I used to be a sound sleeper . . . used to be. That all ended once we had children. I thought it was bad enough that our kids wake us up several times each night for whatever dumb reason - nightmares, water requests, "I want daddy!", etc.
Well, I was wrong. Now, somehow we need to be able to "watch" the children when we're sleeping.
Last night, I woke up (as I do every night right now) to run to the bathroom, then I went downstairs for something to drink. When I came back upstairs and sat down in bed, I noticed 2 of Darwin's bedtime companions at the foot of the bed. I thought it was odd because I was certain they were not there when we went to bed. I spend pretty much all day holed up in my bed right now, so I would have noticed if they were sitting there before bedtime or if he brought them earlier.
I recalled an incident from earlier in the night. First thing in the morning, I am used to waking up to Darwin closing his bedroom door as he gets himself out of his crib and heads to our room. The sound of the door always wakes me up. Last night, I was asleep, and I recall hearing a door close, but I was so tired I wasn't sure if it was a dream or if it had really happened. I asked James to check, but I fell asleep before I made sure he followed up. When I woke up and found Darwin's things in our bed, I was afraid that he slipped out of his bed, brought us his babies, and ended up somewhere other than his bed.
When I told James what I was worried about, he went to check on him. Luckily, he was in bed, but I couldn't help but worry and wonder if he had, in fact, gotten out of bed in the middle of the night. If so, how do I keep the kid out of trouble while I'm sleeping?
Tonight, I was doing some work in bed, and I decided to go downstairs to get something to drink. We generally leave the hallway and stairwell lights off at night. I approached the top of the stairs with a dirty cup in my hand, and I reached for the handrail. [This minor detail made all the difference in what happened next]. I started to step on the first step and felt like I was setting my foot on a small, warm dog. I froze and yelled for James as I save myself from falling down the stairs with the handrail I luckily decided to use.
With the crisis averted, I realize that the "dog" on the stairs was actually Amelia. She wakes up multiple times each night, and tonight she decided to lay down on the 1st stair at the top of the stairs, dangerously out of view from her very pregnant mom in a dark hallway. (Note to self: Always check stairs for sleeping children before walking, especially when pregnant). As her dad takes her back to bed, I think 'I could have just killed Amelia, Baby Tiny, and me if I had not been holding the handrail'. I shake my head that I have actually just had that thought.
As they all lie in bed sleeping (for now), I wonder what our next waking incident is going to be. Hopefully, this is all just a phase because James and I might lose it if we have to put up with the nighttime crazies for too much longer.
Originally drafted in Fall of 2011 . . . finally published on post date
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Sunday, June 17, 2012
To James on Father's Day 2012
This year for Father's Day I decided I would do something you've been bugging me to do for a while - blog!
This is Take 2 for Jameson. He struggled with this request, and he felt bad afterward saying, "I can't think of anything nice to say." I'll post t Take 1 if I can get YouTube to cooperate.
For Truman, this was very simple.
Darwin was still musing about his outing with Dad on Friday.
Eliana was not interested in cooperating. I thought I'd catch her saying "Dad", but she just wanted to steal Darwin's hat. Either way, I thought she should participate.
Oh yeah, one more thing . . . Thanks for watching the kids last night, so I could get out to the concert. It was awesome! Say what you will about Lindsey Buckingham, but what a amazing talent. Here's a sample of what you missed.
With all the kids running around like crazy, it's hard to get anything written, so I decided I would take a short video of each of the kids telling me what they love best about you. They turned out better than expected. You never know what the kids are going to say or do.
I'm happy I was able to give you some one-on-one time with each of them again this year. I know they love doing all the creative things you plan to do with them. Happy Father's Day! You are a fantastic dad, and they are SO LUCKY to have you.
This is Take 2 for Jameson. He struggled with this request, and he felt bad afterward saying, "I can't think of anything nice to say." I'll post t Take 1 if I can get YouTube to cooperate.
For Truman, this was very simple.
Darwin was still musing about his outing with Dad on Friday.
