so it's december cont...

Scarlette.

on a preschool field trip, picture by family friend

Our wonderful preschool teacher describes her as "a little ray of sunshine", always happy, ready to help, and plays with everyone.  Of all of that, I have no doubt.  She helps her mama pick up at the end of the day, can hang up her coat and put away her clothes, will help her brother until he gets too frustrated and takes it out on her, and is always so eager to cook or bake with me. 

She also has colossal meltdowns, the kind where I wonder if the neighbors are going to call CPS because of the screaming, and always the cure is a little more sleep or food in her belly.

Her gymnastics class is an all time favorite, followed by swimming lessons, and the request for dance classes are ongoing.  She already rides a bike, without training wheels, even though she can't actually stop on her own, and if mama and dada are working out, she works out with us.  (Watching her do her version of a push up is fun.)

Suddenly, she cannot get enough of books and will pour over them while she's taking her quite time.  Or, she asks for story time, relentlessly.

 Oh, and the ability she has with a needle, thread, and scraps of felt, or a hammer and nail certainly made me stop for a moment and reconsider how much a person can learn by watching.  (Never mind that I felt a bit doomed after that.  So many of my own actions are less than stellar at times, I can only hope the good outweigh the bad.)

making her lantern for the Martinmas lantern walk

 She's fiercely protective of her brother when other children are around (but doesn't think twice about pushing him over if wrecks her block tower or pulls apart the train set).

And when no one is paying attention she sings, or practices having conversations, complete with hand gestures and facial expressions.  If she sees that you've been watching, depending on her mood, she'll either laugh and keep going, or stop out of shyness.

It is incredible to see this little girl, on the cusp of moving from the dream state of baby and toddler hood to the more concrete state of a young child.  I just have to remind myself she'll complete the transition in her own time, and it would be such a waste for me to try and hurry her along.