Look at these giant babies in their big kid stroller waiting at the pediatrician's office yesterday! (Foreshadowing)
Yeah, she has an ear infection. Yes, another one. Sigh. Thanks big kids, for dragging every germ and booger in from the outside world. On the positive side, these babies are building up immune systems of steel, I suppose? Hope?
I have to say, this whole third and fourth kid thing? I don't want to get over confident here but it just feels nice not to worry about every little thing the way I did with #1 and to some extent, #2. Lucy had a cold. It lasted a long time. It didn't seem to be getting any better, in fact it was getting worse. Add in the whining and I finally called the doctor. With #1 I would have likely been at the pediatrician's on the second or third day of said cold.
Even yesterday, when the doctor briefly mentioned tubes (not that they were needed but that we'd have that conversation after a few more ear infections--Lucy's had three) I did nothing but shrug. By the way I thought it a bit ridiculous for the doctor to even mention tubes but I think she did it because she knew I had experience with them (Leo) and I did ask how many ear infections Lucy has had (seems like a lot for someone her age but I remember Ellie seemed to have more than a few early on, too) so maybe she thought that's where my questioning was headed. Oh and don't worry, I'm not too overconfident: I check to make sure they're all still breathing before I go to bed at least once a week.
***
We went to Ellie's favorite indoor playground yesterday (at the mall which depresses the hell out of me but hey, we finished at the doctor and there were still several hours before Leo got home and it was either that or go home and be annoyed by how messy the house felt and fight the War of the TV with Ellie). Sometimes just getting out of the house is half the battle and there we were, four of us out in the world and ready to make the most of a Tuesday.
While Ellie played, the babes and I took in the scene. No popcorn at the refreshment stand so Lucy opted for a cell phone baggy (it came with the big kid stroller) and Harry, an empty breast milk container.
I marveled at how times have changed in just a few short months. Before Christmas we came to this same playground and the babies either slept bundled in their cars seats within the Giant Ridiculous Stroller (Lucy) or nursed (Harry). Now, we're (sort of, almost) getting to the point where where we can go places and I don't need to nurse someone.
After fussing ensued I took both babies out of the stroller (which was a bit of a balancing act and took some thought and imagination, believe me). We took our spot on the carpet and watched the big kids zoom around. Ellie met a little girl named Maya ("that's my mom's name!" I heard her squeal at top volume from across the playground). And then immediately the two girls were at my side with Ellie making the introductions. And just like that, they were off again, playing "Alien." Or something.
I was proud of Ellie yesterday. Well, first I was happy for her. Often when we come to the playground, two things happen:
A) there is no one there but us (the trouble with the suburbs and a not very bustling suburbs I might add, coupled with the fact that we are hearty stock who often go to the park when others would not).
or
B) Ellie is too friendly and frightens all the other children away. Seriously. Ellie, bless her little heart, she tries so hard. Sometimes too hard. She wants to give hugs to people she just met.
But she played it relatively cool yesterday and she and Maya hit it right off and before I knew it they were doing "crazy slides" and concocting that good old game of "Alien" (which seemed to be a variation of "Tag" that also included a lot of pulling on clothes and a bit of wrestling).
But there was a third little girl who was a little younger than Ellie and Maya. I could tell she sort of wanted to play with the girls but wasn't sure how to. She would walk up to them and seem to start to say something and then stop. Maya had no patience for her and kept playing. Ellie would stop and wait a beat and when this younger girl did nothing she shrugged and went on with Maya. Then Third Wheel's Mom did something that I thought was a leetle odd: she approached Ellie and Maya and asked them to play with her daughter. Hmm. OK, not my style but to each her own.
But that's when the pride comes in. Ellie really did try to include this little girl. She would pause before running off with Maya, motion to her, encourage her to climb the slide with them or get in the boat. Mean Girls terrify me and it's one of the things about having daughters (daughters plural? OMG daughters!) that scares me. And believe me, four year olds can be mean. I've seen it already and well, let's nip that in the bud right quick, shall we?
No comments:
Post a Comment