Eliana was not interested in cooperating. I thought I'd catch her saying "Dad", but she just wanted to steal Darwin's hat. Either way, I thought she should participate.
Oh yeah, one more thing . . . Thanks for watching the kids last night, so I could get out to the concert. It was awesome! Say what you will about Lindsey Buckingham, but what a amazing talent. Here's a sample of what you missed.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
A Letter to James on our 7th
As I think back on the events of the last year, I can't help but tear up (yeah, the baby blues might have something to do with it). We celebrate another anniversary as we welcome our 5th miracle into this world. I have to mourn the passing of our "family building" years as I welcome a year we have already decided should be, at least in part, dedicated to reclaiming our own physical fitness. As I look back thankfully on 7 wonderful years, I am also saddened by the thought of how fast they have passed. Our first 4 babies are babies no more, and I know it won't be long before Baby Tiny is talking and walking.
This year has been filled with lows like my grandfather's passing and having to skip my sister's wedding and highs like welcoming baby Eliana, watching our children enjoying life's simple pleasures, and actually spending a night away from all of them to celebrate our anniversary.
At the end of this emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy, I look back thankfully that I've had you to lean on throughout the last 7 years. With each year that passes, you've shown me all the reasons why I've grown to love you more today than I did the day we got married. I know what Amelia means when she says she wishes she could marry you too. It's that she cannot imagine a greater man than her Daddy. Her world may still be small, but I have to agree with her that I cannot imagine a better husband or father. She is wise beyond her years.
With 7 years behind us, I look forward to what our future may hold. Of course, I pray that includes many more happy, healthy years raising our family. I mentioned the other night that I found the words of Steve Jobs about having kids ("It's 10,000 times better than anything I've ever done.")really struck a chord. I've always felt that family is the most important thing in life, so that is no revelation. Rather, I think the perspective his statement offers, that someone as accomplished as Steve Jobs looks back at life, with the end in sight, and decides that having kids was his greatest achievement is so revealing. Like Jobs, I don't want to look back at life and have any regrets about how I was or wasn't there for our family. Being the workaholic I am, I expect you to keep me in check.
I can't imagine having shared the amazing journey of the last 7 years with anyone else. Fresh in my mind are the memories of our wedding, traveling in Hawaii as newlyweds, finding out we were pregnant with Jameson, watching you sleep with each of our babies on your chest, bringing Truman and Amelia home from the hospital to meet Jameson, laughing at the surprise of Darwin's birth when we realized he was a boy, and our shock when we realized we were pregnant with Eliana. These memories just skim the surface of our years together, but they remind me how blessed we have been. My hopes for our future are simple: health and happiness for our family and time to watch our children grow and build their own families. When you think about it, it's all that really matters, and I'm lucky to share it with you.
This year has been filled with lows like my grandfather's passing and having to skip my sister's wedding and highs like welcoming baby Eliana, watching our children enjoying life's simple pleasures, and actually spending a night away from all of them to celebrate our anniversary.
At the end of this emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy, I look back thankfully that I've had you to lean on throughout the last 7 years. With each year that passes, you've shown me all the reasons why I've grown to love you more today than I did the day we got married. I know what Amelia means when she says she wishes she could marry you too. It's that she cannot imagine a greater man than her Daddy. Her world may still be small, but I have to agree with her that I cannot imagine a better husband or father. She is wise beyond her years.
With 7 years behind us, I look forward to what our future may hold. Of course, I pray that includes many more happy, healthy years raising our family. I mentioned the other night that I found the words of Steve Jobs about having kids ("It's 10,000 times better than anything I've ever done.")really struck a chord. I've always felt that family is the most important thing in life, so that is no revelation. Rather, I think the perspective his statement offers, that someone as accomplished as Steve Jobs looks back at life, with the end in sight, and decides that having kids was his greatest achievement is so revealing. Like Jobs, I don't want to look back at life and have any regrets about how I was or wasn't there for our family. Being the workaholic I am, I expect you to keep me in check.
