Hayley and Kate Minter

Wednesday was a milestone day for our little Kate.

Firstly, we were in my bedroom, Hayley playing in the wicker chest we use as a hamper (she likes to take the clothes out and get inside it with stuffed animals), Kate on the floor beside the hamper. Curious, Kate pulled herself up on her knees to try to see into the chest. She couldn’t quite see inside, so I watched her put one foot on the floor and, pulling with her arms and pushing with her legs, she stood up for the first time all by herself. I praised her, then dashed downstairs to get the camera. To my delight, she stood once more so I could get a picture of her.

Later that afternoon, right after Wade got home, she was sitting on the kitchen floor as I made dinner. Wade started playing pat-a-cake with her, and she clapped her hands all by herself!

It’s amazing how fast she’s growing and changing.

Hayley got a juicebox from the fridge this morning and when she brought it to me to help her with the straw, she said, “I got this juicebox last night but you said I couldn’t have it, so I madly put it back.”

As I choked back my laughter, I tried to remember what she was talking about. A few nights ago, I did indeed deny her a juicebox because it was late and she needed to go to bed. But her use of the word “madly” just cracked me up.

Our little Kate crawled to me for the first time when I told her to come to me tonight. We were in the bathroom and she was about four or five feet away from me. I said, “Come here, Kate. Come to Mama.” I repeated this a few times and after about twenty seconds, she came crawling over to me, a cute smile on her face.

Kate is also pulling up onto her knees more, but she hasn’t pulled herself up to a standing position yet. I don’t think she’s going to beat her big sister–Hayley started walking a week before she turned nine months.

Most nights when I put Hayley to bed, I stay and “sleep” with her for a few minutes. Basically, she usually tries to talk or play to stall, and I spend the time saying, “Shhhh, you need to go to sleep, baby.” Sometimes I stay until she falls asleep, other nights I tell her I need to go from one reason or another. She always begs me to stay for “another minute.”

Last night I told her I had to go, but I stayed for another minute when she asked. After about a minute, she sighed and said, “You can go now, Mama.”
“Oh, so now you want to get rid of me?” I teased. “I just know you want to leave,” she said sadly.

Wow! Knife to the heart!

I pulled her into a hug and said, “Hayley, I never want to leave you, but sometimes I have to do things. And Daddy likes me to spend time with him, too.”

I know that Hayley feels a bit like second fiddle since Kate was born. And it’s been harder for her since school ended. School at least provided her with a break in her day and a chance to play with friends. Wade and I try to play with her as much as we can but especially when it’s just me here with the girls, sometime Kate’s needs have to come first because she’s still a baby. Poor Hayley. Hopefully it won’t be too much longer before she and Kate can really play together.