Jumping Bean and Flutters

I woke up this morning at 6:45 am, to a tiny wild child wide awake and ready to explore everything. I am not a morning person, but the last 3 weeks has been working on resetting my body clock (I hope). We got up and talked about everyone still sleeping, about the bird, the rabbit, the dogs, the fish, the window, the rain, the TV (nope, didn't want that) and anything else I could think of to interest her for just one moment. If I had been wise, I would have set my coffee pot up last night, so that I could just flip the switch as I was making that last special milk bottle this morning. I did finally get my coffee, but it wasn't until after 8.

I've been watching a tiny 16 month old toddler for the last 3 weeks, as her mother suddenly found herself alone and struggling to hold things together. In this economy, it could have taken her months or even years to land a job. She was blown away when she returned from her first day of job hunting with not just a job, but full time hours at that. I had offered long ago, that if she needed child care, to let me know, and her baby would fit right in with my crew. This little one is allergic to milk, and we've been trying to find a milk replacement for her that is affordable and equally beneficial. I suspect this tiny one is about to have a growth spurt.

I love having her here, and it's been amusing to watch her and my own toddler learn how to get along and problem solve and share with friends. They have both learned things from each other, good and bad. Things like sharing, caring, empathy, and kindness. Things like hitting, taking, yelling, and pushing. Little tiny one~ let's call her Jumping Bean, and my own toddler Flutters to make this easier. Jumping Bean has learned to communicate, not just by grunts and full body writhing, but had picked up 4-5 signs, 5-10 words, and the ability to communicate wants by demonstrating or pointing. Flutters has decided that babies say Goo Goo Ga Ga, and spends lots of time insisting that she is a baby, unless of course it's baby bath time, in which she goes running down the hall yelling "You can't catch me!!"

Jumping Bean gets dropped off very early in my morning, between 4:30 and 6 am most days. She comes in and snuggles up and takes a 'wake up nap' until about 7:30. Then she is off and running and ready to explore. She's already learned how to move the big sliding glass door, she knows how to make the dog's Lick-it dribble water into the kitchen toys, and she LOVES the slide. Some mornings we have changed her entire outfit 3 times before noon!! Today, it is raining. She does not care, it is outside, and she can get out there "all by my self".... she's led us on a few giggling chases through the warm rain.

It is time for me to get busy. I have lessons to teach, and a menu to plan, a grocery list to make, and cleaning to be done. I pray you have a wonderful day! G*d Bless you!