Autumn

When I was pregnant with Autumn, I received a blessing that said (among other things) that Autumn would be a trial for me. I thought that meant that she would become a trial in her teen years. (What girl isn't?) After she was born, and developed colic, and cried (no, more like screamed) for six straight months, I thought that would be the trial. Then she got older. She still cried and screamed, and fussed, and was generally unhappy. About everything. I thought that would be the trial. Then she got older. And she started to get into mischief, both with Brooke and without. She is more moody than all of my other girls put together, and she gets into more trouble than them all combined too. Maybe that is the trial. Anyway, even with her moodiness, stubbornness, fussiness, and mischievousness, she is so darn cute. I can't help but smile (most of the time).
Take, for example, today. I was making some loaves of cinnamon swirl bread. Brooke and Autumn like to watch me bake, and I like them there. They also like to get onto the counter and sample what I am making. I don't really like that. Every time they climb up I tell them to get off the counter, and every time they try to sample I tell them to keep their hands out. Today was no exception. I was baking, and Autumn climbed up onto the counter and stuck her hands into the bag of brown sugar to help herself. I told her no, and to get down and keep her hands out. She said, as she climbed down, "There you go, meanie pants." That's Autumn for you. Gosh, we love her.