7/14

Jim just gave Kalista the most fun and exciting toy in the world.  It is SOOOO great its worth its weight in Gold.  She has been laughing and playing with it all day and it just gets funnier and funnier.

What is it you ask??  A DS, an ipad, a remote control helicopter?

Noooo.....

See that??  A rubber band and a folded sticky note.  That is what all the fuss has been about!  Kalista is getting pretty accurate with it and can ping things off the counter and shoot her mom in the back if I don't clap every time. 

It is the simple things in life the count.

2/17

Kalista did a few cool things today.  It was such a beautiful day, warm and sunny.  I decided that we should take a walk to the fish pond.  It is quite a long walk that involves climbing up 100 steps. 

As we were walking along Kalista looks at me and says "run run run!".  Then takes off running and laughing.  So, I ran with her.  She did that 3 more times.  I think she was just so excited to go to the fish pond. It made me so happy to see her running and relaxed.  It gives me a glimpse of what normal must be like.

We played for a long time and got some much needed sunshine.  Jim decided it would be fun to bug Kalista and tickle her.  It was more fun for Jim than her and she let him know it by squawking and pushing at him.  Then right out of the blue she says "I don't want it!!".  Holy cow!  It was an appropriate spontaneous  sentence that used the word (I) correctly!!!  We were both so shocked that we laughed and cried a few happy tears.  Jim left her alone after she earned it with such good talking.

Later Kalista decided that she needed to go to the store and even wrote out a list for me.  It looked like squiggly lines on a postit note but that was fine because she knew what was on it.  She did great in the store and I am still thankful we are able to go into public now.  She picked out some healthy snacks with out any prompting from me.  I just love that she likes nuts and veggies.   A few hours later she came in and said clear as can be "carrot".  I was impressed because that is a word we have not been working on.  I walked in the kitchen and sure enough she had the baby carrots, that she just bought, out on the counter. 

This has been an amazing day full of words and surprises.   I'm really proud of how much My Angel has grown in the last few months.

swearing...

Once upon a time.....

We were so desperate for Kalista to talk that we joked and said  "even if she swore we would be happy because at least that was SOMETHING!"

Well my friend,  today is that day.

I was reading in the living room and K was listening to her CDs.  The tv was on in the background because K absolutely has to have it on even if she doesn't watch it.  Most of the time I don't think she pays attention to it.

So some potty mouth on the tv said a swear word and she repeated it clear as a bell.  I was so shocked and told her No swearing.   She didn't even miss a beat and repeated what I said and then swore again.   It did kind of make me laugh but I told her again not to swear.

So all day long I have been hearing "Bleep... no swearing... Bleep... no no no!  Bleep... no swearing.....".  (at least she is telling herself not to swear)


I am grateful for words.  I am grateful for words.   Really really grateful for words..... every bleep one!

8/5

Today Kalista was in the kitchen making a smoothie.   She has a cute little blender that is just big enough to make 1 smoothie at a time. We decided a log time ago that a tiny blender with only one button on it was the best thing for all of us.  (so I don't end up drinking lots of extra Experimental concoctions)

Kalista mush have made thousands of smoothies in her life.  She loves to blend up stuff.  Some turn out good like strawberry banana.  Some are "not the favorite" like kale peach tomato.   "Not the favorite" by the way means "bad bad bad".

Today K was making banana OJ which is actually pretty good.  For some reason she blended it and took of the lid and looked in....  and pushed the button one more time for good measure.

Yep, you guessed it.  She had banana smoothie all over her face and she was mad at me for it.  I was laughing so hard and I think she thought I did it to her some how.   She grabbed me and put her hand over my mouth.  "ssshhhhh.... quiet!" she says.   Now we both had a banana facial and it was NOT funny.....

shades

We went for a sunday road trip yesterday and it was really nice.  Kalista is really good at road trips and can drive and drive with no fuss or meltdowns. 

At some point she found Jim's extra sunglasses and thought they were so funny.

See how cool she is???   I love that crooked smile.

7/1

Remember when your baby is about a year old and you start to introduce new foods?  Kalista used to spit her food right back out and make the worst faces.  I remember thinking it was SOO Funny.

Apparently, the girl never grew out of that faze. 

I was eating my lunch and she came over and wanted some.  I told her that she wasn't going to like it but she insisted.  So I let let try it.

THAT is how I ended up with spaghetti squash and pesto on my forehead......   and it isn't nearly as funny as it used to be.

6/23

Kalista fell asleep on the sofa with her hand on her forehead...  Poor baby must have had a long day. 

Thank goodness for sleep!  If I am smart I'll take a nap with her.

Fathers Day

I will always be so grateful for Jim and what a good Dad he is to Kalista.  It takes a really big man to step up to the plate and take on another person's child.  When that child is an Angel it takes a Super hero to do that job. 

From the first moment they saw each other they have had a bond.  It is more like a chemical reaction.  Their love is so big.  I always say that If it didn't work out between Jim and I, he would live next door and be "uncle Jim" to Kalista because there is no way they can be apart

Happy Fathers day to the mos wonderful man in the world!  I love you Honey.

nuts optional

Today Kalista and I were trying our a new spice bread recipe and I was reading the instructions out loud and trying to make conversions on the things that we need to upgrade.  (recipe and pix coming soon)

At the very end it said that nuts were optional.  Kalista starts to hop around the kitchen singing "optional! optional! OPTIONAL!!!!".

She made me laugh so much and I ask her if she even knew what optional means.  She looked right at me, smiled and then grabbed the nuts off the counter and slam-dunked them in the trash.   "Optional....moma"  she says.

