Shenzie has always been the feisty baby/toddler. Where Heaten is more laid back, mellow, go with the flow type dude, Shenzie is the exact opposite. She is NOT mellow, NOT go with the flow and can really do some damage when she wants to. From the time the babies were very little we have done the gentle sign. I must do this sign a hundred times a day. They both know the sign and what it means. Actually being gentle however is a whole different story.

The past three days Shenzie has been in time-out 5 times before 10:00am. She even put herself in time-out twice! She has always been aggressive towards Heaten, but this week it is above and beyond. She started biting again. Only this time she is really biting. She bit his hand SO hard it left marks and made it swell. I wanted to spank her so bad that day. Both Jeff and I decided this will be a non spanking household, but man oh man, that day I was really upset with her for hurting Heaten so deliberately. I am not in the “bite her back” camp (no offense to those that are). I just really feel that when teaching not to hit, bite, or scratch I don’t want to reinforce the act by doing it to them when it is the very thing I’m trying to teach is a no-no (again, no offense to those who discipline differently). I’m very consistent with the time-outs. There is a corner downstairs and a corner upstairs designated for time-outs. So far they seem to work with her, but the more aggressive she gets I’m worried they aren’t going to be as effective. She doesn’t yet understand the concept of having something taken away so for now we are in the re-direct, play gentle, time-out camp. Hopefully she’ll get over it soon.

Poor little Heaten Bear. Yesterday while playing at their cousins house Cousin Trever asked if we abuse him because he had scratches all over his face. Ahahahahah. I don’t abuse him, but sissy does. Heaten is so gentle and loving and sensitive. Even when he is angry he doesn’t lash out and hurt…he taps me on my shoulder and cries. He has been in time out 3 times that I can remember in his whole life. Shenzie is in time out 3 times a day or more at this point. At least she is the only crazy one, because having two feisty little crazies might be more than Mama can handle!!

On the positive side she is recognizing when she hurts him and gives him Muah! to show me that she is being gentle. She loves to kiss him and hug him and tickle-tickle him. She will give him kisses anytime I ask and kisses him on her own all of the time. He gets WAY more kisses from her than I do - lucky little guy. She sticks her bottom lip out and does the Muah! sound….most times she’s not even touching him when she does Muah. He tolerates her loving and sometimes even likes it, but lately he’s been really fussy and just cries when she loves on him. Poor little dude, all smothered in love.

She has started “mothering” him. During bath times she will scoop water up and “wash” his hair. After bathing she will help me rub his lotion in. She brings him toys and is always chasing him around wanting to play with him. She’s even started getting concerned when he cries (which is pretty much all the time). Sweet big/little sister.

And a bunch of random photos because I have been taking way too many and I just love them all so much.