The Tikes

 Isn't it weird that Ellen has kids? And that's them up there? Those are two adult people... they're just still really small and have issues with dexterity. 

I've gotten to finally spend some time with these little goblins and I can tell you that Olivia is 100% Ellen and it seems like Nick is 100% Lee. 

Liv is sassy, bossy, sweet, and bashful. She takes little interest in other children and prefers to amuse herself in whatever other ways she sees fit. She will make you sit where she wants, stand where she wants, and hold what she wants. She's too cute for you to deny her anything. When things don't go her way, a small grey cloud appears over her head. First there are only flashes of heat lightning, nothing of real concern, but haste, the winds will turn. It starts with a face of disgust, as though a foul smell has consumed her tiny nostrils, then you see a few teeth. A soft whimper turned whine. At this point there is still time to calm the storm. You can redirect her attention or assure her that "Mom will be right back." She'll look on with the "bad smell" face but hush her vocal concerns. Eventually she'll bust loose and pack up her things and say "Home now." I'll never forget the the time she was done with visiting hour. She grabbed her jacket and Ellen's car keys and said. "All done" and then went and stood by the front door. She wasn't even two yet. Ellen still kind of operates this way as a thirty-something, so it's definitely pay back time.

Nick over there is the quietest, happiest, calmest little dude who only gets riled up when he can't sleep. He'll let anyone hold him. He'll smile at any faces that make eye contact and he's recently started to stick out his tongue and laugh. While baby Olivia used to cry anytime gigantic Uncle Brett came around, Nick just looks up at him and hangs his jaw as if to say, "Y'all seeing this?" 

He is not concerned with what's going on around him though he will be too stimulated to eat. He really takes time with his bottles, leisurely enjoying the good things in life. Want to put Nick over there? Sure. Want to lay him over here. That's fine. He particularly attracted to this pretty black woman he saw on a page in a magazine. He just stared at her for ages. We've cut out her face and she sits on the mantle so Nick can look at her throughout that day. I hope he loves her forever. I hope he's this easy-going forever. If he's anything like his Papa, he was born to soak in life's best offerings.