Goldie

This is Goldie. Often known as Goldums. She is three. She has been in great despair for two months now over how horribly far off her July birthday is. She really loves her dad. He was gone for six months of her life just as she was entering her "stranger anxiety" phase, and for awhile I was worried about them bonding and all, but she always makes sure we save him a treat if he's not here when we have one, she cries if she thinks he's home and discovers he isn't, and she occasionally prays that he won't have to go to work on her birthday. Other than this upcoming birthday, she really does abhor the idea of growing up; we usually must avoid all talk of it to prevent serious weeping. She loves friends and is always trying to tell me she's "going to Anna's" (Daisy's friend and our next door neighbor) or asking if she can go to someone's, anyone's house. She says cool stuff like, I'll ask, "Did you remember to finish your sandwhich?" and she'll respond, "Did you remember to give me hugs and wash my hands?" She loves computer games -- far more than a three year old should; in fact, we have now found that "losing a day of playing the computer" is our most affective threat. She can't bare to have a little creature hurt, I am never allowed to so much as squish an ant in our house. The other morning there were some tiny dried up worms on the sidewalk and this set her to sobbing. Her only hope was that if it rained, perhaps they would come alive again, and she would not allow Daisy to ride her bike along the wormy sidewalk. I had to sweep them all into the grass in case they might be coming "back alive" later. Occasionally she'll decide she's had enough of what ever we are doing and will announce, "bedtime for Goldie." at which point I am supposed to take her immediately to her bed. She is nearly always carrying one to three blankets and about four stuffed animals. She occasionally likes to tell people (even her primary teachers) that they don't know everything because they don't know when Jesus will be coming. She tries to use her love to bribe me; for example, she will say, "if you let me watch a show, I'll hug you." When she is grumpy, her entire posture goes into an ape-like slump -- she will walk around with her arms dangling and her lips turned as far down as they can go. She calls me "mother." She also cheerily refutes many things I say:

G: Can I stay up for naps?

Me: Nope.

G: Yes I can! (She doesn't say this in a smart alec or even annoying way, just a cheery little hopeful way that makes me shake my head and laugh).

Me: No you can't silly.

G: Stay up from naps or wake up when ever I want. Those are the only choices.

And then off we go to bed.

Here is another example or two:

G: Can we go to McDonalds today.

Me: No honey, not today.

G: But you said we could.

Me: (laughing) No I didn't. I never said we could go to McDonalds.

G: Uh-huh, you did. Time to go to McDonalds.

or:

G:Time to get Abe from school.

Me: Abe doesn't come home til after naps.

G: Yes he does. Time to go get him.

She doesn't put up a fight in any of these situations. She just seems to enjoy a cheerful little try.
She is a fun little person and I am always so happy with the tiny different people I have been given.