A one-year old in the house brings a lot of ups and downs, usually depending on the status of hunger, naps, or current teething issues.
Today, Julia experienced her first time out for biting Ellie. It was hard enough to make Ellie cry – and she is one tough cookie, not prone to much crying. A few hours later, after lunch and a nap, Julia was rocking with Evan and me. We were singing lullabies while Evan ate and wound down for a nap. All at once, Julia reached her little arms around my neck and squeezed then plunked a healthy smooch right on the lips. She has given kisses when asked for a long time, but this was the first unsolicited one.
Thank goodness for the wonderful…
I thought Julia was so cute “smelling” our Valentine’s tree on the table this morning so I decided to snap her picture.
But, actually, she was just trying to get to the kisses!
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Here’s Ellie’s approach:
She butters me up for candy by puckering up and saying, “Mama, can I have a kiss?”
After our smooch, she says, “Now can I have a chocolate one?”
I have been working on putting together the Valentine’s Day party for Ellie’s pre-school class next week. Her teacher suggested that the children would like a scavenger hunt. I found one that I decided to try at home too. I set out a vase on the kitchen table with some silk stems in it and tied 7 pink notecards to it with various riddles to solve and answer over the next week. While I was fixing dinner, Hannah told me that she read all the riddles while eating her after school snack and that she knew all the answers, but she would “help Ellie” (her code for that in between stage of ‘sometimes big and sometimes little’). I anticipated that Hannah might be a little old, but she is ever the enthusiast when it comes to fun and games.
Question Number 1 last night: ”You captured our hearts with your arrival. Show a picture of you when you were brand new.”
This was the most serious question on the tree. When they were finished eating they each dashed to their room to get their picture albums that were a gift from Grandma and Grandpa a couple of years ago. Over time they have added more special pictures. We went through both albums narrating Hannah’s birthday and the day we met Ellie. I loved their enthusiasm for one another’s story. Before bed, we watched the videos that Ryan made after Ellie and Julia came home. I always cry. Ellie loves that I always cry.
It’s science fair time for Front Range’s 4th graders. Ryan’s, um, I mean, Hannah’s project is about hydroponics. They lucked out and found a store owner who is being a terrific resource in getting them up and running. He’s very enthusiastic and encouraging for Hannah. Later this week, he is going to help them transplant the seedlings they started last week to the hydroponic pots and get the system set up to circulate the water and the nutrients.
I’m so glad Ryan is doing it with her. My eyes glaze over in boredom and disinterest when it comes to science. I do love to check in on the plants growing in our dining room and the promise of homegrown tomatoes and veggies without having to pull weeds.
