end of the week with Rachel

Drew and I are going out to dinner tomorrow night and Rachel informed us that she doesn't like Angela, our regular babysitter.

"Of course you like Angela!" Drew said.

"I don't like Angela," Rachel said, smiling. Then turning serious she said, "I don't want you to go. I want you both to stay with me."

***

No longer a baby: When Drew was taking some snacks out of the diaper bag a couple of days ago, Rachel made a big fuss. "This is the diaper bag, and the diaper bag is a bag for BABIES!" she cried. "And I'm not a baby!!"
He now packs snacks in a reusable Fred Meyer bag.

***

Strict Mommy: Drew was telling Rachel about something that he and I wanted, and he ended with, "maybe Daddy will have it or maybe Mommy will have it."

"If you can't decide who gets it, then nobody gets it," Rachel informed him.

"Is that what you tell your babies?" Drew said.

"Yeah," Rachel said. "If you can't decide who gets it, I'm going to take it away and nobody gets it."

"You're a very strict mommy!" Drew said.

"Yeah," Rachel answered.

***

The last few nights, as Drew put Rachel to sleep, she informed him that she no longer wanted the CD player, the one that plays ocean sounds continuously throughout the night and during her naptime.

"Sweetie, are you done with the CD?" Drew said. "Should I take it out of your room?"

"Yes," Rachel said firmly. "I don't need it anymore."

Sigh. Just like soon she won't need her pacifier anymore, or her sippy cup, or her mommy and daddy....