time in the middle

david was out of town for three days, which gave me a whole day at home with the kids yesterday. even though i come home at 2:30 four days out of the week, it was nice to have the whole day. i realized after we dropped off eliot at school that i really dont get to spend much time with just the girls, they are both napping when i get home from work. after i put arlo down for her morning nap, i realized that i spend even less time with just collette. i need to change that. it was wonderful spending time with her, one on one.

i am an oldest child and have what some might say is an, ahem, strong personality. i think eliot is headed down the same path. yesterday as i chatted with collette, i started thinking about how little i really know about her personality. or i should say, that i know her in such a different way than i know eliot. of course there is no way to capture that first child mutual discovery experience with other children, and arlo still has so many baby needs that take most of my time and attention. but that doesnt mean i cant discover collette on her own terms.

she wears her heart on her sleeve, for real and to her advantage. cries at the drop of a hat, i think that has a lot to do with the advantage thing. is a total night owl. is small, but mighty. can bully eliot and drop him to the ground with a body tackle if she feels like it, but also just as gladly plays along side her big brother. has a love of all things fuzzy, because she likes to pick with one hand as she sucks the thumb of the other. is turning into a ham, and is just plain wicked cute. i love you collette, thanks for hanging out with me yesterday.