7 going on 16

Lately Olivia has been acting like a teenager. I remember teenage years so I will admit that it’s not full- blown teenage attitude yet but still very similar. She doesn’t want me to do her hair anymore because I do “baby hair”, meaning she won’t sport pigtails, braids (especially if there are two of them) and any colored barrettes (instead she wears my brown and black ones.) It’s kind of cute that she cares so much but isn’t she two young to want to look “cool”?

The teenage thing isn’t in the looks only but definitely in the attitude and language. Last Saturday I went to Gymboree to spend a gift certificate I had and was about to expire. The kids didn’t really need anything but I figured it was free money anyway. So I went to the store and found what I knew Henry wanted right away. I couldn’t make up my mind for Olivia. It was between a cute summer dress and an equally cute puffer vest. So I decided to call her and her ask what she would prefer. Here is the conversation we had:

Me: Olivia, it’s mommy, I’m at Gymboree and I was wondering if you’d rather me get you a dress or a puffy jacket with no sleeves.

Olivia: What kind of dress?

Me: A summer dress, it’s really cute, it’s… (and I describe the dress)

Olivia (very nonchalantly): I’ll take the sweater.

Me: You mean the puffy vest with no sleeves?

Olivia: Yeah, whatever!

I’m not sure if I should see the humor in the situation or if I should be worried. It was quite funny so for now, I’ll laugh.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Olivia is mostly sweet, loving, caring, helpful… Henry not so much. I mean has his sweet moments but lately they have been overshadowed but the dread of Mr. Hyde imminent reappearance. They are moments when I can see the cute little boy who would come to me every 5 minutes asking for “love” (a hug), who would play sweetly for hours in a corner, and smiled all the time but mostly I hear “No!” “I don’t want to!” “Why?” “You’re the meanest mommy in the world” “Why do I have to do everything!”… ... And right when I’m about to lose it, he comes and gives me a hug or says “I’m sorry mommy, I love”. I love the sweet moments, and I cherish them but let’s face it, nowadays there’s a lot more whining and crying than anything else.

New Beginnings...

So I haven’t been posting anything. I said I would write about what I like about Christmas and I never got around to it. Maybe next year. December was an incredibly busy month and I (and things I like to do) definitely got put on the back burner. It doesn’t mean I didn’t have a good Christmas or that I didn’t do anything fun; I had great times with family, I did do a few knitting projects as Christmas gifts and I had the best time making a family tree for Tyler’s parents (now I want to make one for me and my parents). I am ready, what am I saying, I can’t wait for a new year, for new projects, new goals…