Prayers and She Keeps Us Laughing!

K: Dear God, thank you for bugs. Except ants. They do not belong in our house!! Thank you for everything except ants. And thank you for all the polka dots.

K: Thank you, God, for pots and pans and watering cans. And I don't like bad guys. Amen.

K: Dear God, thank you for Jesus dying on the cross for us and doing important things. And thank you for Frozen. I like Frozen. And thank you for the clouds, plants, trees, and flowers. I like flowers the best because they are soooo cute and beautiful.

K: Dear God, thank you for all the people, and thank you for all the people who are sick. And if they are about to die, Grandad can pray with them. Amen.

K: Dear God, thank you for snacks. Healthy snacks that take care of our bodies. Please help Zoe to feel better. And please help Mommy's shirt that snagged.

K: Dear God, thank you for Little Bo Peep and Little Boy Blue.

K: Dear God, thank you for Baylor. And I hope you have a wonderful day, God. Goodnight.

K: Thank you God for everything. Help me to have a wonderful day. Thank you for the cows and Mary and Joseph. I love you, God. Thank you for Jesus. Amen.

K: Dear God, I love you, Jesus. And of course we need something. And I hope I grow up. Amen.

K: Thank you God for roses. That's a type of flower. Anyway, amen.

K: Thank you for my little arm and that I can use it to hug people. [It's all about perspective!!]

___________


K: I don't play with [name] much. 
Me: Who's that?
K: A black kid in my class.
Me: Ok... maybe you don't go around calling him black.
K (very innocently): Oh... I know!! I could call him negro! That is the Spanish word for black!!!
Me: Noyoucan'tsaythat. Just call him friend.

K (showing Tia Christy a crayon): Do you know all about fuchsia?

Me: Goodnight. Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite! 
K: I don't have bed bugs.
Me: It's just a silly rhyme. A little joke.
K: I don't like jokes.

K: T-A-Y-L-O-R!! BAYLOR BEARS FIGHT!!!

K: A mosque is an old butterfly.

Dave: I'm going to go to that mega garage sale.
K: Noooo, we don't need another garage!

Nana: When daddy and Michael were little, they were mice in a Christmas play.
K: What was Stephen?
Nana: I don't know.
K: Cheese?

K: Mommy, last time you wore those shoes, you said they hurt your feet.
Me: Yes, but I'm prepared with bandaids this time and we're kind of in a hurry, so I'm just going to go with it.
K (unwavering): MOMMY. This is not a good choice.
Me: Well, maybe you can come with me sometime to buy new shoes.
K: YES!! After school we should go buy you some new shoes. Some red, sparkly shoes!

K: If I had a pet worm, it would need to be a girl worm and be pink and purple. And then I would pet it. I don't like boy worms.

K: Did you know my spit is sparkly?

K: Wait, I forgot to draw eyelashes on my person...there, now she looks like a proper person.

Me: Do the different colors of goldfish taste different? 
K: Yes. Red tastes like apple.
Me: And green?
K: Froggy.

K: Baylor wants to play with me but I am not available.

K (watching the news): Have we seen this one before?
Me: Well, the news is different every day.
K: But that looks like the same girl we saw talking last night...

K: Mickey, are you cold? Well, probably not since you are wearing gloves.

Me: Where are you going?
K (escaping the bathtub): Just let me be, sister.

She Keeps Us Laughing!

First, some deep thoughts by Katelyn...

• Why does Donald have a duck voice but Daisy doesn't?
• Why don't we see toots?
• If there's a baby in a mommy's tummy, and the mommy lays on her tummy, does it squish the baby?
• At MawMaw's funeral, she was in a casket. When Mary and Joseph died, did they share a casket so they could be together?
• (reading a Bible story) That picture shows Sarah with a cane because she was so old. She can't hold baby Isaac AND walk with a cane!

___________


Me: What's in your drawing?
K: Oh, you know, just a lot of ideas.

K (after teaching her to win at Tic-Tac-Toe): WOW. I love, love, LOVE to win!!!!

K: Mommy, talk about something.
Me: Ok, baby Baylor was a very cute puppy--
K: Welllllll, baby Katelyn was also very cute. Let's talk about her.

K: I don't feel well.
Me: I think that's your body telling you to go to sleep.
K: But... my body doesn't tell me that, it doesn't have a face.

