The Aftermath and Updates

To update from the previous post where I may have sounded a tad frustrated...

As one commenter points out, seeing the sleeping babes always makes the heart melt. Especially if that sleeping babe is wearing a knit beanie to bed, which she does when her hair is wet. Just one of those quirky characteristics she plays off so well. It also helps when she bounds into my room at 7 am this morning, cheery as can be and says, "Good morning, Mama! Let's read books!" We're clearly back on good terms.

Then as she was walking down the stairs this morning she said, "Once upon a time I cried. I didn't want to take a bath. That was last night." Yup! Good memory little one! She's hilarious.

Other updates and random commentary:

1. Sophie has lost the all-smiles phase. While she is still a smiley baby, she's also learning discernment of situations that are dangerous (i.e. Madeleine being super-hyper with toy blocks nearby) or potentially worrisome (i.e. when I hand her to 'stranger' to hold). So, she still smiles, but it is often preceded by a very serious stare, a very serious face. And you can just imagine the wheels turning in her head as she tries to figure out how she should react. It's kind of reminiscent of when Madeleine would just stare at EVERYONE for 10 months of her life. But less disarming than that.

2. We had a roasted chicken the other week for dinner and Madeleine was literally cracking the bones, sucking out the marrow, not the least put off by ligaments, and basically devoured as much of that bird as she could. Skin, bones, nothing fazed her. The missionaries were over for dinner and I couldn't tell if they were amused or disturbed by her somewhat grotesque eating manners. She was really into that chicken.

3. I just wish that I had 2 free days with no responsibilities where I could caption all my uploaded photos, write a few journal entries (by HAND, not on the computer), blog a bit, and make photo books.

4. We had a couple of HUGE rainstorms these past few weeks. Exciting thunder and lightening, one power outage, excuses to watch YouTube clips of Singing in the Rain, and... sending Marc outside with Madeleine to splash about and enjoy rain the way a child should in the summer. She wore nothing but underwear, a big yellow raincoat and crocs (she's outgrown her galoshes).

5. I used to know all the apostles of our church by name when I was a child and teen. With the somewhat rapid turnover in recent years due to members of the apostleship passing on, I feel sad to think that I usually don't know the newest apostles' names.

6. Madeleine usually wants to say every single meal prayer and family prayer. But the other week she graciously said that I could pray. When I started to pray, she stopped me, "No, no, no, Mom. Like this..." Then she instructed me on her basic prayer pattern. When I was done she replied, "Good job, Mom!"

7. Madeleine has her first dentist visit coming up. I also have a dental appointment for the same day. Which. I. DREAD. Yes. A combination of a love a sweets, poor dental genes, and no good excuses for not flossing daily leaves me absolutely terrified of this upcoming visit. I have to be brave for my daughter, but inside I know that the day will end with my head hanging low, tears streaming down my face as I face the dentist and say, "Yes! I know! I have no good reason or excuse for why it has been 3 years since I've last seen you! No, no, I have no excuse for not flossing more. I'm ashamed! I'm horrible!" I am shuddering just at the thought.

8. Lastly, I have mastitis. Insert sympathy here.