Have You Heard About Rachel?

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The little one with the BIG personality?

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Sitting on the "Royal Throne," Rachel grins up at me and says, "Mommy I'm peeing. I'm peeing and I'm the King of the World."

You know, I think she might really mean it.

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At just 18 months Rachel uttered her first curse word. Not once, not twice, but three times and in the correct context. (Do you think she might be too smart for her own good? or my own good?)

Aunt Julia and Gama Amy had been here the day before, talking quietly at the table. "Damn," I overheard someone say and cleared my throat to get their attention. "Opps."

"Don't worry," I said. "I don't think anyone but me heard you."

Well, little Rachel with her one good ear can apparently pick up the sound of water droplets in the next room because not only did she hear it, she remembered it and understood its usage.

The next day she didn't want to take her nap. As she protested I said, "Rachel, you have to take a nap now. Fussing won't change anything."

"Damn. Damn. Damn," she said as I lay her down in her crib.

I stifled a giggle until I got out of the room. (Luckily this hasn't been a recurring event.)

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One Sunday Daddy told the then 20-month old Rachel that our flatware is for eating not for playing.

The next day, as I was making lunch, Rachel reached in and grabbed a couple spoons. "Rachel, Daddy said you couldn't play with those. Spoons are for eating not for playing."

And with that oh so innocent little smile, she looked up at me and said, "Daddy's not here," and took the spoons out of the drawer.

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A few weeks later, while eating snacks I reminded both Rachel and Alex to get off the carpet while they were eating. "You can stand on the tile or sit at the table - but you can't eat that on the carpet. You'll make a mess."

Alex took her food and stood on the tile, happily eating her breakfast bar. Rachel stood with one foot on the carpet and one on the tile.

"Rachel, off the carpet."

She rotated her her heel and moved her foot onto the tile.

No sooner had I said "thank you" then she rotated her heel and put her foot back on the carpet.

WOW! Less than two and could she ever INTENTIONALLY test my patience!! I was amazed.

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Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Rachel. Rachel don't bang on my table."

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Rachel don't bang on Mommy's table. If you bang that on Mommy's table again you're going to go sit in your chair."

"It doesn't work that way," she said confidently as she looked up.

"Oh really?" I said as I stifled a laugh at hearing my own words tossed back at me.

On the plus side - she stopped the banging.

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She's also our resident nudist - stripping down to her birthday suit every chance she gets:

(Strippin' down at bedtime)

(In the backyard during play dates)

(And just running around the house.)
(Check out the stylish boots!)

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Yep - that's our little Rachel. The ever sweet, loving, independent thinker testing the limits of the world around her. I can only hope that we're up to the challenge.

Gotta love her!!

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