Pico DiPaolo

Elise copying Joelle isn’t really all that new.  I still remember the first time it was obvious – when she was not getting her way and said “I want it NOW!” which echoed Joelle’s tantrums earlier in the year.

Gradually over the summer Elise has taken to copying Joelle more and more.   Joelle and Elise got out their dance outfits in anticipation of starting in a few weeks.  Joelle would do a dance move and say “Elise – do THIS” and Elise would copy, no matter what it was.  Even when not asked Elise is looking to see what she should be doing by casting a sideways glance at her sister.  A couple of nights ago Elise saw Joelle brushing her teeth and immediately improved her form to match.

Another aspect of her using us to learn what to say and do is when she repeats what we say.  When Petie and I are frustrated with them but not actually angry we might say something like “Goodness!”.  So Elise and I were at Honey and Grandpa’s pool the other day and I was trying to get her to hang on to the wall (which she could most definitely do if she wanted to…she has done it before).  As is her personality she was obstinately refusing to the point that she would let herself slip underwater.  As I quickly pulled her above water she sputtered and rolled around trying to grab onto something even though I had her snugly in my arms.  When she finally realized she was safe and swept the wet hair from her eyes she announced, “Goodness, Daddy” like “What in the world are you doing? It’s fine when you are holding me, why do you have to make things so difficult?” or as if I had just toppled over a cup of chocolate milk for the second time in a row….

Last night we were going to Berripop and Petie and I were joking about a song – I pretended I didn’t like it and, because it was one of her favorites she jabbed back “ooh, that’s like a slap to the face” and we laughed.  From the backseat we hear a little giggle followed by “haha, slap in the face!”