Express Yourself

Just yesterday I jumped in the shower while the baby took a little snooze in the morning. More often that not Cadence likes to join me while I bathe, which I usually don't mind since this not only gets both of us clean but also allows me to see exactly what she's up to. Yesterday she however did not want to come in. A part of me was relieved...finally, a shower alone! But as I heard her wander out of the bathroom while I got lathered up, I couldn't help but doubt this scenario. A small but growing panic began deep in my gut, increasing with intensity the longer she stayed out of the bathroom. What could she be up to? Taking out all our DVD's, throwing things behind the couch, jumping on her napping baby brother, unlocking the front door to make a run for it....the list of possibilities zipped through my mind.

"Cadence?" I called out in a sing-song tone. No response.

"Cadence?" I again called out, with perhaps a bit more urgency. No response.

No wait! I breathed a sigh of relief as I heard the soft thuds of her return into the bathroom and saw her silhouette appear on the other side of the shower doors. I then shivered a little as a blast of cool air rushed into my otherwise cozy showering space when Cadence slid open one of the shower doors.

"Mommy?" she replied with a smile. I smiled back and quickly asked her to shut the shower door as it was letting the water out (not to mention the cold air in!). As I continued my shower I began to hear a repetitive tapping sound on the tub outside. I dismissed it, realizing on some unconscious level Cadence was doing something, but really not caring at the moment so long as it was in the bathroom where I could easily respond should something go awry. I finished my shower and with a very content feeling stepped onto the bathmat to grab a towel. You might imagine my surprise to step out and see this:

I was a little surprised and then chuckled. Apparently Cadence had decided the tub needed a makeover. The fortunate thing is she used her specially designed bath markers, that wipe right off with water. She easily and gladly cleaned it all up once I snapped a few shots of her artwork. A very small price to pay for solace in the shower.