We heard "Granny/Grandad at the Myrtle Beach airport even before we saw you. Two lovely hugs and we were ready to be together again. Over the time since December, we managed to FT most days and felt we hadn't missed too much but seeing you and holding you was so special. You are the best. You have learned so much. Mostly you speak in full sentences and sometimes in French. You love to sing and recite. You know the ABC song in both languages, Humpty Dumpty, Old Macdonald had a Farm, Itsy Bitsy Spider and more. You say, I tending (pretending) and I member (remember). You and Grandad had a great play and dance at your house. We love you.
March 4. My bd plans changed when we got an SOS call from your Mama. You and she went to the Robicon. The plan was that you would play with Mikey and that his Mom and your Mama would take turns with the caregiving. However, you weren't especially happy with all the noise and excitement so your Mama asked us to take you home. The event was 2 1/2 hours from OKI so your other Grandma drove to pick you up and bring you to us. You had a great sleep but were quite disoriented when you arrived here. You cheered up when you saw a new Peppa Pig in a yellow raincoat on your little table and we played and played. You had your first sleep-over ever that night and although I didn't sleep very well, you managed to do OK. We had a fun day on Sunday, went to the beach, read stories and played in the water. You blended back into our lives with not problems.
On Sunday, your Mama didn't get home to us until 22h00. You had a long sleep and although you asked for Mama a few times over the day, you coped well. We didn't put you to bed because we knew you were waiting to see your Mama come home. And the reunion was delightful--not sure who was more happy to see who but it was lovely.
We had a fun time at the beach on Monday. The beach is just two blocks away so that is a bonus. We dug and covered our feet and made small sticks stand in the sand. Then you wanted to throw rocks into the water. There are lots of smallish rocks washed up to the sand. First you asked us to throw them in and then you could do it yourself. What fun.
March 26. You are like a sponge. When I sing a new song to you or a rhyme, you say again, again, again and then listen closely so you can repeat. Your French is amazing. You even talk about en Francoise and in English. On the beach one day, you and Grandad were dancing and you were singing "Sure Le Pont" the whole time. Yesterday you and Grandad were playing Super Grandad and Super Girl Brienne. You put you fist up and get a determined look on your face when you say "Super Girl Brienne".
You can "read" tell the stories of many of your books. To name a few: I Like Hats, Mudpuddle, Wheels on the Bus, BINGO, Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Your speech is very advanced for a 26 month old. You were so excited about your cousin Violet's visit. You were like a little shadow and Violet was very sweet with you. She is 8.
You still love bubbles and yesterday, we put the sponge puzzle numbers together and you ran back and forth on the road and said I fast. You have a little red bike that you like to ride on the deck. You aren't using the peddles yet but scoot along just fine.
At the Robotics competition, you were delighted to see your Mama but found the noise overwhelming. Even the next day , you would say "Robotics make sound" and whimper a bit.
We had a playdoh table and you always have the pink plastic knife and I have the black one. We make circles and balls. You ask for chats and chiens which I make and you play with. You have a great imagination having them chat to each other.
Grandma bought you a new dress and sweater and you wore it and shiny purple shoes to her Gallery Show. We called it a party and you said that your Aunt Rebeckah gave you ice cream. You were a big hit as you marched around at the party.
Today you went to your nap room and said, "Brienne chambre.". You were reading a French book, well telling the story and you did it all in French. You also "read" Mud Puddle", and like the Richard Scary Cars/Trucks book.
When you arrive this morning, you had Wonder Woman and Super Girl action figures. When Grandad wanted to see them, you said, "Mine" and wouldn't share. Then you said "Back" to him so he wouldn't come any closer to them. Later you showed them to him. You are very definite. We have your blow-up swimming pool and you love to play in it when we return from the beach. There is a fish shaped watering can that you play with. You were telling us the names for its face. It said glub, glub.
You wanted to go swimming but it was too windy. You found your swim suit and put it on with both feet in the same leg. So I helped you get it straight and you wore it with leotards. You also prefer to wear two different coloured shoes together and will often wear a pick croc and a red and white spotted shoe together. You have a trick to get your shoes off by stepping on the toe of one and pulling your foot out.
Yesterday (March 31), it rained very hard and in a lull, we thought we would go to the beach. So you put on your Lady Bug Girl boots and we had jackets and umbrellas. Well, we got a couple of houses down and it started to pour again. We were wet in minutes. You had been jumping in mud puddles like Peppa Pig gang so I popped you in the stroller and we ran home. We were standing on the concrete pad under our house and you were again jumping in puddles. In March, we spent 22 days together out of a possible 29.
April: Today when we had a ft session, you asked for Grandad which you often do. He pretended to fly past, you were amused. Then he flew back and you went for a quick fly around your living-room. Very cute. This evening you found your drawer of clothes and put on about 17 dresses. Some were just over your head and gathered around you top. You are so fun.
When you visited on Monday, you were having cereal while Mama and we were chatting. You picked up you bowl and drank the last of the milk. Your Mama was not impressed. You looked at me and said, "Mama not like this game.". I said that you could only do that at GrannyGrandad's place. Then later after being at the beach, you were in your pool on the back deck and you drank some water from the pool. I didn't react and you said, "Mama, not like this game.". Later your Mama told me that she tells you not to drink out of the pool or tub. So you are learning that there are somethings you and do only in some places.
