We may have a problem

Our oldest?

She has a bit of the stereotypical red-headed temper.  And stubbornness.

I decided to take a break from writing the story of Quinn's birth to bring you a few exhibits to prove the supposition.

Case Number One: Toddler wants the tent out of her room.  Hilarity ensues.

Did you note how she totally played it off in the end?  "Oh, I need to take my Halloween teddy to Daddy's office now."

Yeahhhhhhh.

Case Number Two: there was the day she played with some fun kitchen items at our friend's flat while we decided where to go for dinner.  Once decided, we went to gather the girls.  Harper INSISTED on taking the colander with her.  Since nothing would be harmed, we said fine.  Here are a few shots of a girl holding hands with Daddy on one side and clutching her stainless steel buddy on the other.

The people at the restaurant thought it was hilarious.  The German guys at the next table laughed and laughed.

Stubborn.  And tenacious. Hopefully the traits will prove to be a strength for the young woman she becomes.

And now to add a little about the littlest Golson girl. Quinn is growing fast and starting to smile and coo.  I attempted to get a coo on video, but instead got some milk on the newly cleaned changing pad.

And one more for good measure.  Pay no attention to the banging in the background.  Big sister was "cooking" using her play kitchen and babbling away about it.  

Our fearless little fish

Okay.  I have lived the last few weeks in denial about how soon little sister will be arriving.  The reality is sinking in now though- at 8 1/2 months pregnant (34 weeks), I cannot take Harper to the pool alone anymore.  Honestly, it has been a few weeks since I tried.

You see, the kid ADORES the water.  She comes by it honestly- both Neil and I really enjoy swimming and water sports, and we actually met for the first time in a lifeguarding certification renewal class.

When you ask Harper if she would like to go to the pool, you must be ready to get her there in the next ten minutes else she might burst with excitement.  Maybe even tunnel straight through the wall a la the Tasmanian Devil if you don't move fast enough for her taste.  Reason number one I don't do it alone: I don't do much of anything quickly anymore and putting on my bathing suit is an act I can only compare to the hippo ballet dance in Fantasia.  Except it takes longer.

Also, the child has zero interest in the kiddie pool.  She likes the water feature that spills water from brightly-colored containers, but Harper has little interest in actually swimming there.  The tile on the bottom is glazed and therefore slippery, and she needs traction in her life.

Well, that leaves the "hot tub" and large lap pool/ adult pool.  The lattert has no stairs as entrance- only ladders.  And ladders are fine, but one cannot enter the water on the ladder while holding a toddler- never mind while being extremely pregnant.  And Harper is not so good at staying on the side while I get in or out.  Sister has to MOVE.

And she loves the hot tub (disclaimer: it is not the 100+ degree hot tub we know and love in America.  It's like a really warm bath- just around body temperature or a bit more). With all the benches and jets to play with, she is in heaven in there.

However, dear readers, the main reason my overly pregnant self does not take Harper to the pool alone is her fearlessness in water.  Not an ounce of healthy concern in her little toddler body.  We have had her in it since she was  a little bug, and she is incredibly comfortable maneuvering on her own and with help.  She blows bubbles, kicks her feet, jumps in from the side, pulls herself up, wants to be tossed/ thrown/ bobbed/ dunked by us.  We just started working with a kick board and the only skill we continue to have an issue with is the back float.  I mean, why hold still when you can swim?

As illustration, I have a couple videos to share.  First, in the hot tub with Daddy.

Then, Harper in the big pool.

I rest my case.

The new baby

No, not the actual expected child.  A new doll, whose current name is, of course, baby.

Harper has had a soft baby doll since just after her first birthday; also read, when we found out we were pregnant again.  She learned to hug and kiss the baby, and Harper enjoying keeping that baby in her crib to cuddle and play with when she woke up.

She will be 21 months old when her little sister arrives, and that is awfully young to try to understand what is happening in her life.  My main strategy to help her cope involved getting her another baby doll- a bit more realistic and easy to play with- a some accessories to go with it.  After a trip to Target, I stocked our air shipment with a new doll complete with stroller, car seat, high chair, pack and play, changing table, and carrier.

We will set up most of the accessories when we set up the baby's room.  The idea is that Harper can participate in the baby care by using her doll- when we change a diaper, Harper can do it too.  When I put Quinn in the carrier, Harper can wear baby too.  I plan to try to include Harper when I can, and I am hoping the plan helps her adjust to a family of four.

Well, when the air shipment arrived, I decide to open the doll and her stroller as a special new toy.  She LOVES baby.  And the stroller?  Pretty much her favorite.  Check out my little Jackie O- complete with her favorite necklace- five minutes after the box was opened.

A few nights later, Harper and I went along while Daddy played tennis at a friend's compound.  We hit the sandbox, the playground, ate some picnic-style, and then Harper and I played on the empty court next to the one Daddy was using.  I brought out the stroller and the baby.  Between the stroller and the tennis balls, she was throughly entertained.

And another one:

I think she might actually have potential as a future Wimbledon ball girl.

A Harper double feature

Quick post without a ton of content, but I thought I would show-off the toddles while she (sort of) naps.  She is currently fighting it.  The child normally loves any and all forms of sleep, so this is unusual.  Molars are hell, people.

Anyway, I talked in a pervious post about Harper's love of the word YEESH.  I thought I would catch it on video for all her adoring fans out there.

And then from today's failed nap.  I discovered via monitor that Harper was not sleeping, but she was instead playing in her pack n play.  Very odd for her since she has only a few small books, a seahorse (for you old skool people, it is the current incarnation on the glowworm), a few pacis, and a teething toy.

When I went in, I discovered she had customized the pack n play to suit her specifics needs and was very proud of herself.

But I was a mean mommy.  I removed the treasures, velcroed down the base, replaced the sheet, and put her back down for the nap.  Very unpopular move.  Well, I did take a few pictures and a video first.  Naturally.

There you go, dear friends.  I am now going to tip-toe away, as I think we have finally achieved sleep...