The other day I stopped and just looked at my girls. I am with them every day and often don't notice how they change, but every now and then something really strikes me and I realize how fast they are growing up. Haddee no longer uses a booster seat at the table. She informed us one day she doesn't need it anymore and sure enough, she did better without it. I caught a glimpse of my life years from now when I told her the other morning after breakfast to go upstairs, go potty, wash her hands, and take off her pjs. WOW! She can do all that by herself now? What will I do with my time when I don't have to do everything for my kids???
Haddee is really in to what I call "potty talk". I am not sure if she learned it from someone or just likes the attention (all be it negative) she gets from it. She likes to stick her butt out at people and talk about poop and farts. I was kissing all over her face the other night before bed and she stuck her butt out and told me to kiss that. She also renamed Strawberry Shortcake's dog PoopCake. (His real name is PupCake.) I want to laugh at times but also hope this stage passes quickly.
Yesterday I asked Haddee if she wanted water or milk for lunch and she said, "Hmm, I'll probably have some water. That's healthy for you." Made me smile. I haven't done much with Haddee in terms of school since Eva quit taking a morning nap months ago, but I know if I spent a little bit of time with her she would learn to read in no time. She asks me sometimes how to read and all of a sudden is writing her letters. She knows how to spell her name and a few other words as well. She is such a smartie!
This week I started doing charts with the girls. Some charts are for rewards and others are just schedules of the week and our daily routine. I have always had a "schedule" when I am home with the girls, but have never written it out. Haddee loves routine and likes to know what is coming next. She has really taken to these papers! Now Eva on the other hand is care-free and easy-going. She could care less about the charts and surely has no desire to follow a schedule or put stickers in a row. She is my entertainer. She is silly, fun, rough and tough, and always on the go. I have been told she holds her own in the church nursery. (nice church language for a bully)
She is growing and learning too. We are working on the potty and she does pretty good. She is talking like crazy. She repeats anything I ask her and really remembers people's names. She says all her colors, but doesn't sit long enough for me to tell if she actually knows which is which. She loves to sing songs with me, copy anything Haddee does, and watch Curious George. She is full of energy and keeps me busy, but I wouldn't want her any other way. She responds very well to discipline and learns quickly to obey. I pray she always stays that way.
I love and adore these precious gifts from God. My fear is that I am going to screw them up somehow. I just need to keep giving my fears over to God and doing the best that I can.(By the way, the date on my camera is obviously messed up. Just in case you were confused.) :)
