Things I've learned this week

Momma's learned a few things - this first one even tonight:

1) Never point out the neighbor's cats in the driveway when we come in after dark. Normally, Maria needs help getting out of her chair, but not tonight. I went to the door and had a heart attack when she wasn't there. Daniel and I were frantically calling for her - Mom was checking the fence gate around the pool to be sure it was locked. Alas, she heard us calling and came. Maria had been playing with the cats. Momma has more gray hair.

2) It is totally inappropriate to use the television as a babysitter if there is any show they like on. I turned on Little Einstein (their favorite which we DVR daily) while our fish was in the oven. I turned it off when it was time to eat, but neither child (even my eater, Maria) was hungry at all - and Maria was even sort of feeling Boolit (sick) cured I'm quite certain by laying on the couch watching TV.

3) Daniel gives really sweet kisses when you train him to not be so rough. He even kissed my hand tonight - wonder where he saw that. My little guy is definitely practicing to be a charmer! We've been working on a few things at a time since I didn't want to overwhelm them. Now, we've gotten to the not playing rough part. He's a toucher and Momma definitely loves all of the extra hugs and kisses now that are substituting for the rougher hands around the neck, crawling on my back, etc. Momma can definitely get used to this!

4) Tell them they can't vacuum and you'll have two children fighting over who gets to vacuum. Perhaps I should ask Santa for an extra vacuum cleaner for my little ones - certainly hate to waste such ambition - might need some stilts too though - they can't quite reach the vacuum to the floor when they hold the vacuum cleaner. They love trying though!

5) Christmas lights are much better observed while walking - where you can walk up and touch them. Perhaps its a good thing that we only put up a tree this year. They love going up and touching the neighbor's snowmen, Santa Clauses, and pretty lights. Yes, we are training on this as well because we definitely enjoy going for walks to enjoy the lights.

6) It is so much fun to see the first Christmas of Daniel and Maria. We're enjoying walking in the neighborhood! Aunt Gay Lynn and Reagan came with us tonight. Tonight as we walked around the neighborhood, we heard "No Touch" a lot - at every house where they'd touched or tried to last night. That is so cool to see how they're learning. We're both on the same page on this one - learning every day - them how to live in a family and to speak English and Momma how to be a Momma, teach English, life and all that entails. Thinking Momma has at least as much to learn as Daniel and Maria!