I can't imagine having shared the amazing journey of the last 7 years with anyone else. Fresh in my mind are the memories of our wedding, traveling in Hawaii as newlyweds, finding out we were pregnant with Jameson, watching you sleep with each of our babies on your chest, bringing Truman and Amelia home from the hospital to meet Jameson, laughing at the surprise of Darwin's birth when we realized he was a boy, and our shock when we realized we were pregnant with Eliana. These memories just skim the surface of our years together, but they remind me how blessed we have been. My hopes for our future are simple: health and happiness for our family and time to watch our children grow and build their own families. When you think about it, it's all that really matters, and I'm lucky to share it with you.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Let Me Take a Deep Breath . . .
It's been a while, and the unfinished drafts are piling up.
I have been a busy mom in the last several months, focusing all my time on work, family, and household work. Needless to say, my blogging has fallen by the wayside. I have 18 unposted drafts because I have started so many that I have been unable or unwilling to finish that I keep thinking I'm going to have time to finish. Maybe this one will finally make it.
Our kids have grown so fast and so much has happened that I don't even know where to start. With each new baby, I have done a progressively worse job of writing and recording memories from their childhoods. There is still plenty of time, but it still makes me sad knowing how fast that first year goes. That being said, little Darwin is almost ready to turn 2, and I probably have less than half the number of posts for him than I did for the first three kids. Funny how we grow to understand what our own parents went through as each subsequent child has fewer pictures and keepsakes.
One funny thing about our littlest guy (for now): he's a singing machine. He loves music, learning new songs, and best of all, singing them at the top of his lungs. Yes, most kids love to sing, but how many can really carry a tune? Darwin is unique amongst our kids for this quality. He not only has good pitch, but he also pays attention to the timing and the other details in songs. His favorite sing along: MJ's "Beat It". I don't expect him to be the next Andrea Bocelli, but it's one thing I want to remember about him as a baby. One of these days we're going to remember to tape him.
He's also talking up a storm now, repeating anything and everything he hears. He likes to tell the kids what to do, what not to do, and if they make him mad, he's not afraid to fight back. He's a bit of a screamer, but we're working on that. He's an easy baby in so many ways that his difficult habits seem small by comparison.
He likes to wake up and say "Good Morning!" to Baby Tiny by pulling up my shirt and smacking my belly. He always remembers to tell me he loves me when I leave for work in the morning, which always melts me. I know one day he'll stop, so I'll cherish it while it lasts.
I think to date, he's our easiest bedtime baby, or he's a close 2nd to Truman. He's not always immediately willing, but he never puts up much of a fight. He has a stuffed frog that plays music, whom he affectionately calls "Grog", and a teddy bear, known as "Baby Bear". They're his morning buddies as Mom & Dad struggle with mornings earlier than 7:30 a.m.
There's no doubt that he's in a big hurry to grow up, so I'm clinging to the end of his babyhood. I guess with Baby Tiny on her way, he's going to have to get used to being the big brother. I'm looking forward to introducing them, so hopefully, Baby Tiny and I make it safely through pregnancy and delivery. I'm sure he'll make a great big brother. He has 3 great models.
(originally drafted 6/6/2011)
I have been a busy mom in the last several months, focusing all my time on work, family, and household work. Needless to say, my blogging has fallen by the wayside. I have 18 unposted drafts because I have started so many that I have been unable or unwilling to finish that I keep thinking I'm going to have time to finish. Maybe this one will finally make it.
Our kids have grown so fast and so much has happened that I don't even know where to start. With each new baby, I have done a progressively worse job of writing and recording memories from their childhoods. There is still plenty of time, but it still makes me sad knowing how fast that first year goes. That being said, little Darwin is almost ready to turn 2, and I probably have less than half the number of posts for him than I did for the first three kids. Funny how we grow to understand what our own parents went through as each subsequent child has fewer pictures and keepsakes.
