Gossie and Gertie

 Tonight was a big night for us.  Beatrix actually sat on my lap with Alasdair and listened to 3 bedtime stories.  Usually she comes into Alasdair's room and I close the door while Alasdair and I read stories.  Otherwise I find her at the bottom of the stairs.  While we read, she busies herself with the rocking chair and Alasdair's toys and occasionally joins us for a second or two. But tonight she actually listened to the stories.

Usually Beatrix wants to do everything that Alasdair does.  Kind of like the story of Gertie and Gossie, "Gossie and Gertie are best friends.  Everywhere Gossie goes, Gertie goes too."  Beatrix intently watches Alasdair and wants to do everything that he does.  And she is fearless.  She will try just about anything.  This evening we went out in the rain.  Alasdair in his red boots (just like Gossie) and Beatrix in her sort of blue boots (just like Gertie).  I wasn't sure if Beatrix would be able to walk in her too big rain boots, and her too big rain coat, and her too big rain pants, but she could.  And she followed Alasdair right into puddles big and small.

In the first Gossie book, Gertie "borrows" Gossie's favourite red boots.  Beatrix really likes Alasdair's stuff, too.  His Cars pajamas have become her security blanket.  This evening after Beatrix had fallen asleep I crept into her room to retrieve Alasdair's sunglasses that she was playing with as she fell asleep.  Here is how I found her sleeping:

Gertie, eventually emerges from Gossie's shadow to take the lead.  I suspect it won't be long before Beatrix tries to do the same.