Kennedy loves clothes. She goes through multiple outfits each day. At the beginning of the year, she would literally wear ten different outfits a day, but now we are down to about three—not including dress-ups. I wouldn't quite call her a fashionista, because I would think that you would have to have style or even just a simple coordination of colors, fabrics, or accessories for that, but she definitely has a point-of-view. She picks all her clothes now. I have just given up. She cares so much about it that it is really hard for me to protest. I sort of love wondering what she will walk out wearing each morning.
While she loves clothes, she detests sleeves, pants, or even socks. This works, for the most part, in a primarily warm climate, but getting her to wear warm clothing is a struggle. We settle on layers. She is warm-blooded, for sure. At night, Claire will be snuggled under several blankets while Kennedy sleeps in flimsy little pajamas and then throws off all the blankets. I love to see her sprawled out with arms hanging off the bed and one leg propped against the other at night.
Kennedy tells "stories" right now. I hate to call them lies because when pressed she will tell you that she is just pretending or imagining, but there are a lot of mysterious friends, play dates, places she has visited out there. Claire is very factual about Kennedy's "stories" and spends a lot of time scrutinizing these stories for truth and error.
My girl has daily quotables. At night, Dave asks for stories of what the kids said or have done and Kennedy typically has several. She asked me to put her hair in a bun the other day as she was going to a party and was "going to be eating cake". On Claire's birthday, she said in her prayer, "Bless CC on her, wait a minute, let me count, and then counting on her fingers, 'One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six', sixth birthday." In the car the other night, Kennedy asked Dave to turn on the internal lights. When he asked why she said, "So I can find my bummy". Dave told her that she didn't need a light to find her bottom. A minute later, she shouts out, "I found one!" and then a minute later laughing, "I found another one!".
Kennedy still loves her blanket, but has added a stuffed mouse, Razzle Dazzle, to her comfort objects. Of all the stuffed animals she could attach too, she choose one that her dad won for her out of a vending machine.
I asked Claire what she likes about Kennedy and she said she likes that she is kind. She really is kind. She is a mother at heart and a protector. She looks out for David and Claire. She makes sure that their needs are being met. She gets David food, leads him by hand away from dangerous situations and rubs his back when he gets hurt. She comforts Claire when she is upset, will take the higher road in disagreements with her and is always ready to forgive.
Kennedy is very independent, in many ways more independent than Claire. It amazes me the things she can do on her own. I would never test it, but I am sure she could survive in our home for weeks on her own (or at least until the food ran out) and maybe even take care of David while doing it. She has even changed David's diaper. She tried a poopy diaper the other day, but quickly discovered she was in over her head.
Kennedy asks for "X's and O's", hugs and kisses. Claire taught her this, but Kennedy is keeping it alive. I am loving her coming to me and asking for four X's and fours O's, "cuz I'm four years old". I can't squeeze her or love her enough. She is a gift in our home.
