Loo-Hoo & O-weee

Because my sisters' day care provider is in the midst of a two-week vacation, we've all had to rearrange our schedules to take care of Emma and Owen, twenty-two-month old cousins who are more like twins.  I was at my sister Heather's with Marley and Rudy in tow last Wednesday and today.  Four under four.  Ridiculously draining, even with Heather working from her home office so that I could still bring Bean to school and gymnastics, and so I could have a minute, to, I don't know, pee?   You know what?  Nadya Suleman is truly out of her mind.  Bonkers.  

Danielle had Emma in May 2007, just a week before Heather had Owen, and in the fall, Danielle began a year-long leave of absence from teaching to care for them both.  (Owen's older sister Riley was already enrolled in full-day preschool.)  This year, Danielle went back to work and the two lovable maniacs started at an in-home daycare, where they are referred to as Frick and Frack.  There have inordinate amounts of love and fury for each other.  When Emma woke up from her nap last week, all  groggy and cuddly, she asked for "O-wee" over and over.  When she played in the pretend kitchen this morning, she made it clear that Owen was not allowed near her.  Emma will spend most of her elementary school years in a lopsided baseball hat with grass-stained jeans and skinned elbows.  Before she spoke many words, her growling sufficed for communication.  She whimpers for her pink fluffy blanket (Fifi) and her nuh-nuh when she needs comfort.  She whimpered for these items several times today, for reasons as varied as a fall from a mini-roller coaster and a lack of the perfect snack.

Emma clutches Fifi while Rudy (thankfully) entertains herself.

Owen is a gentle giant.  He weighs more than Marley, and I figure by the end of the summer, he'll pretty much tower over her.  He loves tackling his little friends, Emma and Riley included, but he's got a soft spot for Emma and for dress-up princess shoes, too.  He runs squealing to Rudy's infant car seat whenever I arrive.  And then he's all up in her grill:  "Ba-beh!  Ba-beh!"  He's frequently working a pacifier, which he calls a boo-booh rather than our family's traditional and also strange nuh-nuh.  So, he starts with "Ba-beh!" and sometimes he'll wave around Rudy's pacifier or try to wedge it in her mouth, "Boo-booh?  Boo-booh?"  If Rudy was sleeping, she isn't anymore, and she looks around with wide eyes like, "This kid again?  Listen, people, I'm all set with the boo-boohs.  Sheesh."  But in elementary school, I'll bet Owen and Rudy are on the swings together at recess, both delighted, Rudy smiling with her mouth wide open.

 Owen and Marley care for the sick, Owen in his best crown and Marley

in the pajamas she practically refuses to change out of.

I wasn't even on my own, and now I'm exhausted, back at home while Rudy laughs and wriggles beside me on the couch and Marley makes her way downstairs after Quiet Time.  Marley by the way, has sidled over to me and unzipped her pajamas to pull out a sealed envelope - a belated valentine.  She says I need to share it with Rudy and her stuffed panda and flamingo, too.  Whatever you say, Bean.  As long as I can hang out on this couch for the rest of the afternoon.