Dear Rachel,
Today, for the third day in a row, you were playing peekaboo, in the stores, out of my eyesight, and although this is not the first time you have played in the familiar aisles of our Publix, Mall, or Target, this is the first time that I saw you think it was a game, instead of a curiosity. So I told you, the plain truth. That there are bad people, people that can take you, people that can take Hannah when I leave her to run after you. And I am sorry. I apologize that the world is not safe enough for you to run to and from the next aisle of the grocery store that we go to over and over again. And it’s not safe enough to run out of sight even in the food court at the mall where we love to play or run through the endless racks of clothes.
My love, you are growing up and I adore you!
Love, Mommy
Dear Girls,
Today was the first day we all had swim class. The weekend is over and first thing Monday morning we have swim school at La Fleurs at 9:15am! Nana went back to work in the schools so there was no baby sitter for Hannah. Instead of taking a break from lessons, we decided to all dive in head first (so to speak)!
Yay! What a successful first day. We got up with perfect timing for a Hannah cat nap. Both you girls got your suits on and we were out the door and on time without tears! We all dipped into the water and went through the station routine that is so familiar to you Rachel. I remember starting swim lessons with you at 6 months, I was shocked that the teacher wanted to dunk my baby under water! And now look at us! Rachel is swimming, picking up rings from the bottom, jumping off the side! I love it! Rachel, you are ready for the next class, but I know it will be hard to separate from mommy and your little sister. But you are a fish, embrace it! And Hannah, you love the water. You are splashing at least two months earlier than Rachel. I wish for you to love swimming as much as your big sister!
It is not easy taking two girls in the water, but we are a team. Even when Hannah made a huge pooh at the first station, we all went to the bathroom together. We got showered and soaped off together, and all three of us made it into dry clothes!
We celebrated our success with a trip to the mall play area and lunch at Chick-Fil-A. And we were back home and napping in perfect noon fashion.
I even got almost two hours of solice before my little ladies made a peep.
Michael Phelps is an amazing, incredible, unbelievable Olympic phenomena… but I know, he couldn’t do a day like this!
Love, Mommy
Dear Hannah,
We took a nice bath tonight, and Rachel tried not to squirt you in the face with the new squishy basketball toys. And after winding down in the bedroom for some time, once again, Rachel flipped the plastic doll swing, once again, and it screached! and you jumped! and then you just busted out laughing! Rachel and I looked at each other and just laughed and began about 10 more minutes of coaxing you into the giggles! You are precious sweetheart! My little pumpkin pie!
Love, Mommy