Busy, Busy

I've been back into the swing of things. It rained all last week, which was the pits. I am so tired of this rain! This week is supposed to be better, so we are trying to arrange a much-needed play date with some friends. A couple night ago, Jeff and I took our family of six out for dinner in Monroe. It went shockingly well. Everyone was very good, although Ivey did freak out when the woman there as the "live music" started into her Pasty Cline. Honestly, we all wanted to scream about it... Ivey just lacked the inhibitions. As the meal went on, Ivey got used to her and even clapped a few times. Olive slept through it all and the boys spent their time silently kicking each other under the table. Hey, at least they were quiet about it.

We started back to school last Wednesday. Since Olive pretty much sleeps most of the time, it has worked fairly well. As she starts to be more alert for longer periods of time it will get more and more tricky. Today, Ivey sat with us and worked at the table for two straight hours. I think she is going to take to preschool very well when the day comes!

Ivey is still very protective and possessive of her little sister. At the restaurant the other night, Ivey pointed Olive out to the server and the singer who came by our table a couple times. When someone else's baby let out a cry, Ivey's ears perked up and she had to make sure it wasn't our baby that needed attention. She is such a little momma. The boys also can't keep their hands off of her. They are patting and rubbing her head constantly. The other night, I was upstairs playing with Ivey while Olive slept in Ivey's crib. Ivey and I were out in the foyer. Well, Addison was very concerned with the fact that I left Olive unattended! He told me that he didn't like it when I left Olive in the room by herself and didn't think it was safe. I assured him that Olive was perfectly safe in the crib. Such a little protector. I used to think that having a new baby would help overwhelm the system so that no one can be spoiled, but I wasn't counting on the fact that even Ivey would spoil the new little sister. Ivey, the little mute child that she is, will pat Olive and then pat my chest while making a sucky face to tell me to feed her... or pat Olive and then make her sign for "tired" to tell me that Olive is sleepy. That little girl is well taken care of!

Speaking of my little mute child, I have called to see about getting her some speech therapy. She has very little interest in using words, and is perfectly comfortable using signs and non-verbal communication instead. Jeff and I will try to get her to use the word for "juice" before she can have juice, or "please" to get something she wants. She will resist and then finally decide that she'd just rather not have it at all! I am not too worried about her in the longterm, but she does need to start using some words other than "hot", "cat", "sit" and "eat". She has said "flower", "cup" and even a very close version of "elephant", but she has only done those once and then will not repeat them! To hear "momma" or "daddy" is a very rare treat, indeed... and one that she will not repeat no matter how much you ask. I know what is going to happen... We will want her to talk now and then want her to STOP talking later on!