Kara Beara

Stats:
Full name: Kara Elizabeth Leck
Date of Birth: March 10th, 2003
Weight: 32 pounds
Height: 41"
Age: 4 @ 6:21p.m. today
Eyes: blue
Hair: Dark blonde and very muppet-like
Nicknames: Kara Beara, Chuckie, Kara Lizbeth, Dimple girl
Favorite things: clothes, purses, jewelry, play makeup, High School Musical, Piggy (see pic above), herself (she says she loves herself-see pic hugging herself above)

This week's kid is Kara Elizabeth, because it's her birthday! Kara, oh Kara, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways! Kara was born via induction in March four years ago. I knew she was a girl, but Ron didn't! We labored all day in that hospital bed, only because they kept turning the pitocin up, then down. My doctor was extremely busy that day (two sets of twins across town at another hospital). When she was finally born, she really was the most beautiful baby, with a head of dark hair, more than any of the others. The first thing I noticed about her was the adorable dimple on her left cheek. She was the smiley-est baby ever. I never could tell when she actually started to smile AT me instead of just doing it, because she smiled from the first few days home. I kept telling myself, gas, a reflex, but I have never seen a baby smile that much, even though I knew logically, it couldn't have been for real! And that has been the marker for her temperament, until she started running with the older kids, anyway. She is very loving and cuddly. She says to me "Mom, you're beautiful and I love you", "Mom, I like your hair", or "Mom, I like that shirt". She used to come into my bed in the morning, until she was just over 3 years old, and lay her head on my pillow and stare at me until I woke up. Then, she would take her hand and lovingly pet my cheek and say "I love you so much, Mommy". Then she would take those soup cooler lips of hers and plant a big wet one on my cheek. Can you believe that? Out of a 2 1/2 to 3 year old mouth. I miss that. I remember thinking at the time how she would grow out of that, and she did, but I will never forget it.

To put in perspective how wonderfully blissful this child was as a baby/toddler, Ron once made a comment about how she might be his favorite! As awful as a comment like that seems, because we love them all the same, I could understand it completely (even though I told him that was awful!!)

Kara likes to color and make endless pictures with the name MOM on them, watch movies, jump on the trampoline, put make up on, play with her siblings, go to Chuck E Cheese's, look at books and carry them around, dress herself in crazy outfits and costumes (see above), ride in the barbie jeep or on her tricycle, stuffed animals, and her blankie that Gretchen made for her.

Kara has always been a little different than Kaylee and Ryan were at this age and I think it's because she "hangs" with them causing her to act a little bit older than your average 4 year old. She imitates them and it is quite funny. It's the way she talks and her expressions, the things she says. One of the common things she says is that she has to go write an essay!! Also, she says, "I don't know what you're talking about" as if to be annoyed with your stupidity and ignorance!! Once, while driving in the van with just Kara and Caden, I happened to look back in the baby mirror to find her giving me the most evil look I have ever seen on a child's face and hence, the nickname Chuckie was born, due to all the horror movie music that streamed through my head when I saw that evil expression! It was a funny event, because she didn't know I was going to look at her in the mirror, I hadn't called her name, I just thought it was awfully quiet and decided to see what she was doing. It was the funniest mean look I've seen! And that sums her up, a funny little loving comedian who will kick your butt if you look at her wrong, or at least tell you some long drawn out story that will make you wish someone were sticking needles in your eyeballs instead! And never interrupt her telling a story or you'll be back to the beginning with her starting ALL over!