Little One and I have just returned to Canada from a very bittersweet trip to the Philippines to spend some time with my grandmother while she was in the ICU. Only days after our return, my grandmother passed away.

Fortunately, there was a HUGE box from Fisher-Price that was waiting for Little One when we got home from the airport.  What a treat for my amazing little traveler.  She was a trooper on our very long flight from Manila-Tokyo-Toronto.  The parcel cheered her up, as she was really sad that we had to leave the Philippines and great-grandma.

As odd as this sounds, Fisher-Price couldn't have picked a more appropriate time to send over something for our three year old.  It really made her day.

In the past few weeks, I have noticed that Little One's imagination has blossomed tenfold.  She's always had a vivid imagination and has always been creative when it comes to playing.  Lately, she has been really into playing with dolls. This is something she wasn't as interested in before. Now, it's all about feeding, changing, burping, rocking, and singing to her dollies. It's so sweet to observe.

Our little girl is growing and it feels like if I look away for even a minute, I miss out on something!

I think I mentioned that she asked for a baby sister for Christmas and "Santa" gave  her a doll house, right?  The doll house she received was one of those collapsible cardboard ones that fold away for easy storage. Well, let me tell you that the doll house did not last even one week. I think on the second day of having the doll house, Little One and her friend SAT in the doll house and it was ruined. Great.

This is why we were all so excited when Little One opened up her Fisher-Price box and saw her Little People doll house! It came furnished and with its very own Little People to inhabit it! Not only that, but she also received the coolest Little People vehicle. She loves that when she plays with the house and the SUV, there are sounds and songs.
The Little People doll house and car are a great distraction for a little girl who just lost her great-grandma.  Sure, it's not a replacement, but it's a good distraction from what we're having to deal with right now. This post isn't supposed to be a sad one. Really, it's a joyful one.

Seeing Little One play "house" with her Little People toys and listening to her chirping away and making up different scenarios is just too precious. In fact, in the past few weeks that we have been away, she's gotten a lot clearer in her speech and pronunciation. She's also speaking in more complex sentences. It's amazing what kind of thoughts she formulates and is able to convey. I was shocked when I heard her say, "This is the Mommy Little Person. She's peeing in the toilet. See the toilet on the first floor of the doll house? The Mommy needs to drive the baby to play group. The baby needs to be in his car seat. See? There's a car seat in the back. Babies are not allowed to sit in the front and they need their car seats all the time."  That just cracked me up. She wouldn't stop talking. It was just too cute.

There is nothing so joyful in life than to see our child playing, learning, and growing.  She is certainly enjoying her Little People toys. Thank you, Fisher-Price and Mom Central Canada!

Disclosure:  I am part of the Fisher-Price Play Panel and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.