(It takes a lot of concentration to write your name upside down and backwards)

Emma wasn’t feeling well this morning when she woke up, so about two hours later I convinced her to  get back in bed for awhile and rest. I propped her up with pillows and her giant elephant Lily, covered her with lots of blankets, filled her bed with some of her "friends", gave her paper, one of my "good" pens, and some books to read. We even put on a little music.
Emma is all about atmosphere, so of course she ate this experience up. She’s the kind of girl who, when she watches a special movie, wants all the lights out, lots of pillows piled up on the sofa and every blanket in sight draped over her. Or, if its time for some tea, she wants it in a proper cup, with her own little spoon for stirring in sugar, and the small creamer pitcher from her tea set so that she can add the milk all by herself. Most of these occasions are met with squeals and shivers of delight. But I must confess that she gets a lot of this from me….we both love a mini-party at home, whether its a cup of tea, a good movie, sitting down with an art project (knitting, for me), a snuggle in bed, turning out all the lights in the house in order to admire the Christmas tree’s twinkle….we are definitely a bunch of squealers in our own right. We’re doing our best to pass this on to Mary as well, who can cover her mouth, squeal, and crumple to the ground at the mention of climbing in the chair together to read a book, or the sight of me pulling the wrapper of a candy cane in order to give her a few licks.
Anyway, as I walked out of the room this morning leaving Emma in her nest of pleasure, I thought, "man, what I wouldn’t give to be three."  For someone to say, "here, Molly, come climb in bed again. Here are your books, your journal, some knitting…I’ll put on some music for you. Just relax and come join us again when you’re more rested and ready."
Really, I do get my moments each day: a break for a cup of tea, or both girls napping and a chance to write and catch up with blogging friends, a husband who keeps the girls busy so I can make dinner without tripping over toddlers….so when all is said and done, I can’t complain too much.