Nature or Nurture?

There's a new lady of the house. She's opinionated, determined, and only has six teeth. No, Jesse has not taken a mistress from Adams. It's our daughter Annie, and she's only 15 months old. I'm scared for what 15 years old is like.
For the past couple weeks I've noticed some changes in her behavior. Changes may not be the right word; more like some personality developing and presenting through her behavior.

Just yesterday, she took a plastic play phone, a Thomas the Train treat-or-treating receptacle as a purse, and a hairbrush, sat down on our rocket ship (like a car you use with your feet...ours just happens to be a rocket ship) and "talked" on her phone while brushing her hair, all the while a purse on her arm.

Now, I don't claim to be perfect wife, mom or woman, but I don't think I've ever driven while talking and brushing my hair. But I can't be sure. Is Annie a mirror of my own actions or is she simply asserting her own?

She walks around the whole house on the phone. Real or fake...it doesn't even have to be a phone. The remote works quite nicely. So does a plastic car.

She's into shoes. I bought her a pair of fake Crocs at Wal-Mart because I tried them on her to check a shoe size and I had the audacity to take them off of her. She screamed. I gave in and put them in the cart. She strained around to reach them and started to cry. So, I put them on her feet and she was happy.

By the way, happy is a relative term with Annie. She gives strangers the stink eye. Heck, she gives her own grandparents the stink-eye. If you say the word "no" to her, no matter how nicely, she screams and cries, throws herself on the floor and covers her eyes. For Annie, happiness is synonymous with getting what she wants, but isn't that the way it is for any of us?

I thought with having two brothers, she would be a tomboy. She still could be. She likes to play with their cars and race them around. Of course, after she's done racing, she uses the cars as phones.

I don't exactly exude the essence of femininity, but Annie may. She hasn't had any wardrobe preferences yet, except for shoes, but I'm sure that's coming. I'm not sure how happy she'll be in her brother's old jeans and sweatshirts. But I'm sure there will be a doting relative or two to grant a wish of new clothes.

What will happen as she gets older and goes to school? Somehow, I was born with the ability to do hair. I try my best with mine, and most days, it's a crap-shoot. What if she wants me to do something with her hair other than a pony-tail or french braid? And let's be honest, half the time, my french-braids don't turn out quite right. What if I'm that embarrassing mom picking up her daughter from school? I remember being so disgusted because my mom shopped at Marshalls.

I guess it remains to be seen what Annie will demand as she gets older. I just hope I'll be ready for it.

Various topics

I've heard I need to update this more often. So, here it is!
I left my job at the end of last month to do Pampered Chef full-time. So far, it's going well. My August is quite booked, which is great! I'm working on having a full September, too. So far, only 3 in September, but I'm hopeful my last two shows this month, plus the Pampering a Businesses I've been doing lead to a busy September. For some reason, October is taking off like a rocket, and I have a December date, too. Weird!

Some may be asking, "What is Pampering a Business?" Well, my loyal subject, Pampering a Business is something I read about on a Pampered Chef board. Basically, I make food, bring plates, forks, catalogs and order forms, and leave it all to be devoured. First one, got a booking. Second one, nothing. Third one, I got $620 in sales! I was floored! Now, I have something at my old work (Lane Bryant Outlet), so hopefully they come through for me.

In kid news, I'm ready for school to start. Anyone want an almost-six-year old? I think he's ready, too. Only a few more weeks. I think I can make it. Casey will probably be starting pre-school. He's completely potty-trained, now! Well, for the most part. I have to remind him to go pee before he sits down to eat or watch TV...anything mindless. But, this kid's a pooping champ. I wish there were competitions for pooping. My Casey would clean up!

We have family pictures next week for the first time ever. ::Sigh:: I guess it's something I need to do, even if I feel like I'm too fat to do so. We're all wearing green and denim, so hopefully there will be enough colors to hide me. I'm excited for the new pictures of my kids, though. I look at the ones we did last August, and Annie looks so tiny! She was 3 months old. Her hair is long enough now for me to put it up...even though she bobs and weaves her head as I try to do so.

So, is this enough to read now, Heidi? :)