Amelie and Brielle...isms

I figured I need to document some of the isms the girls have these days at almost 4 and almost 2 years old:

Amelie:

I walked into Amelie's room to wake her up the other morning and she was just stretching and she was awake.  She looks at me and puts on some fake waterworks and says with sniffles, "Mommy, I just really really want a real unicorn".   Wow!!! that was hilarious.

Brad picked her up from Nana's house in the evening the other day and when they walked into the house she could smell the crock pot dinner and she says, "That smells wonderfully delicious".  When did she get so proper?

Now, the last one for Amelie is not something I want to admit, but heck...this blog is all about failures so here it goes.  Brad told her that her fan was broken so she looked at him and said, "Damn it".  Yeah...that one's my fault.

Brielle:

wop wop = Flip Flops (which she loves to wear because she is a true California girl)

meenums = all stuffed animals or lovies

dodo & dada = Diego and Dora (whom she can't live without. Each one has to be clenched in each fist at all times.)

owwwweeeee = I had a terrible cold sore and it was so hard to not be able to kiss on the girls, so every time we got close Brielle would yell and point at my lip and say Owwweeeee.  It's been a good week since it healed and she still says it every time she kisses me.  It's cute, but I don't need a reminder that I have a form of herpes...thanks B.

Bubbo Duppies = Pam got these little stuffed animals that Brielle got to pick out at the toy store called Bubble Guppies and she is now clenching to them just like Dodo and Dada.  If sissy touches them at all Brielle comes running and screaming NO SISSY, BWIELLE MIIIINE!!!!

O'Tay Mommy = Brielle likes to tell us no a lot and it's not cool, so she goes in time out.  After every time out I make her say sorry mommy or with a correction she has to say ok mommy.  Well, lately she will say sorry sissy, or sorry daddy, or whoever's name is not my name.  At first I kindly repeated what I was asking for thinking she didn't understand but I now know that she does it on purpose to be defiant.  Clever little girl.  If she choses not to say mommy, she goes in another time out.  I am NOT losing that battle...ever!!!

Yeah...I knoooow = when I tell her something she tends to answer me with "Yeah, I know".  It's cute because she says it a lot and I like feeling like she gets what I'm saying.

That's it for now.  I don't ever want to forget their isms because when we looked at old videos of Amelie this week we were shocked that we forgot some of her isms that were such a strong part of our lives and how the memory flutters away.  It's sad to think about but there will always be new isms to warm our hearts.

AMY!!!!

Many times a day Brielle yells my name...no, not MOMMY, she yells Amy.  I was a little dumbfounded at first and then I realized that she was saying Airplane.  She would point to the sky and yell AAMMMMYYYY!!!!

It still shocks me a little bit but it's pretty cute.

She is going to be two this month and we came across videos of Amelie at the same age and what a huge difference.  Amelie has tons of hair and speaks a lot better.  She was speaking full sentences and Brielle is still struggling to say words that we can understand.  It doesn't bother me at all because I know she is very bright and personable.  She also has tons of chatter so I know she is trying and understands our influxes.  It was just surprising to see the difference.

Sometimes I wonder if it's just natural development or if it's because Amelie dominates everything.  It's been an issue her whole life.  I love it in the sense that she is a natural leader, but it sometimes squashes the people around her and it's a hard issue to handle.  I find myself getting very short with her and I wonder sometimes if I'm too hard on her or not hard enough.  There is certainly no manual for parenting or else we would all be robots.

I don't want to break her spirit but I don't want her overpowering her sister either.

I really see Brielle thrive during the bed time routine when I close her door and just she and I sit on the floor and read books and do some learning, repeating, and asking her questions.  She seems very calm and eager to learn.  Well, tonight Brad and Amelie came in the room and Brielle got antsy and whiney, and territorial.  This tells me that she needs more one on one time and that each night I will continue to dedicate a lot of me time with her.  I too enjoy it a lot.

Moving her to a toddler bed was the best thing we could have ever done as well.  She loves to have the freedom to read books and I love being able to lay with her and laugh and sing songs and say prayers together.

She and I are bonding a lot now and it's great.  I needed that from her.  I've always felt a different kind of attachment with her and I'm feeling much more connected.

It feels good and I love her dearly.  My sweet sweet Brielle.

Growing Up

I am a working mom now and I like it and I hate it.  I miss my girls, but I like making money and I like having adult time.  I especially like using my brain and not being interrupted with screaming and juvenile demands.

The girls have adapted well and everyone seems very happy.  The one thing I notice is that Brielle has a serious bond with her Nana Pam.  Just like work, I love it and I hate it.  I mostly love it but in my insecurities I hate it.  I would have it no other way for Pam and Brielle but sometimes I feel a little jealous.  It's not their fault and I should just count my blessings that they have such a wonderful caretaker that loves them so deeply.

I have that bond with Amelie that we are just super connected but sometimes I can't find the "click" moment with Brielle.  Her busyness and attitude make her very complex.  Although, she is 100% ME.

Since moving her to her toddler bed this weekend I am noticing that connection that I have so desired.  I remember with Amelie, switching her to her toddler bed brought a sense of accomplishment and responsibility.  It's like their first right of passage from baby to kid.  They are so excited when you put the bed in their room but the moment you leave them there by themselves they sorta panic.  They have to control themselves and at 2, that's a hard to do.

I will say that I was AMAZED at Brielle's ability to adapt.  She cried a bit but honestly, she cries less now than she did in her crib.  And, I get to lay with her and look into her eyes while she winds down, sings songs, and giggles. That connection for me is priceless.  It was like a "finally" moment where I just got to hang out with her and comfort her and show her that all I want to do is be her mommy.  I want to laugh with her, cry with her, sing with her, cuddle her, tickle her...etc.

And I want to do these things FOREVER.  I sometimes mourn the baby stages, but since I have no control over it, I realize that every stage is amazing and if I mother them properly, they will always want that connection.

I love these kids so much and pray that we will always feel this connected no matter what our age.  I will support their every desire and need with respect and patience.

Please...everyone...hold me to that :)