Bartok

Here's a bit of stamp art that Madison shared with Daddy. Daddy was skyping with Mommy when Madison held this up for Daddy to see. I'm not sure what this particular piece of art is called, but it will hang proudly from the refrigerator for the next few weeks. I like the monkey.

Today we began Music Camp. It's in capital letters because I want it to be. Madison had a GREAT time at camp again, and this time it was a full classroom. Every day this week at 11:00, Madison will be at Music Camp to go over some basics of music: high notes, low notes, rhythm, different types of instruments, and more. She had a splendid time this morning, as her teacher is outstanding. It's a teddy bear adventure week, so all the children are bringing along a teddy bear to class: Madison is bringing her ballerina bear. It's a white bear with wings and ballerina shoes on. It's unique, but the winner for most unusual would be this other girl who chooses to bring along an otter.

ANYWAY, the class involves a story that lasts the whole week - it's a narrative that the kids join in on. It's the story of the bear "who went over the mountain." I never knew this, but apparently this bear's name was Bartok. Daddy won't make it to class tomorrow, but hopefully Mommy will discover more about this unusual bear and his name. I know there was a Hungarian composer named Bartok, and a that bat from "Anastasia." But other than that, it's a pretty unusual name that makes me think of somebody from the planet Vulcan.

OKAY, so today we visited the children's dentist for the first time. He's a guy right here in town, and as it turns out he's adopted too. His little girl is nine, and she's from Russia. In any event, Madison did extraordinarily well at the dentist's office, allowing him to scrape away and poke and prod with that pointy thing in her mouth. I just looked up the name for this sharp weapon: it's called a dental explorer. Bicuspids! I don't like that thing. But Madison sat there with her mouth open wide and sat patiently as well. She was charming as ever, and when things were done, she was delighted as ever: she got to go to the treasure chest and get a free toy. She was immediately drawn to a sheep mask. She put it on right there in the dentist office and said, "Baaaa!"

We were so very proud of her. Not necessarily because of the sheep impersonation though. Daddy has been so frightened of all of this, and what Madison might have to go through. Of course, she actually hasn't gone through any procedure yet - that comes at the end of the month. Today was just a consultation. Later on this month, she'll have her first experience with laughing gas, and a bit of a cap on that back tooth that's been concerning us for so long.

Again, it isn't that she has poor brushing habits: she just didn't have ANY brushing habits for her first two years. Now, she looks forward to brushing with her princess toothbrush - and the most fun part: spitting the water out into the sink!