This evening I played with Bella and Jamie for about fifteen minutes and then, at 7, as I always do, went to the TV room where my husband and I watch a series of news programs every night. I decided to leave the TV room early; my husband was watching Rachel Maddow and I wanted to watch Democracy Now and he did not. So I took my laptop into the kitchen and sat listening to DN there. Bella almost immediately began doing absolutely everything to divert my attention. First she tried to knock down a framed photo that sits on one of the two kitchen window sills. I took it away and placed it in the bedroom. Next, she started to knock something else off the counter; I removed it and put it in a cabinet. Next, she started to knock down my rice cooker, which sits on the same counter. I removed it and placed it on the floor. I decided she wanted her nightly feeding, so I split a can of Weruva chicken shreds [yes, I know I need further tutorial on better feeding for both my girls] for her and Jamie, giving her, as usual, the greater portion. She scarfed that down, but then started pulling the same knocking-things-off-tables-and-counters behavior. I said a firm "No!" after each of her efforts to test gravity and my patience, and finally left the kitchen, went to our bedroom and finished watching Democracy Now there. But Bella didn't follow me into the bedroom. Jamie did -- as is usual now at night. I mean, what's going on? Is the kitchen perceived by Bella as common living space shared with me, her human mom, and the place where I must always be available to give her full attention? Does she see it as her territory? Or....? Usually I'm in the kitchen preparing food while Bella sits on the counter or the kitchen table. At breakfast she almost always sits by my left arm on the table. I give her lots of attention in said kitchen in the morning. So was my watching the news on my computer an unwonted activity Bella disliked, so different from the cheerful morning bustle that always includes her? All the toddler antics ceased when I went to the bedroom. Really strange. She now sleeps in the living room while Jamie sleeps at the foot of our bed. Is she jealous of Jamie for supplanting her in the bedroom? Is that why she's stopped sleeping at the foot of our bed? She used to sleep there. I'll now go to the living room and kiss her all over to say goodnight. Boy, it is a lot like having a 2-year-old!
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