The world according to Emily

There are no strawberries just "stwawbellies."

on negotiating:
"Daddy, if I hafta wait til afta dinner fo my jiminums I don want 2...I want 5."
or
E: "I want two jiminums"
J: "You can have an M&M and a sticker"
E: "But I want two jiminums"

on breakfast:
"I...WANT...ICE...CREAM!!!"

on respecting her mom:
J: "Baby, did you have dinner at Grandma's house"
E: "Uh-huh"
J: "Well what did you have"
E: with the disdain of a full blown teenager AND and eye-roll: "Food."

Multiplied by the share factor

A while back I was reading my favorite blog when I came across a passage regarding the author's daughter. She was talking about how fantastic it was to look over the head of her 3 year old and lock eyes with her husband in an expression of parental solidarity regarding the recent exploits of their greatest joy. I admit that this is something I have definitely been missing. Jesse is so in love with Emily and every little accomplishment would result in a gasp or squeal of joy from me and a beaming smile of pride or astonishment from him. Lately, these indeed have been the loneliest moments for me. A child provides so much in one's life, but nothing, NOTHING, compares to that special bond of companionship when someone else shares those moments with you. Telling someone else about them is just not the same. ...then along came Ben. Last week having both him and Emily was unexpectedly heavenly. He'd catch my eye and we'd try not to giggle over her mispronunciations. He taught her to call him a ninja and to tell me I'm pretty. I'd catch a look of slight surprise on his face right before he'd declare my baby exceptionally smart. Then, be still my heart, I caught him kissing her on the top of the head and whispering "I love you Emily Gatlin" one morning while they were watching cartoons together on the living room floor. Talk about being made whole.

Emily!

Jackson Parrot: I love you Emily Gatlin! I want you to have a cookie! Do you want a cookie?
Emily: I love you too Jackson! No! I am having pudding!
Janice: Awww, he loves her and wants her to have a cookie!

Cue laughter from the entire restaurant who had been watching the two babies express their love via snack food and a crushing hug.

Sleepy Girl

I am so freakin' tired. Sleepy, wore out, bag under my eyes, the whole bit. I have no idea what the problem is. Stress? New medicine? I'm clueless...and sleepy...and grumpy, the last two of which are my least favorite dwarfs. Oh well.

My daughter has been a darling this week. She thinks she is a kitty and insists I call her as I would a cat. Then, as she makes her way toward me she repeats the call: here key key key. It is really very cute, although a little exasperating. She has decided that I am a dog. Aren't tiny little two-year-old ideas fun?!

Saturday I see my Ben. When I think of him sometimes I cannot catch my breath and I am absolutely looking forward to 9 days of being breathless. Last night I had an away message up that he sent to his friend Dave saying "this is my girlfriend's away message. Isn't that cool?!" My boyfriend thinks I'm cool. Excuse me while I turn red and can't stop smiling.