So different yet so much alike.

After spending a week at the beach watching both of my girls, I realized a few things.


Caroline marches to the beat of her own drum much like her mama. What can I say? We like to dance to our own song. We like to be different. I have always known this but it was evidently clear this past week.


Emma is a follower. I guess not so much in life but just her sister. She wants to march to the beat of her sister's drum and I just don't know that she is ready. Right now, she wants to do whatever Caroline does. Caroline wants a belly tattoo, Emma wants a belly tattoo. Bug has the whole "my big sister is cooler than your big sister" view on life right now. Which is understandable because, to be honest, her big sister does rock.


Caroline jumps head first into things. She is full force all of the time. Yes, even when she sleeps. I don't think that kid has slept peacefully since she was conceived 4 years ago. Seriously.


Bug is what I like to call a toe dipper. She tests things out before she jumps in. Not just water (because the child is definitely not afraid of the water), but just life in general. It takes her a minute to warm up to situations. She is calm in many ways but much like her sister in many others. Example in point, she now calls me a dodo head. Yes, a dodo head. I like to think of it as a term of endearment.


Caroline is not a child that is going to sit still long enough to allow anyone to cuddle with her. Her mind is constantly turning and she never stops. She constantly asks why to things I don't know the answer to. She makes me question my parenting skills on a daily basis and the girl can make you want to pull your hair out.


Emma loves nuzzling her sweet smelling head into my shoulder. She loves to be held and rocked. She loves quiet. She, most importantly, loves sleep. She is the calm in the hurricane named Caroline. Although, we've seen Hurricane Emma a few times in her 21 months of life.

I have two amazingly strong and independent children.

So different yet so much alike.

No matter what do you or where you go, march to your drum my sweet girls. Make it loud. Make sure everyone hears it. Be strong. Have faith. Have hope. Be understanding. Be independent. And most importantly don't call anyone other than Mama a "dodo head".

Banned from the Splash Pad.

Dear Caroline,

We went to the splash park with friends the other day. You had a fabulous time. We had a fabulous time.

Mommy totally wore her blue string bikini, thinking no other parents would be there that early in the morning. WRONG. I frolicked in the water with you and Em anyway. Showing off the stretch marks and sagging boobs that you girls blessed me with. I just had a pedicure so at least my feet looked fabulous. It was funny to watch the moms on the other side of the splash pad eye me as if I was committing so sort of terrible crime. Like I said, Mama frolicked anyway!

You played with your friends and then decided it was time for snacks. After eating all of Kari's fruit you decided to share Doritos with your friends. You drank your blue juice box. Halfway through snack time, you began crying. You did your usual... cry, get worked up, get hot, cry some more, then vomit. Yes, you decided to work yourself up to the point of spewing vomit everywhere. As if the snotty moms across the splash pad weren't talking about me enough... you had to go vomit. Thanks. Thanks a lot.

Why must you vomit when you get upset? It really is getting old. It is out of control. So from now on when we are out in public, can you please keep your vomit to yourself?

Love Always,
Mom

PS- Blue (juice box) and yellowish/orangish (doritos) clearly makes green. A bright, vomit green.

PPS- I may or may not have yelled dammit at the splash pad. I was all worked up too and I can't remember. I'm pretty sure if the other moms heard me say that, they would damn me to hell.