Instructions

Legend loves to help take care of his baby sister. Usually this "help" is not at all helpful, but sometimes it is very helpful. For instance, sometimes he puts a toy on the sleeping baby's face or pats her back to burp her when I am trying to rock her to sleep. But, he is a great runner for various things: diapers, a burp cloth, putting the bottle back in the fridge, grabbing my phone for me while I am breastfeeding. He follows simple instructions very well and is proud of himself when he helps. He loves his sister possessively and delights in her every squeak, so far.

...


I am breastfeeding Penny. I feel a little trapped when I breastfeed because it takes some effort to get everything set up just right.

Legend, panicked - "I have to go PEE!"
Me - "Go! Hurry to the bathroom, Legend!" For some reason he still needs verbal direction on this.

Legend goes to the bathroom and does his business. Then he starts singing and turning the water on and off.
Me - "Legend, wash your hands." I call from my couch.
Legend washes his hands then comes out of the bathroom pants-less.

Me - "Legend, please go put your underwear on."
I am now actually feeling very grateful that Legend is at an age where he can follow simple instructions and use the bathroom on his own. He needs lots of verbal direction and coaching, but he can do it. I think, "I'm so glad we waited until he was 3 to have another baby!"

Then Legend comes out of the bathroom, naked from the waist down, underwear on his head, singing and dancing.

Update

Penelope Louise was born at 6:36pm December 12, 2012, weighing 7lbs1oz, healthy and beautiful.

Doctors

Sitting in the living room...

Legend - "Mommy, you and Daddy stay here at home. I am going to the doctor. I have a head ache."
Me - "Okay. See you later."

Legend does a lap around the kitchen and comes back.

Me - "Feel better?"
Legend - "No. The doctors can't help me."
Me - "They didn't give you medicine?"

Legend - "They didn't make me better. They just think they're better than me."

To Share

The kids are just finishing lunch and Kayla is enjoying the chocolate bunny crackers her mother packed for her.

Legend - "What's that, Kayla? Mommy, what Kayla has?"

Me - "Those are crackers like your chocolate fish crackers, but they are shaped like bunnies."

Legend - "Kayla, you share with me? Please?"

Kayla is silent while she munches her crackers.

Me - "Kayla doesn't have to share with you. Those are her lunch that her mommy packed for her. If you are still hungry, I can get you something else..."

Legend hops down from his chair and sidles up to Kayla - "Maybe I look at it?"

Kayla holds up a cracker so he can see it.

Me - "Kayla, you may share if you want to, but you don't have to. It's up to you."

Legend smiles and nods encouragingly - "Maybe I smell it?"

Kayla holds the cracker toward Legend so he can smell it.

Legend smiles more broadly and nods at Kayla, clearly expecting her to hand it over now.

Kayla slowly and solemnly places the cracker in her own mouth, eyes wide watching for Legend's reaction.

Legend, simply - "Okay."  He hops back to his own chair, fully accepting Kayla's decision. 

He is full of surprises.

When I Grow Up

Legend, Cody, and I are on our way walking to an appointment with my midwife.

Legend - "Where are we going?"
Me - "We are going to the midwives'."

Legend - "I like midwife."
Me - "You do? You've never met them yet, but I am sure you will like them."

Legend - "I wish I was a midwife."
Cody - "It's a very difficult field for men to break into, I presume."

Pants

Me - "Legend, pick out some pajamas."
Legend digs through and picks a red robot shirt, which I help him to put on.

Me - "Okay, now pick your pajama pants."
Legend leaps away from the pajamas - "No 'cause pants make me nervous."

Gas and Money

We are in the car driving to preschool.

Legend - "Vrrroooom! Vrrroooom! Uh-oh! Stop Mommy! We're running out of gas. We gotta go get gas."
Me - "We put gas in yesterday; we've got lots of gas left."

Legend - "Gotta go to the gas station. Put the hose in and the money goes down, down, down, down, down, down, down the hole, all gone. The money goes down, down the hole. Gone."

Yes. Very perceptive.