Dispatches From Toddlerhood

Today's post comes to you in the words of Ayla. She had a dream. She drew the picture. And then she said:

"It licked me, and it was big, but it had no eyes, and it was very big and it was on my bed and it licked me and it's tongue was soft. It had one eye and no arms. Then I closed my eyes and it was coming straight at me! And i was scared."



The figure on the left is the monster. The little ball with eyes on the right is Ayla.

Did I tell you about the night we ate mussels? And then Ayla came to our bed in the middle of the night speaking of a giant whale, and it opened its mouth and it had shells, mussel shells, many shells, and it was very big, and it licked her? And there was a good whale and a bad whale?

I think this dream was inspired by that one.

Meanwhile, Indy smiled:




And ate cupcakes:

First Lesson

First Lesson

Lie back daughter, let your head
be tipped back in the cup of my hand.
Gently, and I will hold you. Spread
your arms wide, lie out on the stream
and look high at the gulls. A dead-
man's float is face down. You will dive
and swim soon enough where this tidewater
ebbs to the sea. Daughter, believe
me, when you tire on the long thrash
to your island, lie up, and survive.
As you float now, where I held you
and let go, remember when fear
cramps your heart what I told you:
lie gently and wide to the light-year
stars, lie back, and the sea will hold you.

--Phillip Booth





Dear Ayla,
These are your footprints, running across
maybe the best day of my life.

I wrote it all down so someday I could tell you.
(so someday I would not forget)

How you played in the beach froth,
fearless, one day in December.

How you ran,
laughing.

How you smiled and
spread your arms.

Happy Obama Eve!

Don't forget to leave out your shoes so the Obama Child can come in the night and fill them with health care and hope!

Pretty As A Picture

Check out Ayla's new pose:



And again here:



Ah! Spotted again here:



Obviously Ayla thinks shoulders up and head at a crick-inducing fifty degree angle is a position that is beauteous to behold.

I am not inclined to tell her otherwise.

Last week she wrote her name! For the first time, all by herself. Here she is, showing it off. Notice that while she can not adopt the full glamour shot position, she does her best to uphold it in spirit:



I love you, my funny little Ayla Beloved.