My Daughter is a Mouse

At some point a few months ago, Emma became "Baby Mouse." Maybe it was after we read "Guess How Much I Love You," a book wherein a mommy and baby mouse contend to see who loves the other more [oh wait, it's bunnies in that book; but we've got some other book with moomy/baby mice]. Maybe it was from watching "Imagination Movers," which features a character named Warehouse Mouse. Whatever the source...Emma wants to be a mouse. She lies on her back and waggles her "paws" in the air. Her preferred game is "Find Baby Mouse" (in which she hides in the same place every time, next to the piano). A typical conversation with my young rodent goes like this:

"Emma, would you like a drink?"

"Baby Mouse!" (meaning, "Kindly refer to me by my correct name").

"Baby Mouse, would you like a drink?"

"Squeak!" (she doesn't make a squeak noise, but says the actual word)

"Would you like milk or apple juice?"

"Squeak!"

"Milk?"

"Squeak!"

She also coaches me in dialogue throughout the day. "Mama, throw Baby Mouse the ball and then say, 'Good catch, Baby Mouse' Say that!" (If I had a nickel for every time she's said "Say that!".....)

When I ask her what her name is, she says, 'Emma Claire Jiayan [last name] CJ Young Mouse" (she likes to say "CJ" because of her two middle names).

We love our funny little mouse.

Cookies, Crafts and Crashes

That's what Emma's been up to lately. The "cookie" part was yesterday, when she and big sister Jane undertook a baking project. January sugar cookies (who says the season is over?). Emma was fully involved and took a long bath afterward.




But the end results were pastel pretty and quite delicious. I ate roughly seven of them just today!




The "craft" part has been during the last few days. Emma's very deft with a pair of scissors and embarks on feverish, mysterious construction paper projects from time to time. Below is a mask she created with paper, twine and scotch tape. Pretty cool, and who cares if the eye holes don't line up with the actual eyes.


Nobody was injured in the "crash" part last week. She just went sliding down the mild slope in our backyard on her saucer a few times. Almost as fun as sledding at Sugarhouse Park and not nearly as hazardous (we've been a few times...and it's kind of a heartstopping experience for many reasons).

And the hike back up the hill isn't as bad as it seems.



Sorry we've been slacker bloggers lately (all five of you who care). We'll try to update again soon. In the meantime, happy January doldrums.

Happy New Year!