The snake and snails and puppy dog tails Edition

So much has happened in the last 72 hours that I've been a little remiss in posting about it because I've been trying to organize my thoughts. If you could be in my mind, you'd know that isn't an easy task.

Friday evening we got to spent time with two boys in our life. A dear friend of mine and her family came over on Friday afternoon. Her son, Aiden, is three weeks older than Zoe. It is so much fun to see her around other kids her age. Aiden is so busy. He can scale furniture, examine every toy in record time, run around the house before you know he's gone, jumps and jabbers. In other words, totally normal.

Zoe had fun running around the house with him. I realized she's not fully made of sugar and spice. She kept lifting her shirt and pinching her tummy for Aiden. After the 1,000th time of me telling her to "put her shirt down" she stuck her finger up her nose instead.

After they left, we rushed up to the hospital. At 6:44pm, Micah Christopher made an entrance into the world 5 weeks ahead of schedule. He's a perfect 5 lbs 2oz and 18.25 inches. Zoe was one proud cousin, although I have to admit, she really hasn't met him yet. He's in the NICU, tanning and learning to regulate his own tempurature. I know she'll be ready to teach him all about life outside the NICU.

Isn't he perfect?

Micah and his crazy, tired parents.

Last, but not least, Zoe turned 18 months this weekend. When she woke up on Saturday, she had definitely done some growing. Mainly her ideas and attitude. Things I learned this weekend from my 18 month old:

1) Naps are only for babies like Micah. Once you're 18 months, nap time is just a moment to sit on a chair with mommy and tell her every single idea you have. Or to try and wiggle out of her arms. Or to blow her kisses. Or to "shhhsh" her.

2) The world is cruel. You cannot play with nobs on the dishwasher, with daddy's laptop, open the knife drawer, your food has to cook for you to eat it and when mommy and daddy say wait, they mean it!

3) We have entered the copy cat phase. As we were playing in her Learning Home, I would open the door and say, "well hi Zoe." Zoe opened the door for me and said, "well hi mommy." Daddy took one of his crackers, bit off all except a little piece for Zoe and fed it to her. She did the same for daddy with her chips.

While this may be a time of attitude and boundary testing, there are moments I still see that sugar and spice and everything nice.