Once Bitten

Campbell didn't get her first tooth until she was 16 months old.

And now, at 20 months, as far as I can tell she has 6, including 2 molars.

...and she is learning how to use them.

By taking bites of her sister.

So, Noah never bit anyone (to my knowledge) and so I've never had to deal with this particular kid thing before.

Let me paint a picture for you.  So last week, we were just hanging out at home.  I was cleaning things up at the sink after lunch when suddenly I hear a blood curdling scream come out of Lenay.  I look over, and not only has Campbell bit Lenay, but her jaws are still completely locked down on Lenay's poor little arm.  She's like a pitbull!  Lenay was standing there in complete and utter shock, her pleading eyes locked on mine. 

Help! 

Apparently, they were having a little spat over who got to play on the dragon ride on toy, and Campbell decided to end the argument abruptly by munching on her sister.  I scooped her (Campbell) up, told her no biting, and put her in timeout. 

Which lasted about 10 seconds.

And thats ok.  The separation is enough for her to understand that she doesn't like being taken away from the fun.  And maybe biting is a bad idea if that's where she ends up.

Cut to: an hour later.

We are all playing, laughing, having a good time.  Lenay and Campbell are playing with the multitude of empty buckets they received on Easter.  Buckets are fun.  You can stack them, put toys in them, carry them by their handles.  Fun.  Until Lenay made the lethal mistake of picking up the bucket that Campbell was getting ready to grab. 

Uhhhh! Campbell yelled, and this time I saw the whole thing.  In slow motion. 

At the same time, it happened so fast I didn't have time to intervene.  And I was sitting right there with them.

Campbell leans way over, her mouth open at the ready, bottom jaw jutted out.  Her head is shaking in a no-no fashion and her eyes are wide with frustration.  She clamps down on Lenay's (other) arm, and bears down with all she's got.  Lenay screams bloody murder, and looks over at me with that same "help me!" expression.

Once I pried the little piranha off her sister, she got another no biting! and timeout.

10 seconds later, everything was cool.

Well, its been a week since the 2 bites incident.  And even though the skin wasn't broken, Lenay still has matching welts on both arms.  Campbell has actually done remarkably well since then.  There have been a few times where I was able to anticipate and diffuse the situation before any chomping occured.  But then last night when I got home from work, Eric told me she struck again.

Its like living with a vampire. 

Did they cast for Renesmee yet?