Caught a Cat by the Tail

An extremely amiable cat frequented Clara Grace’s yard during her second summer. After a few meetings, the little girl developed enough courage to chase down the friendly animal and pet it’s soft back. The short-lived friendship ended abruptly however when Clara Grace decided to invite the cat into her house. Not knowing the words for a formal welcome, she decided the best plan was to take hold of the cat’s orange tail and pull in the direction of the front door. Needless to say, it was several months before Clara Grace ever could get close enough to the cat to attempt to reestablish their relationship. Her mommy took this time to give a few lessons on feline etiquette. After this instruction, Clara Grace never failed to treat the posterior of a cat’s body with proper respect. Whenever she viewed her estranged friend at a distance across the street, she would call ruefully as he scampered out of sight, “Bye bye cat, bye bye tail!”

Conversational English Progresses

Clara Grace can be said to have carried on one of her very first conversations of substance on Friday, July the fourteenth. On this afternoon, she was again watching vehicles as they whirled past her car seat. “Truck,” she announced and stared after a pickup that had caught her attention.

“You’re right,” Clara Grace’s mommy told her from the front seat, “that’s a truck.”

“Dirty truck,” Clara Grace elaborated.

“Yep, trucks get dirty a lot,” her mommy answered.

“Need to wash it,” the little girl continued.

“He does need to wash his truck,” her mommy agreed.
“Wash with water,” Clara Grace concluded apparently guessing that if it worked for her bath time, it couldn’t be a bad idea for this dirty truck as well.

Butt Nothin'

Clara Grace and her daddy prepared to board an elevator on Thursday, July thirteenth. Unfortunately, her daddy wasn’t aware of the new responsibility his daughter had recently inherited from her mommy of pushing the buttons. The little girl looked on in utter disbelief as her daddy called the elevator to their floor and the number four button lit brightly. “My butt!” she announced as she tried to convey her frustration. “My butt! My butt!”

It was during these last enthusiastic exclamations that the elevator doors slid open to reveal a full cart. “My butt!" Clara Grace protested once more then turned to the crowd, waved, and offered a cheery “Hello!” Once that courtesy was out of the way, she turned back to her daddy and, just for good measure, reminded him once more, “My butt!” Of course, this evoked riotous laughter from the confused elevator passengers.

True Love

Clara Grace’s Daddy called to say that he had made it safely to his hotel in California for another short speaking engagement on Sunday, July ninth. He talked to his daughter on the telephone for a while and then told her he would call her back the next day. When he said, “Bye, bye, Clara Grace answered, “Love you” unprompted for the very first time.

Woo-Car

Clara Grace’s attentiveness to the automobiles that barreled past her car window was obvious. She could identify already cars, trucks, busses, “Woo cars” (police cars), and fire trucks. On Sunday, July the ninth, she watched curiously as a car with a screeching fan belt drove past. Sympathetically she pointed after the vehicle in need of repair and commented, “Ah-oh, car cry.”

It's Only Fair

Clara Grace’s daddy prepared to tuck Clara Grace in for her afternoon nap on Thursday, July the sixth. The little girl realized for the first time, that she would like to start another bedtime routine and insisted, “Mommy kiss.” Ever since then, no matter which parent gets her ready for bed, the other must at least receive one kiss before she drops off to sleep.

Sweet and Salty Dreams

Clara Grace had taken Tylenol for her swollen gums and fever but still lay in bed with mommy during a restless night of teething Monday, July the third. At least for that night, her mommy didn’t have to wonder too much about the dreams flitting through her daughter’s tiny brain. In her sleep, Clara Grace contentedly murmured, “chicken, yummy yum yum.”

I Think So

Sunday, July the second, Clara Grace asked her mommy from the backseat of the car, “Is Nonnie here?” The little girl had obviously been missing her cousin Donnie whom she’d played with under Grandma’s supervision while her mommy taught Spanish a few hours each week during the school year. Mommy said sadly, “I don’t think so.” Much to her mommy’s surprise, Clara Grace replied confidently, “I think so.”