It was a weird and wonderful day yesterday. We happened to get an appointment for C’s five-year checkup on her actual birthday. She got an extra sticker there, but also got three needle sticks and a blood draw. And a pee-in-the-cup, but that wasn’t nearly as unwelcome a development. She’s about 46 pounds and 44 (?) inches tall. I can’t remember, but somewhere in the 85% for weight and 90% for height.

She has very good eyesight for her age, which I expect to change at some point. Whether it does in two years or twenty years will indicate whether she takes after me or R, respectively.

She also went with me to vote, which gave her the chance to see the school she’ll be going to next year. That may have made more of an impression on me than her; she’s been to preschool but I’m not sure school is a reality she can get her head around. We saw murals painted on the walls, a bright clean cafeteria, and a few classrooms.

She said she was “scared” to go vote with me. What’s that about? I think she thought that the candidates would actually be there…

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She had a very nice time last night, I think. I love the way she oohs and aahs over everything. She had asked for an ice cream cake with Lightning McQueen on it, and seemed surprised and delighted when that’s what she got.

This was a big birthday. She received some great books, a couple of outfits, some space-related stuff (including a second-hand telescope that we’re working on getting up to speed), and a magic kit. There was another gift waiting for her—a gift for the whole family really. After cake R went into the living room and suddenly we heard “Fur Elise” playing, a piece that C is obsessed with (it plays on SBJ’s swing). The look on her face was great. Anyway, we all went into the room and she saw the source—a digital piano courtesy of one of the grandparents. We’ve been talking about getting one for a long time and are totally overwhelmed and thrilled by this generosity. She said, “How did this get here? It must have been MAGIC!” I’ll say. I love that it has headphones, a must with kids who go to bed at 8:00. Also because I suck. The only music we have is the hymnal, so I picked out “Take My Life,” very haltingly and at about 1/10 the tempo, and nobody else had to be subjected to it.

M enjoyed playing it with her face.

SBJ got into the birthday spirit by laughing for the first time. Quite the guffaw he’s got there.

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C is so amazingly cool right now. We must have spent an hour on Sunday playing with a cardboard box, which she wanted me to cut a hole in so it could be a TV. One person would change the channel on the cardboard remote (this is the 21st century after all), the other would pretend to be Elmo, Mr. Rogers, Alton Brown or the Dirty Jobs guy.

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Like my blog sister PPB, I also fell on the ice yesterday. I was walking quickly to the van because it was sleeting and I didn’t want SBJ to get wet. He was in his car seat and is fine… that’s what those things are for, eh? I on the other hand twisted my ankle, though that feels fine now, but I also have a bruise on my elbow and my hamstring is sore.

That’s about all. SBJ is taking an epic nap so I’d better make the most of it.