Gummibunny

Hi sweet girl! I know, I know - I just wrote you a letter, but there's something more I want to share with you. Today is Father's Day, but even if it weren't I'd still want to talk to you about that Daddy of yours.

Except, you don't always call him Daddy these days. Probably just as often you call him "Prince." This nickname is all part of your Princess mania, and you started using it not long after you began wearing a crown everywhere you went, demanding to be called a Princess. "What are you?" you'd ask me.

"I guess I'm the Queen," I'd reply. "If you're the Princess, then the Queen is the Princess' mama."

"And what's Daddy?" you'd ask.

"He's the King."

You thought about this for a day or two before you announced, "Daddy is the Prince."

At first, I tried to talk you out of this because in real life that's not how things work. But I watched you as you watched some of the Princess videos on the computer. I saw the enchantment on your face as the beautiful Princess danced and twirled in the arms of her handsome, strong and protective Prince. And suddenly I realized that at your age, there could be nothing more appropriate or sweeter than to have you think of yourself as Daddy's Princess, and he as your Prince.

Sometimes the first thing you say when you wake up from your nap is, "Where is the Prince?" When we're playing at home on those days Daddy has to work, as soon as we hear the jingle of keys in the door you leap up and start jumping up and down, yelling, "The Prince! The Prince is home!" One day Daddy was doing something uncivilized like making a silly face, and you admonished him. "No Daddy. You're the Prince."

The other day we were on a road trip and had just stopped at a gas station to refuel. You and I came out of the restroom - a decidedly un-royal place to be - when you spotted your Daddy across the store. You began running through the aisles of chips and Vienna sausages yelling, "My Prince! My Prince!"

You and your Daddy play so well together. He seems to have an endless supply of imagination and can always come up with new things to do with your old toys. No one can make you laugh quite as loud or as deep as your Daddy does when he tickles you. He's also very good at aggravating you, which I find amusing. He loves to change the words in a story, or put a baby doll upside-down in a high-chair, or any number of other things that upset the delicate order that you demand of your world. You'll wail and complain about the way he teases you, but secretly I think you love the attention. I joke with him that he reminds me of an elementary school boy who has a crush on a girl, and pulls her pigtails to show his affection. Except, lucky for you, he also shows his affection with lots of hugs, kisses, and some more tickles too.

Watching you and your Daddy play is something that always makes my heart fill up, simultaneously melting me on the floor. I love you both so much, and to see you two loving each other is the best gift I could imagine.

Happy almost-three-year birthday, my love! In just one more month, you will be three, can you believe it? This has been a wonderful month of "firsts," and I have delighted in sharing all kinds of new experiences with you.

Earlier this month, we spent a few days in Hilton Head with Elsie and her family, and you experienced your very first sleepover. Elsie was sleeping in a room with two twin beds, and her parents, your Daddy and I were very curious about what would happen if we put you in the other bed in Elsie's room.

That night, we tucked you both in and strategically placed a baby monitor on the nightstand between your two beds. As soon as we shut the door, you two began chatting, and the conversation went on for 45 minutes. And this wasn't just a case of the two of you talking independently of each other - you were having full-fledged conversations. Who knew two-year-olds could carry on conversations for that long?

We couldn't catch every detail, but it seems that a majority of the discussion revolved around poop. This made me laugh, because I imagine when you girls are 13 you'll talk about boys and bands and hair and clothes and whatever else girls are into at that time. But when you're two and in the middle of potty training, I guess that's what's on your mind. I was quite pleased to hear Elsie announce, "Camille, we put our poo-poo in the potty. We do NOT put our poo-poo in our pants!" I wanted to reach through the monitor and give her a kiss for that. I hope her advice will always be so sage.

A few moments later, you laughed and laughed when telling Elsie about a recent trip to a swimming pool. "Someone pooped in the pool!" you giggled, and repeated this over and over.

