Mischief-a few ditties

We were in the car the other night coming home from Amanda's where she fed us all dinner when Addie asked for her "doddle" (bottle). I gave it to her and Gillian commenced to teach Addie to say the word properly. "Addie, Buh-Buh-BODDLE" she said. Addie parroted back "Buh, Buh, DODDLE!" all triumphant. Gillian patiently repeated the correct pronunciation more than several times, and Addie replied incorrectly each time. Then Gillian said "Addie, DODDLE?" to which Addie, annoyed, retorted, "Not DODDLE, GILLYAN, DODDLE!". So, then Gillian started getting mad because Addie kept saying "Buh-Buh-DODDLE" (and we kept laughing, because Addie was doing it to get under Gillian's skin). So, Gillian plugged her ears and loudly said "LALALALALALALAL". As soon as her fingers came out of her ears, Addie would shout "DODDLE!!!" squealing in delight. Because it was making Gillian nuts.

It's official: Addie is a big smart ass. Already.

I will never capture this on video either, but I don't want to forget that she does it-If I'm holding her and someone else has my attention (in a conversation or me watching Gillian do something at the playground for example), Addie will put her hands on either side of my face and physically turn my head so I am looking at her and she will reiterate the question she wants me to answer or repeat something awesome she wants me to acknowledge. It makes us, and everyone we know, laugh.

She stuck a sticker on my knee while I was in the bathroom the other day. Thursday I was at the doctor, getting examined (think pap smear) when the doctor (from down there) said, "hey, Michelle? Are you aware that you have a tiny soccor ball sticker on your knee?" It gave us a good laugh, but the best part is the reminder that I have these crazy little girls to come home to that decorate my extremities like ninjas...

So, Addie loves to speak in weird voices, play pretend (especially loves playing pretend with toy dogs), make Gillian go ballistic (but is also very concerned if Gillian is sad for unknown reasons and loves to give her kisses and hugs and back pats), and tempt fate with physical acrobatics. She Does Not like sleeping, eating (unless it's cookies and ice cream or chocolate, which she somehow always has an appetite for), taking off her pumpkin hat, being told no, and getting her diaper changed. If I tell her we have to change a diaper before the most awesome array of things she loves most in the world can happen, she takes off down the hallway, cheeky laughter peeling behind her. Nothing is easy, and deference clearly equals weakness or failure...so resist at all costs!

That's not to say Addie doesn't have heart-she does. Seeing a booboo on my hand she said, "Ooooooh, Mama, I'm so sowwy you have a booboo. Want me to kiss it?" Then she kissed my hand, got an evil grin on her face, and proceeded to lick my face and tell me she was a doggie. Well, she tried, at least!

There are so many things I should be sharing and so many sweet little things to love, and SO MANY VIDEOS I HAVEN'T EDITED...(like over a year's worth), but I can't seem to make catching up a priority. There is too much life to be lived...games to be played...moments to be cherished...Maybe when they're both in school I'll get caught up (bwahahahaha).

Addie's newest love-Letter Puzzle!

Ah...MUSIC!

One of these days, we will be a regular Partidge Family. Addie's been in music and movement class for a year (wiggleworms) and Gillian started piano in January of this year. She started Suzuki violin mid-September. Addie sings all day long, at the top of her little lungs. Gillian has a great ear but is absolutely nutty about being corrected on piano (she shakes her head and thrashes her arms around when I gently try to correct a wrong note or give her advice-this does NOT happen with her teacher). So, another one among us that doesn't take awesomely to criticism....fantastic!

Sean reasons that Gillian can develop her music reading skills on piano and her ear through Suzuki. Although I think he really just wants her to play fiddle at the end of the day, I kindof love the idea of her keeping on the classical track as well as tearing it up on fiddle tunes. I really hope she wants to play music and not be a cheerleader. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Meanwhile, I need to get back in the musical saddle. It is absolutely true that my music has taken a back seat...or, better yet, IS NOT EVEN IN THE FREAKIN' CAR ANYMORE...to things like PhD programs and raising small children. I don't make time for much that doesn't include the girls. To be good and balanced, it's high time I did that. I have found it pretty impossible to do with the girls being so young.

When we have that "to have another baby, or to not have another baby" discussion, I can tell you shedding child care costs and me moving to a more human schedule (where I could do more stuff I like such as *SLEEP* and *EXERCISE* and maybe even *HAVE A HOBBY!*) is VERY appealing. Neither would happen if a baby happened. Right now, I am 100% cool with getting out of diapers and never looking back. Our marriage will be better for it...as in we won't act like we have ADD trying to have a normal conversation anymore. Maybe we'll start sleeping again some day soon now that Addie is giving us hope that she might actually be capable of sleeping more than 2 hours at a time. AT 27 MONTHS OLD. Do ya'll know what not sleeping for YEARS can do to a person (of course, some of you know all too well-((((GROUP HUG)))))?!? If you could look into a crystal ball and tell me that 1) we would have another girl and 2) she would sleep like Gillian, I would get pregnant next week. But I won't because we could have another baby like Adelaide. Who I love to pieces...but Lordy she is rough around the edges with the not sleeping and not eating. And the teeth that TAKE FOREVER TO COME IN (= chronic discomfort)!

Anyway, I need to post a video or two from Addie's musical repertoire. You would be impressed. I'm certainly impressed. They paid me to say that (in hugs and kisses, but still...)

Greed

Gillian's favorite toys don't exist. She has a house full of everything-a giant Disney Princess castle, princesses and princes; she has paints and art supplies, she has dolls and books, and games. But she could live without any of it-because what she likes best in the world is to pretend.

Her favorite game is to play mermaids or princesses. Mermaids are all about the tub and morphing into a beautiful princess when you dry off your tail. It's about who is your baby and who's the mean witch. It's about pretending you have magic powers to make people "not be dead anymore" or well if they're sick...or it can bring about the existence of rainbow ponies. Just like that. Princesses is along the same lines, except there's more of a focus on going to balls and getting married.

I have a theory about this desire to pretend in lieu of toys. I mean, seriously, Gillian almost never asks for a specific toy unless we're standing in the toy aisle. My theory is that it's because Gillian doesn't watch commercials. I swear, I think that is where greed comes from in the under 12 jet-setters. We DVR everything, and none of those DVR'd shows have commercials. In fact, Sean and I were discussing this the other night and we realized we *never* watch live television, or even our own movies, in front of the kids.  So, no opportunity for seeing the smut of TV-the junk that everyone is trying to sell to everyone else.

I think that made her happier to be charitable with the toys from her birthday (even though her willingness was fabulous), and hopefully, any material goods. The real trick, I think, is to be charitable with herself-her time, love, and attention. I am still chewing on ways to internalize that.