New face

Over the weekend I became acquainted with the newest member to Mr. P's family's dynasty.

Ever since her existence was made known to us, about 2 years after she was born, I've been setting aside hand-me-downs. After her dad chastised us for disposing of our "baby" things previous to his disclosure of being a parent himself, I began accumulating 2nd-hand anything and everything that might be useful. I dislike clutter and it was hard watching those sacks o' stuff growing in number in the garage. For, you see, BIL doesn't believe in showing his face around here until he needs a favor from us.

Regarding the "new face." I found C....a real cutie. Who wouldn't find this well-fed, 3 y.o. cute? Well, she was doing quite well until she got over the burden of her shyness and started rolling around on the restaurant's dirty carpet and hiding under the table, much to her mom's chagrin. Ick! I, the aunt with a way with dainty hand gestures and beguiling smiles, was able to persuade her from her hiding place.

I was so happy to be able to squeeze a little child again. You don't know how I sometimes gaze longingly at little people, wishing I could just pinch their fat cheeks or poke their chubby thighs. ;)



C only speaks Spanish at the moment. I could only say a few words to her: grande (as I pointed to her belly and to her mouth when I was feeding her her birthday cake), que lindo, bebe, bonita, hola, mucho, adios. But mostly I spoke in English since she'll be learning that language soon. Her Chinese grandparents were taught how to say hello to her. haha. They could manage "Oh-lah."

She's a spirited one. Her parents described their shopping trip to Walmart earlier in the day. Apparently, C had been running wild around the clothes racks. Parent had to resort to threatening her that guard dogs would come after the naughty kids in the store. Could she hear the crying kids in the store? C got all nervous and probably stopped for a minute or 2 before she forgot about that threat. I think this story'll only work a handful of times. Perhaps she'll get used to being in a big store once the novelty wanes. I doubt that. haha.

C's dad keeps calling her a "tomboy." I haven't been around her long enough to judge but she just seems like a regular, energetic toddler. How can you be "like a tomboy" at 2?  I think he meant that she could be outta control...like many toddlers can get when their caregivers aren't able to manage them. 

Since no one asks for parenting advice from moi (even when it looks like they desperately need it), I refrain from offering cos it's probably not even welcome, no matter how well-intentioned. I would know!  ;)

One last thing: I'm a huge proponent of strapping toddlers into their own plastic chairs at the table when it comes to feeding time. A huge proponent!


This Peking Duck was skinny compared to C.  lol

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