There have been lots of good things this week — simple things — that have made Gwendolyn (and us) very happy!
1) Swings with Mommy and Daddy. Gwendolyn loves the swings. She is a regular swinging fool! One day at preschool we stayed on the swings for a good 30 minutes and she just beamed. So on a nice morning walk early this week we passed the park and she made it clear she “needed” to swing. It was so adorable to see her be such a big three year old — so sure of what she wanted. She proudly sat on my lap excited and ready to let the swinging adventure begin. She happily looked at the little girl swinging next to her and said hello with her eyes. She absolutely loved when Daddy pushed us (making a point of pushing on her shoulder so she could feel it, too). She loved taking turns having Mommy hold her and then Daddy and then Mommy and then Daddy… Love seeing her just be a child!
2) Overheard. I love eavesdropping on Bill and Gwendolyn. They have such a special bond. Gwendolyn doesn't love her AFOs (ankle foot orthotic), but to keep her ankles from painfully contracting she needs to wear them for hours at a time. Right now we are trying to get her to wear them at night — eight straight hours = no need to wear them in the day. She went through a period of fussing the minute she saw them, but Bill cleverly and lovingly came up with an entire ritual that completely changed the playing field. It's amazing what a little patience, love, and fun can do! So the routine goes something like this:
Bill: Do you want to give your shoes a hug?
Gwendolyn: Guh!
Bill: How about a kiss?
Gwendolyn: Guh! Guh!
Bill: May I give them a hug and a kiss, too?
Gwendolyn: Giggle, giggle, Guh!
Bill: Okay now your turn. Big hug…and big kiss. Do you think your feet are ready to wear them now?
Gwendolyn: Guh! Guh! Guh!
No fussing. No fight. Shoes on. No problem. And now the shoes are a positive thing!
3) Friends. Gwendolyn and I have a weekly play date with a group of wonderful and amazing friends and their children — all Gwendolyn's age, plus their new baby siblings. I look forward to this get-together all week and so does Gwendolyn. With the holidays it meant we were all busy and haven't seen each other in too long, so when I asked Gwendolyn if she wanted to go play with her buddies yesterday, she was ecstatic. I love it when we arrive and they all scream, “Gwendolyn is here!!!” I love when they have something they've been thinking about that they want to ask, like Samantha's question yesterday — “Gwendolyn, do you like hip hop?” I love seeing Gwendolyn wanting to share her toys and show them to her friends. I love seeing her feel concerned when they are upset. So, so, so many things to love about friends!