K: My hand is a flower and my fingers are the flower petals. My little arm is the garden.

K (pointing to the end of a train): Is that the commode?

K: Daddy, will you play "Holy, Holy, Holy" and "Joyful, Joyful" on the piano?
D (thumbing through the hymnal): Ok, where is it...
K: #2 and #7. (this is correct)

Me: If you're going to play Mary, you need to wear clothes. It was probably cold that night in Bethlehem.
K: We're not in Bethlehem.

Me: Katelyn, don't do that.
K: Well, my name is Cupcake, so...

Me: We don't have money for that.
K: Well, we need to go buy some more money.

K: I don't like robots; I like chickens.

K: Kristoff and Princess Anna (from Frozen) are the mommy and daddy.
Me: Who are their children?
K: Alex and Felicia. (??????)

Me: No school or work for us today! We are on vacation!
K: Yep! And today I'm going to be LAZY.

K: Want some of my cereal?
Me: Thanks, but I can't eat it because it has corn in it.
K: (begins searching for corn)
Me: It doesn't look like corn you normally see. It's just one of the ingredients.
K: So the corn is silent?

K: Mommy, are you going to grow some more?
Me: No, I'm done growing.
K: Well, you seem a little bit small.

Me: You don't get to make choices for other people. For one thing, you're THREE.
K: (between sobs) I want to be four!!!

K: Holy moly, look at all those birds! I can't get over this.

Me: Don't do that. I don't want to tell you again. 
K: *sigh* I am still learning, Mommy.

K: Does that flashlight work?
Me: No, and I don't know what we need to fix it.
K: A daddy?

K: Baylor, how was Dog's Day Out? (in her best dog voice) Well, my heart fluttered!

K: Let's think of words that rhyme with meatloaf.
Me: Um... maybe a different word...
K: Ok, pajamas.
Me: Um...
K: Picture??

K: Mommy, do you like me?
Me: Yes!
K: Well, I like me the most.

K: Three is boring. I'm tired of three.

Me: That's enough.
K: I don't want to "enough"!!

K: Who's the line leader at work?
Dave: [A man named] Jesus.
K: Hey, my name is not Sus!

K, after a big sneeze: Mommy, I have some bless you on my shirt.

Me: It's time for bedtime prayers. Is there anything in particular you want to pray about?
K: Yes. Let's thank him that I can do things with my little arm. (LOVE!!!!)

Scottish Rite/Little Arm Update

We just had Katelyn's annual Scottish Rite arm appointment. Such a wonderful place!! Her appointment was great, as expected. Because there are no complications with her little arm, Scottish Rite's role now and in the future will be to help us problem solve. Whatever Katelyn develops an interest in--whether it be jumping rope, riding a bike, playing the violin, etc--Scottish Rite can help make that happen. Knowing Katelyn's personality, I think she would be strongly opposed to wearing a prosthetic. However, Scottish Rite makes all sorts of "extensions" that help assist kids with limb differences do the things they love to do.

Katelyn's been asking a lot of questions lately: When I get older, will I still have my little arm? Or will it get bigger? Can I be a mommy someday and still have a little arm? Why do I have a little arm and my friends have big arms? Why did God make my little arm? Some questions are easier to answer than others, but all are important. I should emphasize that she does not have a resentful or pouty attitude toward her difference. 

One thing I think is cool is that her little arm below her elbow bends both ways, much like a wrist can flex to the left and the right. I asked the doctor about this, thinking maybe those bones were double jointed. The doctor said it's likely that as Katelyn has adapted over time, she probably hyperextended her little arm and now it works to her advantage. At any rate, it's fun to watch her problem solve so quickly to do everyday tasks like putting on socks, unwrapping a band-aid, or opening a package of string cheese. She may do things a little differently, but her FIERCE determination and independence serve her well.

She keeps us laughing!

Out of the blue, she's developed an affinity for the word "removable" and uses it with great frequency and surprising accuracy. She works "removable" into conversations approximately 5,863 times per day, yet somehow it catches me off guard every single time. Some of my favorites:

Me: Where are your clothes??
K: I took them off because they are removable.

K, watching a Jack in the Box commercial: Haha... hey, is that man's head removable?

K: The toilet is removable.
Me: Technically, yes, but it takes a lot of work to remove a toilet.
K: No, that top part [the tank lid] is removable.

