How long has it been???!?!?!!!

I started this post on 3/28/10 it went to a draft and never got finished, until now....

I guess I've missed a few holidays along the way, a birthday or two, perhaps a milestone here and there. But what catches me the most is the things that don't happen any more.

shower doors: it's been so long ago I can't remember what she used to do to the shower doors

red trucks: every time she would see a red pick-up truck Emily Grace was always sure it belonged to her sister Katie. You'd be surprised how many red pick-up trucks there are on the road when you are really looking.

tickle monster: the tickle monster has come and gone several times throughout the years. Now at age four and a half Emily Grace is very strong and the tickle monster has his work cut out for him even trying to roll her over to tickle. The tickle monster is starting to think it would just be easier to tickle the mommy tickle monster...and a lot more fun.

Love,
Dad

"I need a tissue..."

Every time there's a problem, crying, trouble, boo-boo's, stalling for time, this is always the go to answer/response from Emily Grace. I don't know why but it always reminds me of the TV character Laura Petrie from the Dick Van Dyke show. Laura, "Oh! Robbbbbbb..." Emily, "I need a tissuuuuuue...." I guess it's all in the delivery. We fixed a lot of the drama when we just put a box of tissues in Emily's room. CBS fixed Laura's problem by cancelling the show.

Love,
Dad

The Little Things That Just Go Away

I'm not sure how long ago this happened but I just noticed it recently. When Emily is done talking on the phone to someone she's close to like me or mom, Nan-Na or Pop-Pop, her sister Katie, even Aunt Amy or Auntie Sue; Emily would always end the call by blowing us a kiss before hanging up. I felt especially lucky because I also got a hug with my goodbye kiss. If you wonder what a hug sounds like on the phone go find someone you love and give them a great big hug. Listen to the sound you make and that is the sound that Emily would make for me. She came up with this sound and ritual on her own. Sadly, these rituals have faded away. I can only guess that as Emily has begun to speak to more and different people on the phone even she recognizes that not everyone gets a kiss and telemarketers don't deserve hugs.

Love,
Dad

It's all in how you say it

Driving home today Emily Grace asked me a question that had no good answer. "When will we be home and can I watch Curious George?" Well, Curious George was already on and traffic wasn't moving very fast, so my answer was "maybe." Emily's response from the backseat? "I don't like the sound of maybe. I like the sound of yes." Where do they come up with this stuff? Don't point your finger at me.

P.S.This picture is a self-portrait, using the timer on her camera.

Love,
Dad

What's a "dick?"

Emily Grace and I were driving home from Lowe's today and Emily was reading Maisy's Wonderful Weather Book by Lucy Cousins;Emily is working very hard, self taught, to read. Out of the blue from the backseat comes the question "What's a dick?" After managing not to swerve off the road and into a tree I said "Excuse me?" She said "A dick, what's a dick?" I told her I didn't understand what she wanted to know. She tried to show me the book where she was reading and then told me it said "A hot dick." Once again, managing not to swerve off the road and into a tree I asked her to spell the words for me. She had "hot" correct, did I mention that Emily is four; but the second word was spelled "d, r, i, n, k. She still has a lot to learn.......... Thank God.

Love,
Dad

Was It Something I Said?...

Mom has requested this entry.

After talking to Emily Grace about who knows what. Emily turned around and announced "Sometimes I just don't know what my dad is saying." This is from the child who would like "cream of the ice" or "berries of the straw" for ice cream and strawberries. Consider the source. By the way, Mom says she knows where Emily gets it from; but she won't tell me.

Love,
Dad

P.S. The boycott of the cat lasted fifteen minutes.

The lion roars.........

Emily Grace is not one of those kids that listens to my good advice, or suggestions or even pleas for sanity. I guess that makes her just like me. I was the kid with his head, hands or feet stuck in something that required the jaws of life to free. Thank God my dad was a doctor.

Emily thinks her cats are little people and she's constantly in their faces talking to them and being pushy. Cats being cats, Tigger took a swipe at Emily Grace and left her with two scratches across her face, including a good one on her eyelid.

After the tears and guilt from me Emily agreed to stay away from Tigger for four days until Tigger learned to be a better friend.

Look for a repeat of this story in five days.

Love,
Dad