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Bonnie's Diary Entries

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Greetings from sunny Cape Cod

July 11, 2006

Greetings from sunny Cape Cod!

 

Well, I don't want to sound like I'm bragging or make all of you too jealous but I must say that we have been having an absolutely fabulous time down here on Cape Cod. This time has been everything I hoped it would be, relaxing, filled with family, with nary a steaming hot humidity drenched day in site. With all this relaxing going on I even feel less pregnant (or at least less achy complainy pregnant) then I have in months. Heavenly, I tell you!

 

Ella has also been soaking this time up. My cousin J is in town along with her son JW, who is three months younger then Ella and his sister B (nearly two), their nanny L, and my grandmother. Ella and JW have been largely attached at the hip and it is SO CUTE to watch. It is so adorable to eavesdrop on their conversations as they go through the day, discussing their games, their world around them, and the best way to proceed with all sorts of tasks; sometimes I wish I could just put a little secret microphone on them so I could hear every single word they say to each other. Although the kids could probably entertain themselves fairly completely just by hanging out in my mom's huge backyard and swimming in the lake we have generally been organizing some sort of field trip nearly daily, just to break things up. As such we have enjoyed trips to the beach, to the local play center, to Four Seas Ice Cream and the Penny Candy store, to the library, and today we are all going on a whale watch. Truly a Cape Cod vacation!

 

With JW and B around all the time, Ella has been learning not only about the joys of having siblings around, but also some of the frustrations. For the most part, she has been handling this well, but I can see her getting irritated at times. There have been a number of times where she will just tell me, or her cousins, that she is planning on playing by herself and then retreat upstairs, close the door, and pull out her Barbies for an hour or more. I am proud of her for knowing her desires and being able to verbalize and put them into effect. She is more at a loss, however, when JW, as many bored or restless siblings may do, gets it into his head to deliberately tease or bug her. He will follow her around, copying her words or taking over every toy that she sets her hands on. As she has been taught at school and home, Ella is good at using her words and saying "I don't like that, don't do that JW!!!" but usually her anger is exactly the reaction JW is looking for and only fuels his fire. I am torn at these times between leaving them to work it out and butting in. I really don't know what is best but usually, largely pulled by my own painful memories of being relentlessly harassed by my brother, do end up stepping in and at least giving Ella some suggestions (leaving the room, ignoring him, etc.). It is sad for me to be reminded of how mean kids can be sometimes, however, for no reason other then something to do.

 

These last few weeks I have been feeling very close to my youngest daughter as she quietly finishes her gestation in my belly. I think partially because I have been feeling so much better and more relaxed I am able to appreciate her and really spend time sending love her way. Often when we are alone and she is gently turning and swirling within me I caress my stomach and croon to her. I almost feel as though I have her in my arms and we are swaying together, sharing special alone time. I really can't wait to meet her face to face but this time has also been very special because it is only about her and me, our own single unit and our own unique bond. Once she greets the world I will have to share her; now I feel she is only mine, my special special treasure. How blessed can a person be to have such a privilege?

 

Well, I was hoping to have some pictures from our time on the Cape to post along with this entry but have been trouble downloading new shots from my digital camera to my lap top (that's why all my pictures so far have been old ones) so instead I'll put a picture of Ella in her costume from last winter's nutcracker recital. She was in the fairy court (danced around the Sugar Plum Fairy).

 

As always, thanks for reading,

Bonnie



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