benefit to being the third (there's got to be some benefits, right?) is that I know that.  But I mean, I really, in my heart, in my bones know it.  And so I reflexively soak up the baby drool and giggles and gurgles every moment I can.  Little Mister, you were such a lovely newborn. I just know you will be a fantastic baby, too!  

Kitty Party

You know, Missy started Meowing before She said Her first word.  It is a great mystery of life how a lithe girl raised in a family of dog-lovers could become such an adamant cat person, but here She is.  OBSESSED.  So when I started to ask Her what kind of birthday party She'd like this year, I didn't even get the whole question out of my mouth before She began dancing around hollering "Kitties! Kitties! Kitty pah-tee YAY!" 

And so, though I had the uneasy feeling of enabling an addiction, we went for kitties.  How can you have a kitty party?  Just like, put some yarn out or something?  Hmm.  Some brainstorming with Miss and Little One got ideas going and pretty soon we ended up with the kittiest party I think Miss could have asked for.  It was a lot of fun! 

When our guests arrived, they stopped at the "cat shelter" and picked out a new cat to adopt.  

They named their new friend and filled out an adoption certificate and "license" tag, and chose a cat carrier to bring it home in.  

free printable adoption certificates from chickabug

Of course, the carriers and name tags needed a little decorating first.  

Then they went over to the animal hospital and gave their new pet a thorough check-up.  

We had some doctor kits out, and a favorite cat anatomy and fact book for reference.  There were cat eye-charts, dental charts, and physical forms to fill out with crayons, and band-aids and bandages for those who were diagnosed with owies.  

All the cats finished their visit with a Rx for some vitamins (fruit snacks) to take home. 

After that they went over to the pet shop so they would have all the supplies they needed to care for their new pet.  

They picked up some cat food (chocolate cereal), a food dish (painted baby food lids), and a cuddly blanket.  

They they got to fashion a collar out of ribbons and craft a toy for their cat out of pipe cleaners, feathers, and beads.  

Now that they were all set, our new cat-owners went to the "fancy feast" for snacks. 

 

Fish stick and chicken nugget "catch of the day"

cat-nip dip and veggies

strawberry mice with twizler tails

goldfish in a bowl (swedish fish in jello)

canaries and kitty chow (chex mix)

goldfish punch (just blue Hawaiian punch and sprite)

And, of course, cake.  I had a lot of fun making this cake.  Marshmallow fondant is like grown-up play-dough.  Everything was vegan and allergy-safe, so we didn't have to worry about anything.  

Little Miss loved the party.  She was very specific about Her guest list, and was so happy that Her best friends from school and play group were there to play with Her.  

Mister's kitten onesie, along with Little One's shirt and Missy's skirt made by my mom!

"MEEEEOWWW!"

She was in Her element with all the cat-ness.  

As usual, the only thing She wasn't so happy with was the moment She was forced into the center of attention.  

All those staring, singing people just weird Her out! She hid behind Her hands and whispered to Little One, "You do it, sissy!"  So Little One helped Her out and blew out the candle for Her.

  

Of course, getting to eat the cake helped Her make a quick recovery.  

I usually make a piñata, but for a cat party? The idea of bashing a cat in effigy seemed a little morbid. So instead, I drew faces and ears on easter eggs and added yarn tails to make them look like mice.  We filled them with goodies and J hid them while the kids had cake.  Then all our kitty friends ran out onto the playground for a mouse hunt!

caught one!

We ended the fun by running off all the sugar on the playground.

Little Miss had ballet right before the party, a quick nap after and then attended the party of a couple of Her friends who share a birthday week.  Then She and Little One headed over to their weekly swimming lesson!

It was an absolutely jam-packed, could not possibly have fit in any more fun kind of day.  Missy had a great time- we all did!  Happy Birthday to our Little Miss kitty-cat lover.  We think She's the cat's meow! 

We seem to have some beverage issues.

Little Miss is getting a little ahead of Herself with this growing up business.  Example one, via Her teacher:

Missy and Her math teacher were practicing counting.

Miss: "I am three! Next I'm gonna be fo-ah, and the fahv, then six, seven, eight! And then! I will be old enough to drink wine!"

Example two:

C: "what do you want to be when you grow up?"
Miss (sighs over the lameness of the question): "a growed up person, mom."

