Oh these girls.

Five posts in July. I am something else.

I have some sweet moments with the girls today to record. Every Tuesday this summer, our friend Hilary keeps the girls for six hours (!) so I can get some things done. It has been an incredible blessing and one I will continue with our friend Danielle, once Hilary goes back to school in Austin.
Today I was able to take Zoe to Kindermusik and back, drop some clothes of at the local mission, buy a cheap frame at the hobby store for my tree picture for Greta's shop, stop by my latest favorite deli for sandwiches, and get in two good hours of planning/work at Brandon's office. I came home early and was able to sleep a bit while the girls were both still napping.

Today was a first for Piper, in a not so good way for me. I awoke to the pitter patter of little feet. This in itself is a beautiful dream and one for which I am extremely thankful. And yet, before today, Piper would wake up in her bed, and shriek for me to come. That seemed better. She would get up, take a toy, and get back in bed then wait and wait, shriek and shriek. Today, the pitter patter means that she is now confident enough in herself to get up, OPEN THE DOOR, and WANDER. I knew this day was coming. And yet I think we should train her to stay put until we come get her. I'm not sure what to do. This is not the whole story.
Pitter patter pitter patter.
Me: Piper? Come here baby.
Piper: Oooooh! Mommy! (as if she was settling in to a quiet afternoon by herself and was
surprised to be sharing the house with me. In walks Piper, in the bathing suit that she'd
talked Hilary into dressing her in before her nap.)
Piper: Mommy-nay. Have poopy. (She means herself).
Me: Okay, let's change you.
Piper: Ahwan changing table. (She means as opposed to me asking her about trying out the
potty.)
Me: Well, Zoe is still sleeping so we need to change you in the living room with the diaper bag.
(We go and I start to pull down the one piece bathing suit.)
Piper: NOOOO MOMMY, Piper's looking at!!!!
(When Zoe is trying to take a toy away from Piper, or any child in this situation, I usually say "the kid is looking at that toy, let's wait, here's another." So, in this instant she means "No, I'm wearing this bathing suit right now, get another toy Mommy."
We discuss changing her diaper, she agrees that a clean diaper is welcome. But she doesn't want to lose the suit. I'm whispering as she is escalating insisting that "Piper is looking at", me aware of not waking Zoe, Piper thinking I just don't get it. After five minutes of GIANT tears, I can hear Zoe completely awake, so I strip the suit. It was terrible. She was grateful for the clean diaper, and my promise kept to re-dress her in the swimsuit.
All of that, and we go get Zoe. Then to Piper's room to play. Piper in her bathing suit, begins some "Space Ranger" talk: her latest term for Buzz Lightyear. Buzz is in bed. I turned to see her clutching him, and realized that Buzz (God bless Hilary) is outfitted in a neon green polka dotted 12 month old girl sized bathing suit. Piper and Buzz had a wonderful day together in their bathing suits. I assume this will be the space ranger gear of choice for a few days.

The only picture I could take is on a disposable Walgreen's camera that we bought on our anniversary trip to San Francisco; then and today our cameras were loaned out to other photographers. (I'll figure out a way to get the picture here whenever its developed. I think that process takes about 6 weeks. I can't remember because that was a long time ago, when people used film.)

And sweet Zoe. This little one cut a top tooth today, giving her 2.1 teeth. B is working late on a big deal project so I got the girls down with the help of a friend and her 5 month old. It is always a bit stressful, on my own. I find that 15 minutes alone close to dinner time can get me recharged for the bed time routine, but days like today don't provide that. And I was ready for the girls to be in bed. Everyone was quiet by 8:15. At 10:23 Zoe woke up really upset. Screaming. Its her tooth. Teeth. I sighed and dragged myself to her room. I changed her diaper and the sweet thing just layed there, giggling at me. Usually she screams and flips over. We talked and flirted a bit together. She took some baby Tylenol, then I restarted "Sing Over Me" one of my favorite lullaby Cd's. We were able to dance in the dark for as long as my arms could take it. Zoe snuggled up under my chin. It was such a fantastic moment, one I am so thankful for right now because in about six months I won't have the figure to hold her in that way, as the baby grows beneath her, forcing us both to readjust. She went limp after a song and a half and I was able to lay her down sleeping, which doesn't actually happen a whole lot. Thank you Father for these delightful babies and these precious moments with them. They are more than we could have imagined.

Also in honor of Jamie's post, I wrote down some of the funnier things that Piper is saying right now:
-I have no idea why, because we don't eat them often, but Piper calls hot dogs "dinner." Yep, it makes me feel great. Every time we are at the grocery store and pass any type of processed meat stuffed into a casing she points and yells loudly "Dinner! I want dinner Mommy!" We aren't against hot dogs, I like them, we just get the kosher ones when they are half price. The half price thing doesn't happen very often.
-If Piper wants to be held or needs something while we are holding Zoe she will come close, point next to us on the floor and say" Zoe on ground. Right here, Zoe on ground." Once that is under control she presents her request. Today she asked me to stand in a certain spot (on the heart drawn in chalk actually) because she wanted to sit in my lawn chair. "Mommy stand here, on ground."
-"That's so cool, Daddy! So cool!"
-"gorgeous" and "beautiful" get used a lot. "Its a gorgeous turtle Mommy." "So cute" was the favorite adjective but has been dropped as she discovered syllables.
-"What you talk about Daddy?"
-Piper sometimes says things very clearly in a startling way (usually requests/commands.) We and other adults around her get lured into her web. We will (shocked) repeat what she just said in an asking tone. She responds with "OOOOkay." ex: "want chocolate." "what? did you say you want chocolate?" "oooookay."
-also as far as food, if we agree to give her chocolate, or macaroni and cheese, she defines the request further for us, so as not to be confusing: "In my mouth. Chocolate in Piper's mouth." And she points to her mouth. To be clear.

Oh these girls.