Rachel 1 and Rachel 2

Drew remarked a little while ago that we really have two daughters -- Rachel 1 and Rachel 2.

Rachel 1 is a delight to be with. She's giggly, playful, mischievous (in a fun way, of course), snuggly, cuddly, helpful around the house and generally obedient.

Rachel 2 is a whiny, sobbing, tantrum-throwing, leg-kicking, everything-refusing, irritating little s--t. This is the child who somehow received the packet on turning 2 while my back was turned.

Guess which Rachel graced my dinner table last night when Daddy was away?

She threw two fits -- the first after waking up from a nap in the car and refusing to take off her shoes when we got home. I took her in my arms and rocked her gently on my lap for about 20 minutes. The only thing that got her up was the siren sound of, "do you want some din-din, honey?"

The second fit was while she was eating and then asked for "moe big cra-ca" which means, basically, cookies. Since she hadn't eaten lunch or much snack at school (daycare), I said no until she finished her pasta and her sweet potatoes.

And then the wailing began. And the screaming. And the crying. And it just didn't stop for 20 minutes until I had finished my dinner. I finally took her on my lap again for a time. The only way she got up was when I said, "OK, honey, want to go into the bedroom and read some BOOKS?"

"BOOKS!" she said, smiling, and hopped off. I brought some water in, and she gulped it down while we read three books. And then she hopped off my lap when I said it was time to take a bath and was perfectly snuggly going to sleep.

Kids....