Skeevies

Ryanne has this thing where she'll grab one finger and sit and play with it. It started out not bothering me that much. She'd sit and hold one finger and it wasn't that weird. It really bugged Chrys very quickly. At this point, she almost always grabs my pinky and it's gotten to the point where it TOTALLY weirds me out. I just hate the sensation of having my pinky pulled back so she can grip it. I end up with chills and blech for FAR longer than she actually touches me. Ech.

Katamari

We've been letting Ryanne try her hand at Katamari Damacy more lately. She's really come a long way. She now deliberately moves the katamari to different locations. I don't know yet that she separates the finger motions, at least not purposefully. She can roll various directions, chase things (and catch them), and turn around pretty well. It's really phenomenal how far she's come.

She's still not fast at it. Right now, she's playing a level to get to 10m so she can take as long as she wants and when she gets bored, we'll see how close she got. That's just about perfect for her.

This came after her first lessons learning to knit today. She does pretty well wrapping the yarn. She could tell me what motions to make with the needles, but didn't want to totally control them on her own. Still impressive for 3.5.

Crafty

Ryanne is in love with the new JoAnn's superstore. It has fabric and pretty purple yarn and 'crafts' and so much goodness in one store. She asks to go there on a regular basis - at least weekly.

On one of our first trips, she wanted a build your own bear thing. They had The Hulk, a princess, a ballerina and SpiderMan to choose from. My girl wanted SpiderMan. Desperately. She was pretty rude about it so we didn't get it. Next time we were in the store, she actually remembered it and asked very nicely. I had a 50% off coupon - yay internetz - so we got it.

We got home and we sat down on the floor and got it stuffed. She didn't particularly like that process so I ended up doing a lot of it. Then it was time to name it. She picked Spider Mater, in honor of two of her favorite characters these days. She loves dressing Spider Mater in his costume.

Last week, she decided she needed to knit. She wanted to knit for me - I'm working on a skirt for her these days. I asked her how she knitted and she started waving her hands around frantically in the air. I told her it was a much smaller motion and she started waving in small circles in the air. We now have one skein of yarn that she picked - purple, of course - and some kid length size 10 needles because on her last trip to JoAnn's she insisted that I teach her to knit. I'll see if I can get her started on a small scarf. I figure even if she just knits the whole thing it would be pretty amazing feat for a 3 year old.

She loves foamies and stickers and glitter glue. She's getting MUCH better with scissors. She's really enjoying her play-doh. I think she got the art gene that exists in both families, but seems to have skipped her father and me.

Shape matching

The other day we were at McAlister's Deli eating dinner. She points up at the wall and says, "It says Subway." Chrys and I both turn around and study the signs. Finally, I get that she's pointing at the one that says "Spud Max" - one of their menu items. Given her constant confusion of M and W, and typical 3 year old dyslexic tendencies for the d/b, she's pretty darn close.

I think she's going to be reading sooner rather than later.

Another goodbye

My uncle (dad's brother) passed away on Saturday. I've mentioned it to Ryanne, but I think with so much talk of death lately she's losing any concept of it as a rare and permanent thing.

This one we're deciding for her. She didn't get much that happened at her great-grandfather's service. She constantly tells me that she's getting things or going to see Granpa Fitz, even though she knows he's dead. She's staying here with Chrys while C-man and I go to Midland for the day tomorrow.

I hope she doesn't resent it later. I don't think she'll care, other than being mad that I've gone anyplace without her.

Pump...you up!

When we're in Midland, Chrys relies on single bags to support his coffee addiction. Last time, Ryanne came by and sat watching him lift the bag in and out of the mug.

R: "Daddy are you pumping coffee?"
C: "Well, uhm, yes"

It certainly isn't brewing because the coffee it produces isn't that good. :) So...all you bag tea and coffee drinkers...pump on.