Today I am thankful for enthusiasm and exuberance personified, also known as Afton, my youngest. Annika is a very serious child, always seeking to understand things, so when Afton acts her age, it sometimes throws us for a loop. She runs everywhere, even when I tell her to walk--she just forgets. She's also massive for her age--only three pounds lighter and four inches shorter than her sister. We're reminded of this every time she jumps up into our arms for a hug. Also, Afton is freakishly strong--she gives very tight hugs.
When she's at her most bouncy and energetic, it's very hard to keep up with Afton--I get exhausted sometimes just *watching* her, much less playing with her. And to go with that exuberance is a keen intelligence. I generally only have to show her how to do a thing once or twice and she grasps it. She's a very kinesthetic little girl--she loves learning through doing. And she's an extrovert--she thrives on having attention from other people. Often, when she and Annika are watching a movie, she'll come to the part of the house where I'm working and have a chat with me, then wander back to be with her sister. This will happen at least twice during the movie. I guess Annika gets extremely focused, like I do, and Afton feels the need to connect with someone who's acting human. It's just a guess, though.
Afton's a born comedian. She'll purposefully do silly things to make us laugh, and she grins like a maniac when she succeeds. She's also the purveyor of catch phrases in our little family. Last year it was "Because I want to!"--her standard response to our "why?". Lately it's been "nothingwhere." "Where's your bear, Afton?" "Nothingwhere." It's very cute.
In the interest of full disclosure, Afton does have her moments, but the threat of time out or the bribe of candy are decent motivators, leading her to do what I've asked. Someday I'll get the idea of doing things "just because" into her head, but for now I just continue to remind myself: She's only three.
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