Space

Petra is fascinated with astronomy at the moment. Last weekend she and I went to the Griffith observatory, where she spent most of her time chatting with the planets ("Hi Pluto! You're so small!"), and charming the docents. We managed to miss the planetarium show (the real reason she wanted to go), but didn't mind at all, she was having so much fun. When she did tire of it, she asked to go to the giftshop, where she bought a set of glow-in-the-dark planets to hang from her bedroom ceiling (her "planetarium"), and has me tell stories about them every night. We finished with lunch at the "Cafe at the end of the Universe." A great day for Daddy and Daughter!

The visit to the observatory just stoked her interest in planets. She has pretty much memorized the lyrics to "Interplanet Janet," including all the facts about the planets, and integrated the sun song as well (hydrogen fusion into helium!). We've spent hours online watching space videos (she likes the astronaut losing her toolbag). She's learned about comets, the origins of the moon (you have to love a theory called "The Big Whack"). She also learned about the controversy surrounding Pluto being demoted to "dwarf planet." Pluto is her favorite planet, so we had to go into detail on this one. I tell you though, if I have to see/hear the "Poor Pluto" song one more time I might scream!

After watching some NASA video and animations she even did a great drawing of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet crashing into Jupiter (I'll have to post an annotated version later, but trust me, those are comet fragments on the left page (tails pointing up), and Jupiter, with the cloud stripes and big red eye, on the right, with "scabs" all over it where the comet hits). I'm so proud of my little astronomer!

To feed the obsession, yesterday we went to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory open house. Within minutes of arriving, she was explaining planetary theory to the JPL staff ("Pluto's not a planet anymore! Jupiter is a GAS GIANT!"). She had a great time seeing robots, "visiting" mars, and seeing the Mars Science Lab being assembled. She collected a full set of the special space collector cards that NASA had for the event, and asked good science questions too! She even took a short break to play the roll of Mars rock and have a rover drive over her.

All this learning isn't enough for Petra. She also needs social events, so last weekend we also went to the Festival of Books with her friend Jenna. The prime driver for this was a personal appearance by DJ Lance Rock and Brobee. The girls loved dancing to the music as DJ Lance spun tunes, and then they waited patiently in line to have him sign their DVDs and books. He's a cool guy, very friendly, and just about exactly our age as well (as we found out googling him later). He even paid his dues working a day job at Amoeba records in Los Angeles!

Signing off,

Hair!

Last Sunday, in between egg hunts, Petra's hair was getting in her mouth yet again. As she fished a strand out, Alison asked her if she would like to get her hair cut. For the first time, the answer was affirmative. Of course, it was Easter Sunday, and it seemed unlikely any haircutting establishments would be open, we decided to try a DIY job. Alison zipped inside for the scissors and a towel, and between the two of us we seem to have done an okay job.































She seems pretty pleased with the results:




























Then, it was back to egg hunts:

Happy Easter

Yesterday was spent playing with Jenna, hunting easter eggs, and decorating bunny cookies. No nap though, so Petra passed out within minutes of Jenna leaving (about 5:30). Of course, at 5:30 this morning there are calls from her bedroom "Is it easter? Did the easter bunny come?"

Yes, the easter bunny did come.

Anatomically Correct

Petra was choking a bit on a grape last night. To make sure she could talk (and thus breathe) I asked her "Did it go down your esophagus or your trachea?".

She answered, a bit despondently, "My trachea"

She was right of course!

Barefootin'

Faithful readers may remember the Great Toe Incidents of last fall (mentioned here, and here). While the toe has been completely healed since before Christmas, to Petra it was still her "hurt toe", and she refused to look at it, would not go barefoot, and needed a bag on her foot so she wouldn't see it while in the tub, even though, after a while, she didn't remember which foot was supposed to be the afflicted one.

Fast forward to our recent parent-teacher conference in mid-March. One of the topics discussed was The Toe: one week, her creative movement teacher wanted all the kids to take their socks and shoes off to prevent slipping during class. Petra refused; her teachers tried to convince her to take her socks off, but she firmly and tearfully refused. We were concerned because we were leaving for Mexico soon; it's harder to enjoy the pool and the beach if you need socks and/or plastic bags on your feet! So, we made a plan with her teachers, and were ready to pull in the center director as backup (she had helped Petra during the Second Toe Incident, and every time she saw her, Petra would tell her that her toe "still hurt"). That night, Dada was getting Petra ready for her bath, and used a combination of distraction and bribery (flowery flip-flops!) to divert her when she would normally ask for a bag on her foot. Lo and behold, she went the whole bath with her feet uncovered, and later, we heard a sound we hadn't heard for months: the slap of Petra's bare feet on the floor. What a lovely sound!

