Kid things, lately

Part of the reason I wanted to blog again was to record kid details that might otherwise go unremembered. Probably a total snoozefest unless you're one of the grandmothers, but alas! Here I go.

1) Harper found this Sesame Street book from the 70s I bought years ago at Goodwill and has been toting it around. Yesterday she said "You know what Big Bird's saying is? 'Everyone else makes mistakes, so why can't I?" And then she smiled, a little embarrassed but also proud to have remembered the quote. It was so earnest and sweet and also funny. She's also been known to yell "YOLO!" after seeing it on a You Tube clip. Oops.

2) Bea is the snuggliest bug of all the bugs. She knows what "kiss" means and will give openmouthed drool-packed ones to Clay over and over again on request. She also gives real, two-armed hugs and will stay that way until she's good and ready to release. It can be awhile.

3) We've been splurging a bit on these "Heart Lake City" Lego kits because they buy us OODLES of time. Yesterday, when I desperately needed to nap alongside Bea, Clay presented Harper with "Stephanie's beach house" (369 pieces) and -- I am absolutely not exaggerating -- she sat down and did the entire thing by herself for 4.5 hours. I'm fairly certain I've never focused on anything, ever, for that long. I brought her snacks and encouraged bathroom breaks and outdoors breaks and, well, any kind of break but nope. She kept chugging until the very last piece was in and then she lifted her arms and yelled "DONE!" So intense. So not me. Not too worried about ADHD with that one.

4) It's so fun to watch Bea learn "sissy" and "dada" and her own name and such. Receptive language feels like magic when it starts happening. Her head whips around so quick and then she just beams with that gummy, gummy grin. Oh, look! Another corny nickname. I could call her Beam, since that's exactly what she does all day. (I won't, I won't. Shhh.)

5) Best teether for babies = toddler toothbrushes. Oh, I'm sure they're pokier than they should be or filled with baby toxins or something, but damn if they don't keep Bea happy for ages. Mmm. Gum massage by Dora the Explorer.

6) Harper and I have been taking a lot of nature walks in our back pasture. (Field! It's a field. Clay and his southern jargon have leaked into my brain.) We run as fast as we can out to the path and then slow down and hold hands and pick flowers and take these crazy deep breaths. "Mother Nature is great!" And man, do I want to freeze time to a late September evening, next to my 4.5 year old, who can still yell exclamations about flowers with abandon and joy.