You and my friend, Miss Betty played many elaborate games while they stayed with us. Betty is the best at playing. You called them Miss Betty and Mr. Tom because well brought up children in the South learn to us the preface words when talking to adults. Betty brought a book about Penguins. Betty was reading it to you and talking about a nest. A week earlier, I discovered a bird's nest in a folded beach chair and showed it to you. So you thought a bit and then told Betty that nests are in "chair". Later when I was reading this book, you said, "Miss Betty gave". You language skills and thinking seems to grow daily. When you paint you are very intent and even name what you paint sometimes. For instance, you painted a blue blob and called it a lion. You love to jump in puddles with your Lady Bug Girl boots on. You love to dig at the beach and run along the shore. So far this time we haven't taken you in the water. (April 11, 2017)
Today, we were chatting on FT. You asked for Grandad. As it was early morning, I said, Grandad sleeping. You said, "Make noise. Grandad wake and play with me."
You had a great time in the bath. We had a tablet which made the water pink. What fun. After you were dry, I combed your hair into curls. What a sweetie!
Drove you to Wilmington this am so you could stay with Grandma. At noon, she brought you to the Olive Garden where we were finishing lunch. You were happy to join us and then go home with us. We gave you a little dog who we named "Happy". We sang the BINGO song to it substituting HAPPY.
Went to the beach with you this morning. You had a grand time running and jumping in the puddles. You were wearing a hat and were great at leaving it on but the wind blew it off and it landed in the water. You were happy to wear it even though it was wet.
After a big rain fall, we went out to jump in the puddles. Your Grandad bought some boots so he could jump with you. You got wet because you fell down in the water. You didn't fuss much just walked on home for a "clean new, shirt and clean, new pants" from the Mud Puddle story by Robert Munch. You are really into Corduroy books just now. You like to "read" the story and turn the pages. At the end of the Pocket for Corduroy book, they nuzzle noses which is something you do with your Mama so when I asked what is "nuzzle noses" in French, you told me. You love the French TV programs that we watch. Max and Ruby is one. You can converse very well in French. You are even able to talk about the language which is amazing.
Today when we were chatting with Auntie Sheryl on FT, you sang happy birthday to Uncle Neil as it is his birthday is tomorrow. Later we were reading a Sesame book and there was a picture of a nest for Big Bird. You mentioned Miss Betty because of a previous discussion with her about nests and penguins. What a memory.
You had another sleepover at our house last evening. Mama was finishing a paper just in time to be in by midnight. You went a tad sad when you realized Mama was not coming but fell asleep easily--not surprising it was 22h00. You waken in the night and missed your Mama but fell back to sleep and wakened again at 8h00.
Story from Mama: When you were getting ready to come to our house, you said, "Grandad, saying, Where is my Brienne?. Grandad saying, Where is the squirrel?" Upon arrival you wanted to Grandad play "little bit". You two went out onto the back deck and played. Then you came in and put your hands on the floor and lifted one leg and said you were an acrobat. And you danced like a ballerina, and claimed to be Super Girl.
You were saying Fais Do Do which is the song Mama sings to you when you are going to sleep and Grandad found some French songs on the computer and that song in particular. You were delighted and sang along. Then it was time for your nap and you came along a sweet as could be until you heard another song on the computer. We returned so you could listen and then off to bed. We read the two Corduroy books which are your current favs. You have a book at home called "123 Canada" and of course, there are pictures of snow in it. In the 'Pocket for Corduroy" book, the bear is left at the laundromat and in his exploring, he slips on some soap so everytime we read that part you talk about snow and Canada.
You think you Grandad is the best and want him to "play a little bit". You like to be an acrobat: you put your hands on the floor and raise one let. You are also a Balerina: you go up on your toes and put your hands above you head and dance around. You are also Super Girl: you put your arm up in a fist and run fast. You like to look for stuff using flashlights with Grandad. Usually you look under beds and in the bathrooms where it is dark. Today you came out and told Mama and me that you found "dust" under the bed.
May 5 -- you were painting with Grandad. He was painting different coloured lines. You studied what he was doing for a while and then tried to make some lines as well. You made two sort of lines and then made a blot and called it an 'H'. You really study things so closely. Also, because you had waken quite early, I was thinking it was time for a nap. You suddenly said, "I sleep now" and toddled off to your bedroom and got into your bed. You didn't was a story, just to go to sleep and so you did.
What a sweetie. Except on the last meeting of STEM council, your Mama left home before you waken and Grandad and I went to your house to be there when you wakened, you came out of the bedroom and looked at us and went raced back and got back into bed. You were quite mad a us because you weren't your Mama.
You have a good memory. For example, in your bedroom at our house, there are two single beds. You have one and I lay on the next while you are getting ready to nap. The third one was used by Krista in March. Yesterday, you told Grandad that it was Krista's bed. You still remember Miss Betty and the fun you had with her.
Your eyeteeth are coming in and you have a runny nose and a bit of a cough. You like to have your nose wiped with a wet facecloth. Today we "played a little bit". You helped with Dad's bd cake. You like to sit on the counter and help me stir stuff. You like pancakes and part of it is the preparation.
You love your stuffed guys and often give them hugs. And we play with them together. Also you like three little cats that were in your Easter eggs and also the monkey puppets from "Monkeys Jumping on the Bed".
We have had the best time watching you grow from a tiny baby to a fun, interesting almost 28 month old little girl. Today your Mama sent a text telling us that you were blinking at her and said "parpierre" which means eyelids in French. What a joy. We are excited that you and your parents are moving to Canada.
Tomorrow is May 16 and Gandad and I are driving home to Ottawa.
Love you. Granny
PS Mama sent a photo of you and the Etch a Sketch whee you had drawn a face with eyes and a smile. What a smartie.
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