Sunday, December 25, 2005

Christmas 2005: V

Just you and Me, Baby


Amelia has been mastering the English language this year. We’ve been especially proud of her pronoun usage, despite some occasional confusion when she is distracted by something important like avoiding blame. For example, after a vey loud toot for which the girls were both quick to avoid responsibility, Isabelle pronounced assuredly, “it wasn’t me.” Amelia, smiling confidently while fumbling her pronouns, announced, “it wasn’t you, either!”

Christmas 2005: IV

The Fashionista


Amelia, who is otherwise very capable young lady, has had trouble mastering some simple daily tasks. Her shoes end up on the wrong feet significantly more than half the time. She often shuffles from the bathroom with her underpants around her ankles – most commonly in restaurants, malls and other high-traffic public venues. This all came to a head one morning when Kristin heard sounds of a mighty struggle coming from Amelia’s bedroom. Sounds of physical struggle gave way to sounds of emotional exasperation as Amelia made her way into the hall. Somehow, and we still aren’t certain exactly how, Amelia had wrestled her shirt onto her torso incorrectly in a 3 dimensions – it was backward, upside down and inside out. The neck was stretched tightly around her waist, her arms were pinned low like a Tyrannosaur’s and the rest was immodestly draped low across her chest. She surrendered the Great Shirt Battle of 2005 with an infuriated.”Momma, I don’t sink dis is wight!”

Christmas 2005: III

Sweet Tooth


Out of nowhere one day, Isabelle proclaimed that she would eat no more candy. It is, after all, she explained, not good for you and it rots your teeth. But after a few more seconds of thoughtful consideration, she concluded that “well, maybe I’ll only just have two pieces… everyday.”

Christmas 2005: VI

Amelia to English Translation

Amelia’s struggles to communicate do not end there. Recently She asked if she could hear “Amelia, you’re shaking my coffee” on the radio. Brad and Kristin traded confused glances. After asking twice for clarification and getting the same response it finally occurred to us that she was reciting a line from Simon and Garfunkel’s classic Cecelia: “Oh Cecelia, you’re breaking my heart, you’re shaking my confidence lately.” C’mon everybody sing with us: “Oh, Amelia, you're breaking my heart, you’re shaking my coffee lately.”

Christmas 2005: II

Truth or Dare


Isabelle is now old enough to understand the gray area between truth and fiction. She recently faced a difficult question from Kristin about whether she had left the play room in an acceptable condition: “If I walk in there, am I going to be angry?” Isabelle, already through the kitchen and half-way out the front door, responded over her shoulder with a resolute “no… but don’t go in there!”

Christmas 2005: I

The Zoo


Isabelle loves the zoo. On a recent visit, she and Kristin wandered into the reptile house where they stood silently mesmerized by the Emerald Tree Boa. The silence was broken only when Isabelle announced, “Mama, I’d love a purse made out of that!”