Keeping Busy

So, blogging has been a bit of a challenge lately. Generally the girls have napped at the same time in the afternoon, giving me (even on a bad day) at least 90 minutes to get things done. But for some reason, that just hasn't been happening lately. Instead the girls are tag-teaming -- I'll get one down just moments before her sister awakes. That arrangement is good for one-on-one time with each of the girls, which is precious, but not so good for overall productivity. So, things that can only be done when I've got two free hands and a clear head have beeen slightly neglected around here. Blogging, mopping the floors, the list goes on and on...

In an attempt to catch up, I got up early this morning. I did manage to get a little accomplished. I set two pots on the stove to simmer, one of apples and one of carrots. (We haven't started feeding Madeline fruits and veggies quite yet, but I've begun preparing some food for her so there will be plenty ready when she is.) I sat at the computer and, just as I began this entry, Madeline woke. It was about an hour earlier than I'd been expecting her, and I let her cry for a moment to see if she'd fall back to sleep. Her cries only became more insistent, so I went into her. The poor girl had gotten her leg stuck in the crib! Madeline's been rolling all over, making use of all the space in her crib, prefering to sleep on her stomach. This time her travelling didn't work out so well for her. I freed her, and tried to calm her, but no amount of soothing would convince her to go back to sleep, so she came out to work with me in the kitchen. So much for blogging!

And when the girls aren't sleeping (which is a lot!), they're busy! Kathleen is particularly busy. Lately I've found that it's best to have Kathleen very involved in whatever I'm trying to do, because a few unsupervised moments can lead to a big mess. Over the weekend we washed our cars, which was a fantastic chore for Kathleen. (Even a mess is clean, in that case!) She loved to help.

Kathleen has been helping me water flowers, sweep, plant cuttings, move laundry, do dishes, and cook. But chaos can ensue even when we're only a few feet apart. For example, a few days ago the girls and I were putting away clean laundry when Kathleen disappeared for a moment. By the time I crossed the hall and found her in Madeline's room, she'd covered her face in diaper cream. (Channeling her inner mime, perhaps?) When I stepped away from the sink yesterday while Kathleen was washing her hands, she emptied an entire bottle of lavender baby wash. Last week we were in the kitchen, cooking chili and corn muffins for our celebration of "If You Give a Moose a Muffin." (We've already eaten buckwheat pancakes for "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" and cookies for "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie," so we've about exhausted that game.) I was standing at the sink rinsing the beans for chili, and when I turned around, Kathleen had emptied the bottle of chili powder across the floor, and was making her own art exhibit in the middle of the kitchen. By some miracle the amount I needed for the chili was still in the bottom of the jar!

I like to remind myself that Kathleen's busyness isn't an attempt to kill me or drive me crazy. (Some days that's easier than others.) It's simply her way of exploring her world, and (hopefully) a sign of curiosity and intelligence. And although it may give me a headache some days, I really wouldn't have it any other way!