Twenty-Five Months Old

Pearl is twenty-five months old now and I am happy to say that this month has been a lot easier than the last. She even gave up on shrieking to convey her displeasure at things... for a few weeks. She has resumed that practice over the past few days, unfortunately.



She has also been somewhat violent in her anger lately, wanting to hit me or sometimes she'll slap at her face. I wasn't really prepared for that, I just tell her not to hit Mama and tell her to whack the couch or the pillow instead. She complies and it seems to work well as a way to vent her irritation.

She is really beginning to assert her independence lately, too - I am hearing more and more "I awwna do it!" So, yes, she is very much a toddler.



She has been a lot more active physically in general lately, and I am glad as she has sometimes been 'behind' in this respect... at least compared to her same-age cousin. I shouldn't compare them but it's really hard not to. Anyway, she can now jump! And she loves to run - a few nights ago we took her to the park for a walk as it was nearing bedtime and I sensed she still had energy to burn. Instead of walking a third of the loop then asking to "Carry you", she ran a good 3/4 of the whole trail! Mr. Peach and I were so amazed. She repeated the performance again last night, saying, "So fast!" as she went.



She and I took a trip to an artsy place nearby this month where glass bluebirds are made and the grounds are decorated with all sorts of sculptures of fantastical creatures and other fun things. She enjoyed it even more than the first time we took her there - one year ago, coincidentally enough. Along with the statues there are all sorts of fountains there and playing in water is one of her favorite things to do right now!



The statues there must have made a big impression on her. A few days later her father brought some cinnamon rolls home for breakfast and as we were eating them I told her what they were called. She nodded and said, "Cinnamon trolls!"

And then a few days ago we were in the bedroom and she told me that she heard a loud noise. I said, "I think that was a big truck driving by." Pearl paused for a moment, then she replied, "Maybe it was a dragon!"

I love hearing what she has to say, witnessing these early verbal expressions of what is going on in her mind.



In the car, I look in the mirror at her watching the world roll by and I think, "There is nothing like her on this Earth." I love her so much!

Now or Never

If I don't post now I may never gather up the will to do so again. So, here I am.

Mr. Peach has been very busy with a big job at work and a couple of hard classes at school, so we haven't seen much of him lately. Feels pretty lonely around here a lot of the time. But the first summer semester is drawing to a close and he's applied for a new job (at the same place) so I don't expect it to be so bad for much longer. In fact I'm pretty sure he's going to get the job... it seems like it is time for some change to come, and perhaps this is it.

A recent visit with a couple of friends from high school really made me feel that not only would I not wish to make friends with these people today, but I do not wish to expose my daughter to attitudes they express. Even so, we were children together and I feel fondly towards them. One of them is currently organizing a little reunion for our class and is insisting that I should come. I don't really want to (but in a way I sort of do) so that's been on my mind a lot lately as well.

And amongst several sewing/household/garden projects I have going on, this week I have been preparing for a camping trip! The brave Elaine has assured me that camping with a toddler or two can be done (and fun!) and I guess we're about to find out! This will be our first time since before I was pregnant. We've been busy making sure our gear is in good shape, shopping for new stuff, making lists, researching campgrounds, coming up with menus, etc etc. We are going to the Buffalo National River, one of the loveliest areas in the country surely, and one that I am very fond of. I've gone camping and swimming and hiking their since I was eight and I have wonderful memories of the clear water (once I saw a twenty dollar bill at the bottom of the river, and treated my family to Pizza Hut on the way home)
and fireflies filling the dark valleys with shifting patterns of green light. I am very excited to be taking Pearl camping there.

7:30 AM

So far, today, I have:

• woken up too early after a night filled with too much nursing and too little sleep
• inspired Pearl to have a tantrum before ever getting up for the day
  
• had my tender mouth bashed by Pearl's head three times
• turned on the wrong burner while cooking some oatmeal that didn't taste very good, which led to me badly burn the fingers on my left hand and melt the side of Pearl's high chair tray

Now that I've gotten all that unpleasantness out of the way, surely today will be a good day!

I'm Thinking We Should Shop at the Farmer's Market More Often

In bed this morning, I heard Pearl say as she played with her toes:

"This little piggy went to Target,
this little piggy stayed home.
This little piggy had roast beef,
and this little piggy had none.
And this little piggie went weee wee wee all the way home!"