Cordy’s sensory issue with her hair has been a problem for over a year. Those gorgeous curls are always begging for attention, yet any attempt to touch them is met with screams and wails. This is especially a problem for distant family and strangers, who seem to be drawn to those Shirley Temple ringlets with a burning desire to pull one of those little golden springs.

Every time we wash her hair is a battle. While she likes to splash and play in the bath, she despises water on her head. And combing out her curls takes an entire episode of Bunnytown, since we have to distract her with TV to even have a chance at getting a comb near her. Sure, she has pretty hair, however, you wouldn’t want to be the one to care for it.

But this week we were greeted with a surprise when she came home from school on Monday. The hair on either side of her face was pulled up and secured with a ponytail holder. She now asks for bows in her hair, too. Who is this child? Where did she come from, and why is she asking me for bows?

Her teacher told me she’s been slowly working with Cordy to reduce the sensitivity, and as a result she will let us pull her hair up. Amazing.

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In the past week, Cordy has suddenly been leaping forward in progress. The hugs for Mira have continued, although she’s also taking toys away from Mira, too. But two new developments have me giddy and beaming like I’ve got the next Einstein for a daughter.

First, the “happy face” drawn on her knock-off magna-doodle is the first time she’s ever drawn anything other than scribbles. Cordy sat down, announced she was drawing a happy face, and then talked us through the steps involved as she did it: “Draw a face, then an eye, then another eye, then a smile!” I’d like to take the credit for teaching her that, but the truth is all praise goes to Yo Gabba Gabba, where she saw the face drawn the first time.

Second, you may remember the Miffy contest I had last month. Not only did I give away a Miffy, but I got one, too. (Thanks, Mir & Ty’s!) Miffy arrived earlier this week in a huge box, because this is a gigantic bunny. I told Cordy the box was a present for her, and we opened it together. She pulled out this mammoth stuffed animal with glee, amazed at the size but not quite sure what it was.

“That’s Miffy. She’s a bunny,” I explained.

She gave the bunny a long, hard look. “No, this is Sammy!” she corrected me.

Wha? My child is now naming her stuffed animals? And where did the name Sammy come from? Not only has she named him, but he now follows her around the house. He sleeps in her bed at night, and I must tuck him in with her.

In the morning, we must carry Sammy downstairs for her. (She can’t carry him or she’d fall down the stairs.) When I ask her what she wants for lunch, she tells me she wants a sandwich, and oh, Sammy wants a sandwich, too. Occasionally in the afternoon she’ll tug Sammy onto the couch and tuck him in for a nap.

It’s adorable, and like nothing I’ve ever seen before from her. It’s so exciting to see her drawing and engaging in imaginative play, something she had no concept of six months ago. Part of me hopes these rapid changes continue, while the other part of me wants her to slow down just a little, so I can savor these new advances.

To play along for Haiku Friday, follow these steps:

1. Write your own haiku on your blog. You can do one or many, all following a theme or just random. What’s a haiku, you ask? Click here.

2. Sign the Mister Linky below or at Jennifer’s blog with your name and the link to your haiku post (the specific post URL, not your generic blog URL). If you need help with this, contact Jennifer or myself.

3. Pick up a Haiku Friday button to display on the post or in your sidebar by clicking the button above.