The Middle Child

My name is Kelly and I have Middle Child Syndrome.  You can ask any of my 3 sisters (I'm sure you know them much better than you know me), my parents, anyone who knows me at all, really.  I grew up being in my loud, obnoxious, and extremely social, older sister's shadow.  Then, to make matters worse, my parents had twins after me!  So, I was the quiet one who followed the rules.  I was Melissa's sister or the twins' sister.  There was literally a time when someone knew all 3 of my sisters but didn't know I existed.  And told my mom.  While I was standing there.  I've obviously never forgotten that.  I'm the one who has two baby pictures while there are albums upon albums dedicated to each month of my sisters' first years.  I may be a little dramatic when it comes to my MCS, but nevertheless, it exists and has taken part in shaping who I am today.

I decided that when I had a second child, I would go all out.  I HAD to do for my Ava what I had done for Layla.  I made Layla an awesome book that showed all of the amazing things she did in her first year of life.  I even wrote a poem in the beginning of the book, just for her.  I thought, I'll definitely do this for my second child.  Well, I am making that book now!  Ava turned two in September.  I also have a third child, so...I really should be doing that book now.  She's already 6 months old!  I'm behind on that one too?!

Word of advice:  Don't be an amazing parent with the first one.  Think about the fact that when you have a second child, you will then have two kids to deal with.  When you have a third, that's three kids.  There isn't enough time or energy to be making scrapbooks!

Not only is Ava the middle child, but she is 2 and right now she is my hardest.  She has completely taken the "little sister" role and ran with it.  She takes things from Layla, just to be mean!  If Layla has a toy that Ava wants, and won't give it up, Ava resorts to biting, hitting, and the newest is hair pulling!  Seriously?!  I spank, and give time out, I've even pulled her hair to show her what it feels like.  The problem is that she is so. darn. cute.  And she knows it.  If there is a fight, she usually started it.  I just keep telling myself that this is just a phase.  That Layla went through this too.  Being a parent is seriously exhausting.

This is a typical moment in the life of Ava right now, and happened today:  I make her lunch, anything she wants.  She chooses a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, grapes, and animal crackers with a cup of milk.  I make up her plate, set it in front of her, and the next thing I know, an animal cracker flies across the kitchen, Ava is screaming and crying, I'm running to get her plate before she decides to dump the whole thing on the floor, and then try to calm her down enough to find out what in the world happened.  It had to be something crazy, right?  I found out the hard way that food cannot be stacked on top of other food.  Everything has to be flat on the plate.  Silly me.  I'm definitely ready for this phase to be over.  Except that when she cries and throws fits like this, she now asks me to pray for her to calm down.  How insanely cute is that?

That is my Ava.  She is absolutely adorable, crazy, and funny, all at the same time.  I can't stop kissing her and biting her little chin.  She is either super mean to Layla or imitating her every move.  She can't get enough of Alivia who is her "little punkin head."  Her big brown eyes can always melt my heart, and she will let me hold her like a baby and sing to her.  She is my best sleeper, even if she needs a gross little lamb in order to sleep.  She thinks she is a real princess and names each of her hairstyles after Disney princesses.  She is my middle child, but she is definitely not forgotten.  That girl has a presence like no other.  I wonder what she'll be like when this phase ends.

-Kelly