More of Leila's birthday

 When I was young I used to have a whole birthday week, if not a month. It happened this way because there was birthday on the day, and birthday parties with the family, with another part of the family, with friends from school, with other friends, etc. It felt like tradition worth passing down and so Leila also had more than one birthday moments. She had her first birthday presents from vovo, the week-end before her birthday, birthday at school on the 18th and a birthday party at home with some of her friends from school, and her only friend whom she did not meet at school. That friend also happens to be her oldest friend as they have known each other for a whole year and a half! There was a lot of play involved, some cake of course, some singing and clapping hands, the biggest laugh when Coline put on fancy sunglasses (she did it in purpose with a big smile to make everybody laugh) and excellent mood from all three girls of the family. I felt great about having a full and messy house that day.

On Leila's 4th birthday

We woke up that morning, all 3 in my bed, that is Leila, Coline and I, after Leila's first night without a dummy. Before going to bed she said that she would have her dummy a little bit more but that she would not have it after she turned 4. She cried a bit when she woke up at night and said that she would not manage to sleep without it, but she did, with a hug. I am deeply touched by her determination to be strong enough to do without it and her fear of failing. Humility is not something that we get to witness a lot with her lately (if she can't do something it is because we designed it wrong). She kind of liked the present that the "rabbit of the dummies" brought her.

Let us go back to the birthday story. There were lots of pink balloons and pictures of Leila all over the walls and a treasure hunt with present from the whole family, which Leila was all excited to find. Unfortunately I apparently was the only one to wake up in a good mood. I have come to realize over the years that it is in Leila's character to find a way to be disappointed. Today for instance she liked the mosaic puzzle that she got but pointed out that she did not want it because it has 4 colors that are not pink. She also must have enjoyed receiving a B*rbie doll but kept on asking for more presents because the one that she actually wanted was a mermaid. I feel sorry for her when this happens because I realize that she is not trying to be annoying, she is annoyed or disappointed. I wish that she could see the positive side of things instead of the not so perfect detail (she may have a wonderful day at the park but if we ask about it she will simply answer that she fell and hurt her knee on the slide). I hope that she will learn to make the best of whatever comes and be a happier, content and grateful person.

I wished that the rest of the family (my side of the family) were there to celebrate with us. As a compensation, whereas I made presents for her, I bought one present from each member of our close family and gave Leila a picture with a clue for her to find the present from the person on the picture. I liked that game and I think she did too. We often refer to presents and hand-me-downs as "the one that xxx gave you" and I enjoy us mentioning the person, just like we refer to our favorite coffee shop as "Natasha's cafe" and remember that she was among us and enjoyed coffee there, even though it was a long time ago.

Leila shared a cake with her schoolmates (where I did not go so as to avoid the usual change of mood that occurs when I am around). I was close to burn out before lunch time as I was trying to make the !#$@ icing for the cake and had not found a minute in a morning filled with teething Coline, ballet class, teaching french class, vet for the cat and the other daily activities, but with the help of Cristiano and Silvia the cake was made and the oranges juiced and today for the first time in a long time Leila happily went to school. Obviously being dressed as a ballerina helped (did I mention that her school uniform is not pink?). Then after school we had more cake with daddy and our neighbor "vovo". In-between there were moments of play and laugh with Coline, painting, pampering herself and eating dark chocolate, which are among the things that Leila likes the most these days. I was looking forward to writing this all down with the hope that it will help me remember the day that my dear Leila turned 4. So big already and yet so small.

apres aujourd'hui

"Est-ce que demain c'est apres aujourd'hui?"
C'est la question que nous pose souvent Leila quand il lui tarde qu'arrive un evenement et que celui-ci est "demain". J'ai eu plaisir ce soir de lui repondre que son anniversaire est apres aujourd'hui, et il est demain, meme!

Coline's book

Coline eventually received her first birthday present from me. I had just skipped it thinking that these things did not matter to her yet, but as I was busy making Leila's presents I started feeling differently. I wanted to make something that she would enjoy and that she would (perhaps) be happy to see in a few years time. And so in between some nights of sewing for Leila I started sorting pictures and thinking of what it is that she would like to see, then I cut and glued and drew and wrote and put together this book of things and moments that 1-year-old Coline likes. Books and seeing herself on a picture are things that she loves, so no wonder that she liked her present too. I do like seeing her enjoy it and feel proud about having made it. Her face, actually her whole body tells a story when she finds a picture that she likes. It feel great to share her excitement.

Fingerpaint

Coline loved her first contact with paint (gouache) one morning painting alongside Leila. She kept pointing at the painting material after that day but she had eaten too much of the paint for me to be keen to repeat the experiment. So instead we made fingerpaint (see recipe below). We used synthetic food coloring and that is why I would not give it to her for breakfast but apart from that I think it is pretty safe. And we had sooo much fun! I am not a big fan of making a mess inside the house and cleaning it, but once I had my hands in it too it seemed not so important after all. We had a big basin with water to wash our hands and it ended up on the floor, flooding the kitchen with blue water, and yet I still call it worth it. Definitely worth it was the hand massage that Coline gave me after we both smothered these hands in the gooey paint. Cristiano on the other hand did not put his hands in and got the impression that there was way too much mess for such little time. And the girls, well, they can't wait to do it again, as you might have guessed.

Fingerpaint recipe

3 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup corn starch (Maizena)
2 cups water

Mix it all in a saucepan and warm up on low heat while constantly stirring, until it thickens. Allow to cool down and add food coloring.

for the love of rubber boots

green grass

Winter has not started being dry yet and so we have been enjoying green grass.