She may look innocent...

BUT SHE ISN'T!! Okay, anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely adore my little girl...but she really is an instigator. She knows exactly how to get under her brother's skin, and she does not hesitate to do it for a second. I have a memory of her at 9 months old in the church nursery sitting on the slide and absolutely not letting any other baby enter "her" slide.

Let me explain what happened yesterday...

Caleb hadn't eaten a very good lunch, and Abby had slept through lunch. She woke up hungry and wanted chicken. Caleb asked for some too, because he hadn't eaten much. I made some for each of them. Abby started eating. Caleb played. Abby ate all of her chicken. I offered Abby Caleb's food. This did not go over well. Caleb started eating. Abby eyed his food. So, I offered her cheese. I had an idea that this would be a good time to vacuum. So, as I am vacuuming, I realize Caleb is now half naked and walking around the kitchen. Apparently, a small dribble of ketchup is an excuse to change a gazillion times a day. I paused and watched my two little ones. As Caleb danced around without a shirt on, Abby watched him very closely. As he walked over to the dining room table to get a clean shirt (laundry day), she waited until the exact moment that his back was turned, and I saw her take not one, not two, but three bites of his chicken and shove them in her mouth. She caught me staring at her and she gave me a half smile and looked away. He then approached back to the chair and asked for help putting on his clean shirt. As I was helping him, I noticed she waited until the shirt was on his head, and there went two more bites. As he climbed back up to eat, his face turned red, and I saw his lips start to tremble.

I had told him that unless he ate some protein, he could not get a cookie when we went to the grocery store. He knew, at that moment, his sister had killed all chances of cookie heaven. As his bright red face opened up to explosion, he turned and looked at her and let out the loudest scream I have ever heard. She only half smiled and waited until he was done. The tears are starting to roll down his face he is so mad at her, and she smiles and reaches up and slaps him in the cheek. Then, she looks at me and says, "hi mommy".

I watched this unfold with complete and total amazement. Anyone who says that a one year old, "just doesn't know better" or, "just doesn't know the difference", or "just doesn't understand"....oh bet me! She knew every single move she was making. Every single one completely and totally calculated.

Mommy at this point, stepped in and saved the day. I decided I couldn't really let this unfold any longer. I realized though, she knows...oh boy does she know.