"She is quite a character"

So says her teacher of Bibou at the creche. Don't we know it, but to hear it from someone else who observes her while she interacts with other kids was an eye-opener. She's very strong willed (she knows what she wants and don't you try to get her to do something else), independant (she wants to try to do it herself), curious (always wanting to know what this or that is, or how to do it and then copy it herself), mischevious and cheeky (no words can describe that!). She's also loyal and protective of her 'friends' though can be a bully to those she doesn't know or like. She would, for example, stand on top of the slide at the creche and declare to everyone that the slide is only for 'Emma and me', and will say 'stop' to the others. The teachers and care givers must explain to her that the slide (or whatever toy) is for sharing. I've been really worried that she'll be the 'big bully in the playground', but the teacher said that (perhaps she's trying to be be nice????) perhaps it is not a bad thing these days, given that she'll be able to protect herself. And she is quite loving and sharing (and not to mention cute!) when it comes to people she knows and cares about...and sometimes even strangers or 'just-met' friends... she just has this instinct and generally is really nice to most kids, she'll even bring out her toys and offer to them (albeit, it is never her favorite one!). She sure knows how to bring on the charm if she wants to. However, watch out if she doesn't like you... and she generally doesn't like whiny brats lol! And she won't tolerate them, she'll stand her ground and 'fight' (like if someone she doesn't like tries to steal her toys, she'll stand firm and won't let go - even if the other child is a boy and much bigger.)

Back home, Bibou's vocabulary is growing stronger. She can sing a few songs on her own now though have to say that even in English, she has a decidedly French accent! She's still very loving, giving kisses and hugs freely to us... and her new baby sister. she loves kissing her new baby sister as the pix here show. She has a bit of a motherly streak in her - she's quite attached to her doll (called 'baby') and the other day, she put baby in the transat and told us matter of factly that she's now preparing 'yum-yum' (meal) for baby and she's going to feed her. She's real tender with baby... and must sleep with her every night. Groan, talking about sleep, we're having a most difficult time getting her to go for her naps during the weekends now. She sleeps very well at her nannys (though there are days where ta-ta says it is quite difficult to get her to go to sleep - she'll also disturb the others by talking!), but during the weekends, she just won't go to sleep. We will leave her upstairs (and the stairgate is locked), but she'll turn on all the lights, play in her room and basically get up to mischief (once we went up and found that she'd opened her drawers and pulled out all the towels and threw them on the floor). Then of course, come near evening, she's so tired she's cranky!

People have often said that Bibou is tall for her age, but we hadn't realized it until a friend came over (with their 4 kids) for gouter on Sunday. Their 3rd child is 4 years old, but when she stood next to Bibou, they were almost the same height! I was astonished! Here's a pix of both of them.

She has a fun sense of humor. She loves to laugh or try to make us laugh! Some of these pictures here are of her definition of "smile". Asking her to smile for the camera just breaks all of us up in laughter!