Six

So, today the kid is six. Crazy. I would ask where the time went, but I know where it went. Into the awesome years that were one, two, three, four, and of course, five. Such great times associated with every single year. Well, every single day. I'd say every single minute but that would be insane if only because of that part in the beginning with so very little sleep and that one time when I had to carry her out of the mall kicking and screaming when she was like three-ish. But otherwise yes, it's been a pretty awesome run.

She'd decided for her birthday that she wanted to see a movie and picked We Bought a Zoo. I asked her if she was sure about this, as this is a two hour-plus movie and it's not a cartoon and it's not a musical and there are not even any Muppets in it or anything. I asked her many times if she was sure that this was the movie she wanted to see and she told me yes.

There was one point where she said she wished she had her LeapPad (her dad was able to get it for super cheap for her birthday) with her so she could play with that. Other than that, she was pretty much into the movie, and so was I, even though I'm pretty sure I had to go to the bathroom the whole time I was watching it. Matt Damon is just so cute and easily distracted me from what was a very full bladder by the time the movie ended.

Kayla would also like to buy a zoo someday.

After the movie we went to the car to get the LeapPad and go to The Cheesecake Factory. The rechargeable batteries died within about ten minutes (she'd played a lot last night), but that was okay. I think she was enjoying watching people with me. Watching people in Walnut Creek can be very, very, very, very, very interesting. Just saying.

We had a lovely time. I don't even know what we talked about... I just know that talking to her is so much fun. Being with her is such a gift. Like, that we can go out, just the two of us, to a place where we wait for 20 minutes to be seated and where basically we spent over an hour and a half just being together. And after she'd already watched a two hour movie. I don't have to worry that she will go south on me or get too tired or that I will find myself wishing I'd picked a faster place.

This is what makes six better than three, in my opinion. Three is cool. No doubt. And you can't get to six without being three. But I really, really, really, really like six.

They brought her some ice cream and sang happy birthday to her. A family at the table near ours told us that their daughter was there to celebrate her 21st birthday. I told them what I'd told Kayla earlier, as I was drinking my Eel River Organic Amber, that I would take her out for a beer on her 21st birthday. Or a glass of wine. I wonder if my kid will even like beer... Even if she doesn't ever develop a taste I am still going to like her. A lot.

Seriously, folks, 12-27-2026 will be here before we know it. Sheesh.

We were going to go to the zoo today, too. But I convinced her that stretching out her birthday over two days (or even three) was a great idea, especially since Mommy is fighting a stupid, I mean, really stupid as in it comes it goes it comes it goes it comes back again stupid cold. So she even let me take a nap, something I said I wouldn't do on her birthday, but she's awesome like that. She didn't throw a fit. She listens to reason and she does her own thing while I rest. I cannot wonder enough times what I did to get this particular kid, the one who doesn't give me a hard time (often) and when she does it never lasts long. So. Lucky.

By the way, new Kayla word today: A-dorable. As in, make that a long "A" sound, and then add the "dorable." I said, "A-dorable?" She said, "Like really adorable, you know, like HIGH-larious?" That's one she got from me, and yes, I did totally get what she was saying, and I love it when she reminds me of me when it's something silly or quirky or of course, funny. I'm like, YES! YOU are the kid I have raised! Woo hoo! She's such her own little fabulous person, but seeing little pieces of yourself rub off after raising someone for six years, well, sure, there's an element of vanity there, no doubt. And also it's just cool.

On the way home she says to me, sort of out of the blue, "What will we do for my 19th birthday?" I said, "Well, I don't know. I mean, when you're 19, you might not even want to hang out with me. Maybe you'll have a boyfriend or something and you'll want to hang out with him." She tells me, "If I have a boyfriend, do you know who it's going to be?" I asked, "Who?" She says, "Jesse. But you can come out with us." I started laughing and said, "Okay, can we write that down so we'll remember you said that?" And she said yes.

Done.

Finger Quote Abuse and Other Stuff

So, recently the kid has taken to using finger quotes. And by "finger quotes," I mean when you want to indicate that you're speaking and putting something in quotes, so you put both hands up to either side of your face and make your second and third fingers act as living quotation marks. And by "using" I mean that she has been abusing them with hilarious effect.

I just asked her from where she got this. I got the famous, "I don't remember." Which makes me think it was either from me or the TV, two of her greatest influences. I mean granted, she sees plenty of other people, but those are always my primary suspects. Though now I wonder if her dad ever makes the finger quotes... I'm gonna have to ask him... I just don't see him doing it and I am having the strongest suspicion that iCarly is behind this.

Let me see if I can whip up an example. Blogging about stuff my kid says would be so much easier if a) I wrote things down when they occurred and b) my memory didn't suck a#$ really hard.

The first time I recall her abusing the finger quotes was when we were on the couch in the living room. She wanted the TV. At this point I should mention that we have four television sets in the house. If you do the math, and that's not hard, that breaks down to two television sets for each of us. But she was wondering when she could have the particular TV that I was watching (to which the DVR is hooked up, hence my particular interest in this TV). Please note that the words around which she puts the finger quotes are said with great emphasis.

ME: You can have this in a minute... show (probably Top Chef) is almost over, I just want to see who they are gonna send home then I gotta take a shower (I'd exercised, the only reason I can think I woulda been taking a shower at nighttime).

KAYLA: So, you are (finger quotes) saying that when you see who's (finger quotes) going home you're gonna get in the (finger quotes) shower and I can (finger quotes) do something.

Abusing and misusing the finger quotes? Absolutely. But if it's funny to her mother does it really matter? I don't think so.

The other day she was sitting on my lap and put her hand under my chin. "Are you growing a wattle? That's a nice wattle." I looked at her and then at my mother and then asked, "Where did you get that?" "From Grandma, she says." Grandma explains, "I told her that this area under my chin was my wattle. You know, like a turkey." "Yes, Mom, I know what a wattle is, I just didn't know that's what we were calling this now."

 

 

Also during some lap time today while I was on the computer, she pointed out that I seem to be growing a mustache. I told her that yes, this is why I see Bev from time to time and she rips out that hair and fixes up my eyebrows with hot wax. This is a very helpful kid. Pretty sure she's always gonna tell me how it is.

She has said several times that she loves me "more than anything in the universe." Also, since I still refer to her as the baby and Sarah makes fun of me for that and Samantha just pointed out today that is she is not actually a baby anymore, I said to her, "Is it okay with you if I always call you my baby?" She said, "Yes, even when I'm a teen!"

I told her I am going to record her saying that and that she loves me more than anything in the universe. I so need to record that and play it at that crucial moment in her teendom that she is giving me the largest amount of grief. I'll just need to remember that I've recorded it and know where to find it...