because we love our family!

Two great stories from the past month: 1. We recently went for a long run on a gorgeous blue-bird day. Nearly an hour in, we got caught in a torrential downpour the likes of which Portland rarely sees. Having little alternative, we just kept going. (Adelaide's running stroller has a rain shield, but of course we had left it at home since the sun was so bright.) We all got sopping wet. Adelaide never complained, and when we got back to the car, I expected to find her feet would be wet from sticking out from under the canopy, but I was horrified to find that the vent behind her head had been open, so she had a stream of rain water that poured over her red curls and ran down the back of her shirt, leaving her sitting in a puddle. Feeling like a terrible mother, I picked her up, "Ada, you are all wet! I am so sorry." Like the trooper that she is, Adelaide gave me a hug and a sideways look, and said with a grin, "it's just water!!"

2. I have been working lots of night shifts lately, so we all eat an early dinner together, Adelaide helps me pick out my "hospital pants" and we say good-bye. Last week, we had a conversation something like this, "Are you going to hos-i-bal?" "Yes, I am going to the hospital." "Why are you going?" "I have to work tonight." "Why do you work?" (pause ... I have been asking myself the same thing lately ... masochism? Insanity? Because now I am so far in debt I'm not sure I have a choice ...) Fortunately, she answered for me, "You go to work because you love our family??" Yes! I have no idea where she got that, or what that means to her, but what a great answer!

terrific 2s

Well turning 2 certainly poses it's challenges: Adelaide is more opinionated, fiercely independent, and all the more determined to assert herself. But so far, "2" is anything but terrible. This is certainly the most fun age she's been; every moment with her is a treat. A couple of months ago she mastered the ABC's song (which, my mom was quick to point out, I could not sing in it's entirety before my 2nd b-day) and she loves to sing it (or anything) at the top of her lungs, complete with "em-o-mem-o-pee" and "dougle-me, x ...". She figured out that Twinkle-Little-Star and Baa-Baa-Black-Sheep all follow the same tune, and she switches between the 3 songs line-by-line sometimes. (How did her parents make it to this age without noticing that, and she figured it out so early? Music lessons are paying off!).

She's also been working hard on pronouns: me, you, I, my. With a few silly exceptions, like "you tuck my in" ... she's pretty much got it mastered, and she loves to practice. Absolutely everything is a conversation: "I like apples. You like apples? I give you apple to eat!" A constant stream of pronoun practicing. This is great for everyone as I no longer have to refer to myself (or her) in the third person. We talk like grown-ups! Although the days when she did whatever I wanted (without bargain or negotiation), were a bit easier, the sparkle of her little personality more than makes up for the 'terrible 2's'.

Easter "hot dogs"

For some silly reason, Adelaide calls all forms of candy "hot dogs". This has origin in the similar appearance of a wrapped caramel to a little plastic hot dog in her grandparents toy kitchen set. One of the few limits she has not bothered to challenge in the past few months is the restrictions on eating "hot dogs". She has learned (and we haven't corrected her), that Dad, and occasionally Mom, Grandma, or Papop eat "hot dogs", and Adelaide does not. Last weekend's Easter candy extravaganza afforded many opportunities to reinforce these notions. Adelaide loves to find "hot dogs", sort them, unwrap them, and deliver them to anyone whose mouth is in reach. At Easter brunch, she diligently opened every piece of candy she could find and hand delivered them to everyone in attendance. With no discouragement whatsoever, she never put one in her mouth but delighted in offering them to us; "Marissa want hot dog?". If she ever gets curious enough to taste them, she may discover that "hot dogs" are better eaten than shared, but so far it's our secret! Or perhaps one day she'll try real hot dog, and then we'll really be in trouble!