Tuesday, December 22, 2009

A Lesson in Patience

We started co-sleeping with our daughter as soon as she was born. It was odd for us to think about her going from my womb to a plastic tote in the hospital or to a crib at home. I believe that a child belongs in the arms of it's mother. 

There were many people who were appalled by our decision. A child needs it's own space. Co-sleeping is dangerous and we were putting our child at risk. A child sleeping in our bed would ruin the sanctity of our marriage and create space between us. We were also told that once we put a child in our bed, we'd never get them out. 

I was never worried about our children leaving our bed. I knew the time would come and have enjoyed sharing that kind of intimacy with my children. Co-sleeping is a lesson in patience. I am not in a hurry for my children to grow up, nor am I in a hurry for them to sleep apart from me. I have been and am confident that when they need their own space, they'll tell me. 

Maeve has spoken. Her brothers were starting to bother her and she is such a wild sleeper that it wasn't possible to put Oren anywhere near her. I nudged her a bit by bringing up the idea of moving her bed into her room. She agreed. I made it exciting and positive. The first night she fell asleep on the couch, but then slept in her room until morning. I was not surprised. She was ready. 

The second night Maeve was not comfortable in her own bed. She slept in ours. That's okay because I knew she needed to feel like she was still part of us. She needed a little reassurance and I could see her battling wanting to be "big" and wanting to still be part of something she has known since birth. 

Tonight she is in her own bed. She was anxious, hesitant and a little scared. I sat with her and calmed her fears. It is truly beautiful to watch my child grow as a person. She is strong, brave, determined and such a lovely little girl. I am blessed and thankful to have been given the opportunity to be her mother. 

Monday, December 21, 2009

Do You Know How to Spell?

My bedtime conversation with Finn:

Finn: Do you know how to spell Finn? F-I-N-N Finn.
Me : Good job spelling. Now go to sleep.
Finn: Do you know how to spell wall? M-O-O-O wall.
Me: Finn, please go to sleep.
Finn: Do you know how to spell rocking chair? M-O-O-O rocking chair.

He continued spelling "gates", "curtains", "that" and "covers" and laughed hysterically after spelling each one like M-O-O-O.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

A Typical Day

Do you ever wonder what it's like with three kids? Here's a glimpse into a typical day...

6 am: Oren starts to stir and I try my hardest to ignore him
6:30 am: Oren says good morning by pooping. I run downstairs to get a diaper and by the time I get back to him, poop has leaked out of his very full diaper and onto my bed. I make a mental note to remember to bring an extra diaper upstairs to use tomorrow morning. I make this same mental note everyday and never remember. Motherhood has ruined my short term memory.
6:40 am: Diaper is changed and poop has been covered up with a towel. We are still in bed and Oren is nursing back to sleep and I am foolishly hopeful that I, too, will go back to sleep.
6:41 am: Finn starts whining.
6:42 am: Mathew's alarm goes off, but he doesn't hear it. Finn hears it and is fully awake.
6:43 am: Maeve is stirring and accidentally kicks me in the face.
6:45 am: We're up. Finn is screaming because there was a dirty diaper on the stairs that I kicked to the bottom. He wanted to kick it.
7 am: I'm reading books while we all eat breakfast.
7:03 am: Finn is screaming again because he spilled his cereal milk all over his shirt. He stomps upstairs to change
7:10 am: Finn is downstairs and dressed. I remind him to take off his diaper so I can put a clean one on his bum. I have to remind him several more times before he actually does it.
7:12 am: Animals are fed, dishwasher unloaded, laundry started, Oren is getting sleepy and the oldest two are watching Word World so I can have a bit of peace first thing in the morning
7:30 am: We do some sort of learning
9:30 am: We are getting ready to run errands. The following phrases are spoken,
"AHHHHH...Bridget ate my toast!!!!"
"Finn take your diaper off and go get a new one. Finn, did you hear me?"
"Maeve, please go in and go potty. Don't forget to wipe this time."
"Did you really pee that fast? Did you wipe? Get back in there."
"Bridget stop drinking out of the toilet."
"I need a snack"
"Did you take off your diaper and get a new one?"
"No. I need a snack."
"You can pick something out when you have on a clean diaper."
"Mom, can I have some milk?"
"Maeve, you didn't finish your milk from breakfast. Please close the fridge and go get your shoes on."
"Finn, where are your shoes?"
"I can't find my SHOES!"
"Maeve there's snow on the ground. You are not leaving the house in flip flops."
"WAHHHHHAAAHH"
"MOOOOMMMMM"
"AHHHHAAHHHH"
10:15 am: We are ready to leave, but only after I run back into the house twice to get things that I forgot.

