Her First Right of Passage

November 7, 2009 / Dawn Kasal-Finley / 3 Comments

So, today I took Zoë to get her ears pierced today. I have been wanting to do it for some time now and Bill and I agreed that I would wait until after her 2nd birthday. I have been talking to her about it for a few weeks, getting her prepared. I have to say that she really did awesome. I, of course, would be lying if I said she didn’t cry but the tears only lasted a minute until she noticed something sparkly and shiny at the accessories store. She has been doing really well with leaving them alone and letting me clean and twist them–I have only had to do it once today as we got them pierced this afternoon. But so far, so good.

And she looks adorable….

Here is a token Halloween photo–more details coming about Zoë’s first trick or treating experience and her birthday(those pics on my desktop and I’ll pull them off soon).

Two is Beautiful

November 3, 2009 / Dawn Kasal-Finley / 3 Comments

More later on the birthdaygirl

21-Months-Old

August 5, 2009 / Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

Dear Zoë,

Two days ago you turned 21-months-old. That is 21-months going on 3 or 4. You are a personality to be reckoned with and you never let us forget it. You are at that age where you are so rapidly changing and developing. You shine so bright that it is impossible not to notice you and become washed in your zest for life. Your smile and laugh are infectious and you consistently crack yourself up over and over.

You have really ceased being a toddler and are rapidly becoming a little girl. A little girl who likes dolls and cars, pushing strollers and pushing spiderman or batman, who loves lip glass (thanks for that grandma anne) and getting dirty. But most of all you love to have fun and you have a lot of it. You dance and wrestle with your big brother–and he loves that. You will stand by the back door for as long as it takes for someone to come look for you and take you outside. You would live outside if you could. You want to be outside all of the time doing all sorts of things–but mostly playing in the kiddie pool and swinging. You’ll have me push you in the swing until I want to poke my eyes out with spoons. You and Noah both would swing all day. All. Day. Just so you know it is great that you like to be outside and that you don’t enjoy watching much tv. But your mom does love watching tv. How I miss TV. Oh, wait this is a letter for you.

You are still such a tiny little thing. Which blows my mind as you eat like a linebacker and would be happy to have a constant stream of food going into your mouth. You will eat just about anything we give you–unlike your brother who doesn’t venture out of the hot dog, avocado, noodle, cheese, grapes food groups. You are a champion eater. Thank goodness eating is the one thing you do on your own with out any consulatation with your older brother. This is the only thing that you don’t consult/copy your brother on. You have to do everything Noah does. Still. I should count myself lucky that your brother is a pretty good kid. You have recently begun singing and since you really don’t have enough actual speech ability to sing all of the words its a cross between humming and singing. “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and the “ABC’s” are your two songs of choice and often you combine them and it is pretty funny. Cute but funny.

We have added a kitten to the house and it has been a few weeks (maybe a month) but you love that kitty and it is pretty cute. You look for her and call out for her. She comes to you often–she must love being manhandled by toddlers becuase she doesn’t complain. You do have a scratch or two–but you are learning to not grab and to be gentle. You are learning slow–not beause you are being mean to the kitty but because you want to hug her–aka squeeze her. Your love of animals is amazing. You seek out any animal you can and you want to hug it and pet it and kiss it. You are not afraid. Maybe you will share my love of animals and become a veternarian and I can live vicariously through you.

You are growing so fast and it is hard to believe how much you have changed from that confused and scared little baby girl who came home nearly 14 months ago. You are beginning to blossom and your flower is gorgeous.

Love you,

Mommy

367 Days Home/20-Months-Old

July 1, 2009 / Dawn Kasal-Finley / 2 Comments

My little Bo-Bo has been home a year now and I can hardly believe it. There is so much I want to say about her, but I am so busy that I don’t have the time right now to do it. I have 5 minutes while my student are on break, but I just wanted to post a few things about Zoë. She is such a special little gal….

Dear Zoë,

You have a spirit that shines at least as bright as your brother’s–if someone had told me that a year ago I would have laughed at them. But you are just as special as your brother and the people flock to you as they do to him. It’s great. The kids at daycare absolutely love you. As soon as you enter, all I hear is “Zoë, Zoë, Zoë, Zoë!!!” and you laugh and smile and say “Hi.” Too flippin’ cute for your own good.

You still follow your brother and mimic everything he does–maybe even more so now that you are getting older and are able to do more of the things that he can. You try and jump and often propel yourself with such force forward that the opposite happens and you fall backwards. You laugh uncontrollably and your laugh is so bright, happy, innocent and full of life. It is infectious, mischievous and brilliant.

Now, there is one thing that I need to talk to you about–this whole taking your diaper off at night and peeing all over your bed has to stop as does sticking your hand into your pants after you have pooped and then wiping your hands on things and crying that you have poop on your hands. Really–everytime you do this–and it is often (sadly–I promise to pay for therapy later since I have aired your dirty laundry online)I just want to scream at you “Don’t you remember the last time you did this?” You will make me work as a parent.

There is so much to say–you have blossomed into an amazing little girl–with so much spunk and volume. I don’t know how all of that life is wrapped up in your itty bitty body. You make us all laugh and you have learned the art of standing up for yourself with the bigger kids. You spend a bit of time in “time-out” at daycare because you hit a kid who took something you wanted or wouldn’t share with you. right. now. But your joy and spirit ensures that everyone loves you regardless.

I look forward to watching you grow and becoming that stubborn little class clown that you will certainly grow into. You make me laugh and make me want to get up every morning and be the best mom I can be. You deserve it as you are the most special little girl a mother could as for.

I love you baby–more and more each day,

Mommy