Daily Life

Life is a whirlwind when you have four kids ages four and under. We try to pay attention to the very cool things they say and do before it's too late, but it gets tough, and even tougher to document it. But I love their logic and the way they mimic what they hear. Annika informed me the other night at dinner that she was going to marry a friend of ours in his mid-20s. I asked her why. She said, "He'll look like a daddy when he grows a mustache." Irrefutable.



Lauren finds amazing ways to put off bedtime. Her new one? "Mommy, I have to tell you something. I have to tell you the truth. The truth about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." And then launches into a re-telling of the whole plot line.



Annika has definitely figured out how to use the phrase "You're lying" in context, although she doesn't realize that Lauren really is telling her version of reality even if it isn't quite accurate.



Lauren also has become Anastasia (evil Cinderella step-sister)--she demands her way. She doesn't get it unless she asks nicely and says, "Please"; but she tries. Very irritating.



Emily mimics with her behavior. She attempts to put on her own socks (and is a master at removing them), and her own diaper and is quite artistic with a comb (although when she removes barrettes, it removes hair as well). She smiles a lot and thinks life is a joke--unless you're feeding her. She's one now and old enough to be independent--which now means many messy meals as she feeds herself. I'm still avoiding most of the red sauces with pasta with her. We go through a lot of Spray 'n Wash, but at least Lauren has gotten out of that stage now.



As for Megan, she's alert and of course very intelligent--I can just tell. She is up to sleeping about 5 hours at one stretch at night.



We don't accomplish much outside of trying to keep the kids safe and fed. I take back all the judgmental things I said about parents when I was a babysitter. I have seen the light! (And it's usually the light of daybreak as I get ready to feed Megan again...)

Artwork by Lauren and Annika. Lauren did our family. From left she drew: Mr. Mitch (I have no idea who Mr. Mitch is), Aunt Sara, Uncle John, and Daddy. Annika drew a monster. The photo is Annika with our gingerbread Dora house.