Of grandparents and hats

Well, I may have proclaimed victory on the hat front a little too soon. After a summer of struggles, Kiyomi has finally relented and no longer fights me when I try to put her sun hat on. I thought it was resolved, that I had finally convinced her of the wisdom of my approach... until I pulled out the winter hats... She no longer saw the logic in the idea of having someone on one's head. And alas, some of the tricks I perfected in getting her to wear the sun hat - like waiting until she was facing directly into the sun and then sliding the hat on to show her how much better it is with the sunhat - can not be used with winter hats in mid September.


Kiyomi may have won this initial round, despite the attempted bribery (with grapes no less), but I survive to struggle on another day however. Rest assured, victory will be mine in the end of these ongoing hat wars (if for no other reason than I can tie a knot in the damn thing if I have to). Of course, if getting a hat on is this much of a struggle, I'm more than a little terrified of what's going to happen when I try to wrestle her into her snowsuit!

Kiyomi had a great time this week visiting with her grandparents - Ojiichan and Obaachan. She learned some new songs and seemed to be always able to con Ojiichan into reading to her whenever she wanted. They seemed to see eye to eye on a number of topics and had some great little chats.

Obaachan taught her some wonderful new songs on the piano, and Kiyomi has found another willing adult to assist her in one of her favourite passtimes - banging the piano keys. Maybe she's the reincarnation of Theloneus Monk?


Kiyomi also had her first appointment at the International Adoption Clinic at CHEO. It was a rather lengthy appointment, and quite useful. She was a trouper throughout and managed to charm the medical resident and rather green med student who were sitting in. The only time she let out a peep was while they were taking blood. They seemed to take an awful lot of blood from her little body, but the nurse assured me it would be fine. I guess I must have looked like a typical worried mom.

The parade of faces also continues. She seems to find new and more innovative ones every day and loves trying them out on whoever is nearby. Her latest is lip pursing. Not sure how it started or what she's trying to convey, but she seems happy enough to get a reaction of smiles and giggles. What a ham! She cracks herself up I tell ya.

The parting shot for tonight pretty much gives you the idea of who holds the reins in this here family... and just to be clear, it's no one over 18... Good night from Ottawa.