Pirates -- Day 781

The pictures for this entry will be on a cake theme. The first is of Anna on her first birthday. The second is of her second birthday, and the third is a cake that Anna helped make for her Nya-Nyas (her cuddly toys). Kerry decided to let Anna help make a cake and give the Nya-Nyas a party. It was a really good idea and Anna loved it, but beware that chocolate will get everywhere and don't let the baby decorate the cake. There is simply nothing you can do. If you put a big pan of chocolate in front of a baby, you should expect what comes next. Chocolate in the hair, chocolate in the mouth, hands in the cake. The last picture is of Anna in her Halloween costume. Guess who Anna is going to be?

Well, Anna is now into pirates. During our Kiev visit, we didn't have many books, so one in particular with a Captain Willie and a dozen pirate mice stuck with her. Actually, it more than stuck, it has become a defining two-year-old moment.

Now, when she wants to give someone a compliment she will call you a pirate. Just recently Aunt Susan was here and at one point Anna confided with us saying, "Aunt Susan is a pirate." But she says it in this very tender and serious tone that really conveys the importance of being a pirate in her life. Pirates are cool.

Unfortunately, 18 September was national talk-like-a-pirate day and it came and went without our noticing (or speaking pirate). Anna loves to talk pirate now. She says, "Walk the plank," "Aye, matie," "Shiver me timbers," and "X marks the spot."

One morning I was listening to NPR on the radio and Anna kept on saying, "They are talking about pirates." Of course they weren't, but she was convinced they were. A couple of minutes later I noticed that the radio newsman said "higher ed" as in higher education and this is what she heard that sounded like the word pirate. Just say it a few times fast and you'll understand.

Basically, every boat is now a pirate ship, and Anna can interpret anything as talk about pirates if there is sufficient enough imagination or vowel and consonant similarities.

One more pirate story. The other day she was trying to look down my shirt to see Daddy's boobies (her words not mine). Anyhow, I informed Anna that I didn't have any because I was a boy. She gave me this serious confounded look; I guess she wasn't quite ready for that level of understanding. The next morning when I picked her up out of her bed she said, "Daddy doesn't have boobies." Of course, I confirmed that was true and asked her why that was. In Anna's words: "Because Daddy is a pirate." Yeah, that's probably a better explanation at this point.

Anyhow, I see a convergence of explanations, and I think I may start leveraging this logic against her. Pirates go to sleep now. Pirates eat their carrots. Pirates don't cry. Ill see how it goes.

The other funny thing Anna has been saying lately is related to potty training. She has only gone once or twice since the last post when I talked about her going potty. If you remember, after a little dribble of success, I scheduled a call from Elmo to congratulate Anna. She thought this was the best thing ever. Now, however, when Anna sees someone going to the bathroom or when we tell her that we are running to the bathroom, she likes to point out that we'll be getting a call from Elmo. Apparently, Elmo gives everyone a call after they finish their business. What a great world that would be.

Anna has started music class again. We tried a different class over the summer because the schedule worked out better, but Anna likes the one we first enrolled her in. Plus the music is better, so we don't mind listening to it during the day. Anyhow, Anna now regularly belts out a song or two in the wee hours of the morning. Aunt Susan was staying in her room during her recent stay and got front row seat at the concert.

Anna also likes to play her xylophone, and she will sit down behind it with both mallets in her little hands banging away. She goes through all the songs she knows, then she even prods us with, "What's another song I know." We tell her a title and the xylophone banging begins again. One time I requested a song and she just looked puzzled and says, "How does that song go?" With just a little reminder from Dad, off she went, banging away and when it came to the point where the bee in the song was supposed to tickle her, she stopped playing and began tickling herself. It's all in the name of art.

The only other story I will tell is one about Aunt Susan. She was trying to take a nap in Anna's room while Anna was supposed to be taking one herself. Well, Anna never really got to sleep, but Susan's first-hand account was quite illuminating. At one point she said, "Anna's going to climb out of the boat (her crib) now." Anna has yet to do this and we are not looking forward to that day. Thanks for the warning.

The other thing Anna said was, "Anna's going to start crying now, then Mamma will come in and get me and we'll read books." Sure enough Anna laid out a blistering last-ditch crying effort; her Mommy came and got her; and they both were soon in bed reading books. Who's playing whom in the relationship? I have my hunch.

Well, that is it for now. She enjoyed seeing Aunt Susan during her short stay, and Anna still loves her day school. I have to work tomorrow. How fun. I asked Anna if she liked it when Daddy comes to school with her, and she said very sincerely, "Yes." I told her not to worry and that that would change one day. Daddy is still hip it seems -- for now.