Happy to be Alive

Elle can caterpillar crawl where she wants now, creating a host of boundary-crossing problems for London. She isn't used to someone who has no respect for personal space. "Mom, Bellie Bellie is touching me!!!!" And, naturally, she tries to reason with her baby sister. Today she said,
"Bellie Bellie, that's not kind! We don't eat other peoples!"-as Elle was affectionately gnawing on London's leg.


She likes to remind me of Elle's limitations, too. Whenever I talk to Elle, London responds, "Mom, remember, Elle doesn't know to talk. And she doesn't know to walk, yet, either!"

London's "I know I shouldn't be doing this" face- we moved them to the kitchen so she could finish "helping" me.

The maintenance man knocked on our door yesterday, and London cried out, "Wow, you are GIGANTIC!"

She used to hum to her herself all day long, but now she has upgraded to singing. Her songs make no sense at all, and she never stops. They usually go something like, "There is a flower and I love flowers because they smell so nice and tee do tee day when I like to go on walks and Nana is my friend and prince charming and it is great to play at the park! YAY!" All I can think of the whole time she's singing is Buddy the Elf.

She no longer likes to be called London. Every day, her name changes about five times. I don't know how she keeps it straight.

"London, are you ready for lunch?"
"Um, Mom, my name is Tinker Bell."
"Oh, sorry Tinker Bell!"
"That's okay!"

"London, come put your toys in your basket!"
"Um, Mom, my name is Princess Ana."
 "Oh, sorry Princess Ana!"
 "That's okay, Mom!"

Feeding the ducks with her buddy, Bennett.

She also likes to be Snow White, Rapunzel, Elsa, and Cinderella. And I actually have to call her that name for hours, until she decides she wants to be someone else.

Swimming at the lake with her cousins.

Elle is developing her little personality, and it is a joy to watch. She is the giggliest child I have ever seen. If I do something she thinks is funny, I can keep her laughing for ten minutes straight. A deep, belly laugh, like she seriously can't contain herself. She lives with her three right fingers in her drooly mouth. She's pretty darling.

 I joined a book club! I used to read all the time...like a book every week- aaand then I had a second child, which brought a swift end to those precious "me" moments. But I read a quote the other week that made me realize that I actually need to read again, for my own sanity. It says, "Always find time for the things that make you happy to be alive." When I'm lost in a story, everything in my mind goes blank and all I can think about is filling myself with the next page. I've always been this way. And now, I'm about to start my third novel this week. Who needs sleep-riiiight?