C:" Ok, but what do you want to DO when you're a grown up then?"
Miss: "hmm. Drink soda!"

Little Miss THREE

Wow. Three. Beyond the border of toddlerhood, officially edging into real kid-ness.
Little Miss, at three, is a dichotomy.  A paradox.  She is everything at once.
She is the sweetest, most darling little charmer you could imagine.  She is the most stubborn, obstinate, patience-testing pillbox she can be.  Depending on the moment.
Little Miss has the ability to cause my jaw to drop in disbelief an unlimited number of times, because really? Really did She just say that? Really?
A reaction comprised of either horror or adoration.  Depending on the moment.
She occasionally rebels against Her sister's "leadership qualities", but She is Little One's biggest fan.  She occasionally looks at my lap with a covetous expression, but She dotes on Mister with an amazing gentleness and loyalty.  She is an utter and unabashed Mama's girl, full of hugs, cuddles, compliments, and "I love you"s, and also has no qualms whatsoever about screaming "NO" right in my face, or staring me down with the unwavering, menacing glare of a show-down cowboy.
I'm glad I waited a bit to write this post, actually.  It's given three a little time to sink into Little Miss, and I have to say I see changes already.  Part of it may be the fuss we are making over how She is THREE now, and SO big and grown up. Now that She is THREE She is certainly, magically, able to swim like a big kid (no tears) at lessons, to make Her bed without help, to button Her own jacket.
It might be that the pride in our faith of Her Big Three Year Old abilities has puffed Her up enough to carry Her out of a grumpy slump. Because already, the gloomy faces of Two are fading away.  I hope She keeps rounding this corner and comes out a little ray of sunshine, Peanuts, because between you and I, the tweenage years with this one were looking fierce.
These days, though, there are a ton of loves (and only a few pounds of opposition), and a lot of helpfulness, as well.  There are tragedies, comedies, and triumphs.  I would need a panorama lens the size of Wyoming to capture all that is Missy at Three, but below are some highlights.  A Cliffnotes version, believe it or not.

Acheivements
Missy has learned a lot in the last year.  She can:
- Count to 30
- Recognize all Her upper/lowercase letters and their sounds
- Spell some 3 letter words
- Spell, read, and write the words: Little Miss, Little One, Mommy, Daddy, Yes, No, Van, Umbrella, Whale, Train, and Zipper.  (last 5 courtesy of a favorite spelling game)
- Do simple addition
- Memorize entire books, songs, and what you said when you thought She wasn't listening.
- Button buttons, zip zippers, and otherwise dress Herself .
- Destroy you at a game of memory.  Seriously, you have no chance.
- Draw happy faces and hearts, write several letters.
- Do all Her chores without help:
   * Dress Herself, brush Her teeth and hair, put on Her sunscreen, sort dirty laundry by color, fold clothes and put them away, put away silverware from the dishwasher, set and clear the table, sweep under Her chair, clean up after Herself, make Her bed, "orga-zize" the shoe closet and toy shelves, dust furniture and baseboards, peel carrots, chop veggies, measure and stir baking ingredients, and entertain Mister while I put my makeup on.  Oh, and She's perfectly able to put Her own makeup on, rather to my horror.
- Almost ride a tricycle.  So close, guys, so close.
- Make it to the potty. Day, night, no biggie.  Now, when something upsets the perfect order of Her universe (like we are not at home, or we have a visitor, or we stayed up late to see a movie), She may have an accident at night.  Not totally sure if it actually is an 'accident'.  But it's a rare thing, anyways, and I take for granted these days that She is pretty much as potty-trained as the rest of us.
- Entertain Herself for hours.
-Beat adults in an argument.
- Tell amazing, cinematic stories about things that happened to Her "when She was little".
-Manage to make anyone laugh, any time.  Even- especially- when you're trying to be really mad at Her.

