beware the listeners, and my affectionate boy

First, a conversation I overheard today while the kids were making puppets at the table...


Eva made a mistake on her puppet and sort of growled. "Rats!" she said. "If this happened to Andrea she would say, 'Rats! Ha!'" She said it in a sort of good-humored way that sounded just like Andrea! (My sis.) And I had never even realized that Andrea says this, but it's true. Then Josiah comments, "Know what else moms say? They say 'Shoot!' They say that when they're driving and they forgot something but they're already gone. Like if they forget to bring you a snack."


This proves a few things that really we already know, like that kids are excellent observers, indiscriminate rememberers, and most of all, repeaters of all they hear and see, regardless of it's worth! "Shoot!" though fairly harmless as expletives go, is not on my list of Quotes I want to Be Remembered By, but there is stands, none the less.




Next, a few pictures I've been meaning to post of Josiah and one of the several special little girls he's sweet on... Lil' Cousin Addie.












There was a time, of course, when Addie was very small and immobile. If Josiah wanted to hold her, all he had to do was to ask her mom or dad, sit carefully, and hold still. She really had no say.








Well, times have changed. Addie is a big girl now, a liberated woman, if you will, with walking legs and a mind of her own. Being held by her cousin is not usually on her agenda. Nor is holding hands. Nor having her cheek patted. But let me tell you, ALL of these things are on Josiah's agenda, in a big way. He is head over heels for her, and just can't bear to be near her without snuggling up. This creates a problem...









A few weeks ago Addie spent the day with us while Naomi went to Dani's house. While Eva was in piano lessons, it was just me, Addie and Siah, giving him ample opportunity to attempt closeness. He was rejected at every turn. She wanted to walk on her own, pick berries on her own, lead the way, etc. (I can't really blame her, of course... When you're only new in the world, and have a lot to discover, a chubby hand holding you back is really the last thing you would want.) As you can see in the pictures above, the chase was on. I had to remind Josiah constantly, "Honey, if you want to hug her you have to ASK." or "Siah, stop touching her cheeks! She doesn't want that! You must have her permission!" After being reprimanded repeatedly by me, and by Addie, he was near tears and said. "But mom, she's so soft. Babies like her are just... so... useful for touching! I love her." "I know, sweetie." I said. "So then give her her space." He got the picture, and hung back for the rest of their time together. He wasn't rewarded then, but a few days later... Addie spent a few hours at our house, and he did pretty well with "hands to yourself." But as they were about to part ways, Addie decided to give him a big hug! He smiled up in delight, what a surprise! And when it was over, she happily went back for another hug! A big win for Josiah- he could not have been more thrilled. The next day, the sweet memory still lingering, he spent hours making life size square-headed versions of himself and Addie out of blue construction paper, complete with white chalk eyes and little buttons, and taped together jointed limbs. He dragged them around as he played throughout the day; little versions of himself and his beloved, silently spending the day together in peaceful companionship.