A Big Day For Daddy

This was the day Colleen and I have been hoping for: Sha Sha has warmed up completely to me and even seeks me out as a play partner. Also, Sha Sha is now officially a VERY goofy little girl. Her personality is emerging at light speed these days, and it seems more and more that she will be just as goofy, just as silly, and just as happy to be in the spotlight as her big sister.

I'm not even sure where to begin as I think about what to write about her hysterical behavior today. Many of this pictures that accompany this blog entry speak for themselves. At breakfast, Sha Sha spent her time trying to tempt her parents into playing various games with her, and when we did she broke into audible laughter. Later, in the hotel's playroom, Sha Sha played in a very funny way with all the toys that surrounded her. Clearly, she was stunned by all the toys and the unrestricted access she had to all of them. This was not something she was used to, so it took her a few minutes to comprehend her good luck. Sha Sha also spent a big part of the day trying to play patty cake with me...her instigation, not mine.

But the biggest moments for daddy came in the evening when we were back at the playroom for the second time. There, Sha Sha became an absolute ham for everyone in the room and especially for the camera. Look at the photo of her balancing herself on her head and laughing. She thought she was a riot...and she was! Everyone laughed out loud, and the more we laughed, the more she hammed it up. Then, she came over to me repeatedly to rough-house. We rolled around, tickled each other, she got tossed in the air, and hung upside down. Again, laughter and taunting the whole time.

From daddy's viewpoint, though, the best part may have been when we got back up to the room at about 7:00. The playing continued with Sha Sha hiding behind a doorway, peeking out to let me see her with a HUGE smile on her face, and then ducking back behind the door as quickly as she could, laughing out loud. This hide and seek game was a blast for both of us. But then, she ran over to me, held her arms out to be picked up, and then shared the cookie she was eating with me by putting it up to my mouth. Yes, it was wet and mushy, but who cares? Then (and this is the best part of all), she puckered up and leaned forward to give me a kiss. This was about as close to melting as I have ever come. My baby girl wanted to kiss me!!!! There is a God, and if you don't think so, well, wake up.

The word you may have noticed most in this blog entry is "laughter." This is what I notice most about Sha Sha at this point. She's almost always laughing. Only 3 days ago, we had to struggle mightily just to get a smile. Now, we get laughter without even asking for it. Clearly, Sha Sha has let us in and, by all accounts, thinks we're okay in her book. Combined with Emma, we are going to have an insanely wacky couple of little girls...but girls who are also polite, confident, secure, and respectful. What more could ANYONE want? Take a look at the accompanying pictures. They were all taken today, and they pretty much tell the story of the day. Things are good...very good.