I guess she did know.

ouch!

I have always been a little sensitive to metal.  I can only ware silver or gold.  Everything else gives me really bad blisters.  I had never given it too much thought where Kalista is concerned.  She always has a necklace on but it is silver so no big deal.

Last night she wore a different one to bed.  It was a gift from one of my clients and I don't know what it was made of... but not silver.   The poor girl has the worst welt/blister on the back of her neck.  =(

I keep putting ointment on it but it looks really sore.

5/28

Today I was doing the dishes and Kalista swiped a tablespoon form the drawer.  She helped me do the dishes and was super sweet.  I ask her if she wanted to wash the spoon she had been holding and she kind of turned away so I couldn't get it.  Then when we were done she said "Help" and got the liquid advil down out of the cupboard.  I ask her if something hurt and she said "head"!!  She needed the spoon to measure the advil and me to open the bottle.  It is amazing to me when I see her brain working.  I am surprised by how patient she was, taking the time to help me first with no meltdown.

All of her life I have thought if she could just communicate to me when she doesn't feel good that would make the whole experience easier.  I am so happy and grateful that she was able to do it... Hopefully this is the beginning of a new skill. 

5/27

Today was kind of sweet.  Jim went with his Dad to the mountain so Kalista and I went to the arts festival.  she was super brave.  We walked around the perimeter and checked everything out.  After about 20 minutes she was way overstimulated and quite loud but still happy.  It was just really nice to get outside and have a little fun with her.

rabbit soup!

 I was cleaning the bathroom when I heard Kalista laughing and laughing.  She was getting more and more excited and so I had to go find out what was so cool.

When I walked into the kitchen I saw her peaking into the microwave.  She was flapping so hard I thought she would lift off the ground.

On closer inspection I could see that she had put pink rabbit peeps in the microwave!  They were getting B.I.G. and that was REALLY exciting.

So what do you get when you microwave peeps???
Rabbit soup of coarse!

The two on the edges exploded and the one in the middle is still hanging on...

 

Now is the fun part...  the plopping.  this takes about 20 to 30 minutes before she gets tired of it.

and there you have it!  Rabbit soup.

2/13

Poor Kalista is not feeling well.  I don't know if she has a tummy bug or if she drank too much juice too fast...

Anyway she is throwing up.  I am really proud of her for being able to make it to the bathroom.  This is a new development.  It is really nice not to have to shampoo the carpet when she is sick and needs love.

The most interesting thing about this is she is HAPPY!!!  I mean Happy.  what a wonderful girl she is.  I for one am a big grouchy baby if I throw up.

We are snuggling on the sofa and watching monsters inc.  because you get to pick what you want when your sick.

2/12

This year instead of buying Kalista lots of candy for Valentines day I decided we would do some healthier treats.

Keeping with the heart/love theme we decided to dry some strawberries!  Kalista LOVED doing this so we may have to try it again.

2/11

Today Kalista wanted to make an omelet.  This is something she does quite a bit so I just let her do it.

She ended up making scrambled eggs instead.  OOPS!

There was nothing I could do at this point but laugh and document it for the future.


I was really proud of her for not having a meltdown.  She even tried to help me clean it up till she started stimming on the texture of the eggs.

Report card!

I just got Kalista's report card in the mail and she got all Es!  E stands for "exceptional progress".  In special ed world that is like getting all As.

There was also a note that said we were going to have to update most of her goals because she has met them. 

I am really proud of what a hard worker she is.  We are doing the happy dance at our house right now.

Bear attack

I woke up this morning after a really good sleep.  I stumbled into the bathroom and splashed some water on my face.  Then something red in my hair caught my eye.

On closer inspection I could see that it was a gummy bear!  No big deal.. it only took 5 minutes to get it out.

Then I realized that (((Somehow)))  I had gotten a whole package of gummy bears in my hair and stuck to my back.

The worst part is that the heat from my body had melted them and they were Super Stuck. I'm afraid I may have a few bald patches now but I did get them all out.

I am not sure if Kalista tried to open them in the dark and they exploded everywhere or if she just sprinkled me with them so I would have sweet dreams.   In any case.. we are going to have to have a talk about food in the bedroom.

1/17

Kalista has discovered nail polish remover.

She is LOVING it! 

For the last week we have had to change her color every day at least once.   I am really loving this stage she is in and how her sense of style is peaking out.

Fisher tower

 Yesterday was so fun.  My mom and sister came over and we all went on an adventure.  We went to the river bridge and we were going to have a little picnic there....  but the wind was crazy and cold.

So we just plopped some rocks over the edge because Kalista thinks that is the funnest thing ever.  (((even if it is freezing)))

Ethan is my favorite nephew!  I just can't express how much I love him.   He is so helpful and kind to Kalista.  I think he was looking rather handsome and happy yesterday.

Adia is my favorite too!  I am always shocked that we can't see her wings...   gorgeous and graceful in every way.  she is a fairy if I ever saw one.

I was lucky enough to get to set by her in the car.

Just a quick picture looking out the widow at the river as we drove by.  ICE!!!  It is really ice!

We drove all the way out to Fisher tower.   It is just stunning.  Photos can't capture how small you feel when you look up at it.  Ethan was already figuring out a way to climb it.  If anyone has that much energy I bet it is him.

Kalista is a good road tripper but wasn't that impressed by the tower.   She also didn't think the stream we stopped by was as fun to plop rocks in as the river.   I bet on a warm day it would be awesome.  We will defiantly have to come back this way.