When does sharing mean I get something?

Norah had a day-long lesson on sharing today partly from Lindsey and partly from Elmo. So tonight Norah decided that sharing should be a two way street. I usually sit in Norah's room while she is falling asleep and surf the internet on my iPod. I turn down the brightness to try and keep a low profile but tonight she spotted me using my iPod. It took me a while to figure out what she was saying but eventually I figured out she was saying "share." I felt really bad that I couldn't share with her when she had been forced to share all day. I guess I just completed her teaching about sharing. You only have to share when you're a little kid and adults force you to--once you're older you don't have to share anymore. So sad to have to learn that at such a young age.

Alphabath

Norah has been developing an interest in the alphabet.  It started with this video – a Sesame Street collaboration with Tilly and the Wall.  Once Norah discovered that we knew the ABCs song as well (although with less fan fare) she had us sing it to her over and over again. She is slowly learning some of the letters and tries to join in the song when she can. Norah is truly passionate about letters so like any good parent I decided it was time to start manipulating this enthusiasm to serve my own purposes.  Norah has been difficult to bathe ever since she learned to stand up on her own. We usually have to start washing her hair while the water is still running and she climbs out of the tub while we are rinsing her. It had gotten ridiculous – as in I am completely soaked from playing bouncer to a wet Norah. So earlier in the week I came across these foam letters and knew Norah would love them. Since the idea is to make bath time appealing I’m only letting her play with them in the bath – this has had the unintended consequence of a few tantrums when it wasn’t bath time - but as far as convincing her to take a bath it has been overwhelmingly successful. Norah has taken a bath per her request every day this week. Tonight we were running short on time and tried to skip it but she refused to put on her jammies (I should say she refused to be put IN jammies) until she had a “bat.” It was no use reminding her she had already taken one after breakfast.

Molly the Dolly

Santa gave Norah a dolly for her very first Christmas and until very recently this doll was generally neglected. Molly wasn’t even first pick to ride in the doll stroller. I don’t know what has changed but Norah’s maternal instincts have kicked in and she is taking good care of her doll now and giving Molly lots of pats and kisses. She also likes to pat real babies that she meets at church. There is one “baby” that is about a year and a half old and bigger than Norah but he is bald so Norah insists that he is a baby. It is pretty funny to watch this little boy evade Norah while she tries to mother him.

She is such a good momma to read to her babyThis is Norah pouting when I stopped taking her picture.  She said “again, again.” I suggested she rock her baby for the rest of the photo shoot and she agreed. Norah found that rocking while holding a baby was very difficult and reading to the baby while rocking was impossible. I hope she will have a new appreciation for me now.Question for any relatives on my side: Does anyone else think this picture looks just like Natalie circa 1990?