daphne {four years}

{four years} We had no idea that just days after we celebrated Daphne’s third birthday (with a party at the house with friends, and a Din Thai Fung dinner with Ben and Sarah) that we would head into a lockdown for the COVID pandemic that would last (over) a year. Daphne spent the entire third year of her life in quarantine.

Aaron and I talk about how if you could describe Daphne in one word it would be FUN. She is so fun and is always “the life of the party.” Some of it is because she’s young but she has a very carefree and laidback attitude. Perfect for a middle child!

Going into lockdown changed quite a bit of Daph’s day-to-day life. She was going to preschool two mornings per week while Eloise was at school all day and Aaron worked a regular work schedule during the week. I was pregnant with Fitz and so, so sick, and she had been my little buddy on those days she didn’t have school. And she was just getting ready to start swim lessons, if you recall, last March; the day that everything went into lockdown in Seattle was supposed to be her first day of lessons. When Eloise’s school was suspended in early March, we decided to also keep Daphne home from preschool. No one knew how long it would last, and, spoiler alert, it was for the rest of the school year! Her preschool continued and we could have sent her, but we just didn’t feel comfortable with the rapidly rising COVID rates in our county in the spring and my immuno-compromised status as a pregnant person. So Eloise, Daphne, and I hung out at home (while Aaron worked from home) for the remainder of the spring and summer (and fall and winter, and it looks like it could be the bulk of this entire year as well)!

Daphne dropped her nap in mid-October, exchanging it for “quiet time” in the afternoon instead. Eloise had been doing quiet time anyways, so I would have one of the girls be upstairs and one of the girls be downstairs in their room. After a few months of not napping at all, we noticed Daphne wanted to nap a couple of times per week (especially after a lot of outside play time) and would just go downstairs after lunch time and put herself down for a nap. Once she started back up with preschool (again briefly for October and again starting about a month ago) she still naps a few times per week. We have to limit her naps though since it disrupts her nighttime sleep.

Daph is back in preschool now, four mornings per week. As I mentioned above, we sent her back in October as COVID rates were dropping heading into fall, but then pulled her back out in early November as rates started sky-rocketing. Since Eloise has had remote first grade completely on an iPad, Daphne is allowed to have “screen time” during Eloise’s small group and closing circle meetings each day. This is usually ABC Mouse or a movie. Aaron and I both felt like she was having WAY too much screen time each day, but with everything else that was going on (read: Aaron’s work and me taking care of Fitz) it was what we needed to get through most days. COVID rates in our part of town started dropping pretty quickly in January and by February we were comfortable enough to send her back. She is SO delighted to be back in school, I can’t even tell you. She can barely stand the time between finishing breakfast and heading to school, and at drop-off she’s off without even a good-bye most days! It is wonderful to see her so happy with her school teachers and friends. Daphne is SO socially and while it was wonderful for her to have so much time with Eloise this past year, she needed to be with kids her own age.

When we went into lockdown in March, we were lucky to have an early and warmish spring that allowed us to be outside a lot. Aaron took advantage of his flexible schedule (while I was still SO morning sick) and got the girls outside multiple times per day. Daphne was amazing on her scooter (she could even keep up with Eloise by last spring) but it was her balance bike that she really enjoyed. She picked up balancing skills so quickly that by late spring she was as fast as Eloise on her bike and even doing tricks. We knew she was ready for a real bike and started searching early in the summer to find one small enough for her. Tiny bikes (12 inches) are really common as balance bikes, but not two-wheel. We ended up finding one and taking the training wheels off since we know she didn’t need them. Within 5 minutes of being on it Daphne taught herself how to ride. It was amazing to watch! And now she’s on a big kid bike (from a neighbor) and can ride as well as any kid in the neighborhood!

As you know, Daphne became a big sister this fall, and boy has she stepped into that role. She absolutely LOVES Fitz and is just so sweet with him. Anytime he is sad, so is there to give him a hug. She plays with him. And only refers to him as Fitzgerald Benjamin. [If we talk to him about Fitz, she will say “Do you mean Fitzgerald Benjamin?”]

Daph is just such a sweet kid. Sassy the last few weeks, but really a loving kid who is funny and loves everyone. She is really caring about others and really empathetic. Today anytime anyone said “Happy Birthday Daphne!” she would respond “Happy Birthday to You!”

