Drool is even more charming when it's blue.

So, I was going back and forth between our kitchen and living room, picking up clutter. Dave and J were goofing off in the living room, and Bridget was doing her best to follow me around. B has just left the kitchen, and I was going back in (mean mommy), when I noticed some splotches of bright blue liquid on the floor.
Just as I started to ask Dave what we had that would spill blue, he starts freaking out, yelling that Bridget's got blue all over her mouth and down her jumper. I pick her up and run to the bathroom to wash out her mouth, while Dave traces back the trail of blue drool to see where it came from. Dave is non-stop just babbling about blue things she couldn't have maybe not in  million years gotten ahold of, like toilet bowl cleaners or marker ink or dye tablets. I fish around in her mouth, (which is in a big dumb grin, by the way) and pull out a litte pretzel ball.
I'd been making up snacks for a party earlier, and had used those new pretzel M&Ms. Apparently, I'd dropped one.
So, here's one little girl who's very pleased with herself.



By the way, pretzel M&Ms are kick-ass in Chex Mix.

He Thinks He's Independent

I half-awoke this morning around 5:30 to the squirming of a small boy stretched out at our feet, thus reducing the amount of mattress to be occupied by me. I attempted to shift so as to not be kicking him and I felt something plastic in bed next to me. I opened my eyes to find a jug of milk lying on its side next to me. Fortunately, the lid was secure and nothing was spilled. I figured J must have gotten it and brought it in there. Looking at the door, I realize his bedroom light is on, yet he's asleep in our bed. I got up, took the milk (only about 2 inches left in the bottom) and realized it was the Chocolate Milk. On my way to the kitchen, I see that he had moved his potty into the middle of the hallway, used it, and left his pants and underwear on the floor next to it. "Okay, I'll put those back on him before I put him in his own bed," I thought. As I continued into the living room, I noticed our Brita water pitcher is sitting upright on the couch, about 1/3 full of water, alongside his mother's empty water cup, also open. Next to these items was an open, empty, water bottle. As I start to gather and put away these items, I see the jug of regular, white milk sitting on the far end of the coffee table. I put these items all away, only to notice a rather large damp water spot on the carpet at the entrance to the kitchen. I put on his underwear and moved him back to his own bed and he slept there until about 10:00. Who knows how long he was awake.

Apparently he got up to go to the bathroom, decided he was thirsty, and either didn't bother to wake us to help him get a drink, or he attempted to wake us and failed. He's not even 3, and he thinks he can do everything by himself. I'm scared.

Sometimes I wish I knew what he was thinking

....but generally, I don't.

B was playing on my lap, when J suddenly ran out of his room and up to the couch where we were. He patted B on the shoulder, and then looked at me to say,
"Is not a baby robot!"
And then ran off happily.

Same genetic pool...

...completely different outcome.
I know I've mentioned this before, but the differences between my two kids just amazes me, especially now that B is starting to show her little personality so much more.
J was a baby who didn't care about much but moving. He was even kicking me between contractions, for crap's sake. He talked late, but was climbing up stairs at 6 months. He never really did any of the "typical" baby uh-oh's: no eating random objects, no playing with his poop, no painting with food. He never really did any of the typical baby cute things either, though: no chewing on feet, no singing, no attachment to specific stuffed animals. All his life he's been concerned with motion and exploration. He loves to run and climb, and is obsessed with wheels, switches, levers, and buttons. And if he wants something, he'll find a way to get it.
B, however, is mostly content. She was so comfortable in utero that she never even turned around or dropped. She loves to watch people, and will stare at complete strangers for the chance that they'll look at her and smile. She loves music. She studies her toys thoroughly, feeling them all over, and rotating them to examine all sides. She's constantly yelling and babbling, and lets us know instantly of any important discoveries. Anything new is immediately put in her mouth. She's already figured out how to push beads through simple bead mazes and bangs away at J's xylophone. She's even noticed the different textures in J's touch-and-feel board books. And if she wants something that isn't readily accessible, she'll plop down on her butt, and just cry and cry and reach out her arms like it'll magically jump into them.

It's astounding.
I can't wait to see how (currently hypothetical) #3 turns out.