dual personalities

Darling Katie turns 3 this weekend, so daughter #2 is chiming in with a few pictures to celebrate.

From my perspective, the “Twos” were hardly terrible. Katie grew up a lot, in ways that made it even more clear that she is her own little person. Katie can hold a genuine, idiomatic conversation, which means we have learned a lot about the inner workings of her mind. Yes, the “why?” questions abound, but so do fascinating tales from her school day, observations about the natural world, etc. It makes me so happy and proud that those inner workings are deep and unceasing, and also empathetic.

Of course, a central recipient of Katie’s empathy and care is baby Ida. Mamu will recall that Katie’s refrain for days after Ida came home was, “Is the baby happy?”

Ida’s birth (more so, my 2-night absence from home) may have been somewhat traumatizing for her, but Katie quickly adapted to her role as big sister this year. She treats her gently, stroking her face and hair just like I do, and she also treats her like a very important pupil. I have no doubt that Ida will learn everything she needs to know from Katie. (A common parenting “hack” in our household is to get Katie to do something — put on her shoes, get into her seat at the dining table — by asking if she can show Ida how it’s done.) It should come as no surprise that Ida is deeply enamored with her sister, who entertains her to no end.

We love an “OOTD” pic… one year ago and earlier this week! (Pink dresses and pigtails are for all ages.)

So cheers to Katie! Raise a glass of “special juice” (sparkling water with a splash of OJ and a straw) and put on a vintage dress if you’re lucky enough to have one. We can’t wait to see what awaits us as a 3 year-old.

*Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, describing the 3.5 year-old Faith in The Gates Ajar

Well howdy on this Thursday! No, we’re not just confused because Monday was a holiday. We have a special guest post tomorrow which I am sure will be full of cuteness. Until then, you have me. Decidedly less cute. It is quickly becoming summer here in St. Louis and temperatures are climbing to the mid-90s this weekend. Sigh.

My little house is coming together–and the air conditioner works, praise hands. There is still a ways to go but the living room has made the most progress.

The hardest part of decorating for me is choosing what to hang where on the walls. But I did make one decision for my office today.

The doggo has decided he likes this little rug.

We have been doing a training course that requires me to essentially drive him to daycare in the morning and pick him up in the evening and it has been a real test of my patience. I am learning to restrain my annoyance with drivers in south city. Woof.

I’ve been reading the D.E. Stevenson books my mother read (although I’m on the last one, tear) and really enjoying them.

This amused me.

“The farm needed a lot of attention for the grieve who had been at Boscath before had let the place go downhill pretty badly. Hedges and ditches, dykes and gates, were all in poor condition and must be attended to–in local parlance they needed sorting. James had not been born and brought up in Scotland but already had adopted a good many expressions from his neighbors (had adopted them more or less unconsciously) and the verb “to sort” was one of the most useful additions to his vocabularly. To sort a gate is to mend it thoroughly, to put it in proper working order (as a matter of fact you can sort anything from a broken toy to a broken-down tractor, you sort an untidy room or a misunderstanding between friends). A ditch which has become blocked needs right sorting and a leak in the roof of the byre should be sorted straight away. It is even possible to give a man a sorting, in other words to tell him what you think of his behavior in plain unvarnished language and to set his feet in the path of duty. “I’ll sort it” is a promise to put the thing right. “I’ll sort him” is a threat with sinister implications.”

–Winter and Rough Weather, D.E. Stevenson

As a new homeowner, I have a lot of sorting to do!