As most of you know, Adam and I think it is very important for us to have time without the girls. We believe it benefits us as a couple, each of us individually, and for the benefit of the girls. The girls already know that they can enjoy themselves without us and that many people love them almost as much as we do. When we needed to make the trip to St. Louis for Grandma's last days, it was pretty easy to leave them with Adam's mom. They were excited to get to play with their cousins and they knew we would come back for them. There were no tears from them to make our trip harder than it already was.
One of the things we just started doing again during the week for exercise, a shower, and some time with others, is go to the YMCA. When we went regularly before, Autumn was just a tiny baby and therefore did not remember going. Chloe, however, loved it then and even more so now! The first couple of days, Autumn cried when I left her. Now she willingly goes, but still sometimes tells me she is excited to play with the "yadies" and not so much the other children.
Whenever Adam and I leave the girls we always talk about how they should behave while we are gone. We have also tried to teach Chloe that she is a big sister and Autumn is her best friend and that when we are gone she needs to make sure Autumn is taken care of. (We also tell her to remind others about her milk intolerance.) I don't often have moments of "I must be doing something right" these days, but the other day at the gym, while I was waiting for the girls, one of the ladies said, " You know, Chloe is really protective of her? We try to split up the bigger kids and the smaller ones sometimes so the little ones don't get trampled, but Chloe always tells us she needs to go with Autumn to take care of her." I thought that was great!
From Autumn's birth, Chloe has really been very willing to "help" and take care of Autumn. They do fight and don't always love to share, but when it is needed Chloe is a great big sister! Whenever I give Chloe a treat, she usually makes sure Autumn is getting one too. When Chloe is going to do something fun and Autumn needs to stay home and nap or she's not quite big enough to do it, Chloe tries to offer some encouraging words (which can be pretty funny!) Autumn has learned to pretend cry when she is getting her diaper changed just so Chloe will come over and pat her head and say, "it's okay, I'm right here, we can play when Mama's done." I love my little helper and pray she always holds Autumn close!
One of the things we just started doing again during the week for exercise, a shower, and some time with others, is go to the YMCA. When we went regularly before, Autumn was just a tiny baby and therefore did not remember going. Chloe, however, loved it then and even more so now! The first couple of days, Autumn cried when I left her. Now she willingly goes, but still sometimes tells me she is excited to play with the "yadies" and not so much the other children.
Whenever Adam and I leave the girls we always talk about how they should behave while we are gone. We have also tried to teach Chloe that she is a big sister and Autumn is her best friend and that when we are gone she needs to make sure Autumn is taken care of. (We also tell her to remind others about her milk intolerance.) I don't often have moments of "I must be doing something right" these days, but the other day at the gym, while I was waiting for the girls, one of the ladies said, " You know, Chloe is really protective of her? We try to split up the bigger kids and the smaller ones sometimes so the little ones don't get trampled, but Chloe always tells us she needs to go with Autumn to take care of her." I thought that was great!
From Autumn's birth, Chloe has really been very willing to "help" and take care of Autumn. They do fight and don't always love to share, but when it is needed Chloe is a great big sister! Whenever I give Chloe a treat, she usually makes sure Autumn is getting one too. When Chloe is going to do something fun and Autumn needs to stay home and nap or she's not quite big enough to do it, Chloe tries to offer some encouraging words (which can be pretty funny!) Autumn has learned to pretend cry when she is getting her diaper changed just so Chloe will come over and pat her head and say, "it's okay, I'm right here, we can play when Mama's done." I love my little helper and pray she always holds Autumn close!
These are adorable pictures. And I love that Autumn will pretend cry to get Chloe to come to her rescue. :)
ReplyDelete