Who Wouldn't Love a Face Like This?

A Portrait ON the Artist....
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

So, as illustrated by the photograph at right, Kathleen has been making the most of my divided attention. She quickly figured out that the moment I sit down to nurse Madeline is the moment she should make a break for mischief-making. The mischief takes a new form every day. The felt-tipped pen was one day. Another, she broke into the refrigerator and very carefully (read: messily) brought me the entire pitcher of filtered water. Another time she emptied the bathroom cabinet. (Thank goodness we only keep toilet paper and extra bottles of baby wash down there!) Another time she helpfully emptied a basket of clean, folded laundry -- on to the floor! And another time, I found that she'd managed to climb into the bathroom sink, turn on the water, and empty a bottle of baby wash. (At least it was clean fun!)

Last week, just before lunch time, Kathleen asked for eggs. Scrambled eggs are one of her favorite meals (and they're not just for breakfast anymore!), so it wasn't a surprising request. I explained that it wasn't time for lunch yet, that I was going to feed Madeline, and that after that we would make some eggs. I sat down and began to nurse Madeline, but sprang off the sofa a few moments later, when I heard Kathleen in the kitchen. There she was, crouched on the floor with a carton of eggs, with two eggs squished between her fingers!

Mercifully, we haven't had any truly dangerous or destructive mischief. And we've become a lot better about closing doors, emptying lower shelves, hiding writing implements... These precautions haven't guaranteed a peaceful, uninterrupted meal for Madeline, but they're a whole lot better than nothing!

Chatting it up
Originally uploaded by the golbys.

Yesterday it occurred to me that with Kathleen, I learned to nurse. With Madeline (thanks to Kathleen), I'm learning to nurse while running around the house. Yesterday I even managed to clean up after dinner while feeding Madeline. Multi-tasking has taken on a whole new meaning!

The mobile, frequently interrupted feedings may annoy Madeline, but they don't seem to be slowing her growth! She's growing well, it seems, and she's smiling and cooing and generally being adorable. Her expressions are amazing; she looks so much like Kathleen sometimes. Perhaps that means I'll be looking at Madeline's face adorned with orange marker twenty months from now!