One funny thing about our littlest guy (for now): he's a singing machine. He loves music, learning new songs, and best of all, singing them at the top of his lungs. Yes, most kids love to sing, but how many can really carry a tune? Darwin is unique amongst our kids for this quality. He not only has good pitch, but he also pays attention to the timing and the other details in songs. His favorite sing along: MJ's "Beat It". I don't expect him to be the next Andrea Bocelli, but it's one thing I want to remember about him as a baby. One of these days we're going to remember to tape him.
He's also talking up a storm now, repeating anything and everything he hears. He likes to tell the kids what to do, what not to do, and if they make him mad, he's not afraid to fight back. He's a bit of a screamer, but we're working on that. He's an easy baby in so many ways that his difficult habits seem small by comparison.
He likes to wake up and say "Good Morning!" to Baby Tiny by pulling up my shirt and smacking my belly. He always remembers to tell me he loves me when I leave for work in the morning, which always melts me. I know one day he'll stop, so I'll cherish it while it lasts.
I think to date, he's our easiest bedtime baby, or he's a close 2nd to Truman. He's not always immediately willing, but he never puts up much of a fight. He has a stuffed frog that plays music, whom he affectionately calls "Grog", and a teddy bear, known as "Baby Bear". They're his morning buddies as Mom & Dad struggle with mornings earlier than 7:30 a.m.
There's no doubt that he's in a big hurry to grow up, so I'm clinging to the end of his babyhood. I guess with Baby Tiny on her way, he's going to have to get used to being the big brother. I'm looking forward to introducing them, so hopefully, Baby Tiny and I make it safely through pregnancy and delivery. I'm sure he'll make a great big brother. He has 3 great models.
(originally drafted 6/6/2011)
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Bedtime Outburst
Truman is generally our best behaved kid when it comes to bedtime. Dinner ends, and he might play for a bit, but he is usually asking to "do all the things". That means that he wants to do everything to get ready for bed (brush teeth, read books, maybe the occasional video game), and he is generally willing to go to bed shortly afterward.
Tonight, James was taking Amelia to a basketball game, so it was just me and the boys. Shortly after dinner, Truman was already asking to "do all the things", so James offered to put him in bed before he left. He put him in bed, left, and I stayed with Jameson and Darwin downstairs.
About 30 minutes later, as I am preparing to take Jameson upstairs to bed, Truman pokes his face through the 2nd floor stair rails and yells, "bring me downstairs!". I am surprised to see that he's still awake, but I try to reassure him that I am on my way upstairs to bring Jameson to bed. He breaks down, falls into a fetal position, and starts crying. I pick him up, and I tell him that if he lays down, I will get him a drink.
As Jameson brushes his teeth, and I return with a drink for Truman, which seems to satisfy him for the moment. For a few brief minutes, everyone is at peace as we lay down to read a couple of books. Then, I declare it's bedtime.
Everyone is quiet as I lay down with Jameson for a few minutes. Truman begins grumbling that he doesn't want to go to sleep, but I am so tired I am fading in and out of sleep. A few minutes later, I wake up to more Truman grumbling, except he is escalating it now to yelling and threats, fairly out of character for him.
I ignore him at first, just listening to what he's saying. I wanted to be mad because it's late, and I still have to get Darwin to sleep. Then I really started listening to what he was saying, and I wanted to laugh.
In his angry stream of demands and threats, he orders that I "say something to [him], don't say something to [him]". I think that's his way of telling me not to talk to him. He demands the same about 20 times. When I don't respond, he begins to bang on the sides of the crib. (Yes, he's still in a crib due to our temporary living arrangements). I can tell that he likes the loudness of his foot banging on the wood panels. He bangs harder. Then he begins to throw out his threats, "I'm gonna break this bed!", and I can't help but giggle to myself.
"I'm gonna break this bed and then we don't have a bed!" I am still laughing on the inside, but I tell him to cut it out, and that it's time to go to sleep. He grumbles more threats under his breath, and I tell him I am going downstairs to get Darwin.
