Erin and Albert…

Curie May 2014. The other day, we realized that Curie was no longer a toddler but a little girl (just as Elia is no longer an infant, but a baby and in another blink she will be a toddler herself). At a cookout the other day, a little girl spilled her bubbles, and though the other kids didn’t notice, Curie –unprompted, mind you, poured half of her bubbles into the little girl’s bottle so that she would also have some. We didn’t even witness it, some parents came to tell Erin. Apparently at that party, Curie also helped a little girl that the others ignored after she fell. Child care is doing a great job.

In another instance, Elia had gotten sick, Curie actually gave it to her, and when Erin’s father came to visit and he took Curie for some ice cream, Curie unprompted asked if Elia was all right, and wanted to make sure she brought Albert some apple juice. How she is so considerate, we should just appreciate that she is. She isn’t all a bed of roses though, she has gotten whiny in her twos (especially when she is sick) whenever she wants something or doesn’t want something and while it is normal, it is no less frustrating.

On a different milestone, she has gotten into the “whys?” And more recently into the “why not?” But it is not what we think of when someone says “why not?” Instead, she has put it together logically, the “not” is the negative for the “why,” it isn’t “why shouldn’t I?” Rather, “why is it not?,” literally. She also logically says “I will,” when you ask her not to do something. It means “yes, I will not do what you asked me not to do.” Edit: “why not?” is just why when she doesn’t agree.

She has been saying a lot of precocious things recently, if you say “excuse me Curie, she will say “oh sorry, I forgot.” When Albert pointed out some bikes during Rolling Thunder, her response was, “those are motorcycles, Dada (yes, on occasion she calls Albert “Dada” because once she heard that he liked it. Her personality is really developing and not just in precocious ways: she screams “SAND!” As if it were the most terrible thing in the world when she finds it in her shoes, and she has a fantastic sense of humor with great timing especially repeating Albert’s story time faux-faux pas. “Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss,” becomes “Three legs of ham and orange juice,” from Albert, and without prompting later she will repeat it with the right timing to make everyone laugh. And of course there is the Lion Cow incident.

Curie is learning her letters, exerting her personality, insisting on cutting things with her plastic knife – it is weird to hear a two-and-a-half year old say “wait, let me get my knife.” Potty training is on hold, but she doesn’t seem fazed other than being a little embarrassed when she has pooped. Erin’s parents visited, Curie played with her “best friend Bella (the Hoaglands), Quintin broke her arm (“why?”), Albert went to Denver for a Board meeting. and we discovered a new conveyor belt sushi place to replace the one that closed. Life is pretty good.

Okay, so this part of the blog is premature since it is happening while writing this (late) on vacation in Ottawa in June. Curie knows when Albert is not in bed, and in our hotel room with the single bed and crib, she will not sleep comfortably unless Albert is back in bed. She normally sleeps holding Erin, but in the last couple of days she has held Albert’s arm, and is resting her head on his shoulder right now. There is so much to do these days, work is stressful and can be consuming if you let it. Clearing your head for your children is difficult but really necessary – and if you don’t, it is not the risk of losing your temper that matters, it is more simple than that – you may not see the signs that they need you and you won’t take the five, or twenty, or fifty minutes to play with the paper ball and make up a game, or count eggs together, or hear – “Daddy (or Mommy), this is fun with you!” You may simply miss, the chance to be with your children while they are still children. Priorities right? So though, Albert has work to do tonight during vacation, Curie is on  his arm snuggled asleep and he is going to let the computer battery run out instead of getting up to charge it – after all, how many nights will be like this again?

Edit: When Curie asks “why not?” She still means “why?” She uses them interchangeably.

Curie April 2014. Curie weighs in at 23 pounds and 5 ounces, and stands two feet ten inches tall. This month we went to New Orleans right after Bernard and his family visited. Curie tried and now loves crawfish even though it was a little spicy. She loves to fly and makes the “NEE-AW!” sound for planes. This was the first time Curie had her own seat.

From New Orleans, Curie and Albert flew back by themselves. Albert introduced Curie to M&Ms (when we were kids we called them MMMs, Curie doesn’t call them that), and to eating Reese’s Miniatures with a tissue so that she doesn’t get her hands dirty. They had a delayed flight and as a result had a 10 minute connection. Albert told Curie they had to run to which she replied “Let’s do it!” What a kid. Once on the plane (they made it, Albert ran 10 gates carrying backpack, camera bag, Curie and Curie’s bag), instead of making a fuss (which she had before) about the seat belt, she buckled herself up without asking – surprising Albert.

