Pip and I watched Short Circuit last week. Aside from the (profoundly) racist stereotyping, it’s held up really well. Number 5 spends so much time walking around seeking “input” and I’ve realized that’s what Lorelei is doing but she says “dis” (might be “this”?). She’ll point to something or look at something and say “dis”, over and over again. We’ll name the thing(s), rinse, repeat. It’s charming and exhausting. But she’s learning at lightning pace. She can point out objects and animals in her books now. She can follow directions reliably. She’s making more word sounds (and some animal sounds masquerading as word sounds) but mostly the new word use is sign language. She’s up on “more”, and “down”, “thirsty” is a toss up, whereas “all done” is a sign she knows but prefers to throw the food on the floor as the announcement she’s finished…Another fun new skill of hers is using a spoon to feed herself. It’s messy, but it’s progress. She has yet to throw the spoon as a sign of being all done, for now.
A few weeks ago we found ourselves on the bridge after dark and Pip started playing Tiny Dancer on his phone and we had our first ever Bridge Dance Party. There have been a few since. I prefer Abba over Elton John, but Beatles is welcome too. Moriarty and I pretend to be whirling dervishes and spin until we’re really dizzy, which upon reflection, is probably an activity better done NOT on a bridge, but alas. Lorelei doesn’t need a formal dance party to dance, it’s become a regular part of her self expression. If I’m singing, she’ll dance. If there’s music playing, she’ll dance. If you ask her if she’d like to dance she says “DAS” and dances. The only other thing that gets her as excited is swinging (tree swing outside). She has also adopted this jaunty walk everywhere she goes which adds to the sense of constant dancing.
Moriarty’s self expression this month has centered more on his hair decor. We got a box of Cocoa Pebbles with Flintstones characters on it and he got curious and then wanted to dress like Bam Bam with stuff in a ponytail on his head. The first day he was Socky, then came Whisky, Geary, Corny, and lastly Salty. (highlights in the pictures) I keep offering to get his hair cut if he wants but he declines. He loves having the longest hair.
I’m most excited by the progress Moriarty is making in reading. I’ve been holding my breath until he can read because it unlocks so many more games, adventures, and activities. And it’s happening! He’s starting to sound out words, to identify sight words, to put new sounds together. It’s so exciting and he’s having so much fun. Lisa Francine is still tutoring him over Zoom. His nanny is helping him practice with word games and letter shaping, and the last time we read Hop on Pop he could read so many words!!! He’s only 5 but he seems so grown up. When life becomes safer again and Moriarty can go back into the world, I’m so excited to see him navigate school and friends and be his social self more completely.
Other miscellaneous updates, my job is stable but isolating since it’s impossible to get to know people through Zoom when you have no reason to interact. Lorelei is too small for off-the-shelf rain gear; they don’t sell “tuff” suits or rain boots in her size so we had to roll up sleeves and pad with big socks. Moriarty is obsessed with the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight and hums it constantly. AHAHHHHHHHH We harvested beets and CORN from our garden. I made a super cool birthday cake for myself with lemon cake and whipped chocolate ganache frosting. I’m a novice master baker.
New Images here, pass “mal”
Random Vids
Moriarty showing off his cool door sign
Lorelei using a hairbrush, somewhat for it’s purpose
Lorelei collecting rain water in a cup
Lorelei correcting a great wrong in the placement of magnets across the room