Red

(Her 2011 in pics per my facebook page)

I realize that this year has brought lots of changes for us, but mainly that Eliza has turned from a cute, squishly baby to a fun, toilet paper unrolling, sweet, screaming, playful toddler. This past month has even been a big change when she finally realized she could scream and get a reaction from her brothers.

Manipulation, much?

So, um, yes. We have to start working on discipline and obeying instead of peek-a-boo and find the cereal underneath my chins. Danggit.

And, I don’t know if you noticed, but she has red hair. And every 3rd person in the world tells me some (different) stat about red heads becoming extinct. Something about red hair and blue eyes and how they will only be found on Mars in the future. I don’t know. I just nod when strangers go into their speech now because I’ve heard it so often. They could be telling me red heads eat free on Wednesdays somewhere and I’m missing it.

The other thing that every person in the world will ask is if she has a red-headed temper. In a word, yes. Big time. I don’t know why, how or when we noticed, but YES. If her sunglasses don’t fit on her the right way, she throws them across the room and screams. If she doesn’t get her vitamin at the same time the boys get theirs, she stomps away and screams. It’s like watching a little Lucille Ball… who screams. Very dramatic. (But super cute. Don’t tell her.)

In between screaming, she blows kisses, plays hide and seek and makes the world fall in love with her. It’s easy really. You just ignore the screaming (like I do) and she’s perfect. An absolute gift. Who can make her daddy melt with a MUAH of slobber on his face.

Jason even looked at me once this year with her wimpering and said, “You are going to have to discipline her. I can’t do it.” And he was serious. Great. That’s a note for the therapist.

In general, the boys love her, too. They know that she tears things up, so they get to blame her for a lot and that, my friends, is about the only joy of a little sister from a 4 and 6 year old perspective. Ollie is her protector. Henry is her antagonizer. Put them all together and they are a riot… if they’re not your kids. If they happen to be your kids, well, they are entertaining and they make you pray.  Often. Mainly for their teachers. And anyone who happens to encounter the wrath of Red.