When I return with Darwin, Truman is still awake and continuing with his complaints and threats. I turn on the bedtime music, and this finally seems to settle him down. He is asleep before I can get Darwin to sleep, and I laugh as I remembered his angry little threats and how far we've come from the calm, quiet, agreeable Truman of days long passed.
Tonight, James was taking Amelia to a basketball game, so it was just me and the boys. Shortly after dinner, Truman was already asking to "do all the things", so James offered to put him in bed before he left. He put him in bed, left, and I stayed with Jameson and Darwin downstairs.
About 30 minutes later, as I am preparing to take Jameson upstairs to bed, Truman pokes his face through the 2nd floor stair rails and yells, "bring me downstairs!". I am surprised to see that he's still awake, but I try to reassure him that I am on my way upstairs to bring Jameson to bed. He breaks down, falls into a fetal position, and starts crying. I pick him up, and I tell him that if he lays down, I will get him a drink.
As Jameson brushes his teeth, and I return with a drink for Truman, which seems to satisfy him for the moment. For a few brief minutes, everyone is at peace as we lay down to read a couple of books. Then, I declare it's bedtime.
Everyone is quiet as I lay down with Jameson for a few minutes. Truman begins grumbling that he doesn't want to go to sleep, but I am so tired I am fading in and out of sleep. A few minutes later, I wake up to more Truman grumbling, except he is escalating it now to yelling and threats, fairly out of character for him.
I ignore him at first, just listening to what he's saying. I wanted to be mad because it's late, and I still have to get Darwin to sleep. Then I really started listening to what he was saying, and I wanted to laugh.
In his angry stream of demands and threats, he orders that I "say something to [him], don't say something to [him]". I think that's his way of telling me not to talk to him. He demands the same about 20 times. When I don't respond, he begins to bang on the sides of the crib. (Yes, he's still in a crib due to our temporary living arrangements). I can tell that he likes the loudness of his foot banging on the wood panels. He bangs harder. Then he begins to throw out his threats, "I'm gonna break this bed!", and I can't help but giggle to myself.
"I'm gonna break this bed and then we don't have a bed!" I am still laughing on the inside, but I tell him to cut it out, and that it's time to go to sleep. He grumbles more threats under his breath, and I tell him I am going downstairs to get Darwin.
When I return with Darwin, Truman is still awake and continuing with his complaints and threats. I turn on the bedtime music, and this finally seems to settle him down. He is asleep before I can get Darwin to sleep, and I laugh as I remembered his angry little threats and how far we've come from the calm, quiet, agreeable Truman of days long passed.
Friday, October 8, 2010
What the Kids Are Saying
(originally drafted 7/27/2010 and revised 10/8/2010)
Every day James and I laugh about something one of the kids said. Here's some of my recent favorites.
"What the mess?" - Amelia's favorite expression of surprise
"What the, what the, what the" - Truman's version
"Ba, if you want to see your babies more, then only go to the casino at night" - Jameson's words of advice to my mom
"No, no, no" - Darwin's late night complaint when he doesn't get his way
"Brefticks" - Jameson's word for 'breakfast'
"Hoolie - go to work" - Amelia's warm way of saying 'good-bye' when I leave for work.
"You got to turn off the vireless?" - Truman's austrian pronunciation of "wireless"
"milk and honey and cheerios and blananas" - Truman's all-time favorite food
"blputer" - Truman's new favorite diversion, the computer
"Pongebob Quarepants" - Amelia's favorite cartoon
"Let me have the puzzle phone." - Truman's name for the iPhone
"Anybody help me!" - Truman's way of declaring that he needs help
"auntdat" - Darwin's way of telling you he wants something
Every day James and I laugh about something one of the kids said. Here's some of my recent favorites.
"What the mess?" - Amelia's favorite expression of surprise
"What the, what the, what the" - Truman's version
"Ba, if you want to see your babies more, then only go to the casino at night" - Jameson's words of advice to my mom
"No, no, no" - Darwin's late night complaint when he doesn't get his way
"Brefticks" - Jameson's word for 'breakfast'
"Hoolie - go to work" - Amelia's warm way of saying 'good-bye' when I leave for work.
