Growing Girls

As I sit here to type, I hear the thunder rolling.  There is something relaxing about the thunder at the end of a day.  Not sure what it is, but to know that I am indoors for the night, have my cup of tea and am winding down, it is very relaxing and comforting to hear.  Now it is just rolling though - at a slight distance.  I may have another thought on it when it is crashing right over head ;-)  In any case, I was reflecting on all of the "moments" we have had with the girls - little comments they make, how Abi puts a sentence together, little funny things they do - all just as innocent as can be.... just trying to learn how things work and what things are for.  AND, the little things that give them such joy and pleasure each day.

The highlight of every day right now is riding the trolley to the main hotel (Abi says hotel like a true southerner - so cute!) to see if the piano is there.  Once we arrive at the hotel, we walk over to where the piano building is, say hello to the restaurant staff and cimb the stairs to see if the piano is there - sometimes it is a hunt to find the "hidden piano."  If it is there, we stop to play it!  Abi now knows where middle "C" is and where every other "C" is on the piano.  She has always been so gentle with piano keys - most children I know are into pounding the keys.  Not Abi - she like to create soft, pretty music of her own.  Amanda loves the piano as well!  Tonight was the first time she was not satisfied with playing the top notes and then walking around to play the bottom notes while Abi was up on the bench.  She took my hand and tried so hard to tell me she wanted to get up onto the bench too!  She walked to one side of the bench and backed up, almost trying to jump.  It was then that we figured out she wanted to play from the bench.  We put her up there and she was thrilled to be playing like everyone else!  She tends to play with a little more force, but is still fairly gentle.  Then it is off to the elevator to go back down.  They both like to push the buttons, so they take turns.  Then we greet the restaurant staff once again and visit the gift shop to say hello there!  Then it is "bye, bye" to everyone and off to catch the trolley home.

The trolley rides are entertainment in and of themselves.  There is fun "island music" playing and both girls dance the whole time while sitting in their seats.  If other people are on the ride with us, there is waving, smiling, invitations (Abi likes to ask, "Are you going with us?"  just like she asks us, "Do you want to go with us?")....  along with the dancing, of course.  We look for golf carts, golf flags, motorcycles, and anything else along the way.  When we get off we always walk up to the driver, say "thank you" and "see you tomorrow" and walk to our parking lot.  Once there, we stop and wait for the trolley to drive by so that we can wave and say, "night, night."  Such a sweet routine right before bath time!

Tonight was filled with little moments, snapshots of growth and development.  Amanda was "running" down ramps all by herself, listening for her echo in different places, and trying to sit on the bottom step of stairs at the hotel.  She tries to sit on it like we sit in chairs - you just back up and sit down.  However, it was a little more time consuming and way too cute for her!  She turns so that her back is to the step and squats.... very sloooowwwwwwwly.  When she discovers she is not quite there, she stands up and backs up a little more.  This repeats over and over until her little bum reaches the edge of the step.  Then she slides back, throws her hands in the air and says with great joy and excitement, "I did it!!!!"   Then she stands up, walks away and the whole process begins again.

Abi was a little tour guide tonight at the hotel while we waited for the trolley to come and take us back home.  With her sweet little fingers waving to have me come she says in her sweet little voice, "come with me, mommy!  come with me!"  I follow and she has all kinds of things to say, find and do along the way.  She has such a great imagination!  

I absolutely love to watch the girls love on each other!  Amanda attacks Abi with hugs and kisses all the time - especially when they wake up in the morning or from nap.... almost like an, "I missed you soooooo much" greeting.  Now Abi does not always wake up quite as chipper, so sometime we have to keep Amanda back for a little bit so that Abi is ready for it.  However, there are times when Abi wakes up the same way and "baby" is who she is looking for!  Like today after nap she came out and said, "but where's baby?"  When she saw her she walked over and said, "well hello blue eyes." in her sweet, soft, motherly voice and gently stroked her cheek.  It was followed by, "did you have a good rest?"  I know!!!  Just melts your heart, doesn't it?  And Amanda lights up as soon as she sees Abi!  So much love between them - really does warm your heart.

Amanda is saying so much for just 13 months!!  I am really surprised at how much I can actually understand.  I think Abi was the same way, but it still shocks me to hear so much come from her.  Her vocal inflections are so sweet (yes, "sweet" seems to be the word of choice tonight).  Amanda really is trying to speak in full sentences and I am sure, in her own mind, she is!  She is so confident with what she is "saying" that sometimes you can actually figure out what she is talking about!  I think both Mark and I are amazed at how quickly they are growing and how much they really do take in and absorb so early.  We no longer have babies in the house - we have two sweet, beautiful, smart little girls.  The monkey-see, monkey-do theory?  It is alive and well!  AND it goes both ways.  However, when it comes to things like sharing and helping, this theory is a happy one to have around.  Like when Amanda picks up horsie to give back to Abi just because she knows how much that toy means to Abi.  And how Abi finds a pacifier (and yes, Abi calls it a pacifier and has perfect pronunciation - I can't believe it sometimes) and gives it to Amanda because she knows how much she likes to have them.  

Abi is always concerned for other people - wanting to make sure everyone has something and that everyone is okay.  tonight in the tub, Amanda swallowed a little too much bath water and started coughing.  Abi began reaching over and patting her back and saying, "are you okay baby?  you okay?"  She doesn't like to see people sad or hurting.  She also likes to make sure that everyone has "something" if we are playing a game or doing some activity.  No one is to be left out.  She really is so kind and thoughtful - always wanting to include everyone...

Okay, I know there are more "cute-isms" to share, but I have gone on long enough.  I will post more another time.  Night-night!  Enjoy what has been placed before you.  The journey is long and hard, but so rewarding in the end.