Growing Up

A very big helper, she'll dust just about anything

Saydee seems to have gone from our baby to little girl overnight. These past few weeks her vocabulary and comprehension has exploded. Until just lately, the few words she spoke were Mommy, Daddy, dog, baby, and ball. Now she tries to repeat everything we say and for the most part she understands what we say and ask her to do. I have always loved this stage kids go through. Everything is exciting, and most things they say and do I can't help but smile and laugh at. So cute.

However, as it goes with all good things, there are just a few drawbacks that come with this fun and exciting stage of life. Really for the first time, we have experienced her range of a full blown tantrum. The first time she through a fit, I was taken by surprise and actually laughed. She just looked so dramatic there on the floor flailing around and kicking her little legs. She has been so laid back, I thought "Wow, maybe we lucked out in that arena." But oh dear, here we go. So thus it begins, the joys and the headaches of toddlerhood. Now, I understand why my mom's favorite phrase was "Patience is a virtue."

Also, just this last week she has become very clingy, not a usual Saydee trait. She is literally attached to my hip all day long and wants to be held. As much as she loves babies, I think our new little addition is going to be a major concern for her. Should be interesting. But, overall she really is such a good little girl. And of coarse adorable. We are so proud of our kids!

On another note, we experienced our first earthquake on...Friday was it. Oh well, it almost went completely unnoticed at our house. I was awake as usual at 4:30 am when suddenly the bed and house started shaking. If I hadn't woken up Heath he might have slept right through it. And all those nights he didn't get up with Saydee, I thought he was faking it. Well, now I know for this next baby,crisis, or natural disaster, to give him a good shove.

Anyway, we briefly talked about getting Saydee, who had whined a little bit. But, then it was over and Heath rolled over and we went back to sleep. I thought the whole experience seemed a little surreal. It wasn't until the aftershocks came later that day and I had received numerous panicky calls from family that it hit me. Perhaps, in the next natural disaster we'll take some precautions. Good thing for us it wasn't that bad. Oh well, you live and learn...hopefully.