Supercool things our daughters are doing

When I teach about typical language development, I always mention that parents consider their own children to be geniuses. At least I do. Here are some supercool things our girls are doing these days.

Sophie, who is now 5 years old:
1. Today counted to 39 without assistance. When did she learn to get past 20?
2. Travels to church and grocery by bike. I am so proud watching her sit up tall and pedal.
3. Loves to write word lists: Sophia, Sophie, Lucy, Dad, Mom, Amy, Wow, Nemo
4. Loves to talk. To anyone and everyone. Tells cashiers what she ate for breakfast. Invites strangers over for sleepovers. Invites the children of our friends to move in with us.
5. Has a wicked fashion sense. Who knew a white shirt with blue, green and brown polka dots could be paired with a purple and pink plaid skirt? I have given up with any expectation of her wearing matching clothes and moved on to be proud of her non-conforming fashion sense.

Lucy, who is now 19 months old:
1. Is a sponge. We have lost track of her words and are constantly saying to each other, "Did I tell you what she said..." She now speaks in 2-3 word sentences. "No nap." "Momma seat." "Sophia seep." "Daddy-o bike." "No, Daddy, Momma."
2. Has little fear. Bringing her to a playground is hazardous to my health. I can't move that quickly. She falls so often that I have forgotten to flinch. She is covered in bruises including one on her cheek from when she tried to climb into her high-chair yesterday and the entire thing fell on top of her as she slammed to the floor. Wait, I do remember how to flinch!
3. Loves to eat. I mean, she really loves to eat. We took her to dinner with co-workers who watched her lick a side of sour cream clean and said, "This is hysterical. You never told us she ate like this." And she loves sausage. That's her favorite form of meat. And she likes broccoli. "More baki please" is what we heard repeatedly at dinner tonight.
4. Is a very happy kid, until you take away her food. Tonight, Lindsey took away a lollipop that Sophie, ahem, kindly shared with her. Lucy howled and kicked and screamed for about 10 minutes. Did I mention that she only cried for about a minute after the high-chair fell on her?
5. Does have some fears of vacuum cleaners and sitting on the potty. She can tolerate the vacuum, but she doesn't like it. She is happy when it is off stating, "Bac alldone," repeatedly. Tonight we sat her on the potty and she was very unhappy, "No potty. No potty." then "Alldone potty."

I've always depended on the kindness of strangers

So how did it go traveling with a 5 year old and 19 month old by myself? Well, it was tiring, but not so bad. Every time I travel alone with kids, more of my faith in humanity is restored. First there was the gate agent at PDX who said, "Don't worry, I'll walk your stuff to the {x-ray} machine." We have a family rule, "You pack it, you carry it" but she insisted and refused my help. How sweet is that? Then along the way were all these folks offering help.

The flights weren't so bad. Lu likes to move and didn't like being confined but she dealt with it for the most part. Sophie was patient with her (and me), too. We taught Lucy the rules of flying and she quickly learned to recite #1 on command ("no whyin'") and Sophie added rule #1a all on her own, "no whining." Lu didn't always follow her own advice but folks on the airplane still complimented her on how quiet she was. I wonder if they were sitting over the engine?

Now the ride back, that was nice. We split up. Lindsey had Lu and I flew with Soph. Lu was great for Lindsey. Soph slept at least 3 hours of a 3.5 hour flight and for the first time in months, I read a book on an airplane and actually felt relaxed when the flight was over.

I guess stepping in dog poop really is good luck.

Crying is not allowed on airplanes

So I will take a flight across the country tomorrow. I remember when flying was almost relaxing. I'd read an entire book or watch a movie, heck, sometimes I'd even go crazy and buy one of those $5 bottles of bad wine. Woohoo! That was livin' large. Then there was that big security issue and the need for the long security lines and IDs. That wasn't much fun, but I'm happy they are keeping us safe. But to be honest, the thing that has made travel unrelaxing for me? Two things. Thing 1 and Thing 2.

I have been blessed with children who are good travelers. They have both flown across the ocean and done so in a way to make their mother so proud. We have family rules that we repeat and repeat (1. No crying on airplanes. 2. No kicking the seat in front of you. 3. You can't get up unless the seatbelt sign is off.). I have no idea if they help the kids travel better, but I'm pretty sure they make me and Smitty feel better. But I won't lie, I'm a bit scared about tomorrow. I'm flying alone with both of them. And we are too cheap to buy a seat for the youngest. Yeah, you heard me. It's only a few hours, so how bad can it be, right? Well that's what I thought until I didn't forward the email that told me I would get bad luck for 4 years because I am a Scorpio and then I stepped in a huge pile of fresh dog poop this morning. I know, it's just a coincidence. And if having bird poop land on your shoulder is good luck, than clearly stepping in a huge mess of dog poop is even better luck, right?

I do wonder how bad it can be and then remember that after spending the better part of the weekend alone with the girls the hardest hour was during church when I chased Lu around the lobby. She's so active! Hopefully flying at her nap time will mean that she'll sleep and Soph and I will read books and write letters. And if not, well, I've packed plenty of chocolate and goldfish. And we will continue to recite the Smithstanza Family air-traveling mantra: crying is not allowed on airplanes. In the airport? Fine. Let it all out. But not on the airplane.

And if that doesn't work? Well, it's only a few hours of my life and at least I'll have chocolate and goldfish to share with my fellow passengers. Did I mention the bag of earplugs?