Amanda and Claire, or is it Claire and Amanda???

Hmmm... maybe they already pulled the old switch-a-roo on dear ol' mom. Really I know they didn't, but sometimes it seems like it. Amanda used to be pretty easy going, laid back, go with the flow. Claire used to be either really happy - smiling and laughing, or really mad - screaming, throwing self on floor kicking and screaming, arched back, veins popping out of neck and forehead (seriously!). Now Claire is just delightful most of the time, though she still has moments here and there having a huge fit. She's happy and laughing. Has the funniest facial expressions and likes to make everyone laugh. And Amanda has been a little grumpy lately. She still is happy and laughs a lot, but is very fussy more often and now she has been the one to have 10 minute long screaming and kicking fits. I'm hoping teething is to blame. She also drools like crazy - I think her shirt is almost always wet. She's also been complaining about her ears off and on for a couple weeks - so I finally took her to see the pediatrician on Thursday, and her ears are okay (not great, she has "chronic ear infections," but currently nothing to require antibiotics b/c there are no other symptoms except crankiness and her saying "ear hurt," but we go to the ENT next Thurdsay so we'll see what he says) and they certainly shouldn't be causing pain to lead to her crankiness. The pediatrician agreed with me that it might be her 2 year molars coming in and she's passing that pain off to her ears because that's what she's known before.

One day earlier this week we had the girls outside playing on the playset, and Amanda said she wanted up on the swing. I was busy helping someone else, so Greg went to help her. "No - Mommy help!" When Greg said mommy was busy she began to scream no no no, so Greg told her when she was ready for daddy to help to tell him. 10 minutes later I took a screaming Amanda inside, where she screamed and kicked for 5 more minutes. Later than night she needed help with putting a diaper on a baby doll and as I went to help her she pulled the baby away and said, "NO - Daddy help!" So I guess you just never know!

Last night, the girls and I met Greg at Souper Salad and we were going to go to Costco afterward. The girls did great at the restaurant (the manager came over and told us how well behaved they were!), until Amanda decided she must have a tray on her highchair, and she must have it NOW. After a couple minutes of crying and screaming I took her outside for a little chat. After she settled down we came back in and she finished eating just fine. Then Claire decided she wanted a tray, but said okay after we told her that she didn't need one - she was a big girl sitting up to the table.

Then we went to Costco. The girls did have to sit in the shopping cart a little too long to wait while we were signing up for a new membership, but they did okay. We sang songs and got through that part. Then Meredith had to go use the restroom (doesn't she always when we go somewhere new?!). So Melissa and I took Meredith to the restroom and Greg took Amanda and Claire off to start shopping. Amanda screamed the whole time. When we found them again (I followed the screams to find them) Greg took her outside and I took the other three to grab a few things. After about 5 minutes Greg and Amanda came back in, and as soon as Amanda saw me she only wanted me to push the cart, then she wanted out, wanted to walk. So off I went with Amanda and she finally settled down. But then a few minutes later the crying and wanting out started all over again. Claire and Melissa were having a great time though - making silly faces at each other and just cracking up the whole time.

Then I stopped at Walgreens on the way home to get more diapers on sale - not a good idea. After being in the store for 1 minute, Amanda started screaming and refused to hold onto the cart, refused to walk, kicked when I carried her, ... So we grabbed 3 packs of diapers (all they had - argh!) and went to pay. Again, Claire and Melissa did great! But Amanda just kicked and screamed the whole time.

Still waiting for that tooth to break through, and hoping that's all it is and Amanda will be back to her old smiling self soon. We'll try some more tylenol today. Until then, maybe we'll just stay home.