It has been a while since my last
confession blog entry and I keep telling myself that I'm going to get better, but I'm pretty sure I'm lying. Living with my sister in the house is getting easier, but living with Jeff on a different shift is not. I miss having family time in the evenings, but Jeff misses it even more. We're pretty much to the point that I'm not allowed to even say the words "I miss you," because he can't stand it.
But on to happier things . . . .
Kayla turned one on Friday. Like her sister, she's going to be walking on her own soon, but not quite yet. She dearly loves chasing the cats around the house and testing their patience as well as her sister's.
Recently she has discovered the sheer joy of climbing in and out of her sister's rocking chair and the ability to put on and take off necklaces.
Today I just stared in disbelief as I watch her plug and unplug the bathtub. I had no idea she actually paid attention to what I was doing.
Life is good for this little one.
Big sister is really enjoying being four. She has the memory of an elephant which makes me glad that I've never promised her a pony. She's one smart little cookie.
She doesn't listen to me one bit unless she likes the answer, so I've already lined up Sissy to be her go-to for grown up talk. Of course that is going to have to be for fashion and makeup advice too since I'm hopeless unless you want to talk sewing or costume talk. As me about seams and the fit of a garment, but ask Sissy about the color and style.
I suppose its too early to sign her up to be a future president or lawyer, but she has some mad negotiating skills that would do any politician proud, not to mention she is rather adept at side stepping questions. I've gotten pretty good at asking the "Right Questions" to get to the truth.
And still all I can do is marvel at how different they were in their first year.
Alaina was a rather contemplative child.
She was more than happy to sit and watch me wrap presents at Christmas time when she was little. I'd put a bow in front of her and she'd rub it between her fingers and toss it around for 30 - 40 minutes until she had in memorized. She'd explore every crevice of a new toy, flipping it over and over to check all of the screw holes and seams until she was satisfied that she knew exactly what could be down with it.
She was like Winnie-the-Pooh sitting there just thinking thoughts and pondering things. She loves new words and figuring out they fit into her speech. I call her a little parrot because she can repeat back just about anything you say to her perfectly.
But if Alaina is like Pooh, Kayla is Tigger.
She's a bouncing ball of energy.
She's not happy if she's static.
If you are sitting down, she's crawling all over you.
If you are standing up, she's trying to figure out the most interesting way to wrap herself around your ankles or climb your pant legs.
She can't stand 5 minutes in the baby saucer that her sister would cry to be put in. I never even childproofed my home with Alaina because she had no desire to get into any cupboard or go near outlets. I'm debating buying a Roomba automatic vacuum because Kayla has to stick EVERYTHING she finds in her mouth, where as Alaina cried when I tried to stick her fingers in the frosting on her first birthday cake.
And while I knew that my kids would be different, I didn't quite realize how different they could be.
So if I have another child, will I get a melancholy Eeyore, a wise Owl or a modest piglet?
And for the story of the day:
Alaina is rather adept at using the bathroom all by herself, but every now and again she gets distracted and we have to request that she speed up the process because she gotten distracted by trying to reach the bottom of the sink with her toes or trying to get on the toilet with her legs crossed. Her natural curiosity just won't let her do things the easy way.
And so I went to hustle her out of the bathroom this last week and found her sheepishly looking down and avoiding my eye.
Never a good sign with Alaina. Her unwillingness to provide answers leaves me no choice but to deduce that the wetness was supplied by a less than sanitary source . . .the toilet. Of course asking the obvious questions will get you nowhere with Alaina, so you have to circle around to the truth.
"Alaina, were you playing in the sink?"
No
"I didn't hear the tub. You didn't try to turn on the tub did you?"
No
"Did you dip you hair in the toilet."
(No answer, so I must be getting warmer.)
"Did you finish going to the bathroom?"
Yes
"Were you looking in the toilet?"
Yes
"Were you sitting on the toilet when you looked in?"
Yes
"Did you bend you head down?"
Yes
"Did your hair touch the water?"
(No answer)
"Alaina, did your hair tickle the water a little bit?"
Yes (That worked because it implied that something fun and not punishable occurred)
"What were you looking at?"
Myself in the water (aka - reflections)
"Well toilet water is yucky, so next time just let me know right away so we can wash the germs out of your hair."
Okay
I let it slide that her hair was rather dry for having took a toilet bath, so I subtly removed all the towels and put them in the dirty laundry. It wasn't worth the effort to try to get to admit which of the four towels hanging up she had used to try to dry her hair and hide the evidence.
Clever girl.
2 Weekends ago, we headed up to the zoo. We arrived and departed in good time, spending 3 hours pushing and pulling one stroller and one wagon, because we learned on out last trip that a wagon is too close together for the girls, and one stroller guarantees a hurting back from carrying one of them around for an hour. At least I wizened up and ordered a canopy for the wagon.
Since we arrive within 1/2 hour of the zoo opening, we have a pretty easygoing trip for the most part. Alaina enjoyed the penguins and Kayla hollered for all she was worth at the gorillas that were getting a morning treat of apples and oranges.
And ohhhhh! It was soooo delicious!