Reading

Mae is growing, growing, growing and wanting to be in the action more and more. She won't sit still for an entire reading session, but she will for a little bit. And Etta seems to be okay with this type of sharing - most of the time...



And Etta is naked in this picture. We have been battling severe dry skin (or eczema) since Thanksgiving. This entitles using hydro-cortisone and lotion three times a day until we get it under control. And then constant vigilance. Unfortunately, the lotion and medicine was quite painful initially so it is not an enjoyable routine for any of us. Currently she is doing pretty well though.

[And a big shout out to the newest Major in our family. Uncle Major Jim Weaver!! We are proud of you!]

Daddy's Girl

Mae is a mommy's girl. From the first second I held her close I knew that it was going to be different than it was/is with Etta. Not that I don't love Etta with all my heart, it was just going to be different.

And boy, how it has.

The first two weeks Mae would only really let me hold her for any length of time. She had to have me to calm her down, to sleep with her (in the recliner, not laying down flat). She just liked me.

This was hard for Bob. Very hard. He had that connection with Etta from day one. Theirs was the "daddy-daughter dance" that got her to calm down in the middle of the night. And she still gets a look of utter bliss and excitement on her face when Bob drives by the front of the house on his way to park in the alley after work.

And these pictures really capture some of that connection.

Mama & Me

Lately Etta has gone back to calling me mama. Bob says it is because I've been promoting it. But c'mon, I'm the Mama Llama! And boy do I love my llama llama.

Loves



During her "intense" kissing phase



Can we crop Bob out of this picture and zoom in a bit?



Mommy's turn to give kisses.



What's over there?



We can wade in a little ways.

Pre Mae

[Christine took family pics of the three of us before Mae was born. I'll be sharing various selections through out the week.]

Let's go for a stroll.



What are you guys doin'?



Peek-a-boo



Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww...



Starting to get squirrely.



Getting creative.



About done.



Maybe next summer we can go swimming Etta.

Etta's Favorite Things

These are a few of her favorite things (currently)...

On Tuesdays & Thursdays Christine comes over at noon to pick Etta up. Those are the days that I teach band at Beacon Christian. First they go to Head Start to pick up the "crazy boys" and then head over to Christine's house. Apparently while in the car they have some good conversation.

This bi-weekly event has become quite the highlight of Etta's life. Yesterday she put on her t-shirt all by herself.

For the first time ever.

And then proceeded to put on her zip front hoodie - and zip it - with no help from mommy. She then retrieved her "Buzz" - another current favorite that goes pretty much every where with her - and her water bottle and stood post at the door.



Unfortunately it was only 9:30. A bit of time for a two-year old to wait. Probably an eternity to her.

Sisters

Little kids are funny.

I'm sure that anyone who has spent any amount of time around a little kid knows this. Their language development alone can create great laughs.

For example: Saturday night I was going to take Etta to a play group at the Seventh Day Adventist church (where I teach band). So I said, "Etta, do you want to go to a play group at the church?" She looked right at me and replied, "Are you KIDDING me?! I want to stay at MY home." Well, all Bob & I could do was look at each other & laugh. (And we ended up staying home so she could play...)

And this whole sister thing. While I was pregnant Etta was very excited (after a fashion) about "getting" a new baby. She has never really shown true, dangerous, jealousy. As a matter of fact she pretty much just ignores Mae all the time.

(Except for a couple of poking incidences. "I'm just giving her little pokes mommy.")

But on Friday I had my friend Angela over for a play date. She has a 5 year old little boy and an 8 month old little girl. As soon as they came in the door Etta LAID DOWN on Mae and started saying, "Dis is MY baby. Dis is MY sister. You can't have MY baby." After reassuring her that no one was going to take "her" baby she again left her alone.

[And on the flip side the 5 year old was telling his sister, " No Sophia, you can't have that toy. That toy isn't for babies." Etta wandered over and said, "No baby." That in turn made Dylan say, "You can't tell my sister what to do! She can play with whatever she wants to play with!"]

Mae loves her big sister. With a love that I can't even begin to understand right now. More of an idolization than anything else. One day Bob took Etta to a basketball game. I had just finished giving Mae her bottle. "Perfect," I thought, "I can put Mae on her floor gym and get dinner ready for when Bob & Etta get home". But it was not to be. Since Etta was not here - parallel playing - on the floor next to Mae, Mae was not at all happy to be all alone. Into the front pack she went.

This is how it is so much of the time. Etta just needs to be in the room for Mae to be happy. As long as she is within sight this baby is content. The almost 3-year old on the other hand..."No Baby Mae! It's MY turn!" Or, "No mommy, don't feed the baby, play with ME!" "No, I don't WANNA give Mae kisses." Etc., etc., etc. And yet, Mae still looks at her with adoration. (I kid you not.)

[So after ALL of that...]

Which is why it surprised me last week when I was going to put Mae down for a nap & needed to rearrange some things that Etta didn't freak. out. when I put Mae in her bed for a moment. Instead she climbed in and said, "Take pictures of us mommy!"

Well, I was more than happy to oblige.



And I think it made Mae happy too.



I mean, take a gander at the look on her face. You can see the love as she gazes at her sister. (Or maybe that's not love. But I would like to think it is!)



A bit different than were we were two months ago.

Really?

Etta: Mommy, did you just make a stinky?

Me: No, why?

Etta: Because it stinks in here!

Me: That's because YOU just made a stinky.

[I thought it was supposed to be this way with boys...]