On Monday I took Emma to get a haircut. Her friend Alex just got her hair cut short and it looks so fresh and cute for the summer. I thought Emma would be excited to do the same, so I mentioned it to her and she was on board with the idea. Because Emma has SOOO much hair, it is puffier now than it was while it was long but, she is comfortable with the new length and it makes washing it and brushing it MUCH easier.
Emma is growing up so fast and is quite a beautiful little flower. Several months ago we removed the crib from her room and replaced it with her “Princess Bed”. That’s how we sold it to her at least. In reality it is a queen size bed on box springs that sits directly on the floor of her room. There are no fancy bed frames, canopy, or opulent bed posts. It is just a bed on a floor with three bed rails that I attached to reduce the chances that she roll off it and thump unceremoniously on the floor during her sleep. She’s an active sleeper you know. The queen sized mattress might seem like overkill for a 3 year old, but since we had it lying around (in the guest room) and finances are short these days, we decided to move it into her room instead of buying a bed set for her. She has been so appreciative of it, and sleeps through the night now. Sometimes at night she says, “Daddy, thank you so much for my beautiful Princess Bed”, which breaks my heart because it is far from regal.
Elena, Emma and I went for a nature walk last week to enjoy the nice weather and beautiful fall leaves. After living in South Florida for so many years, I had come to forget how nice the fall can be. The changing leaves are a great indicator of time. In another month or so the trees will be bare indicating winter is coming, and we will soon be looking forward to the green growth of spring.
Like the seasons, Emma is changing quite rapidly as well. She is just over three years old and is no longer a baby. She is a little person, full of ideas, and opinions, and her own personal agenda. She communicates so well now and knows so much it is stunning. Today her mother said it is Wednesday, to which Emma responded, “It’s garbage day”. Things like that blow me away. She is 3 years 3 weeks old people! What is she supposed to know about garbage day?
When I look at Emma and see how big and healthy she is I am consumed with happiness. It also makes me extremely sad at times to see how much she has grown already, and despite blogging about her, when I see pictures of her a year ago, my memory already betrays me. I don’t ever want to forget how she acted at each and every stage of her life. I want to remember and recall the snapshots of her development but life has a way of making you forget. This saddens me because I know the Emma I see today will be but a distant and faded memory a year from now. I realize that I have to cherish every moment, even more than I do already. I can see time fast forwarding on me: graduations, Marriage, Babies of her own, and I will become a much less important person in her life. I hope and pray that I will always be relevant to her and I will be a good Father that she will always know she can rely on and that she will save a place for in her heart.
I know it may seem quite dramatic to be thinking this far ahead, but I am a reflective thinker who understands what lies ahead. Acknowledging the future allows me to make adjustments now so that when that day comes, I am not full of regrets for what I should have, could have, done differently. I don’t want to be that parent who postponed life and time with my daughter because I thought there would always be time for her later. You know, the whole “Cat’s in the Cradle” thing.
My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin’ ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew
He’d say “I’m gonna be like you dad
You know I’m gonna be like you”
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home dad?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son
You know we’ll have a good time then
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, “Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let’s play
Can you teach me to throw”, I said “Not today
I got a lot to do”, he said, “That’s ok”
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah
You know I’m gonna be like him”
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home son?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son
You know we’ll have a good time then
Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
“Son, I’m proud of you, can you sit for a while?”
He shook his head and said with a smile
“What I’d really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?”
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home son?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son
You know we’ll have a good time then
I’ve long since retired, my son’s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, “I’d like to see you if you don’t mind”
He said, “I’d love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job’s a hassle and kids have the flu
But it’s sure nice talking to you, Dad
It’s been sure nice talking to you”
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home son?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son
You know we’ll have a good time then
Here’s our little Cinderella doing the laundry. She loves to help her Mommy.
On October 21st Emma turned 3 years old. To celebrate we had a “Princess Themed” birthday party with two of her closest friends (Alex and Emma). Elena set up an action-packed and fun-filled day with balloons, arts-and-crafts, a pinata, playtime, and cake. It was really nice to watch Emma enjoy herself so much. Elena and I were honored to have her friends come over to celebrate her special day and make it as beautiful as it was.
Words and still pictures can not properly convey Emma’s fearlessness, so here are some videos.
Jumping In The Pool
Jumping In Again
For Emma’s 3rd swim lesson I joined Emma in the water for some wet and wild fun. We practiced entering the pool, freestyle swim-stroke, blowing bubbles through our nose, holding our breath under water, and jumping into the pool (Emma’s personal favorite). Emma is such a fish it’s not even funny. She can stay in the water all day if allowed. The only part she hates about swim class is the end.
Entering the pool
Free-style swim
Blowing bubbles through our nose
Emma holding her breath under water
Emma doing the back stroke
Emma holding her breath
Last weeks swim lesson was canceled because her instructor was sick. We took Emma to the pool anyway and swam with her to practice the skills she had learned in her first lesson. When we attended her second lesson today, Emma’s skill had improved. It’s quite amazing because we can see visible improvements from one lesson to the next. During her first lesson she was taught how to “blow bubbles” in the water through her mouth. A concept she struggled with. We practiced the day her teacher was sick and concentrated on emphasizing blowing before submerging her mouth into the water (as initially she was attempting to submerge her head, draw water into her mouth and then spit it out). During today’s class we practiced that skill as well as some basic swim strokes as well as holding her breath under water. Miss Lauren provided some flotation devices so the children could focus on propelling themselves with their arms and legs without worring about staying buoyant. Emma did really good today. Her Mom and I are extremely proud of her. 🙂
Emma “bubble blowing” practice
Emma proudly showing Miss Lauren her “bubble-blowing” skill
Emma practicing some swim strokes
Look at that outboard motor kick!
Emma holding her breath under water (for 4-6 seconds)
Emma standing on the top step of the ladder. Looks like trouble is on the way.
Emma jumping into the water
I know I have said it several times already but Emma really loves water in all shapes and forms. She loves to drink it, touch it, splash it, soak in it, submerse herself in it, bathe in it, etc. As a result, today we started Emma in swimming lessons. It’s the most introductory of courses designed to create confidence and comfort in the water. Emma is frighteningly fearless which is clearly a concern for me and her Mother. I want her to have fun, but also emphasize her need to listen to our instructions and respect the water. During her first class Emma’s instructor Lauren taught her how to kick, push off the wall, float on her back, and blow bubbles through her mouth. Emma didn’t quite get the mechanics involved with blowing bubbles in the water and would take in water to spit back out in an attempt to blow bubbles. I am really happy and impressed with what Emma was able to accomplish in her first lesson and the wide ear-to-ear smile she had during the whole class was priceless.
Emma with her Mom in the water.
Swim instructor Lauren teaches Emma how to push-off the wall.
Emma pushing off the wall on her back.
Emma practicing kicking with her Mom.
