Truett and I baby-sat with Maddie and Oliver this afternoon. I told Merry-Jennifer I felt like I was in a preschool during this time. Both children were into their own playing for the most part, when Truett didn't have Maddie in a bear hug tickling her. But this was pretty typical of the sounds of the children playing.
All was quiet when we arrived. Whispering and silently reading our books. We knew the silence would end at any time. Then we heard a soft scuffling of little girl feet followed by "I need a snack." For thirty minutes I gave Maddie my undivided attention and then I heard banging on a crib by little boy feet. Oliver was awake. Now the afternoon party begins.
Maddie climbs a musical rocking horse which neighs and clomps. Clippity-clop. Clippity-clop. Oliver tries to grab its mane and Maddie scoots off on the horse. Clippity-clop scoot scoot. Clippity-clop scoot scoot NEIGH! For twenty minutes. This is followed by Oliver pulling himself up to the Fisher Price Keyboard and hitting the keys. Then both kids spied the farm animal musical thing where you pull the string. We are now listening to Old McDonald Had a Farm..Quack! Quack! Moo! Moo! Gobble! Gobble!
I'm not complaining, mind you, because I'm beginning to hear Oliver say, "Aaay! Aaay!" as he throws a fit when Maddie doesn't share Fritz's toy ball with the raccoon tail, commonly bought at Cracker Barrels. This means the whining and fighting sounds will begin before we know it. So the sounds we heard today were pleasant ones, including "Buh..Buh" when Oliver saw the soccer ball.
Truett and I left this afternoon with all the Markhams waving bye-bye, including Oliver. As we drove away the silence was deafening.
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