You girls finally fell asleep and all seemed well until 3 a.m. And 4 a.m. And 5 a.m. and so on. You kept waking each other up, therefore waking us up and making us all a bit cranky. But I must admit, it was worth it to hear you girls enjoying each other so much.

The next night, as we were getting you ready for bed, I tried to impress upon you the importance of sleep. "Camille," I said, "we need to go to sleep tonight with no talking."

You looked at me with a truly pained expression and pleaded, "But mama, we need to talk!

Me: "And what do you girls need to talk about?"

You: "We need to talk about band-aids!"

But of course. I had no adequate reply for that except a laugh. Obviously band-aids are an issue requiring the listening ear and advice of a trusted girlfriend.

You experienced another first on that trip - your first bike ride. There's a great restaurant just an easy 5-minute bike ride from the beach house, and our friends were kind enough to loan us some bikes and a helmet for the trip. You loved the ride and loved the restaurant too, where Elsie introduced you to the "smurf." It's basically soda with blue coloring, and it was a hit.

Camille, I must tell you how proud I am of the way you've handled a very HUGE milestone in your transition from baby to girl this month. You have finally given up your pacifier. It wasn't easy, and you still miss it, but I've been proud of you for handling this difficult reality so well.

We've been talking about the Paci Fairy for months now, and each night you'd repeat the same mantra, "I'm not ready yet." You knew that if the Paci Fairy came in the night to take your pacifiers away, you'd get a camera. You wanted that camera, but not more than you wanted your pacis. I began to wonder if we'd ever be able to make this transition without force.

Then we went to Boo's house last weekend to celebrate Jones' birthday. We put a paci in the suitcase, but that night when you went to sleep, we forgot to give it to you. AND YOU FORGOT TO ASK FOR IT. You slept peacefully all that night and the next night too. So even though you hadn't told us you were ready to sleep without your paci, we decided your behavior was indication enough. So we told you the paci fairy came and surprised you with your camera.

It was great fun watching you take pictures at Jones' party and seeing what the festivities looked like through toddler eyes. Here's a peek at a few of your photos:

Despite how well things went at Boo's house, my concern was that you would really miss your pacifier once we got home. You are a creature of habit, and a pacifier is a big part of your evening routine. Sure enough, that first night back you asked for your pacifier. When we told you that you didn't have a pacifier any more, you fell on the floor and sobbed. And this seemed different than a typical toddler tantrum. You were really, genuinly upset.

We held you and let you cry until you calmed down enough for a bedtime story. But once we tucked you in, the tears started anew. For nearly a half hour we heard you through the baby monitor, lying in your bed and crying. Nothing we did seemed to comfort you, but you finally fell asleep and slept through the night.

And miraculously, that was it. The next night, and every night since, you've asked for your pacifier, but seemed to understand and accept the finality of our answer. I'm sorry you had that one night of heartache, but I'm also proud of you for rebounding so quickly. You really are my big girl.

Yet another first this month - you watched an entire movie from start to finish in one sitting. We haven't tried this often, but the few times in the past we allowed you to watch a movie, you just didn't have the attention span to stick with it. But on a whim, I set our tivo to record Tinkerbell for a rainy day.

And when that day came, you watched that movie with rapt attention from beginning to end, and immediately wanted a repeat showing. One very positive (in my opinion) benefit of your new Tinkerbell mania is that you took off your beloved Burger King Crown! You said, "I don't want to be a Princess right now, I want to be a fairy." And for the next week, you donned this flower wreath instead.

You will still occasionally switch back to a crown so you can be a princess, but you have enough other crowns that we were able to dispose of the Burger King crown without protest. Hallelujah!

You continue to exercise your new vocabulary, and this month your word usage made you seem quite philosophical on occasion.

One night during your bath, you pointed to my can of shaving cream and said, "Mama, what is that?" I told you it was shaving cream, and you said, "Oh! That's incredible!"

A few days later, we were at The Crab Shack watching people feed the baby alligators. As one alligator snapped up a treat, I said, "Did you see that alligator eating, Camille?" To which you replied, "Yes! It was beautiful."

