Nov 2, 2019
Johanna has a presence that is insistent and abounding and she has passed another mark on the calendar. She is growing up and physically has gotten much taller this year. Many recent mornings she has gotten dressed and I look at her, with ankle and wrist exposed, and say "that will be the last time you wear that". She is losing her baby teeth and has an adorable smile of uneven teeth as some haven't come in all the way. I suspect that she too is missing some of her top adult teeth (like Rachael and Bridget) but we will have to wait for a dental x-ray to confirm.
Johanna can be intense and sometimes she worries. This past year she worried about house fires, so we purchased a few new fire extinguishers and reviewed fire safety. Happily that fear resolved but the lingering fear now is being afraid at bedtime. Johanna misses sharing a room with a sister and regularly says she doesn't want to sleep alone. It can take her a while to fall asleep some nights but we work with her to get comfortable. Her very active mind stays in gear at bedtime and it takes some effort to get her to be restful. She loves to snuggle, say prayers and sing songs each night. She loves when I lay next to her.
School is in a good rhythm now. At the beginning of the year the first grade class didn't seem comfortable, most of the kids didn't know each other so it took time to get settled. But they did and Johanna doesn't have any classroom complaints. Johanna is learning to read and it is so fun to realize that she is reading the things she comes across, but most encouraging as she picks up books and has some success. Rachael is finishing up the first Harry Potter, Sorcer's Stone, with her and we are wondering what Hogwarts house she will claim. Johanna loves books and is always excited to find a new series. Our bedtime routine includes reading a few chapters. Right now we are reading The Spiderwick Chronicles and A-Z Mysteries, since we finished Gospel Trekkers. We read a lot together. I am treasuring these stories because I know that very soon Johanna will be able to read on her own and she won't need me in the same way. It is all so temporary, and I am happy to know that reading together has lasting benefits.
Some of her favorite things this year have been, the How to Train Your Dragon movies and TV show. She loves Toothless and Hiccup and will play pretend in her own land of Berg. A lot of times Johanna goes up on the top bunk and sets up her toys. She also loves playing animal vet: her favorite pet is cats.
Recently Johanna has been thinking about shapes. They worked on 2D and 3D shapes last year and are doing it again this year. As we were talking about it at home the concept of flat came up and went deeper into the idea of molecules and atoms. Now whenever 2D comes up Johanna reminds us that there are no 2D items, because atoms aren't flat. She told her teacher this too. This along with other topics brings me to teach her that common language is an agreed upon standard: 2D is commonly used refers to how we see things with our eyes. Rounding time is another common topic we review. Her 7 year old brain desires accuracy and we are working to mesh that gift into an very imprecise world.
At Mass on our way back from Communion, Johanna doesn't get in line for the Cup and instead goes ahead and tucks herself against the wall to give a loving smile to each family member as we come by. She waits especially for Jim, since he heads directly to work, and she gives him a good hug and a Goodbye.
Jo loves playing cards, and games, and riddles. She requested a pancake day each week and so Thursday morning I make pancakes. She also wanted to talk to Emma more so she decided calling her every morning was a good idea. Emma was happy for this and we worked out that 8:00AM is a good time. Johanna has Emma's number memorized and calls once or twice a week for a few minutes. I love how she decides something and gets it done.
Johanna brings me joy. She is complicated and intense and loving. On a scale of one to ten, Johanna functions at an 11. She is a lot to love and I am so blessed to be her Mom.
We celebrated with pancakes in bed on her actual birthday a Saturday, then cupcakes at her morning soccer game, then a day of games with sisters and her chosen dinner of spaghetti and meatballs with chocolate cannoli for dessert. Sunday afternoon Emma came down to celebrate with Johanna and we played her new birthday game, Outfoxed.
The first day we could all get together was Monday night and all 7 of us went out to dinner at the Japanese hibachi restaurant, Sakuro. It was so fun to have our food prepared in front of us and do something out of our ordinary. Johanna sat next to me and discovered that she liked my shrimp. Another family was seated with us and their son was hearing impaired and used ASL. He also happened to be a first grader, so pretty soon Johanna and Mathis were attempting to communicate and with the help of his parents we learned a few signs. It was a beautiful evening.
Happy 7th Birthday dear girl.
