Their immense contribution to the study of genetics aside, I can say that I have truly developed an extraordinary loathing for fruit flies. I never was chummy with them, but also never felt this much animosity. Nothing can be on our counters for even 5 minutes. I cannot even cook without them reappearing. I have nothing out, I swear. There are no hidden bags of potatoes under a sink (a memorable discovery in my [male] friend's kitchen several years ago), there is no fruit, no dried fruit, nothing nothing nothing. And yet they are lying in wait, as if they are convinced that I really am going to forget about them and recreate the fruit bowl on the counter. Last night was the last straw. I emptied the diaper bag, and put the contents in their various assigned places--the snacks and drinks in the kitchen, clothes in the dresser, etc. Well, the sippy cup was on the counter for oh, I don't know, 10 minutes? When I got to it, there they were. Not only swarming, but climbing IN AND OUT of the holes in the mouthpiece. *GAG* *GAG* *GAG*

I hate them.

Carter is trying to walk desperately, and Ava helps him by holding his hands and walking backwards. Or running backwards actually. I told her to slow down and not to pull him, and it turns out that she was trying to keep up with him. When he does piece this together, I am in a lot of trouble.

We went to Fish Creek Campground today--they have a day use area, and for the outrageous fee of 6$, we are allowed to use it. It was very nice, and Ava and Carter went in the water, then on the playground and then Ava rode her trike on the bike path while I pushed Carter in the stroller. She did really well, only complaining a little bit about being tired. And I think she really was tired, since she had been going strong for a while. The only downside to the whole experience was the smoking mothers at the playground. And I would not really even feel the need to vent, because I am so used to it at other playgrounds, but this time the cigarette was literally 5 inches from my face, and thus awfully close to Carter's face as well. The woman was looking for her child and wandered over next to me and as I bent down to pick Carter up, she lowered her smoking hand right by my head. HELLO? I got an offhand "sorry" and that was that. I wanted to scream at her. I mean, if she wants to destroy the lungs and brain of her own child, that is awful, and irresponsible, and in my opinion should be illegal, but don't blow smoke in MY kid's face. I know that smokers are addicted, and I know it is hard to quit, and so on, but I will never understand why smokers light up in proximity to their kids. It is not just about modeling poor behavior, but my god, they are causing irreversible damage to the child's little body! And then they wonder why their kids are chronically ill. But even more astonishing to me is when they do it in proximity to someone else's child. I really don't care if someone smokes. Just keep it away from those who cannot get up and walk away from the toxic cloud. I know that I am not writing anything new and noteworthy, but I was so outraged this afternoon.

All that said, today was a good day with Ava. Only a few moments of mild defiance, nothing to get worked up over. The only tears we had today were over the cheddar bunnies that hit the dirt and that I refused to let her pick up and eat. Lately that has been an issue--she cannot leave something that she dropped on the ground. She desperately wants to pick it up and eat it. Sort of an extension of the "that's mine!" response. This happened with a red skittle that I tossed in the bushes one day, and she lost her mind--despite having about 5 more red skittles in her possession. Then she panicked over a piece of popcorn that she dropped at the hospital. She swooped down to retrieve it and popped it in her mouth beforeI could get to her. I told her what I thought of that, which was that she had possibly just eaten someone else's vomit germs. It gave her pause, but not enough regret to stop picking food up off the ground. Hence, today and the dusty cheddar bunnies. However, she did not pitch a huge fit, because when she started, I said "where are your crocs?" and that made her spin around and run off in search of those little sandals that are almost the most important thing in the universe to her at this point.

The whole point of this is that she and I had a good day--we got lots of snuggle time, lots of book time, lots of outside time, and lots of chatting time. I have concluded that the behavior issues that I am seeing have a lot to do with anxiety over growing up. Lots of things are happening now that she is three--little things, like getting to chew gum, and huge things, like school starting. I get the impression that she is pretty conflicted over all of it. The good part to that is that she appears to be less influenced by Carter--not as jealous. I think.

Who knows. It is all such a mystery, and generally all I want to do is get through the day successfully, like today. If I can do that, we are all in a good place.