13:2012

• Erika had her 2-year old professional photos taken this week.
• Erika has learnt to use tools to help her get things beyond her reach, like using a long blue toy to sweep underneath the pantry cabinet to retrieve tennis balls for Kade (who excitedly looks on)
• Several times now, I've caught Puppy holding a conference with dinosaurs. Erika says they are "talking".
• Erika's red dragon has died. In his place is a green dragon. Will write about that separately.
• Erika has reduced third-person pronouns in her sentences and now uses "I/you/us/we" sentences.
• Kade is drinking a lot of water and peeing a lot. Which is problematic when he can't hold it for 4 hours, especially in the middle of the night.
• Pollen in the air has been a killer. I've got a real bad sorethroat and a stuffy nose.

Erika's red dragon (and other speeches)

Erika using my phone to call her Daddy and ask him why he isn't home yet. He doesn't pick up (because the phone isn't on) so she then decides to text him.
  

Erika: Mommy, there dragon!
Me: Where?
Erika: Next me. 
Me: What color is he?
Erika: Ummm... green.
Me: Green? What happened to the red dragon? [If you recall, in every past instance, her dragon has always been red, with orange eyes, and a black tongue]
Erika: Ummm.. died.
Me: Died? What happened?
Erika: ... Hurt. Red dragon hurt. Then die.
Me: How did he get hurt?
[Erika breaks into a big grin]
Erika: I kill him sword. Poke him. Like this. [And starts to make sword thrusts.]

Also, she's reduced her use of third-person pronouns. She now longer refers to herself as Erika but rather uses "I" or "me". And she uses the second-person pronouns "you, yours, we, us", the list goes on.
"I fart!"
"I go sleep now in crib."
"Come wit' me, go see?"
"I use fork poke food, see Daddy?"
"I need pencils, draw picture for you."
"This shirt yours?"
"Mommy, you finish eating, all done? I sit your lap eat food."

She and a boy at daycare must have some sort of love-hate relationship going on. He's about 4 - 5 months older than her, but it seems some days the stories are:
"Ty-ty [real name Tyler, but she calls him Ty-ty] hit me in face! No, no, Ty-ty. No hit me!"

And other days it is:
"I show Ty-ty but'fly on my hand [a temporary tattoo]. He say so beaut'ful, so pretty."

And next day it's:
"Ty-ty push me! And take my toys! I cry. Ty-ty said-- sorry, E'ka."

And then:
"I eat Ty-ty's oatmeal. We share. Eat tog'ther. Ty-ty share wit' me."