Despite the love and excitement over Emma, Lucy has had a bit of a rough time with the change, and has coped with it through clingyness, sleeplessness and potty regressions. All of these have improved greatly over the past two weeks, however an underlying anxiety seems to linger. We are trying to be as patient as possible with Lucy as she expresses feelings of fear about everything from bugs, garbage trucks, loud noises (including the recent spring thunderstorms), strangers and even friends and family. I've read that it is a normal two year old milestone to begin to develop fears about the world around them as they begin thinking more deeply about things. I find it interesting that perhaps this natural milestone got jump started with the huge change a baby sister has brought to Lucy's life. Either way, we are trying to be sensitive to Lucy's needs without over-dramatizing her fears.
Lucy has come up with some funny phrases this past month, including:
-Upon leaving the house for an errand: "Bye Simone! See ya later! Come back soon! Miss you!"
-Upon leaving church for potty time: "Bye God!"
-When looking for Will: "Dada, are you?" (repeated over and over again until Will shows up, and even still repeated after Will shows up)
-When told to do something: "Yes, sir" or "No, sir."
-When wanting Will or I to come to her: "Come mirror!"
-When asked a question she responds: "Maybe." We are guessing she learned this word over the last month as every time she asked if Emma was coming today we would respond, "Maybe."
-And finally, after a shopping trip when we turn the car onto our street: "No turn (insert street name)! More stores!!"
Lucy got her very first haircut this past month, much to my excitement. I had taken her two times prior to get her first haircut, and each time was told to come back with her in six months when her hair was long enough. I told my friend who cuts our hair that I just didn't know what to do with Lucy's hair - it would never lay flat or do what I wanted it to. As my friend was cutting her hair, she realized that Lucy has CURLY hair, and that no wonder it would never do what I wanted it to, and for ****sake, to quit running a brush through it! Now when I do Lucy's hair I spritz it with water, put a tiny bit of gel in it, and then watch the ringlets just pop right out. Who knew someone with stick straight hair would have a daughter with perfect curls! Certainly not me!
One evening at bath time I happened upon little Lucy deep in prayer, and even had enough time to get my camera and capture it for eternity.
As I've mentioned in previous posts, Lucy loves to draw and color. If I need to make a phone call, I take advantage of this interest in her and set her up at the table with crayons and paper. I was actually sitting right next to Lucy during a phone call to Lucy's Uncle Joe, when I realized too late that someone had accidentally put markers in the crayon bin. Amazingly enough, all the marker washed off except the orange so I only had a little explaining to do when Will came home from work. It also took everything in me NOT to even out the black moustache Lucy had started on her face. And sadly, the moment I realized what Lucy had done was when Lucy asked me for a "sipper". What the picture below doesn't show is that she had in fact sucked on the black marker and she wanted a drink of water to get the taste out of her mouth. And the Mother of the Year Award goes to.... not me!
Here's my almost two year old in her new double stroller, ready for a walk.
And finally, here is my firstborn baby girl, who I love so much, giving me a cuddle just days before Miss Emma was born. Life is definitely different now that I have two girls to cuddle and love and it has been an adjustment for me as well. I miss my days of just Lucy and I, and the closeness that we had. Lucy and I had a good thing going, and life was worked out in such an easy and familiar way. I am so happy that Emma is here, and I can't hold her or kiss her enough. However I am grieving my old relationship with Lucy. I miss what we had, but would never trade Emma in to have it back.
So, our earthly family of three is learning how to be an earthly family of four and I would wish it no other way.
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