Once again in just diaper and shoes

I asked Evey to smile for this picture, and this is what she came up with. Hey, I was happy - at least she didn't turn away like she normally does! (say hello to Will and Odie in the background)

This stunning outfit courtesy of our disposable diapers once again leaking poop onto Evey's clothes. Assistance provided by my inability to bring a spare outfit. (say hello to Will, Odie, and Jack in the background)

 Today was an interesting day for me. On our agenda was: taking Daddy to work, playing with Truly and Lila (our friends), lunch with Bill (my boss), nap, then maybe seeing Erin/Will/Sean in the afternoon. But the morning didn't go very smoothly, with lots of acting up and toddler-appropriate behavior from our little darling girl. I managed to get Kevin to work, but things really fell apart once we got back home.

I'll spare you the long story of our struggles and talks and time spent calming in a chair and more struggles, and will cut to the meat of the story. One small thing E was yelling about was not going to visit Truly and Lila, whom she usually loves to see. As this was in a sea of other complaints and naughtiness, I dismissed it at first as just her being generally obstinate. But as the struggle continued, that point caught in my head suddenly, and I decided to stop and take it seriously.

"Evey, do you want to go play with Truly and Lila?"

She stopped. "No." (calmly and clearly)

"Do you want to just stay home and be with Mommy today?"

"Yes." (nodding, emphatically)

"Okay, I will call and cancel and we will stay home."

After this, she immediately laid down on the diaper pad (where she'd been refusing to go) and was entirely cooperative in letting me change her atrociously poopy diaper.  I called and canceled everything we had going on, and we just sat and snuggled on the couch for about 30 minutes, holding hands and humming together.  We read a couple books, watched some Curious George 2 (the current favorite), and took a nap together, with constant cuddles throughout. 

It was such a sweet, wonderful, unexpected morning. She and I have been inadvertently doing several things every day, and after all the running around, she just wanted some downtime. Kevin said "Most kids want to go out and do things, it's so funny that she just wants to stay here and cuddle. Then again . . . she is our child."

Too true, sweetheart.