Chooka Chooka Penguin
There's a song that Jenny has played for the co-op kids, called Jungle, witten and performed by ELO.
It's a pretty silly song, overblown and very melodramatic in the ELO fashion, but the kids love it because it's a simple, groovy beat to which they can shake their shakers and bang their drums. Livvy requests it often while in the car, so I've heard the song about a million times (conservative estimate).
One day we asked Livvy what the "guy " in the song was singing. She responded, "That's not a guy, that's the penguin man."
We can ask her anytime, anyway and she is unvarying with her response: the song is performed by a penguin.
While waiting to sleep at night, I've found myself pondering just what synapses got crossed that caused her to visualize a penguin man singing "Chooka chooka hoo la ley
Looka looka koo la ley." Her little brain and the connections continue to amaze me.
Fairy Land
Another sunny day, another adventure. This time we went to Fairy Land with Emma.
Welcome Yeah
I won't go into details, we lost two of the three goldfish this past week in a tank cleaning disaster. I felt terrible, and beyond that we were concerned about having to talk to Livvy about death and all the stuff that goes along with it.
So we opted to get new fish and replace the recently deceased and take the easy route by starting to lie to her at the age of 2 1/2. Jenny went to the store, and bought replacements for Roger and Starla (Clio survived the disaster). She also picked out a bright yellow fish, to add to the group.
We showed Livvy the new fish and she was impressed. We asked her what the fishes name was and she said, "Yeah." She says "yeah" to just about every question she doesn't understand. Asking her to name things usually results in one of two names: Shu-Shu and Geegle-glee. I had assumed we'd get one or the other for the new fish's name. I asked again, and she responded, "yeah." I figured I'd ask her later.
Later in the evening, when I asked again, she answered with, "Yeah."
Then, this morning I asked again, and she answered as though she was exasperated with my questioning with a very irritated, "Yeah!"
So, now we have four fish: Roger, Starla, Clio and Yeah.
Fish and Chips
We went top the pub, and Livvy had her first bite of fish & chips -- she liked it! We tried again at home -- she didn't like it!
Puddle Jumping
Olivia found some great puddles. At the end of the session we had to take her pants and boots off -- the boots were full of water.
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Fishing String
Livvy has been playing game with me when we ride to co-op in my car. There is a dog leash in the back seat, which she calls her "fishing string." She likes to fish for things for me while I drive.
So far, she's pretty rigid about what she'll catch for me. The possibilities are limited to:
- Rainbows
- Rainbow Pumpkins
- Pumpkins
- And Doggy Special Treats.
More About Urine
At the risk of making Livvy's site totally urine-focused, I have to add this one.
We were eating dinner the other night and she and I were having an asparagus eating contest. She easily ate five or six big spears. I had an equal quantity.
Now, I know I have asparagus pee. It smells immediately after consuming even the smallest quantity of asparagus, and if I load up, it can smell for a full 24 hours. Livvy likes asparagus, and has consumed a lot over the last year. We've never noticed the smell coming from her diaper.
That all changed the next morning after our contest. She had peed in her diaper, and it smelled STRONGLY of asparagus urine. Like daughter, like dad.
Pill Popping
Livvy spends a few afternoons per week with Shelly, who she absolutely adores. Shelly is great with Livvy and they always make great art, play fun games and she's almost always exhausted at the end of the day.
Shelly takes multi-vitamins and herbs on a regular basis, and Livvy has seen her take those supplements many, many times.
out of the blue one night, we gave Livvy her homeopathic teething tablets, and she insisted on having water to go along with the doses. Not sure why, because the tablets dissolve almost immediately on her tongue.
I got her sippy cup, he took it from me and tossed a pill in her mouth, took a long draw form the sippy cup and then dramatically tossed her back in a mock-trying-to-swallow-pill fashion.
She now does this without fail, and does it repeatedly with each tablet consumed. It's a scared ritual. She's even started to extend it to eating the M & M we treat her to after a successful "pee-pee on the potty."
Pop (the pill). Draw (on the water). Snap (the head back).
Oakland Zoo
We took Olive and Ella to the Zoo. We had a great time running around, seeing animals and Olivia and Ella both had their first roller coaster ride -- Olivia loved it.


