The kids, some stories, and life

Sally and Bobby are growing apace. Sally is talking in full paragraphs (forget sentences!) and Bobby is starting to scoot himself around the floor. I consider myself lucky to be the mother of two such awesome kids. And so, I thought I’d treat you all to a bit of an update on them, and a few stories and antics as well.

Sally is in preschool now. When I dropped her off this morning, she immediately jumped into a game of “hide and seek” with the rest of her class. She was hiding under the craft table. She likes hide and seek a lot, actually. Sometimes we play it at the park, though I have to pretend I don’t know where she is because she insists that I hide Bobby with her before going off to count.

Sally has just entered her princess phase. This is being challenging for me, I have to admit. I suppose it was to be expected, with her in preschool with other kids and all. But telling her she can’t be a princess would be silly and counterproductive. Instead, I indulge her but make sure to emphasize her whole range of positive qualities, praising her for her strength and creativity, her endurance and her compassion. And seriously, who says princesses can’t be fast or construct towers? Princess Sally does BOTH!

Sally is completely in love with her little brother. Sometimes when he’s playing on the floor, she crouches next to him and puts her arm around him and says “I love you so much, baby! I love you!” Among the other things she says to him: “You’re mine, baby” and “Listen to me, baby! Listen to me!” (This often accompanied by her placing her hands on either side of his head and turning his face toward her.) If Sally’s playing with Bobby but he needs to nurse, she’ll say “Okay mommy, you can nurse my baby. But give him right back to me!” Bobby doesn’t seem to mind a bit. In fact, I think he rather likes being the center of attention.

Bobby, for his part, has turned into a happy, smiley, chubby little baby. He smiles on cue and has recently started laughing as well – especially when I tickle him. He has me wrapped around his teeny tiny little finger. He’s actually sleeping in my arms as I type this. Now that he’s starting to become mobile he’s starting to make trouble (because, you know, he eats everything he can find, including his sister’s toys!). I’m going to have my hands full with this one, I can tell already!

I love being a parent of two. I really do. I also love having a job. I love being able to go to the office and have space and time to accomplish things there without being spit up on, pooped on, or called to wipe someone’s butt. And I love having a spouse who expects to participate in the child rearing, and even to take an equal share. I’m so glad I live today, and not a hundred years ago.

As I head upstairs to take Bobby to bed, and then to get myself to bed as well before a busy day tomorrow, I can’t help but think about how nimble we have to be today to keep everything in the air that we do. Self, husband, kids,school, job, blog . . . sometimes I feel like I’m juggling, enjoying some of everything and being careful not to drop anything. But you know what? I’m loving every minute of it.