I have NEVER appreciated quiet as much as I do now...with 4 kids. Not just any 4 kids, but ERIC LAIRSEY'S 4 kids :). They are ALL talkers. Not one quiet or shy one in the bunch. Different, but all loud and noisy.
We all know Eve to be a non-stop rambler, singer, and story-teller. I love to watch her imagination work...but sometimes I wish I could JUST watch it and not hear it. She is constantly making up words and taking phrases from movies and songs and things she hears people say to go on and on and on about this thing you "just HAVE to hear about! you wont believe it!" One day I heard Ellie cry out from the other room so I immediately think Eve has done something to cause it. I walked in the room and said, "Eve, is everything alright? Why is Ellie crying?" She calmly looks at me and says, "Oh yea, mom. She's fine. I was just sacrificing her." Hmmm. No wonder Ellie wanted out! I never asked Eve what "sacrificing her" meant... wish I would have. I wish I could have a video camera on this kid at all times of the day and night! She is pretty hilarious, without even trying. The things her mind comes up with are so far-fetched and random. Last night, Eric was finishing up his yard work and getting ready to come inside. Eve met him at the door and said, "I'm gonna walk away. You knock on the door and ask if you can come in. I will let you." A few seconds later, Eric knocks at the door and Eve runs to it. "Hello, sir. I'm Eve. What's your name?" "My name is Eric, may I come in?" "Nice to meet ya. You can come in and be our daddy because our daddy died."
Clara, Clara, Clara. This girl is LOUD. She has a squeal/shriek that pierces your ears. Seriously. But even when she is not fussing, she is loud. She loves to sing, and she jabbers a lot. If she cant find Ellie, she will wander the house calling for "eh-yah" (ellie). Clara LOVES Coleman "man man". She wants to give him a pacy (which he doesn't like) and pat his head and give him kisses. Sweet. She is quick to let you know when you have done something she doesn't like, and gives you a glare like I have never seen before. She and Ellie have lots and lots of conversations and giggles. So cute.
Ellie is typically thought (by outsiders) to be calm and quiet. She is not. She is more reserved and laid back than Eve and Clara, but she is definitely not quiet. She is a studier. When she has surveyed her surroundings and discovered that it is a safe/happy place for her, she comes out of her shell. And jabbers all day long. She loves to make Clara laugh by taking Clara's pacy or toy and running away. They like to grab at each others bellies and give hugs and kisses to each other. Ellie is saying a LOT of words: bye, hey, Eve, Man Man, Dada, Mama, sues (shoes), juice, teeeee (teeth), sit, eat, doggie, no, Eh-ya (Clara), be-yee (belly), nigh nigh, i yuuu you (while waving her hand like she's turning a door knob means I love you). This is not nearly the vocabulary Eve had at 18 months, but because the twins are preemies, this is considered an awesome word list! Clara will say most of these also, but Ellie is more vocal. Ellie doesn't really love to sing, but does love to dance and hum along.
Coleman. My dream baby, but not even he is quiet. He "talks" more than any of my girls did this young. He loves to make cooing sounds and giggles to anyone and everyone. He will lay on the floor all by himself and look around the room making all the noise he can... not crying or fussing, just talking. I think he is telling me that I'd better get ready for all of the chats he's gonna have with his dad and me... I am excited about that.
The combination of these four precious personalities is going to make for a fun and action-packed 18 years or so while they are growing up with us. During those years, I pray that I can enjoy and appreciate the banging, clanging, and jabbering while still getting to steal away every once in a while for a quiet van ride all to myself :)