"You got to turn off the vireless?" - Truman's austrian pronunciation of "wireless"
"milk and honey and cheerios and blananas" - Truman's all-time favorite food
"blputer" - Truman's new favorite diversion, the computer
"Pongebob Quarepants" - Amelia's favorite cartoon
"Let me have the puzzle phone." - Truman's name for the iPhone
"Anybody help me!" - Truman's way of declaring that he needs help
"auntdat" - Darwin's way of telling you he wants something
I could go on here, but if I do, I'll never get this posted. I'm already way behind on my posting, so no sense in delaying it any more.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Baby D Turns One
One year ago today, you woke me up with a sharp kick to the stomach. You hit me so hard, that I got up to go to the bathroom, and I realized what was happening. You hadn't just kicked me. You broke my water.
I woke up Dad at about 4:30 a.m., and he called your grandma who was ready to come take care of Jameson, Truman, and Amelia. We rushed off to the hospital, excited because we knew you were coming. We checked in, and labor progressed painfully quickly. By 7 or 8, I was begging for an epidural, and the doctor showed up not long after.
A few hours later, you were ready to meet the world, and you were out in no time. Moments after you were born, I found out that you were a boy. I was a little surprised since I was convinced you were a girl. Either way, you were perfect, and I could not wait to bring you home to meet your brothers and sister.
We spent the next two days holding you, staring at you, and trying to pick your name. We knew right away that you were going to be such a good baby. You have not disappointed.
I knew you would be smothered in love from day one, and I knew I was right when everyone was far more excited to see you than Mom and Dad when we came home from the hospital. Every morning, JJ still wakes up to see if his little Darwinky is up yet. Truman and Amelia rush to Mom and Dad's bed when they wake up for a chance to be close to you and talk to you.
You are so anxious to be one of the big kids, and Mom is happy to keep you as a baby for as long as possible. Now I know why parents spoil the baby. I feel lucky to be your mom, and I can't wait to learn more about the little boy you are becoming. Before I know it, you'll be off to school (like JJ), anxious to do whatever JJ, Truman, and Amelia are doing.
Today, I just wanted to take a moment to remember how excited I was a year ago today to know that I would finally get to meet you. You have made it easy to be your mom, and you charm me every day with you big dimples, coy smiles, and happy demeanor.
Happy 1st Birthday, Baby Darwin!
I woke up Dad at about 4:30 a.m., and he called your grandma who was ready to come take care of Jameson, Truman, and Amelia. We rushed off to the hospital, excited because we knew you were coming. We checked in, and labor progressed painfully quickly. By 7 or 8, I was begging for an epidural, and the doctor showed up not long after.
A few hours later, you were ready to meet the world, and you were out in no time. Moments after you were born, I found out that you were a boy. I was a little surprised since I was convinced you were a girl. Either way, you were perfect, and I could not wait to bring you home to meet your brothers and sister.
We spent the next two days holding you, staring at you, and trying to pick your name. We knew right away that you were going to be such a good baby. You have not disappointed.
I knew you would be smothered in love from day one, and I knew I was right when everyone was far more excited to see you than Mom and Dad when we came home from the hospital. Every morning, JJ still wakes up to see if his little Darwinky is up yet. Truman and Amelia rush to Mom and Dad's bed when they wake up for a chance to be close to you and talk to you.
You are so anxious to be one of the big kids, and Mom is happy to keep you as a baby for as long as possible. Now I know why parents spoil the baby. I feel lucky to be your mom, and I can't wait to learn more about the little boy you are becoming. Before I know it, you'll be off to school (like JJ), anxious to do whatever JJ, Truman, and Amelia are doing.
Today, I just wanted to take a moment to remember how excited I was a year ago today to know that I would finally get to meet you. You have made it easy to be your mom, and you charm me every day with you big dimples, coy smiles, and happy demeanor.
Happy 1st Birthday, Baby Darwin!
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