A Little Girl

We've seen Juliet on Skype many, many times since Christmas, but we haven't seen her in person.  Wow!  Has she ever changed!  Her body, her face, her speech, her mannerisms, her actions:  everything has changed.  Though we saw her almost weekly for eight months, it didn't prepare me for how grown-up she is in many ways, and how much like a 2 and 1/2 year old she is in most ways.  Why didn't we notice these changes on Skype??

She is taller than I imagined, and lanky.  Very talkative, and she runs everywhere.  Walking?  What's that?  She understands English but speaks mostly French.  Like most 2-year-olds, she wants to do everything herself; I don't mind.  When she gets frustrated enough, she will ask for help.  Juliet's father was rather cautious; if you warned him against something, he wouldn't do it.  She takes a warning as a challenge.  So, you think I shouldn't run across these rocks in my bare feet?  Watch this!  And she's off, giggling and screaming with pleasure.

I think I'll be a little challenged myself, this week.  Without Tom here to help, it may be a bit of a struggle.  For example, Juliet wants to walk when we're going some place, but soon tires and wants to be carried.  Grandma can't carry her very far.  I guess we'll take the stroller and hope for the best.  Grandma needs to be more like a French grandparent, anyway; they don't put up with any nonsense.  They are firm and loving, but especially firm in their dealings with the grandchildren.  So my goal is to be the kind of grandparent my French daughter-in-law trusts with her child.  I don't want to undo the work Juliet's parents have already done.

The other thing is, Juliet is toilet trained, but tends to wait until the last minute to tell you she needs to peepee immediately if not sooner.  I'll probably know where all the public restrooms are in Levallois by the time we leave.  At any rate, I plan to relax and enjoy my granddaughter, help her work on her English, take a few trips to the park or the market, do some cooking together (I've heard she's quite good in the kitchen) and get to know one another.  She is a little girl now, and the last time I saw her she was a toddler.  She's growing up too fast!