K (playing Barbies): Hi Ken, I'm Barbie. My head is removable.

At CVS, after somehow taking off part of the hardware on the pharmacy's swinging door:
Me: What's in your hand?
K (delighted): I don't know, but look! It's removable.

_ _ _ _ _


K: Is God a boy? 
Me: Um--
K: Nevermind, I think he is a girl.

K (looking out the car window): Why is the moon following us like the Wise Men followed the bright, shining star?

Me: When you disobey, it makes my heart sad.
K: (gives me an awkward hug)
Me: What are you doing?
K: Giving your heart a hug so it's happy.

Dave (watching baseball): That's the umpire. He calls the shots.
K (long pause): But... why does the umpire call the doctor?

K: Look at these bumps on my tummy. They are hairballs because I chewed on my hair. I don't know what to do about them.

Dave to me: When you're finished with that, can we talk about dinner?
Me (while designing something): This is a weekend project. Just tell me when you're hungry.
Dave: I'm hungry.
K (matter of fact): Then you can make dinner all by yourself. 
(The two of them then sweetly made dinner together)

Me: You have two minutes until you have to get out of the bathtub.
K: (no response)
Me: Say 'Ok, mama.'
K (distracted): Ok.
Me: Do you know what you're saying ok to?
K: Yes. Mama.

K: Mommy, you didn't shut that drawer all the way.
Me: Sorry. I know that drives you crazy. Nobody's perfect. Well, except Jesus.
K: Yeah. I bet Jesus knew how to shut drawers all the way.

K: Today, my name is Cupcake. Please call me Cupcake.

Me (at the doctor): I sit in this chair because I am the patient.
K: But I want you to be my mommy!!!!!

Me: No, you don't need a sucker right now. We really save candy for special occasions.
K: But I AM a special occasion!!!

K: Where did you buy our car?
Me: At a place in Waco. Our friend Claire helped us.
K: Does Claire speak French?
Me: Um... that's random... I don't know.
K: When I be 4, I want to go to her house and ask her.

K: I have on sunglasses, a bracelet, and a necklace. I am a rock star. (suddenly changing her mind) Nevermind, I don't need these supplies.

K: I want to be a doctor when I grow up. No, I want to be a snowflake.

K: It's ok to have eyeballs.

Me: Why didn't you nap?
K: Katelyn and Freddy (stuffed animals) were talking and kept me awake.

K: What's this song called?
Me: All Creatures of Our God and King.
K: And Princess????

K: Thank you, God, for my dolls and my lips and my arms... (pats little arm and smiles) This little arm. (LOVE!!!!!)

Flower Girl

Dave's brother got married recently and Katelyn got to be the flower girl in the wedding. She was SO excited... so much so that she had a major meltdown in the wedding rehearsal when she realized she couldn't go up and down the aisle multiple times during the ceremony. 

pre-meltdown at the rehearsal

She insisted on wearing Nana's pearls to the rehearsal.

Thankfully, she did great during the actual wedding. Possibly because I told her that throwing a fit = no cake at the reception. Sure enough, as soon as she finished her flower girl duties and came to sit with me, she whispered, "Mommy, I did not cry. I'm ready for some of that chocolate cake now." Ha.

And the reception. Oh, the reception. Other than briefly eating, she danced 100% of the time FOR HOURS. It was exhausting--but impressive--to watch.

Dancing on Daddy's feet

And then she took Dave's hand, led him to the deejay, and asked if he would play "Let It Go" from Frozen. I've always known my child wasn't shy, but I've never seen her THIS uninhibited. EVER. She dominated the floor and danced/sang every part of the song with dead-on accuracy to the actual movie. It was hilarious. And at the end of her performance, everyone applauded... and she gave the most dramatic bow/curtsey I've ever seen. So, so funny.

So... looks like self-confidence isn't an issue. And apparently the next best thing to dancing is a photo booth... 

Thanks, Kelly and Joey, for letting our girl be a part of your special day! Your wedding was beautiful and we had a great time!

She keeps us laughing!

K: If I don't go to sleep, no chocolate milk tomorrow night. That's the rule. 
Me: Correct. 
K: Buuuuut, I can still have plain milk, juice, and water...

