Writing it Down, So I Don't Forget

Momma Post: This past week was fairly mellow. While a good portion of the Willamette Valley was covered in snow, our neck of the woods stayed clear and occasionally wet. We did have a few lovely, but bitter cold days. Matt has been enjoying his new walking companion, when taking the dog out.

The girls are growing right before our eyes. They are both developing new skills so quickly, it's easy to forget one stage/step before a new one takes its' place.

Willa impressed me today by rolling over from her tummy to her back. It happened so fast I put her back on her tummy, so she promptly did it again for me. Willa has discovered her pointer and middle finger to suck on...not as good as the pacifier, but will do in a pinch. Willa's is also enjoying mirrors and likes to smile at the baby. Her nap schedule is much more predictable now. She isn't having the reflux problem as much, but this morning she surprised me by completely blowing out of her diaper, right on to our sheets. Thanks to Willa, I'm washing our sheets at least once a week. Now if I actually took the time to iron them like Grandma Beebe...I'd be the ultimate Hausfrau.

Ruby is amazing with her language comprehension and new phrases. I can tell she's becoming more confident, as there is an added maturity lately. We are having less tantrums as long as hunger and being tired are not factors. A couple of phrases are worth noting. First, "I want (fill in the blank)" is often demanded. For example, in the mornings we are woken to "I want BAR", meaning she wants a Nutri-Grain bar. Yesterday, I had a little test of wills with Ruby, as she kept wanting to push Willa in the swing, but wasn't doing it very gently. I was pumping milk, so I had to use my voice in a stern manner. Ruby's feeling can easily be hurt, so she went into the bathroom and proceeding to yell "I want DADDY" for about eight minutes. It's easy to take this a little personally, but being an adult, I try ignoring or diverting this type of behavior. I did tell my friend Beth, that it's amazing how well kids know your weak points.

Other fun phrases include, "No singing, guys" (Matt and I have been demoted from Momma and Daddy); "two minutes" (meaning not now); "three, four, three" (counting); "Oh gosh, spilled milk"; "bum burps" (self explanatory); "come back, sit here", "backwards" (the preferred way to climb stairs); etc. Yesterday after her nap, I asked Ruby if she had a poopy diaper and she corrected me that she had a "BM".

As you can see below, Ruby's become quite the little mother. Ruby thoughtfully likes to help me breastfeed, by pushing down on me to assist with my milk flow. "Helping" she says. At school, she takes scarfs and creates slings for various baby dolls. Don't worry, in the last photo, Willa was only momentarily inconvenienced by Ruby's enthusiasm over "helping" (there's that word again) her sister to smile for the camera.