Together but separate

When we found out we were having another girl, I was like, "Oh! Let's see what else we can make!" And then she arrived...and looked like a carbon copy of her sister. But after a few months, Naomi began to have a countenance, and personality, of her own. Sisters? Yes. Identical? No.

There's Olaiya - seeming replica of the mama - social butterfly, softhearted, fashion-conscious, fastidious, full of song and dance, touchy-feely, talkative and easy going.

And there's Naomi, who at 16 mos. doesn't have all of her words yet, so the verdict's still a bit out, but so far we'd say may be more like her papa, a social-skilled introvert, likes meat, deviant but cuddly, and unlike sissy, okay with messiness and relatively fearless (which in this household, might not be saying much).

Lately Olaiya's been on the big girl kick. "That's pretty big stuff," she says in a smiling, knowing voice. She's gained the privilege of reading with her night light at bed time and when in public, insists on going in her own restroom stall (while Naomi and I stand watch). Plus she's starting to seem school age in her abilities, doing everything on the playground by herself, running around with other little girls, helping herself to things throughout the house, and starting to write her own name. But apparently to go to a "good" preschool around here, you apply in January-February and *hope* to make the list for fall. People we've met say things like, "Yeah, we're #5 on one list and #9 on another," and "We got lucky, she was the last one in," like they were all there, parents and kids, for a draft day like scene of acceptance and rejection. So we're considering an alternate plan. My pal Anna's tipped me off to a really stellar home school curriculum for preschoolers and then we'll hopefully find a killer play group (this girl needs social interaction) and/or dance class.

Naomi has embarked on the "terrible twos". Yeah, you find they're much longer than just a 12 month stint. The cry that she used to reserve for severe injury now comes out at the slightest injustice. Mom taking away her cell phone, Daddy taking her away from his bike, Olaiya taking hits off of her milk...pretty much anybody denying her anything she's got her eye on, brings the screaming. She's also begun to employ the pacifist protester slack-body, fall-to-the-ground resistance. Naomi's much more curious than I remember Olaiya being. We never really had to worry about baby proofing with Olaiya - she pretty much rolled with the status quo. Naomi, on the other hand, likes to play with the toilet. This week, as I was getting ready in the bathroom, Olaiya went potty, didn't get around to flushing right away, and I hear Naomi doing her "Mom! Look here!" persistent noise and look over to her pointing to her paci, tether and all, in the toilet. Sweet.

O - l - a - i - three-part y - a

Climbing Naomi.