The months go by faster and faster it seems. Within a blink of an eye both girls are growing and learning and it is crazy to think that just a while ago both were babies. In February, we celebrated Erin’s birthday and Valentines Day, and while we decided not to celebrate Valentine’s Day between us, for the kids we buy big heart boxes of chocolate and extra flowers in addition the ones sent to work so that the girls have some at home. Both girls are so excited to plan and celebrate that they forget that you want to surprise at times. This means getting more gifts and chocolate making it a month-long celebration. Nothing wrong with that.
In the beginning of the month Albert had to go to Atlanta during the first and second, missing Erin’s birthday, but we made up for it shortly after where Erin bought a new coat and new slippers. In this same time, we have had to work harder on Curie’s reading, she was put on antibiotics again which may have caused a fever, and then when that failed, lost another tooth to infection. We have stepped up the brushing getting Star Wars talking and flashing toothbrushes to encourage a minute of brushing, it has not only worked for Curie, but it has worked for Elia as well.
While Curie was home from the fever she was with Albert while he had a number of video calls. One of the calls was a lunch for a new person. Curie joined Albert on the call and was the darling of the time. She was patient and eager to be with everyone not getting bored or fussy. She was very excited to be part of it. She also noticed that Albert did not eat during the call making sure that she had eaten, and later in the day while Albert was on another call, she shows up in the room with a plate of fruit. She had never done this before, she had gotten berries out of the refrigerator, washed them, put them on a plate and brought them to Albert during his call. Albert was visibly moved by the gesture making his staff “aww” the even more.
In general, Curie is terribly considerate, and she is watchful and listens on how to be more so. Albert brought up something for Erin without her asking and when she asked it was right there. Curie was astounded because Erin made a big deal of it. Curie asked if Albert could read minds, and really believed it because she asked Albert if he could tell what she was thinking. Albert told her that consideration is as much about anticipation as it is anything else. This is a lesson that Curie has taken to consideration if not yet to heart.
It is not to say that she is an angel all of the time. She still whines, and cries at the smallest things until we point out the futility of it, but when she is not hungry, or tired, or thirsty, she will be considerate and generous to see if we notice and see if she can show that she has done a good thing. This, is a great step and will lead to generosity becoming a fundamental part of her, but for the meantime we are proud when she makes the effort.
There have been birthdays and play dates and dinners and desserts. Curie has taken to baking shows beyond the Great British Baking show, loves to learn to cook and help, and is generally a delight. She has learned to draw more sophisticated pictures, especially of people having learned how to draw anime/manga eyes from an older girl at martial arts. She is a trooper and a doll, a wonderful person and our baby all at once and while we will always worry for the best for her and Elia, we are also confident that they will turn out great so long as we provide the love and boundaries they need.