Cranky and Crusty

I went to a bread baking class the other day with my friend Marcia.  Jeff thought it was a silly thing to do, but he has since been graced with homemade pizza, fresh pita with hummus, and today I made my first sour artisan bread.  We ate half the round before dinner.  It turned out beautifully, if I do say so myself.  Charli has been excitedly helping me in the kitchen during this adventure as well.  She loves to help.  Most of the time I love it, sometimes it is just more work for me.  I have to think of ways for her to feel she is doing something without allowing her to mess up the recipe.  Yesterday, she helped me pour the ingredients I measured, and she helped to stir the dough after I had gotten the dough to start to form.  Today, she helped by opening the oven when I put the dough in and took the dough out.  She is such a bright little girl, she wants to do everything herself, but unfortunately I can't relinquish control.  I either want the recipe to come out and don't want to chance her measuring skills, I don't want too big of a mess to clean up, or I remember that she is only 3 years old and she really can't do everything she wants to.  She is still innocent enough to be honest though.  Today, she told Jeff that she is not supposed to get into Brooke's swing.  Then she whispered, "but I do".

Brooke is now on the move.  We put her in the middle of the living room and she rolls, kicks, spins, and drags herself until she is across the room and trying to get at something that can kill her.  I have not figured out why all babies are suicidal, but they all are attracted to electricity and things they can choke on.  Brooke will drag herself past all her toys to get under the table that holds the television components so she can pull and chew on the wires.  She is flat out refusing to allow me my favorite baby phase.  The one where they sit, smile, interact, and stay put.  She gives huge smiles and will surely interact with anyone who will give her attention, but she does not yet sit for more than a few seconds, and she will not stay put.  She is very cute though, and constantly makes me fall in love with her all over again.  Which is good, because, I don't allow just anyone to wake me up multiple times and manipulate me all night long. The time has come according to Brooke's doctor, my friend, and my mother, to put Brooke in her own room to help her sleep through the night.  I am almost ready for that experiment.  First, I have to clean out all of the boxes we are storing in the crib.  Then, I need a good night's sleep.  I think that if only I could get a full night's sleep, I might be ready to tackle this sleep training thing.