Nice people

Last night Annika decided that a new person in the house that monopolizes my lap ALL the time (nursing woes)is not acceptable. Never mind that she rarely cared to sit on my lap before I was prohibitively pregnant, but now that she can see the actual rival, she must make her claim known. Soo... while trying the techniques that the lactation consultants have recommended to turn Jacob's biting (gumming, but still, VERY painful) method into a sucking habit and trying desperately to keep myself together, Annika thought that, just to be safe, I should wear a bicycle helmet. Her helmet. The ladybug one. That's the size of her head, not mine. Baby on my lap, trying to shield him from the helmet, wondering why Annika has suddenly developed an urgent need to play with my hair (my curly hair that no one would even try to run their fingers through except 2 year old) and why my baby was biting me harder than ever, I thought I would scream. But, I didn't. Nor did I throw anyone of the couch. And then she started kicking us. I blame the cute rainboots that she wears everywhere. They give her a sense of power and control. She lay on her back and started pumping her legs at us. That's when I started bawling. Better than other options that would land me in jail.

Then, John came home and took over Annika duty. (Don't think I'm neglectful, I just really had this boy on my lap that frequently. Don't condemn me, pity me.) Annika was still on one and the crowning moment was when John was getting her bedtime sippy cup of milk and he was holding her at her insistence, she arched her back like an olympic diver and took him by surprise. He actually heard her back crack and she almost went down straight on her head. He was able to hang on to her, but the milk covered the front of the fridge and the floor. She was very helpful in cleaning it up by splashing her hands through it and running away to find the perfect spot to dry them off. I give credit to John for not yelling or smacking or hurling anyone out the window.

Annika really is easy going in general. She just needs more attention than I've been able to give. I'm not stressed that this is a permanent change, but she is almost two and we brought home a new guy, so I'll give her a break. I just hope she doesn't give me or Jacob a break.

Today, however, has been just fine. A friend came over with her son and he and Annika play REALLY well together. Usually. Oh well, reinforcements come tomorrow!