mmm, yummy... oatmeal

i don't know if it's that lily is the traditional "third child"... or that i'm more patient in my old age... or if it's just that i'm really, really, really tired... but there are things that she does (or, is allowed to do) that i wasn't so eager to let the other two do. i didn't want them to get to dirty or get their clothes too messy. i know, it all seems to be an admission of a slight control issue... no comments from the peanut gallery, please. i'm just trying to allow them to be a little more themselves... and play until they look like they've got a really good tan (that's really dirt)... and color the trees purple if they want... and sing silly songs that make no sense... and just be kids who know that they are loved no matter what. how the heck did i get on that soapbox??? anyway, i think it's more about the fact that i've been through this twice and i've learned a few things, like... i know she won't break, she will wash, and i can get out most stains... thanks to aunt b's "special paste". so in light of my previous "ah ha!" moment, when she asked... ok, lets be honest, she grabbed the spoon and yelled at me... i let her feed herself breakfast...

and she loved it...

and she didn't care that it was all over the place...

and when she dropped the spoon... (that's the "uh oh" face, by the way)

... she improvised.