I'm often asked why Jake receives so much attention in my blog and facebook posts, and that is a relatively easy question to answer: He is the child that does everything early - walk, talk, etc. He's highly social and given to absorbing vocabulary at an alarming rate. We're often left dumbfounded by his questions and even more often by his responses. In short, he gives me plenty of fodder to write about.
Emma, however, is coming into her own. Formerly known as "Little Miss Sunshine", she is evolving into "Little Miss Sassy Pants". I have no idea where she gets this, but she started giving us clues that she is in no way convinced we, the parents, are in charge. Before she could even talk, she had mastered "The Look". I am famous for "The Look". You know the one - the single arched eyebrow, the icy stare, the flared nostrils. I've made grown men cry and high school gang members duck under their desks with that look. It took years to master. She had it down pat by 9 mos. One day at dinner, she was misbehaving and I levelled "The Look" on her. She just gave it right back, and added a snarl. This was the first sign that perhaps we were outmatched.
Some say that having an older brother means she has had to learn to defend herself, but I'm not convinced of this. You see, she has been an instigator since day one! Her poor brother is often found cowering behind a door just hoping his younger sister won't find him and decide it is time to practice her Ninja skills on him. (Yes, she has recently come to the conclusion that she is a Ninja.) She loves PowerRangers and all things involving kicking and hitting. My Christmas tree has barely survived three direct hits.
She has a way of striding into a room, stopping, putting a hand on one cocked hip, shaking her little finger on the other hand, and letting you have whatever chewing out your probably deserve in her mind. She is the child who will "bow up" and look you right in the eye. You can discipline her, and she will give you a look that says, "You may win this one, but I'll be back when I'm bigger." She knows not defeat.
There is no fear in this one, despite the efforts of her mother and father to instill some in her. One vision I have of her and I are of us when she is a teenager, wrestling in the front yard while the neighbors call the cops. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. But, I think I'll go into training, just in case.
Do not get the wrong idea, however. She loves purple, pink, ponies, puppies, kitties, butterflies and rainbows. She is the best cuddler in the world, and her father and I fight over who gets to snuggle with her on cold evenings. She makes up long unintelligible songs and has a sweet, musical laugh. She's impish, but loves hugs and "tisses". She runs with the boys, but loves a pretty bow in her hair.
This is a beautiful, gorgeous, adventurous, smart, fierce little girl, and I am proud of her. I worry a little less about her being easily taken advantage of, and I hope this confidence and strength of will can be molded to help her in the future. She comes from a long line of strong, independent women who have survived potato famines, ocean crossings, wagon trains, Indians, discrimination, dust bowls, polio, and much, much more. She exemplifies and wears this legacy well and all signs indicate that she is ready to take on the world. But, until I am ready to let her, I think I'll just let her cuddle up and watch The Amazing Race with me.
Emma, however, is coming into her own. Formerly known as "Little Miss Sunshine", she is evolving into "Little Miss Sassy Pants". I have no idea where she gets this, but she started giving us clues that she is in no way convinced we, the parents, are in charge. Before she could even talk, she had mastered "The Look". I am famous for "The Look". You know the one - the single arched eyebrow, the icy stare, the flared nostrils. I've made grown men cry and high school gang members duck under their desks with that look. It took years to master. She had it down pat by 9 mos. One day at dinner, she was misbehaving and I levelled "The Look" on her. She just gave it right back, and added a snarl. This was the first sign that perhaps we were outmatched.
Some say that having an older brother means she has had to learn to defend herself, but I'm not convinced of this. You see, she has been an instigator since day one! Her poor brother is often found cowering behind a door just hoping his younger sister won't find him and decide it is time to practice her Ninja skills on him. (Yes, she has recently come to the conclusion that she is a Ninja.) She loves PowerRangers and all things involving kicking and hitting. My Christmas tree has barely survived three direct hits.
She has a way of striding into a room, stopping, putting a hand on one cocked hip, shaking her little finger on the other hand, and letting you have whatever chewing out your probably deserve in her mind. She is the child who will "bow up" and look you right in the eye. You can discipline her, and she will give you a look that says, "You may win this one, but I'll be back when I'm bigger." She knows not defeat.
There is no fear in this one, despite the efforts of her mother and father to instill some in her. One vision I have of her and I are of us when she is a teenager, wrestling in the front yard while the neighbors call the cops. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. But, I think I'll go into training, just in case.
Do not get the wrong idea, however. She loves purple, pink, ponies, puppies, kitties, butterflies and rainbows. She is the best cuddler in the world, and her father and I fight over who gets to snuggle with her on cold evenings. She makes up long unintelligible songs and has a sweet, musical laugh. She's impish, but loves hugs and "tisses". She runs with the boys, but loves a pretty bow in her hair.
This is a beautiful, gorgeous, adventurous, smart, fierce little girl, and I am proud of her. I worry a little less about her being easily taken advantage of, and I hope this confidence and strength of will can be molded to help her in the future. She comes from a long line of strong, independent women who have survived potato famines, ocean crossings, wagon trains, Indians, discrimination, dust bowls, polio, and much, much more. She exemplifies and wears this legacy well and all signs indicate that she is ready to take on the world. But, until I am ready to let her, I think I'll just let her cuddle up and watch The Amazing Race with me.
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