Auntie Mama!

Although I have not yet laid eyes or hands on baby Mattea, Mama has.

Lucky, lucky Auntie Mama!

(however she has been giving me lessons about how, when the time comes, I might gently cradle baby Mattea in my arms. Can't wait!)

Does this mean I have a Cousin??

Unbelievable.

Just when I thought I had the timing of this baby thing all figured out, all of sudden I am told that Auntie K had her baby! Does this mean it's my birthday?

Does this mean I have a cousin?

Mom says she so happy and excited she could cry (huh?). She also says everyone is grateful that the new baby decided to wait a week and not be born on the floor of our spare room (huh??)!

Baby girl Mattea came into the world last Thursday morning.

This is a picture of me and Auntie K when I was a wee babe, just 1 week old. About the same age baby Mattea is now, in fact.

Oh, I don't care if she can't walk or talk or sing or use chopsticks.

I will love her all the same!

(Congrats Auntie K & Auntie M)

xxoo Scout

Thai on the Fly!

For several months this past year, we have had the pleasure and privilege of having Auntie K live with us. Auntie K is pregnant, due not too long after my birthday in January and it has been really neat watching her baby (and tummy) grow since the springtime.

Now let me explain: Auntie K is definitely one of my favourite grown-ups to hang out with. She sings funny songs, like "I'm being eaten by a boa constrictor" and songs having to do with pooping and tooting. She knows almost any song there is to sing. She is silly and wonderful and we have great times together.

Last week, Auntie K prepared to go back to her home to make a nest for her growing baby, and as a last hurrah, she brought home lots of Thai food for all of us to eat together. I like interesting and spicy foods, so this was a great meal for me. Additionally, 'using' chopsticks is something one never tires of. Everyone at the table was surprised and I dare say, impressed, at the speed, voracity and tenacity (chopsticks) with which I attacked dinner that night!

I am excited to have a new baby to 'play with' and have been fascinated by the process and explanations about that growing baby in her belly. I have been warned that tiny new babies cannot: talk, walk, sit up, sing songs, use a spoon (or chopsticks)...

Mom and dad say that Auntie K and Auntie M are going to be wonderful mommies and they are so happy that soon they will have a new member of their own "team of 3".

Christmas is upon us!

"Christmas is upon us!", says mom and dad.

This is very welcome, and good news to me.

In order to get ready for Dad's birthday last week, and a wee party that we threw,

last weekend we worked hard on getting our decorations up.

It was So. Much. FUN!

We sang 'Rudolph' about 3 million times, and got the house looking positively festive!

It's a good thing we started getting ready early, because as of this coming weekend, we are going full-speed ahead in the Christmas gear, of cheer and celebration.

First up...a very merry Pooles' Christmas.

Buddies on the Bed!

'Oh, Goodness', mom and dad said.

This is me and my best friend Aidan who came over on Friday evening. We had a very good time playing together, which included among many other things, hanging out in and on, my big-girl bed.

Mom says "oh, goodness" I don't need to be TOO big a girl yet.

Lots of time for that!

Yoga SuperKid

(Bow & Arrow Pose)

(Drawbridge Pose)

(Sun Salutation Pose)

(Kite pose)

I am a Yoga SuperKid.

These are some of the reasons why, that my mom and dad tell me make this so:

• I love the yoga program at my Montessori school and always come home on yoga day, excited to talk about the different poses we did.
• At the end of a meltdown recently, when my mom asked me "Scout, what can you do to help yourself feel better right now?", I responded through my tears..."Mom, I could do my yoga breathing."
• Mom had the first 'parent-teacher interview' at my school and was told that because I am so bright and funny and empathic and respectful and articulate and emotionally mature...I am a 'bright spot in their mornings'.
• As a special treat, after the glowing parent-teacher interview, mom brought home a neat new book called "The things I can see, I can be: a guided yoga flow for children" available at www.childrensyogabooks.com; as you can see, we had fun with my new book this weekend! Mom said she is really proud of me for being such an interesting and wonderful kid. I said "You're welcome, mom".