Weekend at (Aunt) Bernie's

During our wait for our own family, we have been fortunate that our trusting sisters and brother-in-laws have had enough faith in our parenting skills that they have allowed us to "practice" on their own offspring. This weekend we had the pleasure of trying out those skills on our youngest niece and goddaughter, Natalee.
Conclusion: While our dog Carlos still has a lot of work to do (particularly in the sharing arena) we are SO ready for this parent-thing! Bring on the kids (and all the pizza, bubbles, and hugs that come with them)!

And while it was truly, all fun and games, we did do a bit of learning. The following are a few take-away lessons from our weekend as "practice" parents:

"Battery-operated" is code for "impossible to put together and batteries NOT included."

Screen doors and long hallways are the best kind of "toys" and trump the battery-operated variety any day.

Even the pickiest eaters LOVE pizza.

Blue popsicles require baths-- and possible upholstery cleaning if their eaters INSIST on eating them in the big blue living room chair. Purple popsicles, by the way, induce fits. (Absolutely certain that she has inherited my OCD.)

Two year olds know the difference between swimming in a pool and  taking a bath. The first is a fun activity. The second is not. They will not be fooled by your calling the giant bathtub a pool.

There aren't enough toys in the world to be shared between one two-year-old and one only-(child)-dog.

Carlos is going to need sibling classes.

Finally, a big thanks to my big sister for sharing. Sadly, having children has not come easy to either of us. I am SO hopeful that our plans in India work out, and that we are able to bring home a best friend for Natalee. I know, that, just like her mother, she will be the best big (quasi) sister in the world!