I don’t know how it happened, but when Lydia burst forth from my womb, it was like a little chunk of me broke off and started to grow again. Not in the looks department – when I look at her, I see Nate staring back at me. But in the personality department, she is all me. Arguing with Lydia is like having a slightly schizophrenic argument with myself.
She is bossy as all get-out. She wants things done her way. Everything must be just so. She’s even started making lists. At the age of 8. Was I like that when I was 8? Why yes, yes I was. My mom tells a story about when I was 5 and playing with my dolls. I was using some old towels as blankets. The towels had a fringe, which I very patiently combed out to be all aligned and tidy. Which, of course, my mom thought was a sure sign on mental illness. But here I am – a productive adult just on the tidier side of mental illness.
We were trying to formulate a plan for what do with our weekend a few weeks before Christmas, and this is what Lydia came up with:
What a fantastic list – so beautifully thought out. Numbered, even. I couldn’t have done it better myself.
Listening To Whispers 
And it looks like she’s checked a few things off as well, good girl! It must run in the family, Oliver is into lists too. But I think he might get that from me…. We make a good list-making team!
I like that she puts peace signs everywhere, even on her list of potential things to do. She is such a darling person.