Francesca from 3 to 3 1/2

Francesca the 3 to now almost 3 3/4 year old continues to be the queen of the dramatots. In the row of pictures with Marcos, you can see the faces Francesca makes when asked to give some 'big eyes!' and her faux angry face, while not yet captured in a picture, is really a hilarious vision of a scrunched up little face.

Francesca's dramatics continue to extend to her "readings" (memorizations) of books and recitations of stories from books or videos. She has mastered and uses to full effect the dramatic pause, the sidelong glance, the "big deep voice," the "teeny tiny voice," and the "big laugh." She has also picked up on the Brit accent of Lola, a pip of a girl who stars in some of Francesca's favorite books and now videos but reserves it exclusively for pitching fits. So we are often told "But I cahhnt, I just cahhhhhhnt" to whatever it is we are asking her to do.

And talk about triple-threat: Francesca fell immediately in love with a music video series featuring Dan Zanes, Laurie Berkner and Lisa Loeb. She quickly - and obsessively - set about learning all the songs and all the dance moves with terrific verve and precision and likes to comment that the artists and kids in the videos are really "rocking out."

Turns out that rocking out, and pretty much everything else, is better done in a dress. Perhaps inspired by her friend Mia's many fine dresses, since early spring Francesca has refused to wear any pants under any circumstances. Only dresses - or bathing suits! - will do and Francesca prefers to wear things where her 'arms stick out'. Regardless of weather or locale, both dresses and bathing suits get worn for all occasions, including riding her scooter (the pics are from the winter when pants were still worn) and going on adventures with her Papa.

The latest and greatest Francesca-Papa adventure involves going out on Lake Merritt (just a couple of miles from our home) and going out on a rowboat. Francesca loves everything about it ~ hanging out at the boathouse, wearing her lifejacket, and instructing her Papa (or Matthew, as she often calls him) on how to row, and always to "row faster," while counting strokes out loud. Sometimes very loud. She's a dreamy little coxswain who likes to brunch and chat and sing and contemplate the birds while out on the lake.

Big changes for Francesca and for us as a family are on the horizon. Francesca's nanny for the past year and half, Kelly, is moving in early July and it will doubtless be hard for Francesca (and us) to be without her. Meanwhile, Francesca will begin attending Growing Light Montessori in mid-June. Growing Light is a lovely, warm, friendly school that rents space from the Greek Orthodox Church in Oakland and Francesca will be joining the pre-K class. A big bonus is that her friend since infancy, Marcos, will be in class with her.

Francesca had made some Friday morning visits to her school-to-be and they have gone really well. Francesca always says that it is "very exciting" to go to school and is thrilled to bring a lunch box to class and jettison Kelly at the door. So, we are hopeful that the transition will not result in too many instances of Francesca saying "tears are splashing down my face" and, instead, will mean there are more little and big people in her life to love.

Until the next report, all our love to all of you.

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