Water Color Painting

Since Mary Tighe has been born, I have been feeling less adventurous when it comes to going places with 2 children.  I think the biggest outing we have taken with the 3 of us (minus David) is to the Post Office Museum.  That museum may sound boring, but it has a really big truck cab that must be an actual post office trailer truck cab.  Archer can climb up into and pretend to drive.  There are never any people there so he doesn't have to worry about other children wanting a turn.  I can sit in the seat next to him in the cab and nurse in relative private.

Most days, I try to take a walk with them somewhere like the monestary or arboretum and then maybe hit one of the 2 stores in my neighborhood - CVS or YES Organic market.  A few weeks ago we went to the CVS and got some water color paints and a blank art book.  Archer sits outside on our back porch at his little table and paints and paints and paints.  There is little color to his paints as he likes to mix all the colors and create a really dark green, red, yellow, or blue that resemble mostly a nice dark grey.  His paintings remind me of a Japanese or Chinese calligrapher using a bamboo brush to make interesting characters.  Not much color, but a lot of nice fluid strokes.  It's a great way to pass the time as I sit in the rocker and watch him and nurse.

Kissing

Kissing has been a theme recently.

1. Archer is a pretty good kisser.  When Mary Tighe and I were the hospital Granny Goose explained how Archer would plant one on her and just hang out there pushing his lips hard against Granny Goose's.  He's done that a few times to me too and after awhile it just kind of hurts, but I know I'll miss those hard kisses one day.

2. Archer likes to kiss Mary Tighe a lot too.  He likes to kiss her mouth, her cheeks, her forehead - all the places I get nervous about especially since he has a runny nose and he inevitably leaves a trail on her head.  I try to get him to kiss her feet, which just seems weird to me.  I want him to love her and I know she is going to get sick this winter, but it makes me so nervous (the sickness part).

3.  Last Friday, we went over to my friend Stephanie's house to play with her kids and my friend Janine's kids. The kids were kind of grumpy and tired so we didn't stay long.  I finally get Archer to the car and he says, "Wait, I didn't give Olivia a kiss goodbye." Okay.  So we walk back to the house and knock on the door.  Archer and Olivia embrace and kiss each other on the lips.

4. Mary Tighe is growing out of her Kissy Kissy clothes way too fast.  I am going to have to stop relying on the clothing bought for her as presents and go out and get some more.  I wish they made Kissy Kissy for grown ups.

"See that Mary Tighe"

I try to give Archer positive attention whenever I can.  I have read over and over again how important it is to 'catch them being good' so that the older sibling won't feel he has to resort to doing things that are not allowed or will get him in trouble in order to be noticed.  When Archer takes a bath, washes his hands, makes a block tower, climbs up stairs - the most mundane events I say, "See that Mary Tighe, Archer can _________ (whatever it is that he is doing)."  I think it makes Archer feel proud of himself - he can show Mary Tighe what he can do.

Now Archer says it all the time on his own.  David and I think it is so cute.  "See that Mary Tighe!"- he puts on his shoes. "See that Mary Tighe"- he rides his tricycle.  "See that Mary Tighe" - he is watching Little Einsteins.