Send in the blue helmets

Although Abby has not yet started walking, she is now completely mobile. She crawls with abandon, and has clearly developed gears. Sometimes she starts off with a gentle pace, then when she zeroes in on a target she drops the hammer and takes off toward it. Usually while making some sort of "whaaaaah" sound.

The target of choice is often Owen. Or something that belongs to Owen. So we find ourselves constantly trying to make peace. It's like Owen is an isolationist who promotes closed borders, and Abby is the neighbour state that is constantly advocating an integrated economy, and sometimes occupies land across the mutual border. Sue and I are the United Nations, trying to keep the isolationist from attacking in retribution.

We have had limited success. The problem is that Abby is oblivious to the dismay she causes by touching her brother or his toys. He would really rather be left alone, but she crawls up to him and immediately commences patting him on the leg or back or head. He gets mad and tells her to go away. She smiles and giggles and pats him some more. He gives her a shove, but knows he isn't allowed to hit her, so he will lower his head and try to move her away like a dog corraling sheep. She considers this nuzzling, and so lowers her head and giggles some more. This makes Owen angrier, and the peacekeepers usually come running.

Sometimes intervention comes too late. Sue has found Owen sitting on Abby, and I came running into his room recently to find him using a little foam chair to block her from his bed. Except she was getting squished under the chair. Owen's explanation? "She was touching my cats."

We would draw up a non-agression pact or something, but Abby would just try to eat the paper.