Up

We are up Layla and I.  She was startled by the sound of her big bad fart.  Made me jump off of my computer chair / kitchen bar stool.

Lately, my inspiration has been running a little thin admittedly.  More on my mental tray is Maya's 7th birthday.  She's a good kid that one.  I do the shaking the head when I look at her with undivided attention - so pretty much rarely - but when I do the head shakes.  It shakes for the celebration of her making it to age 7 in one nice package.  When she turned 5, Michael and I hi-5'ed "we did it!"  We made it to a child turning 5 and she has survived!!

She is our gentle giant, our tender heart, our Pisces.  That is a sign of sensitivity and ego.  She reminds me of an old dear friend that was born the very same day but many years ahead.  My college sweetheart - she was a she.  No not a college thing.  Rather another one of my life loves in the form of a friend  Anyhow, Maya reminds me of her so much that on a few occasions now, I've turned to look at Maya and caught a likeness of my DOF (dear old friend). 

A few months after she was born and right in the depths of post-partum bliss, I called DOF (we hadn't spoken in years) and cried.  I said that my baby moved me to make the call and weep.  Women, we are an odd bunch.

Maya is a good big sister in a clearly demanding lead role.  Positively Oscar worthy.  Special needs baby sister and off-the-wall mildly abusive younger sister.  Sabrina's bark is as loud as her bite whereas Maya has neither.  No bark, no bite, just drama and the propensity to fear the unknown.  Sabs will jump in and deal with the emotional flames as they hit her.  Maya has a quiet cautiousness to her.  Many times she is the family's voice of reason.  Lately however there has been an undeniable shift.  The gap between her and her younger sis has widened develomentally and intellectually.  With the exception of heading up to her room by herself - Sabrina always and still needs to lead the way.