Not-So-Much-Loves
Missy doesn't hide it when She's not thrilled.  Here's what gets the infamous grumpy-face:
-Bell peppers. WHyyyyyy?! She'd decided She won't eat them and it drives me crazy.  CRAzy.
- Any food She usually loves, just because. She loves this eggplant moussaka I make. It's a family favorite. But occasionally, for no reason, She will cry at dinner because She can't stand eggplant. Today.  Tomorrow She will love it again.  But all things are subject to this capricious revulsion.
- Swimming. She tries guys, She does.  But She gets in the water and the pouty face comes out.
- Anything She isn't already good at.
   This is the trouble with swimming.  It's why Her teacher didn't know until I told Her that Miss could spell.  Why She asks me ALL the time what foot Her shoe goes on.  Because until She's had a chance to perfect a skill *in private with NO one watching*, She can't stand to attempt it with an audience.   
- Being told what to do.  By ANYone.  This child. She gives me gray hair, but She will Hillary Clinton it up someday, just watch.
- The Unknown.  Little Miss LOVES who She loves.  But you have to stick around a good long while to make that A list.  She is not so sure about strangers, and takes Her time warming up to people.  She needs encouragement to try new things.  While undeniably brave, Miss is cautious.
- Owies.  Ok, She's emotionally brave.  Physically? Paper-cuts, stubbed toes, and even imaginary owies need kisses and band-aids.  In fact, She might need to go to the hop-i-tal.
-Making Her bed. She can do it.  But She doesn't want to.
- Getting dirty.  Miss is a clean-freak.  If She gets mud on Herself while playing outside, it is an instant pause to change clothes and wash up before She can play (at making mud-pies or splashing in puddles) again.  She doesn't like kneading dough or finger-painting for this reason.
- You.  Your face.  Your voice. Your stuff.  Whatever you are doing.  If She's in the mood to be grumpy, no one is spared.  When Grumpy hits, all of us are NOT-HER-FRIEND.

Loves
- Me.  What can I say, Peanuts? I'm awesome.  And/or I spoil Her the most.  You know, whatever.
- SISSY.  Probably should have put this as number one.  Missy idolizes Little One, adores Her, and hates to be without Her.  Last time Miss had to go to school alone because Little One was sick, She cried "Siiissssyyyyy!" all the way to school.  Little One is Her best and most cherished friend.
- Brother. Little Miss is so sweet to Her Mister-baby.  She is exquisitely gentle with Him.  She Has observed Him quietly a long time (as She has most everything) and sometimes when He fusses tells me, "He wants His paser-fy-uh, Mommy" or "He's getting hungry" or "He doesn't like that toy any-mo-ah." And She's almost always right.
-Books.  Missy loves few things as much as books.  It makes me both proud and a little sad to too how terribly, terribly badly Little Miss wants to know how to read.  She is trying very hard to learn. In the meantime, She begs for favorites to be read to Her a BAZILLION times, until She has memorized the whole thing.  Then She sits at "nap" time and pores over it, page by page, "reading" it to Herself.
- Art.   A runner-up.  I could probably throw away most of the toys in our house, and as long as I left the art area Miss would never even notice.  She spends most of Her free time coloring, drawing, and affixing stickers.
- Cats.  What the? Where did She get this?! No one knows.  But She loves cats. Kitties. Kittens.  All things feline. Her favorite lovies are kitties and She likes to pretend either to be or own a cat.  She still occasionally Meows when She is sad or hurt or in need of extra affection.
-Ballet.  Since we saw the nutcracker Miss has been all about ballet. She started lessons in January and loves every inch of it.
- Cuddles.  Miss has become the ultimate, world champion cuddle bug.
-Playing outside. Especially if there is swinging and unless She gets dirty.
- Soy milk. Salmon.  Cabbage Carrots, Broccoli, Salad, Kale, brussels sprouts.
 Spicy food. All fruit, especially frozen fruit.  Olives and pickles, anything sweet.
- Predictability, routine, consistency.
- To change Her mind.
-To make You laugh.  This child is hilarious.  She tells jokes, notices puns, teases and sillies us all into laughter all the time.  She's actually really funny. And Her own laughter?  Infectious.

Altogether
Miss is full of personality, full of attitude, full of silly, full of love.  She's tough because She's a little sister and has to be; She's gentle and needy because She's sensitive and quiet by nature.  She scowls when She's upset or anxious, but those of us who know Her at all know the truth; that really She's an intensely loving, loyal, sweet sunshine of a Little Miss.  She is showing hints that the challenges of Two (mostly caused by wrestling with whether to grow up or be mommy's baby forever) are fading and the joys of three (definitely growing up) are full-on fantastic.
I am so lucky to be the mama to this feisty, huggy, smart and sweet little girl.  I can't wait to see what's ahead!