Oh, about my sweet & zesty girls...it has been so long. I think of coming here often to write of their changes, growth, babbling, and the like...but things come up. Instead of throwing in the towel...I'll just write until Soraya wakes from her morning nap (Nora is in preschool).
So, my Lulu Bell...she weaves more deeply into my heart each day. She looks at me sometimes, cocks her head, and says, "Ich liebe Dich, Mama" (I love you). She minds her own manners very well...and you better believe, she'll mind yours, too. If you don't say "thank you" or "please" immediately, she is all over it. If you don't "bless you" or "Gesundheit," she jumps on you.Last night, she explained that Soraya was flapping her arms whilst she was showing "nice table manners."
The other day, she ran up to me, placed her hands (sticky from some unknown substance) upon my knees, and leaned in towards my face. "I need an 'Eskimo kiss,' Mama...and butterflies, too" as she smashed her eye socket into mine. She runs constantly. She makes up lyrics to songs and loudly belts them out. She smothers Soraya with kisses, hugs, entertaining jumps and wiggles and songs. She eats a lot sometimes...other meals, nothing. Her dream meal would have watermelon, beans and rice, fishsticks with ketchup and a huge "big-girl" cup (cup without a lid) of almond milk. If that was followed by frozen yogurt with sprinkles, coconut, and berries...then she'd simply levitate.
Her average weekday day:
She wakes up around 5:50-6:10am, runs up to our door whining "Mama, Mama" and I smack Daniel to open it, she runs around to my side of the bed and repeats, "I need snuggles, Mama, I need snuggles" in a tiny-unnerving voice. I pick her up and slide her underneath our comforter. Her cold feet and warm back squirming into the curves of my body. Ticklebumps commence.
Then Soraya wakes. Daniel or I take both girls back to Nora's room, while the other "sleeps in" (aka sleeps until 7:00am). She picks out book after book and she reads or we read and Soraya looks on in wonder at all of it.
Breakfast is made and served on an orange sectional plate and a plastic bowl. Typical fare is one scrambled egg with cheese, fruit (banana, mango, kiwi, or berries), and oatmeal (with flax seed, chia seeds, cream, brown sugar, raisins, shredded coconut). Most days lately she doesn't eat much of the oatmeal (although she begs for it)...and Daniel often munches down that and her egg.
TV comes on as Soraya's nap time approaches. In order to nurse her down, Nora has to be very occupied. Soraya will bite and excitedly kick if Nora is anywhere near her when she eats. Calliou is the favorite show lately...in German. These (annoying) 12 minute episodes are thanks to a brilliant German YouTuber named Farid Bang...he uploaded 50 of these awesome pearls for me to use. She prefers the firetruck, scared of the dark, teeth brushing, and strawberry picking episodes.
Snack comes in around 10. Lunch around 12:30. Snack around 2. (If there's a nap, it comes around 3ish) Dinner around 6. If she naps, bed is around 8. If there's no nap, bed comes by 7pm.
Bedtime routine is "Nyeh and Naima, teeth brushing, pajamas/diaper/hair-brushing, read two books, ticklebumps...asleep." It all takes about 30 minutes. Who knows when she'll stop asking for "nyeh & Naima" but I'm in no rush. Doesn'b bother me and gives us some sweet moments each day of quiet love and touch. Lately our nursing sessions have an entire frog session preample. She starts at the far end of her room upon her knees. She then pretends to be a frog and "ribbits" across the rug and scrambles up to my lap and lays down near my breast waiting to nurse. If I touch her in ANY WAY (as quick as I may wish this time to pass), she has to start over. Crying about me helping her and goes back across the room to ribbit back. So, now I sit. I sit with my arms wide open. I grin as my little scrawny frog croaks and hops towards me. Her face beaming, her bony knees and elbows poking me upon her ascent. The tendrils of her soft cocoa hair spilling across her face. Her hands gently cupping my breast for four minutes of absolute silence and stillness. Many have asked me when I'll stop. I don't have a good answer. I am not engaged in the "Mommy Wars." I do not judge those who breastfeed and those who don't. My funny little frog still enjoys it...I do, too, MOST of the time. Her hands are oft sticky, her fingernails oft scratchy (she screams upon even mentioning cutting them...the tantrum is so dramatic, I often wait far too long)...her mouth is usually gentle and her fingers find the mole she named "Zazu" long ago. It is our thing. Not asked for or missed when I'm away. Not too much trouble when I'm here.
A few videos and photos of my Lulu recently. A sweet and zesty multi-lingot who just this morning asked to know how to say "Bless you!" in French and Spanish. Along with all the different animals and "good bye." I could help her with a few...but need to strengthen my French.
More about caramel peach SuriSuri soon.
Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.