Yesterday we were swimming, and you were jumping from the pool's edge into my arms. After one leap, I said, "Got ya!" And you added approvingly, "That was wise."

What a big, exciting, fun month we've had! I may accuse you of hyperbole from time to time, but I mean it when I say that I love you more than you could know. Thank you for another good month and good memories. I love you, my sweet big girl.

I'm so happy it's Baby Jones' birthday! Guess we can't call my nephew Baby Jones much longer, huh? Last weekend we got to celebrate sweet boy's birthday with family in Fitzgerald. Have you ever seen such a cute boy?

Boo made an adorable monkey cake for him to smash up, but I think he was feeling the pressure of all those stares and cameras, and just wanted that sticky icing off his hands!

But opening presents definitely made him a happy birthday boy.

Camille, of course, wanted to "help" him open all his presents. She really was so happy to see him and showered him with hugs and kisses. We all had a great time, and I'm so happy we could celebrate with Jones, our family and friends!

We've been on the go a bit recently and it has been great to spend some quality time with good people. After our trip to Tennessee, we had the tremendous fortune to spend a few days at the beach with Elsie and her folks. It was a riot seeing those girls in action - literally, a riot. I had to laugh at them - they are best buddies but loved driving each other nuts. One minute they couldn't stand to be apart, the next minute they were nose to nose yelling at each other about something. I think that's just what happens when you put two toddlers in the same house. But they were absolutely adorable (and hilarious) at bedtime - more on that in another post. And we adults thoroughly enjoyed our evenings spent chatting on the porch in view of the ocean after the kids went to sleep.

Then we traveled to Macon to visit with Lee's family, including his Grannie who traveled here from Texas. That was a treat!

Now it's our turn to have visitors - my mom and a friend are in Savannah for a few days. I'm looking forward to eating good seafood the next two nights, playing in the pool, and enjoying great company. Up next, a trip to Fitzgerald for Jones' first birthday party. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT HE IS A YEAR OLD? My goodness!

We're settling back in tonight after an extended-weekend trip to visit my parents in Tennessee. Of course, they always have some new toy or stuffed animal or book for Camille to play with, and she loves them all. But I'm delighted that she also loves playing with my old toys just as much, if not more.

On this trip, she really got into playing with my old Maple Town house and figures. I have such fond memories of these toys. The house is a simple plastic structure with some tiny furniture and even homemade curtains mom and I put on the windows. The figures are small, flocked woodland creatures. I had a mouse family and a bunny family. The bunny family included a baby, and Camille spent most of her time playing with it, putting it to bed, in the highchair, then the stroller, etc.

I love this toy line because the figures are so cute and so innocent. No buxom ladies or high-heeled shoes or Maple Town corvettes. Just cute little anthropomorphic animal families.

Lee and I started looking on ebay to see if we could buy some of the old sets for Camille to have at home, and we found some on there. But much to my delight, we also discovered that these toys are still being made, just under the new name of Calico Critters! I cannot tell you how excited I am about this! Camille has a birthday coming up... I wonder if she'd let me play too? See how cute this is?

Something else made a comeback this weekend, although it wouldn't qualify as a toy. Mom dug my junior-year prom dress out of a closet, and Camille enjoyed strutting around in the sequined number. She paired it with some of mom's "fancy shoes," and then topped it off with her crown. Of course.

Hi sweet sleeping princess, and happy 34-month birthday! Tonight, as I write, you are not cuddled down in your crib, but rather you're sleeping peacefully in your big girl bed. How exciting!

You really didn't seem to mind your crib, so we were in no hurry to make the change, but Boo helped nudge us in that direction. Your Daddy and I went on a trip this month and you took a vacation to Boo's house. You slept in a twin bed there for the first time in your life, and did just fine. So when we got back, it seemed perfect timing for removing the outside rail on your crib and converting it into a toddler bed. So far, so good. You treat it much like you did your crib, still calling for us in the morning when you're awake instead of getting out of bed yourself.

