10 Things About Kalia

1) She loves to color and do art projects. Her latest 'obsession' is to go onto Playhouse Disney's website and find 'print and color' pictures from her favorite shows. Sometimes I think she could spend the whole day coloring! She's getting pretty good at it too, getting more detailed and careful to stay within the lines. Nothing makes her happier than when her artwork is displayed in the house somewhere or on the fridge.

2) This girl is a true princess at heart. She loves dressing up in her fancy princess costumes and doing girlie things like having tea parties, dancing, painting her tonails and wearing jewelry. She would be in a dress every day if she could. Often she will assign princess names for herself and anyone who will play along. Oliver gets to play the prince of course!

3) Kalia never seems to run out of energy. It's like she could just go and go forever! Even when she runs, I can't believe how she never seems to tire. And now that she's not having naps anymore I thought that she'd always be wiped by bedtime, but it seems like as long as there is action going on around her she can keep going. One of the things she loves to do with the neigbour kids is climb the huge pile of dirt in our backyard and slide down. I get tired just watching her! Her name means 'Bright and Clear', which I have always liked, and when I think about it, those words really symbolize energy.

4) Kalia is also very creative and has a vivid imagination. It is amazing to me all of the different ideas she can come up with for playing and pretending. She's been playing with imaginary friends since she started talking, and loves coming up with scenerios and make-believe ideas for both herself and the people around her. It is so fun to be pulled into her little world of pretend. She also loves reinacting things that she knows have happened in real life either to her or people she knows. The one time my parents went to a Moose game, she spent the next few weeks playing "Moose Game" though she had never been to one herself! Funny girl. She can also play one thing for a long time without getting bored or distracted, never the type to flit from toy to toy.
5) The words 'Social Butterfly' describe her very well. She would be happy if every day was a playdate! She is always talking about the next thing that she can do with her friends or who we should invite over. Just this morning she was asking if she could invite a few of them to a tea party this week.

6) Kalia loves to learn. Letters, numbers, how things work - she soaks information up like a sponge. And her memory is quite remarkable. She learned how to write the alphabet in only a few days and taught herself how to write numbers. Sometimes she is even figuring out simple math equations. She loves it when I take the time to teach her something new and is SO looking foreward to preschool in the fall. I really think she'll thrive on having a schedule for learning week by week. At preschool screening this last year, she paid very close attention to what the experts said about her and where she was at with skills. When we got home that day, she was determined, and practiced the 2 things that she had a little bit of trouble with until she got them perfectly. When we took her to the Imax, she remembered as many facts as she could and still spouts them off whenever she gets a chance!

7) When she sets her mind to something, it is hard to deter her course! This can be a good thing and a bad thing, lol. She is a girl who knows what she wants and goes for it. She is very focused, and also a perfectionist. She expects nothing less than perfection from herself and though she can get frustrated if something doesn't work out the first time, she does not give up until it does (or until Scott or I step in!) She likes to observe the way things are done and then wants to do them the right way. She will not forget about something easily either - if something is promised to her she will make sure it is carried through. But she is also very sure to keep a promise because of this determination, which i think is a wonderful thing.

8) One very unique thing about Kalia that people always comment on is the way she talks. She has a low, raspy voice for a little girl! It's especially cute because she talks like a little grownup half of the time, using words like 'perhaps' or 'preferably' - and always in the right context. True to her perfectionism, she has always been very sure to pronounce words the right way, use them in the right way, and have the right inflections in her voice. For this reason we've always loved the few words that she mispronounces because it keeps her little to us! One thing that she almost never says correctly is McDonalds - she used to say BaDonalds and now she says BicDonalds, and we have no idea why. Or she just recently started saying Flip Flops. Before, she always called them Clip Clops. Silly girl.

9) Massages are a favorite of hers. She loves to have her skin gently rubbed or massaged. This has been something that she has had a fascination with since she was just itty bitty. Sometimes it's a bit funny in public because she'll pull her shirt up to have her back or tummy rubbed, but it's so cute and I love that she wants that touch since she's often too busy to cuddle.

10) Kalia is very helpful. She is so happy if I give her a little list of chores to do around the house and volunteers to help me in any way she can. Sweeping, washing the floor, dusting, tidying up, or helping in the kitchen she loves it all. Oh and I can't forget the messiest job - washing the dishes!! She was also very helpful with Oliver when he was a baby, and now sometimes she tries to 'mother' him too much for his liking. I think she'll be great with the baby and I can totally see her running to get this and that and stepping in wherever I need her.