Getting to Know You

Getting to know you, 

Getting to know all about you. 

Getting to like you, 

Getting to hope you like me. 

The girls' language erupted over the past twelve months and as a result, we've had the privilege of getting to know them and getting a peak into what's going on in their busy little brains.

Sage and Lucy (with her green monster hair) pose (age 2.5).

Lucy, in particular, gets very excited reporting on the days events in this little authoritarian voice. She'll often finish her report with a nod of her ahead and a "uh huh" that marks that her report is the authoritative, final version of events, regardless of the fact that whomever has just spent the day with her often needs to translate what in the world she speaks about as the things that stick with them are not the things we adults often notice much in our daily lives. 

Lucy and Sage (age 3 months)

This explosion of language has been very informative for keeping tabs on them and those who care for the girls. Last week, following a unit on bugs at school, the girls were both freaked out by any sort of six-plus legged creature....despite never having had a fear...or bad experience with a bug before. Now, the tiniest of ant has them scurrying up my leg and into my arms. What the heck? A talk with their teacher revealed that the class had engaged in some in-depth discussions about being bitten and stung by bugs and bees. Awesome.

Sage petting worms after school (age 3 minus 2 days)

Likewise, we've busted my parents for introducing the girls to my favorite movie of ALL TIME (Babe) and repeatedly showing it to them...to the extent that they have no desire to watch my Babe with me (have I mentioned this is my very favorite movie?). We've also heard about the amount of pudding and juice they ingest at my folks. It has struck me recently that this reporting likely goes both ways and we need to be sure we live up to the standard we expect from the grandparents.  

Sage and Lucy (age 1)

Sage's language development has highlighted her memorization skills and her phobias. She picks up songs and prayers and entire books and repeats them back to us. She also harbors a number of phobias...like putting shirts over her head because of a fear they'll be too tight. Or with her first blister from a new pair of sandals last week, she now refuses to have bare feet...including in the bath last night or under her footed pajamas.

Lucy and Sage (age 2)

Usually in their annual birthday post, I get sappy about how far we've come. But I'm not feeling it this year. I look at the girls incredulous that they could have ever been that tiny and how they got to be so long so fast, but at this moment, I have emotionally blocked out the pregnancy and those first hard months. Perhaps its analogous to women giving birth the old fashioned way and with time, they forget how painful it really was. Perhaps this is how I enjoy these amazing, wonderful, preschool days and allow the girls to spread their wings, climb on jungle gyms and not spend each moment paralyzed with fear. After three years, these aren't delicate preemies, they are normal little girls. It feels good to be a normal mom.

Lucy and Sage (age 3 minus 1 day)