Random Thoughts

I usually try to come up with a "subject" for each blog post.  Today all I have is a bunch of random thoughts that don't fit neatly into any one subject.  So humor me, please!

Early last week Juliet came into my room when I was toweling off after a shower.  Looking at my naked body, she said, "Ooh, so that is you."  She didn't say anything else and I certainly didn't want to provoke any further comments.  French kids are used to seeing their family members naked and they feel very comfortable with nudity, so hopefully I didn't scar her for life.

Last night we hit the trifecta:  James spit up on Juliet's newly made up bed; while we were changing her linens James had what we call a "code brown" and needed an immediate diaper change; Juliet wet the bed in the middle of the night (another linen change), and at the same time James woke up and was howling to be fed.  Matt is away on a business trip and I'm so glad I was here to help Jeanne.

Mondays are tough for James because he's used to being with Mom and Dad on the weekends.  So he tends to be a little fussy on Mondays.  This week I could not seem to make him happy; even a stroller ride didn't do the trick.  He's a pretty strong little guy and he was like a bucking bronco in the baby carriage.  I really thought he was going to flip himself out!  What was interesting to me was that the only time he seemed happy was when I was taking his picture.  Just pointing the camera at him brought a big smile to his face.  Now a five-month-old can't realize that his picture is being taken, can he?  Juliet is a huge ham, so maybe James is following in her footsteps.

Matthew and Jeanne definitely have their hands full with these two kids, as they're both very headstrong and stubborn.  Just watching and listening to James as he falls asleep will convince you that he has a strong personality.  He grunts and groans, clenches his fists and rages, rages against sleep.  It's fascinating that kids are born with these personalities; as parents and grandparents we think we can shape them but a lot of who they are and who they will be is pre-determined.  I always say 75% nature, 25% nurture, but I'm not sure the nurture part is even that much.

Enough random thoughts from a diaper changing, gum massaging, feeding and burping, grandmotherly addled brain.  Ciao!