The Frog
Wednesday, January 30th, 2008The Frog seems to have an equal status, if not a different role, as MissKitty. MissKitty doesn’t feel good when MissMunchkin is sick: they are tired together, they must eat together, and they must sit with Mommy together.
If MissKitty is an extension of MissMunchkin, then The Frog must be her best friend. (Either that or he’s an idol she is worshiping.)
At first, he was just a bath toy. MissMunchkin would help The Frog jump on the edge of the tub and into the water. Then he was supposed to jump on his own. MissMunchkin would urge him on for a minute or two. When he wouldn’t jump, she would pick him up in the palms of both hands, kiss him and say, “Kay, (jabber, jabber) Kay.” He would then get to try again.
Then, one day, The Frog escaped the bathroom.
His jumping lessons now happen randomly throughout the day. MissMunchkin even teaches by example, jumping up and down in front of him. (Jumping with both feet is quite fun and she’s getting some real height.) Unfortunately, The Frog seems to have delayed jumping abilities.
MissMunchkin is very patient though; she has yet to give up. The frog gets lots of kisses, patting, and encouragement. Occasionally he is subjected to a MissMunchkin lecture, after which he gets more kisses and “Kay”s.
The effort may be paying off; Mommy is quite sure she saw The Frog leap out of MissMunchkin’s hands to fly across the living room this morning. He jumped so far that he seems to have disappeared, which is going to be an issue later…
He is still required for bath time. In fact, baths are often refused or result in tamper tantrums if we can’t find The Frog.
MissMunchkin and The Frog have long conversations while she carries him around, cupped in both hands. He occasionally even gets to go to bed, although that usually results with Mommy have to hold him until MissMunchkin is asleep. Yesterday MissMunchkin discovered if you put The Frog in a sunbeam, he appears to glow! She spent quite some time experimenting with this: putting him in the sun and taking him out, putting him only halfway in the sun, standing between the sun and The Frog…
Last week, The Frog got to visit Grandma’s, where he got much the same treatment as at home. He and MissMunchkin also met Grandpa’s frog, a heavy iron door stop that originated from somewhere up Grandpa’s family tree.
MissMunchkin decided it was to heavy to move (without pushing it with the door). Instead, she introduced herself and The Frog, then went on her way. The rest of the day, whenever she ran past the iron frog she would pause to pat it’s head before continuing on.
So, maybe, there is something special about all frogs?
(While Mommy was writing this, MissMunchkin looked under the couch and then ran over to her. “Where, Frog” complete with words and signs. Apparently he managed to jump under the couch and now has to be rescued.)
