Got Boogers, Got Hope

That, Birdie Brigade, is what Clara just chanted on her way to bed via the bathroom to collect a "tissue."  (Birdie always calls it a "tissue."  There is now brand-name-as-noun Kleenex for her.  Just something we've noticed--especially because initially, between this reporter's use of and therefore expectation of hearing the word Kleenex, and Clara's emerging speech, this reporter really had to pay attention when Clara was asking for a tissue.)  So we got boogers here.  (Now you can rest easy tonight, Brigade.)

We've also got Clara chatting it up more and more.  About a week ago, she was in the bath tub when Julie arrived home late and crouched down next to the tub.  They had the following exchange:
Clara: "Got to be careful!"
Julie (hazarding a guess): "Or you might fall down and go boom?"
Clara (in a tone that suggests she cannot believe what she has to deal with): "No."
[beat]
Clara (trying again): "Ride bikes!"
Julie: "Oh, when you ride bikes?"
Clara: "Yeah." [Read: "Now you've got it Poindexter."]
[beat]
Clara: "I got a wash cloth!"

It can be tough to keep up, Brigade, with a girl such as this.  Nowadays, it seems like she's just showing off ay every turn.

Last night, when it was time to read books before bed, she came tearing around the corner saying, "school bus, school bus!"  By this, she meant that she wanted to read the book School Bus.  She likes to try and count the school buses, pointing at them just like Julie does.  Birdie can count all the way to 10! But, she mysteriously skips two.  If Julie tries to correct Birdie, and lifts her own finger to point at the objects she's counting, Clara allows Julie to reach about the count of two before she will shove Julie's hand away and say, "Not your turn.  Not your turn."  It can be tough to keep up with a girl such as this.

Tonight, when it was time to read books before bed, Birdie came tearing around the corner hollering, "Yea!"  (Naturally, Julie's bookish, dorky heart swelled.)  Clara tore right over to the entry hall table that we use as a side table, on which are housed books that are mostly Joe's speed.  And yet, perhaps Clara is revving up?  Clara picked Owl Moon, about a father and son who go owling.  It features much who-who-ing!  It also features a moon.  Both are things that Clara knows.

The final lines of the books read:
"When you go owling
you don't need words
or warm
or anything but hope.
That's what Pa says.
The kind of hope
that flies
on silent wings
under a shining
Owl Moon."

There are times, you know, Brigade, when you are sailing along, feeling yar as all get out, and then before you know it, you've sailed right into a squall and you're just trying to make your way out to calmer waters.  And sometimes, you know, Brigade, that Joe and Clara are the squall, and sometimes, they are the calm waters.  That's how Julie felt tonight, when she was reading the final lines of Owl Moon to Clara--like Clara as the calm waters, a lap full of hope for smooth sailing ahead.

And then Clara climbed on down and toddled off to bed calling out the news: "Got boogers."

"Mama shoes," Big Girl In