Birdie and Water, A Love Affair

Lately, water, as a drink, has been all the rage around here, especially with Clara. When she finishes her juice at breakfast, she wants water. When she finishes her milk at lunch and dinner, she wants water. She wants water at other, random times. Joe, naturally, would often like water, too, if Birdie is going to be having water.

Yesterday, Julie had to stay at work late for an event, so Ted ran the dinnertime circus solo. We have, we know, Dear Readers, mentioned before that if it is possible for all present members of Raleigh House to occupy either the bathroom or the kitchen (easily the two smallest rooms in the house), then that is what will happen. It is clear that to Joe, Clara, and Berenice's way of thinking, nothing--nothing!--could be more fun that cramming in to these spaces all together. One thing Joe and Clara like to do when flittering about the kitchen while dinner is being made, is open the drawer where all their cups and bowls live (plates and utensils live someplace else!; small space living: it's am-azing!) and remove as many as they can before the chef flips out a little bit about not being able to move as he or she, say scrambles eggs and makes jamberry toast and slices up some bananas. This is no doubt how Joe and Clara came to select their own cups for dinner yesterday evening: they have their cups; great!

When dinner was ready, Ted noticed Clara had water in her cup. He asked Joe why Clara had water in her cup. Joe said, "I don't know," as Clara began chirping, "Nice," (like the French city, Fans).

That's right. She'd taken her cup, and helped herself to some water from Nice's (Berenice's, that is) water bowl.

We should also perhaps mention that Joe's teacher, Ms. Vanessa, remarked to Ted when he was picking up Joe, "I heard Clara had quite a day yesterday!" Ted had no idea what she meant. Apparently our Birdie decided to take a little bird bath. In the potty. She stuck her head in it. !!!!!

They Say It's Your Birthday

Today is Aunt Kate's birthday! As it happens, Happy Birthday is one of our favorite tunes around here, and last night, we read Spot's Birthday Party. So, the stars aligned for us to capture this birthday greeting. Happy birthday, Aunt Kate! We love you! (And Spot.)

Siblings Are Good*

It's good to have a sibling. Julie does not have one, but has long suspected that it is good to have a sibling precisely because she does not, and always wished she did. It's true that they seem to be exasperating now and again, but it is also true that they seem to be pretty fabulous more often than not.

Joe seems to be taken with his little sister. Who else would scream with him and at him before drifting off to sleep? We here at Joe and Clara Jane think we can all agree that's a pretty small group. And then there's this hilarious game: telling Clara, "No, I say it!" which prompts her to repeat, "No, I say it!", which prompts Joe to repeat the same, and so on, ad infinitum, or until one or the other is laughing too hard to continue saying anything at all.

Clara, for her part, is clearly taken with her big brother. She is usually rousted form the bath before Joe, who then lingers for a bit, so she arrives for bedtime stories on the couch in advance of him. Last night, she sought out her Bright Baby First Words book, which opens with a picture of a girl "like Clara," and a boy, "like Joe." Clara pulled it down off the shelf, opened right to that page, and said "Clara and Joe, Clara and Joe, Clara and Joe." Joe took rather a long time getting into his pajamas last night, and eventually, Birdie broke down in tears until Julie hit upon a jumble of words that Clara understood and thus found soothing: Joe is coming. Clara and Julie repeated "Joe is coming" like a mantra to see us through the difficult and fraught minutes until Joe appeared in his pajamas.

Clara and Joe, Joe and Clara.

[Post-post addition: Here is something else that a sibling will do: climb out of bed and pick up a small bear your sister has tossed on the floor twice, and which your mother had said she would not be picking up off of the floor again and which, moreover, your mother has said will not be joining your sister in slumberland tomorrow night given that there are already seven furry friends in her crib and thus barely any room for her, and that goes for you, too, apparently, since you've added Kitty to your menagerie tonight, and your undressing Kitty was what caused Clara to take off her socks and not be able to get them back on, in addition to wanting (another) "bear."]

*Incidentally, today is National Sibling Day. Did you know, Fans?

Orange

Shortly before this picture was taken, Clara was trying to cram these combs (which the Easter Bunny brought) into one of the decidedly smaller pockets of her fleece. Shortly before that, she'd appeared in the midst of the four foot square area of floor in the kitchen that every member of Raleigh House likes to occupy at the same time, usually while dinner is being made, holding the orange comb aloft and announcing, "Orange!" Indeed! Orange is the latest color that Birdie has down cold. Last week, when Julie was getting the pink cereal bowl out of the cupboard, Birdie said, plain as day and clear as a bell, " I want orange."

Incidentally, here's what else was in the magpie's pocket: a compact mirror, three chap sticks (caps removed), three chap stick caps (loose, obviously), and a wad of paper.

Holding Hands

When Birdie holds Julie's hand, Birdie more clasps Julie's index finger in her whole little hand. This used to be how Joe held Julie's hand, too. But twice now, in as many weeks, Julie has noticed Joe quite deliberately rearranging their hands so that all of his fingers are clasping all of her fingers, all big boy like. The second time was not long after this picture was taken on Sunday, which put Julie in mind of it. (Ted reports though that his hand is still too big for Joe told hold all of it.)