helping hands

sailor is fully into the "i do it!" phase of toddlerhood. in fact, it's much more like, "I DO IT!!!!"
this encompasses anything from buckling her own carseat (she can do it, but it takes FOREVER) to, unfortunately, walking in the parking lot.
so i've enlisted her brother's help.
she will willingly take "bubba's" hand to cross the parking lot, where she will drag and pull at mine. and if bubba is sitting in the shopping cart, she is much more likely to crawl up next to him.
it's good for both of them. if sailor has an independent streak a mile wide, her brother is much more on the DEpendent side. at three and a half, he still begs us to take his shoes off for him, and resists most moves towards doing things alone.
so yesterday when we got back from the store, i was really pleased to see him sit down and begin to take his shoes and socks off without whining or asking for help. then i had a brainstorm.
"sunny, could you please take sailor's shoes off, too?"
"come here, sailor," he said sweetly. "bubba take off your shoes?"
bemused, she walked over and sat next to him. he carefully undid the velcro and began tugging at her socks. he tucked the socks inside the shoes, and carried them over to our "shoe shelf" by the door.
"tank oo, bubba!" sailor sang. sunny grinned hugely. honestly, i got a little teary.
now if i could only teach him to change her diaper.