Bedtime Rituals

Not much happens without Genevieve's say-so. Even getting her into bed can be a bit of a negotiation. She doesn't complain about the process but everything has to be just-so and at her pace. She allows me to read her a story. She'll even let me hug her goodnight but I'm not allowed to hug her first. Mommy gets that honor. She used to announce "Mommy first" after we finished reading her bed time story but not anymore. Now I try to sneak in a hug and a kiss in case she won't notice. She usually does and now she'll wipe off my hugs and kisses so that Carrie gets to go first. On the brighter side, I do get to hug her again after Carrie is done. Of course after hugs it is time to put her dolls to sleep. Her bunny sleeps on next to her on the pillow. Though the bunny must be tucked in with a specific baby blanket. Paprika sleeps cradled on Genevieve's chest underneath two blankets of varying size. Her Care Bear and a beanie-baby bear (aka Little Bear) sleep next to her. She won't let us say good night until everyone is properly situated.

Genevieve is also starting to be more assertive. She's been fairly good at using the potty in the morning and evenings but lately started putting up a fight. At first I thought that she was refusing to use the toilet. It was only later that I realized she actually just didn't want to sit on the potty seat. She would rather that I hold her safely on the regular seat. She put it pretty bluntly this morning, "I'm a big strong girl to sit on the seat. I'm too big for the potty seat." I tried to explain to her that the potty seat was just the right size but she wasn't having any of it.