Very different kids

I don't know if other parents are like me but I constantly find myself comparing and contrasting Sam and Simone. They are just about as opposite as can be. One is not better than the other. With both personalities come different joys and challenges. Both of them happen to be very sweet, sensitive and cuddly. That's where the similarities end.

When Sam was a baby he was calculated and cautious with every move he made. He rarely, rarely hurt himself. When he first learned to stand up and start walking around furniture he only let go when he was fully confident that he wouldn't topple over.   When he was ready to walk he was ready. He hardly ever fell.

Simone on the other hand.... She gets hurt about every twenty minutes. I watched her the other day as she pulled herself to a standing position and reached out to grab the laptop that was on a chair  clearly out of her reach. She actually let go of the table and kinda dove for the chair. I was shocked. Before I could grab her she fell and bumped her head. I don't think that's her being a dumb little baby. I believe, in her own way, she is very calculated as well. She is just willing to take risks that Sam never took. I think she knows she will probably get hurt but she's ready to take the chance of pain in order to have something she wants. Very interesting!

I'm very curious to see who these two, very different, people end up being.

Sweet little Sam

On our way home last night from a friends house Simone was mad. Poor kid is incredibly active and she thinks it's cruel and unusual punishment to be strapped in her car seat for any given time. Last night the drive happened to be forty five minutes. Ouch! Ouch for her and ouch for our ears. She spent the entire time letting us know very clearly that she was about to die from being in that seat. After ten  minutes of screaming, Sam, who was sitting beside her patiently enduring her screams finally said in a calm and collected way (typically the Sam way):

"WOW! Simone, you are really loud. You are really hurting my ears. Simone, please stop screaming. Simooooonnee, you are REALLY hurting my ears with that sound."

After repeating these things several times and trying to hold her hand to comfort her he gave up with a quiet...

"Oh, never mind!"

And for the rest of the trip he said nothing else.

Jake and I sat up front laughing quietly. He is such a sweetie! 

Positive Beginnings

I always come away inspired from my time with my older sister, Lydia. Yesterday morning we were sitting in Panera sipping some coffee, eating pastries and enjoying each others company. She shared something that jumped out at me. It was about the importance of starting off the day on a positive note. Whenever my kids wake up I've always made it a point to enthusiastically welcome them back to the conscience world. However, for some reason I don't do that very often with my dear husband. I did not see Jacob this morning before he left for work but I made a point to welcome him at the door with a smile and a kiss when he came home from work. This was a habit in the first years of marriage but I let slide long ago. I am always so happy about him getting home for the evening but I don't do a great job of showing it. There are so many opportunities to make him and the kids feel special throughout the day and I'd really like to do better at taking advantage of those moments.