First Haircut

Clara had her first hair cut this week. It was cold and rainy on Monday and I saw Great Clips was running a $5.99 special through March 2. This was really the only day we could go this week and it is rainy...okay.

The lady was nice, Lisa was her name. Clara did not want to sit in the chair so I had to kneel in front of her so the lady could cut her hair from behind while she was standing up. Lisa cut a little more off than I wanted but...it will grow back...and it should grow in thicker.

Unfortunately did not get any photos of the actual cut (since I had to hold onto Clara) but I took after photos (and you can see before photos in previous posts on this blog). Clara was very good during the cut and I think the next time we go, she'll do even better. I don't think she even noticed the woman cutting her hair.

Oh, and we made blueberry muffins too. I never knew baking could be so easy. I might do more of it more often now... (with Clara's help. She actually did most of the preparation and mixing for this batch).

The why conversation

At dinner tonight.

Clara: Why lady use scissors?
Me: To cut your hair
Clara: Why lady cut hair?
Me: To make it even
Clara: Why make it even?
Me: It will be easier to maintain
Clara: Why easier to maintain?
Me: there will be less snarles in it and we won't have to pull at your hair so much when we comb it

Conversation ended (phew).

Oh yeah, Clara got her first hair cut today. (Great Clips off Rt. 55 in Holly Springs, $5.99 + $2 tip)

Giraffes

Clara has taken a liking to giraffes. I don't know why or when exactly she started favoring them over other animals. I just know at her first Christmas (or birthday) her Grandma and Grandpa Biasi bought her a giraffe (named Daddy giraffe) that makes soothing noises like a heartbeat, the ocean, the jungle, and nighttime sounds. She has used it a lot. The yellow giraffe (named Mommy giraffe) in the photo is from my former employment, given to me at the baby shower they threw. "Baby giraffe" (the one on the left) is from her G & G B too. And this Valentine's day, G & G B found that Valentine's giraffe. And I am now seeing giraffes everywhere...whoever thought that would be a popular stuffed animal to sell. AND...she was a giraffe for Halloween for goodness sakes (and slept with that costume for quite awhile after that)...and it wasn't hard to find a giraffe costume. Crazy. But anyway, the story of her giraffe family and fondness for giraffes.

Potty Power

I started to wonder if I was going to have a child who would go past three still wearing diapers. And I have realized that that is normal. Anyway, Clara showed interest in the potty around 18 months. I decided to try and sit her on the potty, except it took me awhile to buy one of those rings to put on the toilet to make it easier (and a smaller area so they don't feel like they are falling in) for her to sit down. So she got scared because her small bottom was going onto this large toilet. Well, there went my chance to attempt potty training early.

Can't remember exactly when but it was after she was two, I put in the Elmo potty DVD. By then I had a borrowed potty chair which Clara sat on every once in awhile but nothing happened (I also was attempting the naked baby thing but there were many accidents). This Elmo DVD sparked Clara's interest and she sat on the potty and was excited. One time even a few drops came out. Exciting times in the Biasi household. But the newness of the Elmo DVD soon wore off and we were back to going nowhere fast. Everyone kept telling me, one day, she just go and it will happen. On her own time.Anyway, to make a long story short. The best DVD for potty training is "Potty Power." We have watched this DVD about 1000 times. And ever since getting this DVD, it has clicked. Clara no longer wants to wear diapers, she goes on her potty chair, and goes in public restrooms. Along with her Yo Gabba Gabba friends (thanks to a friend for telling me about this website where one can get free printable behavioral charts) for support, it clicked. Don't know how else to describe it. So...I'm afraid I will jinx everything if I say this...but I think I still will...I won't have a three year old still in diapers (well except at night probably but I've learned to not stress about that part of potty training). And...another cost we can cross off our list!

Camera

Clara loves taking pictures and was using our more expensive camera to do this. So Santa brought her her very own camera for Christmas. Here she is taking photos of her friends in an animal parade.

And here are her friends all lined up in their parade. Yes, one day we had an animal parade in her living room. Giraffes, bunnies, reindeer, horsey, ducky, Woody, Teddy, Angel, and Puppy all came together and marched in harmony to the tune of "Yellow Submarine" but we changed the words to "We are the animals in the animal parade. The animal parade. The animal parade."

Oh the phases we are in

I didn't really realize this but I now know we are in the "why phase." Clara doesn't ask why persay, she just asks:

"Where is Jocelyn/Matthew/cousins?"
"What is so'n'so doing?"
"What is Clara doing?" (as she twirls around or shakes her arms or does something funny)
"I want to see."
"Where are we going? Where is home? Where is church? Where is Ms. Lisa's?"
"What's that?"

So curious about the world around her.

Okay so phrases she likes to say:

"It's hard."
"It's difficult."
"I'm a big girl." And when she says the word "girl," she has this twang.
"Good job." And she sounds British when she says this.
"No way." a very new one, she just started this weekend. She is never around anyone who says that so I don't know where she picked it up. But don't tell her...I think it is kind of cute. What can I say, everything she says is cute. (today, she decided to start scolding Bear. I said, "Clara, Mommy will scold Bear if needed.")
And where did she learn this one, "Rock it out." I need to ask Mike if his students in the jazz band taught her that.

She is a parrot and repeats everything she hears. Big words we have gotten her to repeat:

Mississippi
Hippopotamus

Phrases she has repeated:

"Oh shut/crap." (sorry she heard those from me)
"Oh my goodness." (again...from me)

I'll probably continue to add to this post, as I listen to her and remember what she says.

Oh gosh, and some nights, she doesn't fall asleep right away when we put her to bed. So we hear over the intercom:

"Puppy, you go to time out."
Or her lovely singing.
Or her friends (stuffed animals) being told, no you go here.
Or her friends having conversations with each other. Yes, she is starting to act out in her play. Play people talking to each other. Her fox and puppy talking to each other, etc.

Best part of this new phase: she says "I love you" just out of the blue. She gives hugs and kisses too. Just tonight, she went over to Bear and said "I love you Bear" and gave Bear a little "pat/rub" Clara style.