An update on Elizabeth

So here’s an update on the kids. Today I’ll write about Elizabeth (because it's so long) and next I’ll write about Peyton.

It’s hard to write about your children. On the one hand, you don’t want to write all these things they can do because you don’t want to come off as conceited and arrogant and proud, and on the other, you don’t want to write negative things about them because we love our children in spite of their misbehavior and bad habits (but let’s admit, they do have them). So, what should I say? I’ll just write the truth, at least as I say it.

It’s hard to explain Elizabeth in words, but I’m going to try so that I can look back here later and see what she was like as a three-year-old.

Elizabeth started Pre-K last week at a local school here in town. She started one full week ahead of all the public schools here, which was good because I needed to get some things done with work. This is the first time that Elizabeth has gone anywhere for five days a week since she’s been born. We’ve been really blessed to have had her home at least two days a week for the past three years (even though we’ve both had full time jobs) and now we’re a little sad to not have her here some during the week.

Elizabeth is a very smart girl. Not just in the traditional knowledge sense but also in her understanding, observation, and analysis. For instance, our family was driving last week and discussing where we were going to eat. Elizabeth said, “Let’s go to McDonald’s.” And we said, “No, we’re going to a real restaurant.” And Elizabeth responded with her first “argument” when she said, “But McDonald’s is cheaper.” She’s also so observant. Anytime we are driving in the car, she says, “Oh, this is the way to Baylor’s pool.” Or “This is the way to the Robinson School.” Or this is the way that goes over the railroad tracks. Wow. She pays attention when we drive.

Every time we drive, we have to listen to her “Songs!” And one song, in particular: the Books of the Bible. She can sing the Old Testament song and the New Testament song. She even likes to play this game where she says a book and asks you if it’s in the Old or New Testament. She is really good at it, too. One time, she and her Granna were playing this game and she asked, “Granna, do you know what Testament ‘Letters’ is in?” Right on cue, Granna responds, “New.” (“Acts and Letters to the Romans”). J

Elizabeth is a very talkative girl. Even if you don’t respond, she’ll talk your ear off. Everything she thinks is verbalized, which is just like her father. She also has the cutest little sense of humor. She loves to laugh and makes silly jokes all the time. Then, she laughs at her jokes and tells you to do the same.

Elizabeth loves to play dress up and is really into princesses (I haven’t encouraged this, but oh well—it’s fun to pretend. She prances around in her tutus, tiaras, and princess shoes. She also likes her Little People. She plays with her baby dolls all the time and we often find them sleeping in Peyton’s bed. She is a very good mother to them. She makes us be quiet when they’re sleeping and she covers them up blankets, burp rags, and towels. She even dresses them in Peyton’s clothes.

Penguin is her favorite stuffed animal. Lamb has been missing for a few months and she is still mourning his disappearance (We don’t know what happened to him.). Elizabeth left Penguin in Austin when she was there a few weeks ago and today Penguin arrived in the mail. Elizabeth grabbed him and hugged him and rolled around with him. She was so excited to see him. It was really cute.

Although Elizabeth is fully daytime potty-trained, she has no interest in being nighttime potty-trained (not that she really knows this); she just has this unquenchable thirst that can’t be satisfied and so she is constantly drinking water. It’s going to be a long time until she doesn’t wear something at night. Oh well.

Elizabeth changes her own clothes constantly. She especially loves to wear long pajama pants, even though it’s 100 degrees outside.

She’s a really good eater. She’ll eat anything at least once and loves vegetables, meat, and fruit (as well as all the processed food, too, but we don’t give it to her very much). She even likes to eat salad, as long as it has plenty of ranch dressing on it. She also loves ketchup and can often be found dipping her fingers into it and licking them. Yuk! She loves desserts, but she comes by this honestly. We just try to do this in moderation.

Now for her behavior…we are constantly having to remind her what it means to obey. She really has trouble with this concept. She has been throwing tons of fits lately. These tantrums have been too often for our tastes and we are ready for her to realize that our boundaries are set, tantrum or not. Parenting is hard!!

But I love Elizabeth so much. She’s such a sweet girl. Always wants to be around us and always wants to play with us. She’s so sweet to Peyton and loves him unconditionally. He’s her little baby, too. Whenever she talks to him, she always refers to herself as “Sister.” “Sister loves you, brother.” “Play with Sister.” “Smile for Sister.” J It’s cute. She also gets right in his face and her hair dangles in front of him, right at the perfect level for him to pull it. When he does pull it, which is often, she gets upset and says, “No, Peyton” as if he really knows what he’s doing. What a special girl. That’s enough for now, but since I hadn’t written in so long, I had a lot to write. We love you, Elizabeth!