Laughing out loud

I think it's important that you laugh at or with your children at least once a day. I feel very fortunate that I get to laugh a lot. My twosome are quite the pair. Laughing helps erase the tension that builds up inside of me when my son has been in time out of 20 times in one day. It makes me forget the bite marks on my arm that my daughter has left there.

Today was a hard one for my daughter. This past week she has not been herself (i.e. perfect). She has continually woken up at night between the hours of 2 and 3am moaning and crying. Her naps have gone from two 2 hour naps to two 45 minute naps, or like the other day one 30 minute nap. She's been overly aggressive towards me and her brother. She also whines for a better part of the day. Always Miss Independent, yet she has been clinging onto me and hiding behind my legs. Who knows what is currently going on her but it is taking a lot of patience on my part.

I've been fortunate to have one easy baby to help counteract the demands of the other more spirited one. This shift in her personality has resulted in one tired and frazzled mom. I hope that whatever she is going through I can help her through it as soon as possible because I really would like my little sweet girl back. However, in the meantime, I'm still trying to make it a point to laugh each day with her.

Tonight's episode was right before I grabbed her for her bath. I just finished with my son (who had thrown a fit in the tub because he wanted to touch the hot water knob and I wouldn't let him), he yelled kicked and threw water in my face. I got him out (annoyed) and looked in the hall for her. I saw her come into the door frame from the left. She smiled a big smile and then slyly inched her way out of the door frame moving right until she was out of site.

I stood up and peeked out the door, way over her head. I could see her little hands and face pressed against the wall and she was standing there naked peering ahead with a little smirk on her face. She thought she was hiding. Above her head I said "GOTCHA!" she jumped, startled, and then took off running while laughing.

Her little naked butt flew down the hallway towards the kitchen. I bolted out of the bathroom to run and grab her. The whole time she was looking behind her with a huge smile plastered on her face thinking she was going to get away. I felt like I was trapped in one of those "Foundation for a Better Life" commercials. It had been a long day with lots of tantrums and whines from both. I could have easily demanded that she return to the bathroom to take her bath, thus practicing discipline.

But instead I found myself chasing her and laughing so hard I was laughing out loud. If you know me, you know that I rarely laugh out loud. Most of the time it's a smile or a happy huff, but when it's out loud, I know I'm having a good time.

I hope she returns to her normal self soon, for all our sakes. Last night she woke up once each hour. I've already heard a few noises coming from her room since we put her down meaning tonight might be another long one. But, I'll drink my coffee in the morning and remember not to take it all so seriously.