Kaylee really enjoyed her fourth of July! First part of the day we had my family over for my sisters birthday celebration, a pool party. She loved running around outside and playing “ring around the rosy” (apparently the only way she will set foot in the pool – except for the stairs). She played a lot in her kiddie pool. She loved the chicken Eric barbequed too! “Good chicken Daddy!” She took a good nap and then the neighbors (with their 5 kids) came over to play in the pool and we had another party! She idolizes the older girls and loved that they included her in their counting as they jumped into the pool. She’s named one of her dollies after an older girl calling it, “Victooooooria.”

At fireworks at night, my parents joined us. She enjoyed seeing the carnival lights and the rides. She seemed to be in a state of disbelief about all the lights. She was in awe. Kaylee looked so cute in her American sweetheart shirt, her red polka dot skirt and her red, white and blue doggie barrettes in her hair.

Then the fireworks show started. She was a bit scared in the beginning and snuggled into Daddy’s lap, watching carefully the spectacle. Then she got used to it and cuddled with my Mom, and near the neighbor girls on the picnic blanket. The big girls helped her feel comfortable and soon Kaylee was making huge excited arm movements, her mouth was open in awe and she clapped for joy. She said, “Boom! Fireworks! Green! Heart!” You get the idea…she was fully participating in the experience. And just when it couldn’t get any better a train went by on nearby tracks – and she was in heaven. What could be better? A train and fireworks!

Something funny Kaylee said about going potty: Eric asked her if she would go poop in the potty if Mommy took her, because she had started. She said matter-of-factly, “No, I don’t need to poop in the potty because Mommy will just change my diaper.” So it seems some sort of reward system, like stickers, will have to be implemented….

Kaylee plays with her dolls in a somewhat embarrassing way now…for me anyway. She says to them, “You have a warning. Do you need a time out?” And then says to them “Do you understand?” She sounds like a little mini-me. I wonder what she sounds like to our daycare lady, at least she doesn’t say, “Are you ready for a spanking?” or something worse. (By the way, we do not spank Kaylee.)

One things that’s so cute she’s been doing is telling us when she’s really happy. Like right in the middle of playing with play-doh she’ll look up and say, “I’m happy Momma.” That’s so sweet. I love hearing her say that!