However, you have fallen out of the bed once. It was during your naptime, and I was downstairs and heard a sickening thud against the hardwoods, followed by your cry. I raced up the stairs, yelling, "It's okay!" the whole way, hoping I was right. And it was ok. You were shaken, but not hurt.

I blame your Princess Unicorn for the fall. Let me explain.

You have never seemed terribly attached to any one toy - you are an equal opportunity toy lover. You have favorites, but not one "lovie" that cannot leave your sight. Well, last month Nana let you pick out a toy at the toy store, and you chose a molded plastic unicorn with a glittery pink mane and tail. Right away, you wanted that to be your bedtime toy, which unfortunately, seems an uncomfortable choice. The pony is large, rigid and not snuggly in the least. We've tried to suggest other bedtime toys, but you insist on sleeping with your "Princess Unicorn." And not only must she be with you, she has to lay in a very particular way with a bit of your covers over her legs.

Because she's so large, and because you have her positioned to take up half the bed, you have to scoot almost to the edge to make room for her on your small mattress. Therefore, I blame her squarely for your fall.

Your Princess Unicorn is just one of the things you've grown so particular about this month. You've liked princesses for a while, but lately your desire to dress up like one has increased a thousand fold. Every day for the past several days, you've woken up and nearly immediately requested three things: your crown, your tutu, and that we call you Cinderella. We can't even call you Princess Camille. "No! I'm Cinderella!" you scold us.

And your crown is not some ordinary, bejeweled accessory. Oh no - it is none other than a BURGER KING CROWN. You picked this up on an outing with Boo, and if you had it your way, it would never part from your head. You ask to wear it everywhere, and we give in sometimes. Last Sunday you even wore it to church, and by the end of the day had "crown hair" instead of hat hair.

I snapped this photo of you tonight, looking quite happy because your outfit was complete.

Now if only all this princess business would make you more eager for a visit from the Paci Fairy...

Even before you got your burger king, er, I mean "Cinderella" crown, you loved to wear dresses, and still do. If you had it your way, you'd wear your Sunday best on any day that ended with the letter "y." You really are such a cutie that I'm tempted to let you stay dressed up, except that I don't want the dresses to get in the way of playing on the playground, etc. But just look at what a doll you are!

This has also been a month of music for you. Your Daddy recently discovered the ukulele, and you wanted to play too. Turns out a ukulele is just the right size for a little girl's arms, and you were delighted when you received your very own (pink, of course) ukulele.

I put together a video of some of your musical moments from this month. In it are a few shots of you twirling around our living room, which is one of your favorite things to do, and one of my favorite things to watch.

A Musical Month from Ginger on Vimeo.

This has also been a very beachy month for us. The weather got warm enough for us to suit up and head out several times. I'm very happy to report that - so far - you really seem to be enjoying the beach and we're certainly enjoying it through you.

This year, you're much more willing to play in the sand, and we don't have to remind you not to eat it nearly so often. I'm looking forward to a summer full of beach outings with you and your Daddy. I think you are too.

This month you also wrote your first book! As part of a school assignment, you chose a picture from a stack and had to come up with a written story (with parental assistance, of course) based on the picture. You chose a picture of a baby doll, and we did a sort of "mad libs" to help you come up with a storyline. We'd provide the basic sentence structure and let you fill in the details. It was great fun, and here's what you came up with:

"Once upon a time, there was a doll and a butterfly. The doll's name was Dolly Dolly, and the butterfly's name was Butterfly Butterfly. They were best friends.

Dolly Dolly lived in a very colorful world inside a book. Her favorite thing to do was play with a toy baby doll with her friend Butterfly Butterfly.

After they played, the two friends had a snack of biscuits and honey.

One day, Dolly Dolly was sad because her dress was wrinkled. Butterfly Butterfly got her a new pink dress with purple polka dots, which made Dolly Dolly so happy!"

I feel so lucky to get these little glimpses inside your imagination. I love your creativity - whether it's directed toward your first book, your musical interests, or even assembling the perfect princess outfit. I think you are such a fascinating, beautiful person, and I'm so glad I get to come along for the ride. I love you so much.

