OK. So Zoe had just woken up from her nap. After getting a fresh diaper, I picked her up. She nuzzled her little blonde head into my chest and said, “I love you too, Mommy.” Swoon! Wanting to spread the love, I walked her over to the bathroom where her sister just happened to be sitting on the potty. Avery spends a lot of time on the potty. Not necessarily doing much, just hanging out and talking to the stuffed animals that she arranges around the commode. (Yes, she is odd. Yes, I know.)
Anyway, I ask Zoe, “Do you love Avery too?”
“No. I don’t like Avery.”
Cut to the little girl on the potty, suddenly crestfallen. “But Zoe, I LOVE YOU!” I remind Zoe that she DOES love her sister, and Zoe dutifully goes over to the potty and gives Avery a hug. (Hugs on toilets, something only sisters do. I mean, other people might do it too, but they probably shouldn’t. Ew.)
***WARNING: BRILLIANT PARENTING MOMENT COMING UP***
So I say to the both of them, “You two are sisters. You don’t have to always like each other, but you always, always love each other.”
(Groans) “OK, Mom.”
Moment over. This has been another installment in OMG-my-child-is-developing-a-serious-attitude-problem-SEND-HELP.
P.S. Have you seen my baby? She has a fuzzy blonde head, big blue eyes, and she doesn’t talk much? I’ve been looking everywhere, but the only thing I can find is this child that vaguely looks like her. No semblance of baby left. If you have any clues, let me know.
The folks over at i heart faces are going with a kissing theme this week in honor of Valentine’s Day. Since one of my favorite photos of the girls just happens to involve Avery kissing her baby sister, I thought I would enter.
If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you’ve seen this one. But I think it’s always worth a repeat. If for nothing else than to remind their mother that they DO love each other. Some days it can be easy to forget.
The day that Avery was born, Jim Bob and Holly (because they are so very cool) gifted her with a copy of They Might Be Giants–Here Come The ABCs. Remember Birdhouse In Your Soul? If you don’t, then you probably weren’t alive in the Nineties and I’m sorry for that. Beautiful time, it was. Here Come The ABCs has been part of our playlist since the day we got it, but Avery has really, really gotten into it lately. This is not a problem for us. Mostly because we love it too. But also because it’s not Raffi. Or the Wiggles. The child will appreciate good music, and for this, WE WIN.
Did you know Avery likes to sing? Sort of? Here you go. This is her favorite song right this minute.
Avery and her daddy sound JUST LIKE They Might Be Giants. Here’s a comparison for you–
Uncanny. Or something. Heavy on the something.
Anyway. John and John, if you ever need a very young back-up singer, do give us a ring. Avery is ready. Need an audition? We’ll see you March 6. I know one little girl whose head might pop off from all the excitement of seeing “The ABC Men” in person. The other one will probably pitch a fit and have to be escorted out. That’s just how we roll.
OK. Here’s the situation. The girls and I had just left the fish store. While we were at the fish store, Zoe grabbed some little doo-dad that she wanted to bring home. Since we were already buying $20 worth of fish; I told her no and carted her out of the store. Clearly, I am very, very mean.
So she cried. All. The. Way. Home. Not just a little crying, but the kind of crying that makes little babies huff and puff and cough. BRUTAL crying. Guess who doesn’t like crying? Other than me? Avery. So Avery tried to be the good big sister and help Zoe out. It went a little something like this.
