Amelia's half-birthday has arrived. For the girls' half-birthdays, I've been buying them books (inspired by my birthmother who celebrates her own daughters' half-birthdays in this way). Amelia's book this year is Goodnight Goodnight Sleepyhead by Ruth Krauss. The book has the serenity of Goodnight Moon, which Amelia loves (like every other child), and it names body parts (one of Amelia's recent hobbies) so I figure it should be a hit.
The problem is that I don't know what to write inside the book to mark the occasion! I would love to be eloquent, but everything I think of just sounds prosaic. Maybe I will just write "happy half-birthday to a girl who knows all of these words" (since she does, except for "everywhere" and "sleepyhead").
Or, maybe I should try to make David write the inscription. :)
Update: I just read the book to Amelia for the first time. Emma started reading it about halfway through the book. Amelia LOVED the book and pointed to lips, hair, toe, etc. When we said, "Sleepyhead" she echoed, "SLEEPY." And on every page, after we said "Goodnight eyes" or whatever, she said, "bye bye." She pointed to items she recognized in the pictures (e.g. slippers, dog "woof" and "keycat meow"). And she demanded repeat performances, "MOMMY! READ THE BOOK!"
It's so cute to hear her demand, "READ THE BOOK!" It reminds me of that audioclip of Felix the Cat yelling, "I told you! Read the book!"
Dear Ellie and Carrie,
It makes me so happy to know that you are reading and playing together. Ellie, you get to show Carrie everything you already know. And Carrie, you can help Eleanor think of things she never thought of before. It's good to have a sister.
Much love from Nonna Twila and Nono Joe
Posted by: Nonna Twila | October 12, 2004 at 12:52 PM