My girl is famous.

I was both surprised and delighted to find out that a picture of Camille (oh, and there may have been a few other kids too) was on the front page of today's paper!

The newspaper story was about how budget cuts may impact our local libraries. A photographer came to library story time last week, but I'd forgotten all about it.

She's such a cutie, and sure likes to be front and center when the books come out!

We introduced Camille to live theater today, and I'm happy to report it was a success! We joined her buddies Elsie and Sterling to see "Elmo Live!" at the Civic Center. I had mentally prepared for the possibility that we could be there for all of ten minutes before Camille announced she was done. Or, the chance that when Elmo danced onto the stage she'd be terrified to see her furry friend in real life.

Neither happened. Instead, as soon as the lights when down and the curtain came up, she was transfixed, clapping, laughing and mostly just staring in wide-eyed amazement as her Sesame Street friends danced. The only complaint we heard was when Elmo was not on stage for brief periods. Oh, and she was a little disappointed when I told her she couldn't get on stage to dance with them.

We stayed through the entire show and all had a good time. It was fun watching her absorbing the experience, and seeing it all so freshly through her eyes. She got a little teary when it was time for the characters to say good-bye, but hopefully they'll come back through town next year. And as long as she's still an Elmo fan, we'll be there!

A couple of months ago, in the midst of a super-busy time at work, Lee and I agreed that a vacation was in order. And not just any kind of vacation - the kind that involves doing absolutely nothing in a beautiful place by the sea. We didn't want to go on a tour or do any sightseeing. We just wanted to relax, pure and simple.

I give Lee all the credit for finding Tensing Pen. It's a small resort in Negril, Jamaica, about an hour and a half cab ride from the airport in Montego Bay. We were drawn to the place by descriptions of its natural beauty and solitude, and we were not disappointed.

The property has about a dozen cottages, and this was our home sweet home, Rock Cottage I.

When we began searching for a place to stay, an ocean view was mandatory so we could enjoy breakfast on our balcony and watch the waves roll in. But we got so much more, with 180 degree, unobstructed views of the crystal blue water from the two loungers on our front porch. I couldn't believe our good fortune. The room was nice, with french doors opening onto the porch, and a great ocean breeze negating the need for air conditioning.

We spent many hours on that front porch, me with a book (I read 2.5 books in the 3 full days we were there), and Lee with either a book, his ukulele or his watercolors. He didn't have to look far for inspiration to paint.

When not on our porch, we could often be found here, at one of the lounge areas set up directly on the cliffs.

Or, perhaps my favorite spot, this hammock hut jutting out over the ocean.

There was no beach, but I didn't miss it. We enjoyed waking up each morning to the sound of the water curling up against the cliffs. There were various stone pathways and ladders down into the water, and the resort provided floats for bobbing around in the ocean, which I loved. The water was deep (deep enough for cliff diving), but so clear you could see all the way to the bottom.

I absolutely loved the way the resort was designed, with rock pathways carved seamlessly into the rock cliffs. The stone cottages with their thatched roofs seemed to belong, instead of invading on the area's natural beauty.

For someone so schedule-oriented, it's not always easy for me to put aside the guidebooks and travel planners and just soak it all up. But here, there was no rush. No television or phone in our room - not even a clock. I woke up because the sun was up. I went to sleep because I was sleepy. And it was just what we needed.

And if the pictures don't give you a feel for the place, here's a little video montage of the resort. I had to include the part where I jump off the bridge over the cliffs, but I edited it so you don't have to watch me stand there for ten minutes working up the nerve to jump!

Tensing Pen from Ginger on Vimeo.

All the way home from school, Lee and I like to quiz Camille about her day. Mostly it's because we're so curious about what she's up to at school, but also partly because her answers are pretty funny.

According to Camille, today at school she:

Ate a cookie for lunch.
Made a kite.
Slept on a bench.

Delightful!