Opal started her first month as a two year old under quarantine. Being in quarantine with a spirited two year old is like being on house arrest with a crazy, high-energy and high-demand person who makes dangerous decisions but is extremely adorable and affectionate. Yup, a high price to pay for the adorable and affectionate part, but here we are. In clockwise order from top left: Opal demanded that Will stop making dinner and "draw" with her, Opal looking cute, Opal with one little curl on the back of her otherwise "hair-challenged" head, and Opal sitting with her favorite statue at the library, refusing to go home without a fight. This was taken on our last outing before quarantine. As I told the librarian at the checkout desk - some people stock up on food before lockdown - we stocked up on library books, movies and music. We took out a TON, and that was before we knew that the library would be closed indefinitely. I'm so glad that we did!
Opal's second to last outing before the lockdown was a trip to the dentist for her three older sister's teeth cleaning. Come to find out, Opal likes dentist office music, and free-styled her dance moves without a care in the world while I stifled my giggles in the waiting room. The handful of other patients in the waiting room cracked a few smiles, but were still on edge from moments prior to this dance party for one when Opal choked on the snack she was eating. Come to find out coughing in public is not looked upon too kindly these days, even if it is choking related.
They say that children's play is therapy, and I think that would apply to Opal's recent obsession with making each of her family members "wash" their hands at her play kitchen's sink. Seriously, she drags us by the hand while telling us "wash hands, wash hands". Interestingly enough, she puts up a huge fight when it is time to wash her hands in the real sink.
This little cutie is very proud of the fact that we call crocus "Opal's Flowers". Each of my girls have a flower or two that were blooming when they were born, and those flowers have now become "their" flowers. Opal not only will proudly point at a crocus and say, "Opal's flowers!" but she also recognizes and calls daffodils "Emma's flowers!"
Opal has us all wrapped around her little fingers and this is good and bad. Good that I have backup when Opal's demands are just too much for me but bad in the fact that if I am holding my ground and telling Opal no, she has three sisters to choose from to get that answer to be helped into a yes. Parenting a fourth child is no joke, and I'm hear to say that the most challenging part is managing how her older sisters interact with her. Her love for her sisters runs very deep though, and I hope that it continues for the rest of their lives.
The photos above in clockwise order from top left: Lucy getting Opal to almost take a nap, Opal painting with a new kit from her Godparents for her birthday, Emma and Opal proudly wearing matching outfits all the way down to their socks, and Lucy giving Opal a ride on our tree swing.
People keep asking us what we are doing with all of our free time during this quarantine. It mostly is just life as usual. Besides us being able to go places, most of our days were already scheduled around cooking, eating, cleaning and sleeping schedules while keeping Opal happy and safe, leaving little time for much else anyways. I am grateful that I have four girls close enough in age that they are their own playmates. They have been contentedly (for the most part) playing together as they usually did before quarantine. Opal adds just enough spice to our family that our days are never boring, and usually there is at least one family member who has the patience for her antics at any given time. Opal, you are very loved, and your feisty personality and zest for life keeps us from getting lazy or bored on quarantine! And, despite my exhaustion, I am so glad to be quarantined with you!!!
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