Surette Family

Audrey has a hyperactive imagination. Everything we do has a story or a plot. I am pleased that she is bringing Colin in on her make-believe scenarios both for his own development and because it means they play together for longer stretches of time (and therefore I get the laundry folded faster).

Colin has played with trains for nearly a year now but it wasn't until Audrey received a couple trains of her own for Christmas that Colin was introduced to the idea that his trains could "talk" to each other to get work done around the tracks. I was able to watch the light bulb illuminate on this concept one morning this week when Colin was watching Audrey speak through her trains. It was a delightful experience for all of us. I wish I had a picture of the smile on Colin's face after this "ah haa" moment.

Audrey is potty trained. Mostly. This was a long road for me as a mother and I felt like Audrey fought nearly every step of the way. I am pleased that she manages her toilet issues on her own now. Well, maybe not on her own, but without my help. From her white thrown I hear her call, "Caaahlinnn!" And, obedient (or curious) brother that he is, he comes running.

"Colin, will you get me my doll?" He runs, hunts for the doll and then delivers baby to Audrey.

"Colin, can I have some hot tea?" He locates the pink teapot and a purple plastic teacup and hurries back to the bathroom.

"Colin can I have a muffin?" He rushes back to their kitchen, rummages through a pile of hard shiny foods and returns to Audrey with a brown "chocolate" muffin.

Drawing pad, books, baby bottle. This continues for fifteen minutes sometimes. There are days when the two of them carry out an entire tea party around the toilet. Sanitary? Healthy to sit on a toilet for that long? Abuse of little brother? How long with this go on for? I don't know. I don't know. But they are happy and I am happy. How bad can it be?