As we mentioned before, Grampy passed away, but before he did we went up with Julie to see him and Nana. The kids couldn’t go in to see Grampy, but they did get to see Nana. Erin showed Grampy a picture of Elia, which he appreciated. After we came back, Curie would ask about Grampy, and when he passed, she said “at least he is safe.” What a kid. Later that week at day care, she said she saw Grampy after a nap.

While up in Massachusetts, we visited Andy and Lynn in his new home, Curie played with Poppop, and Grandma, and we went to Easter service. This past week we went to National Harbor and the next day to Clemyjontri Park to ride merry-go-rounds, at Clemyjontri, we went with Candace and Bella (Curie’s “best friend”) who took great care of Curie. Steve’s parents visited too and we all went out to dinner.

This week Albert goes to Thailand (hence the early posting) for work. When he goes on trips he takes Curie’s rabbit, “Hop” with him; we Facetime and talk every day, and Erin is charged with the Picture a Day. It is particularly hard on Erin as Curie is a little sick and has to stay home (Julie and Candace have been great in offering to help). Albert has been spending a lot of time with the kids before he goes, playing trains, and cooking, and eggs, and watching Thomas and Friends, or Curious George, or Calliou, or Peppa Pig (oh, Curie is Curie Pig, Albert is Daddy Pig, Erin is Mommy Pig, and Elia is George). With Elia, he holds her while she sleeps (like Erin usually does). Time feels short and Albert gets a little moody before leaving so the time with the kids is especially important. Travel for work is exciting and fun, but without the family, it is time away – missing out on the day-to-day, the smiles and the frowns, the laughter and the tears, watching the kids as the days go past; never mind the wonders of the world, it is enough to play at home.

Curie March 2014. Curie graduates to underwear. Prompted by the peer pressure of her friends wearing underwear at school, Curie has taken to asking for underwear and telling us when she needs to potty. We are at 4 straight public successes. Yay Curie!

Curie’s month included the visit from Suephy, Jared and Dylan who brought Curie Dylan’s Thomas collection. Talk about heaven, 20 – 30 trains, tracks and Tidmouth station on top of the Legos and things they already gave her. What an amazing gift – thank you Suephy, Ed, Jared, and Dylan! Over the years friends and family have given us their hand-me downs, toys, and books so that we have not had to buy so much for our kids, for this we are grateful, we hope some day to pay it forward.

Curie has had night terrors recently, and we have had to comfort her when she wakes. Okay, so it has been twice so far, but she is inconsolable for an hour or so. We understand that this is normal, but it is wrenching nonetheless – other parents, do you feel protective and helpless at the same time? Curie ended the month with a fever while Bernard, Agnes, Eleanor and Miranda visited and right before our trip to New Orleans. Along with Erin’s upcoming conference, and Albert’s recent return from Copenhagen, it makes for challenging time – protective and helpless.Curie’s needy time is still with Erin, no one calms the kids down faster than Erin, and when the crying starts and the comfort is needed, Erin is the one Curie goes to.

When Albert returned from his trip he and Curie sat in a hug in front of the television for almost an hour. Every day since then, Albert asks Curie “have I already told you today?” She says “yes.” Albert says, “I love you Curie,” Curie replies, “I love you too.” Albert took Curie’s spare rabbit on his trip.

As we have said, Curie loves surprise eggs and Easter has been a crazy time of opening eggs. We try to find non-candy eggs, but it is not easy. Playmobil makes a great line. We are likely going to have to buy eggs when they go on clearance for later, and it may be that Easter is Curie’s holiday.

Normally we end with a thought of the day, however, Albert has started writing again recently (for those of you who didn’t know, he fancies himself a writer). Here is an unedited excerpt that is a little autobiographical and pertains to our daughters: “upon my deathbed, when I am infirm and insensate, I will lose all track of time and all sense of reality; I will be transported once again with my infant daughter snuggled against my neck in the wee hours of the morning, and in the still and deafeningly quiet, marked with the sound of her breathing,  I will think to myself that this is worth remembering when it is time to die.” Cherish the time.

From Facebook: Curie may not remember when she is older, but the best times are the simple family times, where she sings in the bed, reads us Green Eggs and Ham, and we go into the tunnel and look for “scaary lions,” where in a low two year old voice while shaking her head, she roars “rawr!”