Comparison Number 2

For those of you who have been with us from the beginning you know that there was a time when all I wanted to get was a photo of Stella smiling, but for the longest time I was unable to catch. I was beginning to feel like Santiago from the Old Man and the Sea. 

As time went by I was finally able to get that photo but it none the less had become a trait of Stella's to do things in the presence of her parents that she would not demonstrate in the presence of others. First it was smiling. Then it was beating a drum at music class. At home, we would play her music for her and give her toys to bang and she would. You could see the joy in her eyes as she laughed and played. Not that she was on beat or anything, but she was at least participating. Fast forward to music class. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. She would take the instrument, a stick,  and hold it in her hand just watch as all the other children beat the heck out of their drums. Eventually Stella would at least start to eat the instrument. 

"Ague." (No I don't know how to spell it.) For the longest time Belinda would tell me that Stella was repeating "Ague" to her, but I never heard it for a month. There are many other instances that we could tell you about to explain why we came to call her the "frog" but I am sure you get the picture. If you are wondering why the "frog?" Its because me and Belinda both remember the old cartoon with this character. 

Turns out his name is Michigan J. Frog. I don't know if y'all remember the cartoon but it was about this frog that use to sing and dance for this one man and that man thought he would capitalize on it, but every time he went to show what the frog could do he would do just as the photos show on the right of the above photo. 

Her is a recent photo of Stella pulling the "frog." Just before this photo was taken Stella was laughing and smiling. Looking at this photo you would think I just told her there really is no Easter bunny. On a side note, I don't plan on Stella reading these entries way until she is fully aware that there really is no Easter bunny. 

Just as Stella has been growing up so has her "frog" tendencies. They don't happen nearly as much anymore. Now more often she treats public outing like some people treat a night out at a club. She walks in. She checks out the terrain. Makes it to the bar and gets a drink. Hangs back and observes for while. Maybe once the feeling is right she hits the dance floor. I guess that's much better than being that person who walks in and immediately yells, "Oh THAT'S MY SONG!" as they run to the dance floor pushing everyone along the way.