K: (shrieking hysterically) DADDY!!!! There are ants in my bathroom!!!!!! Ants don't go in here!!! BUT I ONLY LIKE BUTTERFLIES!!! (and she repeated the butterfly phrase for the next 15 minutes solid)

K to me, after I made small talk with a stranger: You are always talking to people. And Grandad is always talking to people. (Those of you who know my dad see the humor in this.)

K (while waiting for our food at a restaurant): I'm done. I'm ready to go. I'm getting old.

K: I need you to help me with prayers.
Me: Ok. Say, 'Thank you God for Mommy and Daddy and Baylor.'
K: Thank you God for Elsa and Olaf and-- wait, Elsa doesn't have a dog. Elsa and Olaf and Baylor.

K: Mommy, I have a cough. And Daddy's throat hurts. We are just falling apart.

K: I'm all dressed up like a bride. Daddy, you are my groom. Let's go.
Me: I might be jealous about that.
K: Oh ok, you can be a bridesmaid.

K: I keep hitting my elbow. Stop it, brain.

K (playing doctor): Let's look in your ears.
Me: What do you see in my ears?
K: (without hesitation) Bugs. And a spider.

Dave: Why are you rubbing your eye-- do you have something in your eye?
K: Yes. It's an eyeball.

K: (praying at dinner) Thank you God for Annabelle and Zoe-- and me, of course.

K: I have been happy my whole life!

K to Dave and me: I am crying happy tears!
Me: Why?
K: Because I like you guys!!

Me: (dancing to Frozen)
K: Can you always be my mommy? (HEART MELTED)

Me: My voice will be gone when I have my tonsils out. But don't worry, it will come back.
K: Like the electricity after the storm?

K to me: Hmm. Your hipbones are bigger than mine.

Me: Are you eating your meat like I said?
K: Yes.
Me: Show me... that's not meat, that's bread.
K: I'm pretending it's meat.

K: (as we drove through scenic Arkansas) Look at this view!!!

Me: Do you remember what's needed for plants to grow?
K: Water.
Me: And?
K: Um... a flower pot.

Me: You've got to stop whining and saying "I don't want to" to every single thing. Do you understand?
K: Yes. But I don't want to.

Me: You sure ask a lot of questions.
K: I like to ask why.
Me: And I love that about you. I hope you are always curious. But sometimes I don't know the answers.
K: (very long pause) But sometimes you do.

Camping

We went camping for the first time as a family. Tents and all. In Texas, in July. Yeah, I'm surprised I went, too. I was outnumbered on this one but was willing to go for the sake of family togetherness and letting Katelyn develop her own opinion of camping instead of adopting my hesitancy toward it. So we packed up our fans and clothes I was willing to burn afterwards if needed and off we went. And honestly, it turned out well. I would go again... just maybe in October.

Katelyn, despite her everyday disgust toward all insects except roly polys and butterflies that she insists are pink and purple, loved camping. We enjoyed going for walks and seeing bunnies, roadrunners, and a whole family of deer cross our path. And there's just something strangely peaceful about falling asleep to the sound of bullfrogs in the lake. But let's be clear: I do not foresee myself ever sleeping on the ground directly under the stars, sans tent. Ever. I need those four zippered walls to protect me from, you know, a raccoon licking my face or something.

And the sticks. So many sticks to collect.

Had a great time on the boat...

And we all took a turn driving the boat...

...which I was reluctant to do because I really have no interest in boats. Actually, being surrounded by a body of water is slightly terrifying to me. Don't judge. I grew up in a farm town. We had land, not sea. But I agreed to it for the sake of a photo op, even though no one thought to bring a Captain's hat. Fail.

And then, 2 minutes later, the game wardens pulled up next to us and issued me, the current "operator" of the boat, a warning for not having some sort of additional flotation device on board. Say what? It was pretty funny and the game wardens saw humor in it as well. So much for my future boating record.

In the hottest part of the day, we cheated on camping, drove into town, and found an all-in-one arcade/theater/game place, complete with first-world air conditioning AND those big, soft pretzels. Camping is great! We also found a little park for Katelyn.

See her water shoes? She wore them everywhere and they were completely brown by the time we got home. I deserve all the credit for the cocktail of stain-fighting laundry detergent that got them pink again.

So, lots of lessons learned on this trip:
- I can tolerate camping. Enjoy, even.
- Bring the extra flotation device, whatever it's called, on a boat
- Camp in October, not July
- Camp close to town where there is air conditioning
- Enjoy God's creation. It really is beautiful.