It all started before dinner one night. She spotted her helmet in the mudroom and demanded it in her wordless-yet-unmistakable way, complete with head patting. So she wore her helmet to dinner (egg rolls dipped in ketchup, though she was just as partial to the fantastic ginger dipping sauce that was sooo easy to make).
And after dinner she watched a little Old School Sesame Street in the helmet.
Breakfast the next morning? You've got the idea.
This is her absolute favorite outfit. In fact, she might also forgo the diaper if I let her.
Playing in the yard with Mama. Be sure to notice the stompin' boots she also insists on. Not quite baby Docs, but seriously close.
Riding her quadricycle in the kitchen. That's a tiny red bowl of frozen chickpeas she's carrying around with her to snack on.
Sadly when we had to get in the car to pick Violet up from school her mean old Mama wouldn't let her wear her helmet in the car. (Isn't there such a thing as being too safe?)
But it all turned out okay, because all she had to do was screech for her helmet when we get to school, and her mean old mama suddenly relented.
We took Violet to OT and Speech, and Stella had fun on her favorite toy. Since I won't let her near our dilapidated stairs at home, Stella thinks this is a blast.
And not that it has anything to do with her helmet: Here is Stella talking to her friend Molly. We see Molly every week while we wait for Violet and she and Stella have gotten to be kind of chummy. And it's very interesting because Molly does not talk at all. In fact, she makes noises that could very well be scary to a toddler. And Stella only has a couple words, but Molly wouldn't really care even if she had more. Molly's aide, Kathleen, has told me that Molly generally doesn't like small children, but slowly over the winter Molly has gotten used to Stella. Now she generally sits on the floor with Stella (and Kathleen and I!) while she waits.
And what I love best is the kindness and empathy that is already blossoming in Stella's personality. She never goes too fast with Molly, she is never loud or aggressive. Maybe she needs time to get reaquainted every week as well. But it is an amazing and wonderful thing to see. Kathleen once told me Stella could be an ambassador when she grew up. Because she is so incredibly engaging and utterly open. I just love that she and Molly are friends.
1 comment:
Stella, loved by all...people, dogs. It looks as though she could be a diplomat.
What I love too is that kids don't really fuss over eccentricities or disabilities, as long as you don't point things out. I remember my mother-in-law wondering if she should warn Eli that her cousin (who was about to visit) had a speech impediment. I told her No Way and no need to point it out. Eli met him and that's just the way that one person in his life speaks, no big deal and nothing "special" or "different" about it.
Looks like you are having great fun.
M.
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