Jayden Rylee is one now (has been for a month) and she is changing by the minute. As she grows, so does her personality. Her sister has a HUGE personality. Jaycee is very in your face and needs 100% of your attention whether you are able to give it to her or not. Jayden, on the other hand, has always been a bit more subdued. She is a watcher. She watches Jaycee stomp around screaming like a human air horn most of the day and she isn't bothered by it one bit. If you hang out with Jayden, you figure out pretty quick that she is pretty relaxed and easy going; she has been that way since she was born. However, recently we have seen an interesting side of our little baby. The observation skills she has been developing are now taking on an entirely different purpose. Like I said, Jaycee is very in your face. It would be next to impossible to not realize she is around. Well, this is not lost on Jayden. Jayden's favorite things to do is play with are "big girl toys" rather than her own. One of those big girl things is her sister's kitchen set. Well, Jaycee's prized possession is her kitchen set. If Jayden even looks at it while Jaycee is in the room, Jaycee throws a fit. So, what to do if your car alarm of a sister won't let you get within arm's length of her stuff, but you really want to play with it? Be patient. Eventually, big sister has to run an errand or two. Maybe she has to go outside and make sure all of the roses are pulled off the rose bushes or perhaps she has to change her outfit for the 7th time in a day. Whatever she is up to, when the coast is clear, make your move. That is exactly what Jayden does. When sister is preoccupied, it is a free for all. Jaycee gets two steps out of the room and Jayden heads on a bee line for the forbidden items. She can usually get a minute or two in before her sister returns and brings the fun to an end. She enjoys the time she gets then goes back to patiently waiting for the next opportunity. I find it so interesting to have two beings, so close in age with such different life strategies. It makes me wonder as a parent which is going to be easier to deal with? You have Jaycee, who upon hearing no will make every attempt to explain to you why you are wrong and why she is entitled to eat whatever candy she wants at whatever time of day. Or Jayden, the one who waits until the right moment and gets the candy without anyone knowing.
Then it gets real scary. What if they team up? I had a glimpse into my future earlier this evening. Jaycee and I were playing rough and she was trying to get me knocked over so she could beat me up the rest of the way. Then without warning, I feel little fists beating the side of my head followed by the war cry of an Apache indian. I looked up and it was my innocent little baby with the biggest smile on her face, so happy to be ganging up on me. They say dogs can sense weakness, I think my kids can too...