She happily went barefoot as often as possible during our recent trip to Mexico (more on that soon, I promise! For now, you can see pictures on Flickr), and now all we have to do is to keep cameras, toy frying pans, and baseballs away from her toes. Piece of cake!

Blurbs

Petra stayed home with Dada and a fever on Monday (both of us with the fever). She watched "Cars" (well, part of it, and snoozed in my lap for the rest), and she really liked "Lightning the Queen." The minivans that won't ask for directions also made an impression. She told Mama "You would ask for directions, and I would ask for directions, and Dada would ask for directions, and Piper would meow for directions and the fish would glug glug for directions!"

Just to be sure she'll do well next Birthday, Petra was chatting about grandma and said "Grandma is the best!" (I won't say WHICH grandma though!).

I had a light bruise the other day from Petra kicking me in the face during the night. Sometimes she comes and climbs in with us, but often seems to sleep perpendicular to us. Alison gets the head butts, I get kicked in the face or kidneys.

Petra had a great time at the aquarium with her cousin Adia. Such a meltdown when it was time to leave (well, it WAS way past bedtime).

Petra is very excited because now she has her own "Little book." She's got her passport, and is ready for a trip to "Circus camp" in Ixtapa. We ALL need a vacation!

We have a new cat- "Cooper." He is a very sweet "Kitten" that is already bigger than Piper. He lets Petra pet him and plays with her (and climbs on her lap if she will sit still long enough). He is a very purry boy, and Petra is thrilled. Piper, not so much.

What's a Parent to Do?

I know, don't even start with the "You haven't updated the blog since...." I have a very socially active 3 year old, so I don't get a lot of time that isn't devoted to play dates, arts and crafts, bike rides or Backyardigans.

So, what's been going on?

Petra is now completely independent on the potty. She tells us "Leave me alone" if we try to keep her company. We don't complain.

Petra has a "Big girl bike" with pink streamers and training wheels. Now, if we only had bikes so we could keep up with her. We haven't had time to shop for them!
We visited the Getty Villa for art, music, and story time (arts and crafts including making a bead necklace and a Greek helmet).

Oh yeah, and there was this Christmas thing that she was all excited about for some reason. We continued our tradition of walking to the nursery and bringing a tree home in the wagon. Petra insisted that we get a small tree so she could decorate the whole thing (and that's pretty much what she did. Great job too!). The advent calendar kept her primed all month long ("Can I open a little door now?"), and she wanted it to be Christmas every day (heck, with Petra, it IS Christmas every day!). She scored big, of course, with a digital camera, iPod (w/aforementioned Backyardigans videos), and baby doll and stroller being big hits.


Somehow, Petra has managed not to get bored, even over the break when school was closed. We've had playdates galore with Jenna, Jessica, and Katie. She also had unscheduled run-ins with Eden, Emma, Abigail and more. Farmer's Market for the big tree and the pre-Christmas shopping scrum, Franklin Canyon for hiking and "fishing" (Petra wanted to catch "a whopper"), World City Chinese Puppet theatre, Japanese new year's with arts and crafts (Petra made a Daruma and an Origami crane decoration), Disneyland for the Christmas parade and fireworks, Friend's birthday parties, Natural History museum (where she made an undersea diorama, and was spooked by an 8 foot T-Rex that wandered into the room. The life-size puppet made her bury her head into me, and she kept it down until he left), Christmas lights festival (and closing IKEA afterwards!), Work Christmas parties (where, of course, she was adored).

We spent New Year's eve with Jenna & Family (and traditional Japanese new year's food. Yummy and weird at the same time! We celebrated live with New York, but the girls didn't get to bed until 10pm! They loved the party horns, and my ears still ring (and not just from the Champagne).

Petra (with some coaching) managed to lure a shy cat to her to receive a petting. She started out too eager, and the cat kept running away. But she showed great patience, and was able to sit still and stay quiet enough for the curious kitty to finally come and bump her. She was absolutely thrilled. There are only 3 other cats she's ever managed to touch- "The Ambassador" who will let ANYONE touch him, Zoe a sweet catloaf if ever there was one, and Rockstar, who said "Pet ME!" then scratched her. She liked this one much more, and named it "Kitty."