Ainsley is a big time big girl these days. When she wants Scott or me to listen, she says sweetly yet commandingly, "See, mama" or "See, dada." When a person or object blocks her path, she exclaims, "Cuse me."
We started testing peanut butter on her hand over the last week, and she looked forward to the nutty rubbing every day. She had no negative reaction (phew) so we've started giving her some toast with pb and j, and she loves it -- and often asks that we continue to rub her hand with peanut butter.
She is increasingly becoming a Barack Obama fan. She's heard us speak of him and even has a baby book about his life, but the other day, as Scott was reviewing the Wall Street Journal, she points and says, "Barack Omama"....and has been correctly identifying him for the last week. Since she always gets laughs when she says his name, she will tell her peers and other adult pals, out of the blue, "Barack Omama" and then theatrically laugh, "ho ho, hee hee."
Our biggest news for mother and daughter is that Ainsley has officially kicked the mommy dairy bar. I knew our feedings were decreasing and was excited about this next step, but we did not know it would happen so quickly. The other morning, Scott got her from her crib, and she asked for her "cuppy," rather than mommy and "mooky." We're at 48 hours of no b-feeding, so I think it's official. The first 24 hours, I was thrilled for both of us...and as the day wears on...maybe it's hormones, but I am a bit sad. It's likely a combo of weaning along with her wanting to walk down our back stairs like a big girl and just looking at me and saying, "mamma hand" and then asking me to "go" when I dropped her off at Michelle's today. I know, it's all healthy, appropriate, and she is developing her independence. It's just amazing how profound these feelings are...didn't expect the first 2 years to be so emotional... incredible highs of joy and moments of pride and grief all at once.
Wishing all a Happy Passover and Easter. We meet our new niece Nora this weekend! Can't wait to see the girls all interact. We had Molly, Tommy, Zoe and Barb at our place last weekend and had a blast with them -- Ainsley adores all of her cousins. It's fun to see the family grow -- in age and in number.
