On Sisters, and Storytelling

This afternoon, I left Louisa and Bridget alone in their room for approximately 90 seconds while I went up the stairs to say something to Bill. I can't remember what I was saying to him-- I was midsentence when I heard the thud... waaaaaaaail coming from the girls' room. As I hurried down the stairs I saw Louisa making a quick exit from the bedroom. You know, casually. I went in to find Bridget lying on her back, halfway under the crib. Although Bridget is just at that stage where she will pull up on anything and everything and she is pretty likely to get distracted and let go (and then fall over), I suspected foul play.

Louisa came strolling back into the room once I had Bridget in my arms and her cries had subsided. "What happened?" I asked her. "She just fell over, all by herself," Louisa said. Which means, of course, that Louisa was definitely involved. "You aren't in trouble," I said, "but I'd like to know what happened." "She just... she bumped her head. When she fell down." In other words, Louisa wasn't telling.

It was about half an hour later and we were all hanging out upstairs, watching the Puppy Bowl. (Which, by the way, is awesome.) At one point, Bridget attempted (for about the sixth time) to grab a power cord and unplug it. Louisa said "No Bridget" and as I bent over to pick Bridget up, Louisa grabbed her and tried to lift her as well.

"Now Louisa," I said, "you know you don't pick Bridget up. You're pretty strong but only grown-ups can pick her up."

"I know," she said, "but one time I picked her up. And I was standing up, because I am strong.

Bill and I exchanged a look. "Is that how Bridget wound up under the crib?" I asked.

"Yes, because I dropped her," Louisa said, in the most matter=of-fact tone. I was so glad to have gotten the real story that I didn't want to freak out over the fact that SERIOUSLY, THEY WERE ALONE FOR ONE MINUTE AND LOUISA PICKED HER UP AND THEN DROPPED HER. I mean, they are sharing a room. We have to be able to leave them alone together at some point. But Louisa is totally going to be teaching Bridget how to climb out of her crib (just like Eric taught me when we were little), I can see it now. Excuse me while I go price what it would cost to cover the entire bedroom in foam padding.