Talking is fundamental

6 people live in this house of mine. Most days there is plenty of space for everyone to move about separate of another. The outdoors is 10 acres of mostly wide open space for freedom. The one thing there is not enough of is quiet.

#1 can talk your ear off and then some. He continues to read and reread his Titantic book, quizzing his siblings and myself. I really don't understand how Daddy misses out on the quizzes but some things may never be understood. The only way I get quiet is to allow electronics. I will admit that I have done that more than once to ensure a moment or two to think, better yet not think. Since #2 and #3 are playing ball this summer he keeps saying he is going to play next summer. Poor thing feels left out of the hustle and bustle. I am not so sure he would enjoy the pressure to perform but we shall see.

#2 can talk as she chooses but is easily engrossed in her writing or reading. Conversations with her are based on real life events, or thoughts about future ones. She is very aware of friends, boys and couples. When she shares I am less likely to let my mind wander.

#3 is still trying to determine who or what he should be. Often he is copying his older brother. It is funny because they really are very different people. Once K begins this fall it will get interesting around here. He enjoys telling made up stories, growing more unbelievable by the second. His imaginary friend is an asset to his stories and clearly no longer a real sidekick. Everyone plays along in the family. I really will be sad to see little fella go. He reminds me of what the safety of a home can be every time I watch him in a crowd. At home he is strong, determined and in charge. Outside of this place he is aware of others, observing every step of the way. He thinks ahead to what is coming next. Watch out world when he figures out all that he has!
#4 is making her claim on conversation space. Tonight alone several perfect strangers commented on her talking ability. She no longer appears smaller than her nearly 2 age. She is still petite but mannerisms, speech and abilities demonstrate she is a full blown toddler now. Her very real love is Aidan, otherwise known as AA. For 20 minutes of car riding she said, "I wanna see AA house mommy." I would say not tonight and she would proceed to yell my name until I listened to the sentence again. I wanna see is the phrase of choice.
She has become even more bossy with the language development. Sit is a common command. She no longer asks for a drink or cup but states apple juice clear as a bell. Thanks to the siblings who chanted apple juice during breakfast to teach her that. Cousin K taught her to say Big truck while driving this week as well. My current fav is animal sounds. At bedtime, nap time and any general time she wants to read the When Momma Comes Home Tonight book, and Spot book come out. The Spot book is supposed to be for counting animals from 1 to 10. I instead use it to say the animal name and sounds. She says the names of doggie, horsie, kitty but the rest are sounds alone. Woof, quack, neigh, baa, oink, tweet, cluck, moo, meow to name a few. By far the cutest one is hop hop for bunny. I am not sure what sound I should teach her. Easter has caused bunny pictures to be everywhere prompting her to get my attention and say hop hop. Even at the Zoo she couldn't stop telling me hop hop as she petted the bunnies. She can count from two to six and a random number here and there after that.
But with good developments there come bad ones. In the last week she has begun hitting me when she doesn't like what I say. Timeout does work well with not sharing and hitting siblings. Today she smacked me in the face and got more than she bargained for on that one. It didn't stop her from doing it two more times. I do hope this attempt to control her little life moves past quickly. This is one battle the redhead will not win.
I am encouraged by all that her growing abilities is allowing the family to do. When she no longer needs a nap there is little stopping us. I thought that when your last grows up your are sad, at least a little. Yet I keep trying to make myself be sad that the baby is gone and the toddler begins. I guess I don't want to look back and wish for something I missed. It is impossible to not feel there is way to do better. I pray that I can live with what I have done and keep improving. I really do have pretty awesome kids!