Eloise was acting TWO the whole week before she turned two. Screaming, hitting, running away. One morning, while I chased The Woo outside after she bolted during breakfast, a Greek woman stopped me with a huge, adoring smile for Eloise: “She will be the blessing of your life! In her, you have a friend forever.” Now I remind Eloise of this every so often.
And she really is. One day I was feeling sad. Eloise immediately noticed. “Aw!” She cooed, climbing into my lap for a sweet, snuggly hug. She wouldn’t let go. She asks me to hold her (“got me? Got me?”) then does this funny sniffling thing to tell me she wants me to tickle her. She has the sweetest curls and prettiest green eyes in the history of the world. She follows Isaac relentlessly. He adores her. One day we dropped Chris off and as we pulled away she was very distressed, thinking we’d left Chris behind: “no! No Daddy! Nooooo!” She completely completes our family.
She especially loves to snuggle at the beach. She likes to hold hands. She pats people on the head if they seem down. She likes to play with squinkies, cars, crayons. She is left handed. She likes apples, oranges, apple sauce, milk, butter, and sometimes toast and chicken nuggets.
Last year, Isaac told me after Chris deployed that he wanted a birthday party this year. I asked what that looked like, and he said carving pumpkins and bobbing for apples. So the night before we left for Florida, we celebrated our kids’ birthdays again with just that. Eloise and I went to Trader Joe’s for caramel corn and pumpkin pie, and between packing and grilling, Chris carved a glowing jack o’lantern.
It looks like birthday season is over and fall is upon us. But that won’t keep us out of the water! Our last day in CA was spent with my parents on the beach (ok, and breaking down in the truck on the side of the road, and being double super grouchy. Sorry about that). See you later, California! Bring on the white sands of Florida!
Lizards Across the World
Leftover Ham
The Enchanted Azalea Forest; Lessons in Talking to Strangers
Pierside in Pensacola