a nice day...

peek-a-boo with daddy



Welcome to Friday! We have had a good day so far. We woke up a little early (Shona around 6am – Darren earlier) but other than that the day started off well. The sky was a little less gloomy, the train was pretty much on time leaving and there was a significant amount of space on the train today (Darren and I shared a 3 person seat!). Our time with Ivanna was great – and we actually got to spend a long chunk of time with her. We weren’t allowed outside but had the playroom to ourselves. Not that we spent a lot of time in it – Ivanna was very interested in going for walks (repeatedly) down the hallway. Each time we tried to interest her in something else, she would grab one of our fingers and pull until we went with her or she would eventually let go to explore on her own (all the while looking back as if to say ‘aren’t you coming?’. She is definitely becoming more comfortable with us and is showing more of her will (which apparently is stronger than previously thought). We are figuring out that we are going to have to start actual disciplining/consequences and quit laughing when she throws a little temper tantrum. Today she was such a busy girl and just didn’t want to sit still. When we gave her a little snack, she really didn’t want to sit and eat. After eating ½ a banana mostly sitting, we eventually just let her wander with her cookie (which definitely goes against my personal beliefs kids should sit while they eat – choking paranoia – it’s amazing how easy it is to fold to what the kid wants!). She promptly tried to just eat the chocolate chunks out of the cookie (a girl after my own heart!). Then, while wandering down the hall with her daddy and cookie, Darren said he go some funny looks – whether it was because she was walking and eating, eating a cookie or just because she was wandering down the hall for the 20th time – who knows. We decided we should maybe be a little firmer and make her sit while she ate. Oh – so – hard to go back after being indulgent!!!! Anyway, suffice it to say, she was NOT happy. She sat for about 3 seconds on my lap then wiggled her way off at which point I said she could go but I would have to take her cookie (which I did – way to be firm Sho). The look she gave me was hilarious – like I had seriously wounded her! Her bottom lip stuck out farther than I thought possible, she took a couple of steps away and flopped on the ground looking VERY sad. :( (Meanwhile her parents were laughing heartily – way to reinforce negative behaviour!!!) A few seconds later she must have forgotten what she was upset about – or realized it wasn’t the end of the world as she thought – and jumped up and was off and moving again. She is definitely testing us (for which we are grateful – it must mean she trusts us/is attached enough to want to test limits)! We are delighted to see her little personality showing through more and more with us (even if it is evident that she won’t just follow along and do everything we tell her to). Along with the pouty lips, we also both got dazzled with genuine and big smiles from her today. She also played a little peek-a-boo with us in the hall, and really seemed to enjoy playing with us. We are quite filled with love and joy. She has us thoroughly enchanted with her (and perhaps just a little wrapped around her finger)! It is hard not to be thoroughly spoiling her when she is with us so briefly. We want her to LIKE us after all! Somehow it feels like it will be easier to establish rules and consequences when she’s ours full time, but know that we must start with baby steps now (even if it doesn’t feel much like fun – discipline never really is, is it?). (D: actually, I am pretty sure it will be harder if we are big softies all the time now)
Our shawarma guy was closed today - :( very sad. We came home to have a snack instead and since the sun is shining intermittently and it actually feels a little warm outside – we are going to ‘carpe diem’ and explore a little more (yes, Jonathan, we are going to quit hermitting for the day!)

D: We just got home after touring the museum of the Great Patriotic War. We took the metro to Dnipro station and then kind of followed my nose (S – it always knows) toward where I thought the museum was (oddly enough, we could not see Rodina Mat until we were quite close). We ended up walking past the Caves Monastery and up many steps (S – about 200) along one wall into a park. From there, it was pretty easy to see the big metal lady. (S -After another 200 or so steps we got to…) The museum itself was very similar to the war museum in Ottawa, with a bit darker feel. I suppose that makes sense given that the war actually happened here. Although we could not read the signs, the exhibits were very powerful. One of the final rooms had thousands of pictures along one wall and a big table set up on top of shell casings. On it were many canteen and mess kits. It was very sobering to think of all those lives lost – wasted. On the top floor is a big airy room with names of lives lost on the supporting columns. It was pretty windy outside, and with the metal lady on top of us, we could here the creaking. Afterwards, we went outside and took some pictures, then walked over to a couple of outdoor exhibits containing airplanes, tanks, armoured vehicles, a sub, helicopter, missile, and mobile missile launcher. Shona was patient while I walked around. I took several pictures, thinking that Dale would really enjoy looking at this stuff. I find tanks, planes, and helicopters interesting, but always walk away wondering what the world would be like if we didn’t spend so much energy and creativity on making destructive things.
It was nice to get out and explore a bit more, but we are both a bit tired now (400+ steps up and down & about 6km more walking than normal!). We’ll head to Mario’s for supper – it’s been a few days since we shared a pizza!
Paka!