My youngest daughter Abbey is five, and will be six in December. I was able to change my work status from full time to part time when she was born. Having two kids in daycare did not make financial sense, so it was a no brain er. She's been in Kindergarten for one whole month now, and it's hard to believe those precious days at home with me will soon be over.
Abbey is so different from her big sister Grace. She is really coming into her own now, and I couldn't be more proud. If you don't know her, the first thing you might notice about her is her beautiful brown eyes. When she was a baby, she had slightly drooping chubby cheeks and the most beautiful anamae shaped eyes. They are still so bright, and when you speak to her, those eyes give you the feeling that she is there with you and no where else.
She's got a very deep voice for a little girl. For the longest time, my Mom would call and would hear her talking in the background, she would be worried that Abbey was sick. But, it was just her hefty voice sometimes mimicking others that she was hearing. (A trait from her daddy) I've caught her singing to the TV, and the alto voice is already there... The only thing high pitched about her is her occasional screech which can be heard for miles.
Unlike Grace, Abbey doesn't pick things up on her own. There were so many things that I didn't have to teach Grace like tying her shoes... she would just come home from daycare or school knowing it. But Abbey, is the frustrated kind and would just say "I CAN'T!" And run away and pout about it. Now that she's a bit older, I've been able to try and teach her patience with herself, and tell her it's okay to practice until you learn something.
She's funny. When she was a baby, I really worried about her. I worried that she would not fit into a family of jokesters. She would just stare at us blankly from her bouncy chair no matter how goofy we would be acting. I know now, that she is a quiet observer and has the natural ability to make people laugh. She's like her daddy and can pull things out of her hat when appropriate. Yesterday, at the grocery store she was laying down in the basket part of the cart staring up at the ceiling . I was down the isle from the cart searching for something when she realized I wasn't right there. She called out to me with perfect timing with her rich deep voice "Hey... was it something I said???"
The poor girl, has been given mine and my father's genes, in the rhythm department. (We have none.) When I see her trying to keep up with her sister, I feel so bad for her. Luckily most of the time when she is trying to bust a move, she's making fun and the entertainment is still there. I love it best though, when I find her on a stool in the kitchen, buttering bread for a snack and she's grooving to whatever song is playing in her head. Her eyes will be closed, and she will hum out loud... oblivious, or not caring who might be watching.
Recently, she started appearing on our laps in the evening for a cuddle. She had always been my
snuggle bug, but for about 6 months it's been resistant to that. I'm glad to see the pendulum has swung back on that. Her legs are ridiculously long and it's awkward, but I still try and hold her like a baby. She smiles and obliges me, and throws in a "goo-goo" and a "ga-ga" for effect.
Today, we had to go to the Girl Scout council store and I remember two years ago taking her as a 3 year old. Honestly, not much difference in the two years. She has always been easy on me, playing quietly in the kids spot. But this time, I was there not only for her sisters troop, but hers. It was kind of emotional considering next year should I need to go there, or anywhere else for that matter, she will not be in tow. She will be with the big kids in 1st grade.
So, as she grabbed my hand today as we walked together into the store, I was a little sad knowing that my baby is on her way... I was thinking to myself. "How can I remember this feeling of her little hand in mine?" "Should I take a mold, or a picture?" But then I remembered this blog, and was thankful I could take a different kind of snapshot of my baby at this moment in time.
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