And here’s the latest Things Daphne Says:

Grammie asked Eloise (on FaceTime) if her brain was tired after her first day of school. And Daphne responded “My brain is sweaty!”

She calls “The Lion King” “The Dinosaur King.”

Daphne was watching a little (phone) video: “Mama, it’s not a video, it’s a watching show!”

“I love this Mickey (Minnie Mouse) shirt. I want to wear it all the days.”

“I’m going to say good-bye to Mama so she doesn’t miss me.”

To Aaron: “I love you all the days. And I love you more than my heart.”

Daph: “Mama, when can I sleep on the top bunk?” Me: “When you’re five.” Daph: “Oh, this is hard.”

“Eloise wanted this book but I wouldn’t give it to her. I made a mad face. Grr.”

Daph comes upstairs wearing a shirt that says Boo! “I’m wearing this for pumpkin day!”

“Papa, it’s froggy (foggy) outside!”

Putting on socks for school. Mama: “Do you want to wear these (Halloween) ones?” Daph: “No, I don’t want to wear those because they are too spooky!”

Holding Fitz’s hand: “Mama, he’s holding my paw!”

“I’ll be behaving!”

“I like you (Mama). I like you Papa, sometimes, because your farts are stinky!”

Watching Fitz: “This is my little brother. I really like him.”

Daphne was going around and asking everyone the favorite part of their day. It was my (Misha’s) turn and Aaron interrupted. Daphne said: “Shush your teeth and zip your mouth.”

Daph: “When I grow up I’m gonna be a monster. Mama: “What color monster?” Daph: “A green one. Like a clown. But I’m not going to be a clown.”

“Mama, can I have scissors so I can make a Christmas poodle?”

“Eloise, this is going to be a scary part (of the movie) so you’ll have to be brave.”

“They can’t hear us because we aren’t in the movie.”

Waiting for Aaron to give her cuddles in bed: “Papa, it’s been quite a few minutes.”

“I tiply toed very quietly.”

Aaron: “Daphne, are you thirsty?” Daph: “Not particularly.”

Way past bedtime one night: “Papa, can you calm down a bit? And I have one more question.”

“I saw Sadie (our neighbor) on the jump-o-line.” (Trampoline)

“Mama, can you fill up the battery (on her camera)?”

“I can’t come upstairs. I’m in the middle of sleeping!”

“I’m not little anymore, I’m huge!”

Aaron tries to wake Daph up from a nap: “I’m not available right now.” And she rolls away from him to keep sleeping.

Says “Oh snap!” when she’s surprised about something.

Reading a story aloud to herself: “Dr. Seuss, who is the man guy, helped her out!”

Daph: “Can we go outside and bounce?” Mama” “No, not right now. Maybe after dinner.” Then Daph goes into the play room with Eloise. Daph: “The Queen says we have to wait until after dinner to bounce.” [Eloise is super interested in the British Royal Family, but no one has ever referred to me as The Queen before this!]

“Good morning, Fitz!” Daph gives him a kiss. “My sweet darling!”

“I have a nose run. My nose is all squiggly inside.”

Daph is watching a sand timer: “It’s peeing.”

“Get your eyes ready to look and your brain ready to wonder!”

“My best friend at school is Peter. I like Peter because he farts!”

What is your name? My name is Daphne.
How old are you? 4
What is your favorite thing to do? I like to watch shows (or movies) like Bolt. Riding my bike. Seeing the sunrise.
What do you want to be when you grow up? Um. a teacher.
What is your favorite food? Eggs and pancakes.
Who do you like to spend your time with? Peter (a preschool friend).
What do you do really well? Writing my name. Riding my bike.
What makes you laugh? Peter’s farts!
What is the best time of day? Dinner and breakfast.
What are you afraid of? I am scared of alligators and crocodiles.
Who is your best friend? Um, probably Eloise.
What do you like to do with your family? I like to go in swimming pools.
What do you love to learn about? I like to learn about my classroom and how they present new teachers.
Where do you like to go? In the mountains.
What is your favorite book? Daniel Tiger.
If you had one wish, what would it be? My happy birthday gifts.