I won't torture you by writing out the details of an entire day. The kids definitely keep me on my toes.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Going to the Chapel

This is Maeve's wedding dress. She wears it whenever it's time to marry her brother. Finn hates the ceremony because Maeve holds his shoulders while facing him and sings her I love you song. It takes about 30 seconds and fills Finn to the core with cooties.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Tree

Prior to having children, I never would have agreed to rainbow lights on the tree. 

I think five ornaments were broken while we decorated.

And then the tree fell over.

Four times.

But look at those lovely rainbow lights.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

The Stockings Were Hung by the Kennel with Care

Almost as good as a fire place, right?

Friday, December 11, 2009

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Pieces of Home

This little gnome keeps me company while I do dishes. 

Monday, December 7, 2009

Pieces of Home

An apple pie set by the window to cool and a pair of Korean wedding ducks. I love celedon pottery and have a lot of it that I will put out as soon as I know it won't get broken.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

I am Dum

Maeve got in trouble for something and was sent to her room upstairs. When she came down, she told me that she wrote a sweet note for me on her magna-doodle. 

This is her sweet message. 

I laughed until I cried. 

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Holiday Wish List Meme

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year? 
--I am hoping that my dear husband will take my thumb ring somewhere to be fixed
--gift cards
--pork
--more fruit trees, although those will probably  have to wait until spring
--fabric

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?
My grandpa made me a doll bed and my grandma made a quilt for the bedding. I wish I still had it. I also wish I had one of my grandma's quilts, but I'm not sure what happened to them after she passed away.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? 
I really want to make quiet books for the kids. I've been gathering felt, but I still need to find time to go them. 

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? 
The most memorable Christmas gift was when I thought I was getting a horse. I was so excited to open what I thought was a saddle under the tree. Nope. I it was a lousy computer. It was actually a very nice computer, but I was slightly disappointed because a horse would have been fabulous.

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year? 
Maeve wants pretty things. She has also requested more skirts and has several different costumes (rabbit, Christmas tree and Rudolph) she wants me to sew. Finn said he wants a baby, but I consider that request fulfilled. Oren just wants breastmilk.

6. What is your favorite holiday food? 
I like all of the little sweet treats my mother-in-law makes. Chocolate covered pretzels and round pretzels with a slightly melted rolo in the middle are my favorites. I also like the Italian cookies my mom makes because they remind me of my Sicilian great grandmother. 

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? 
Skirts, golf tees/flags, a couple of kid games, crowns, baby rings, a dress or two and car seat ponchos (I did say "poncho" and am hoping they make getting the kids in and out of their car seats easier this winter). There are lots of other things on my list, but there are some I can't remember and some I can't share.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie? 
Christmas Vacation

9. Favorite holiday song? 
I love "O Holy Night". It makes me want to go to midnight mass at a church I attended when I was younger.

10. Favorite holiday pastime?
I love everything about Christmas. I especially love celebrating Christmas now that I have kids. Seeing the joy in their faces as we decorate the house and the tree makes me grateful for such a beautiful life. 

Thursday, December 3, 2009

December Goals

Honestly, I have  no idea what my goals were for November and am too lazy to look. I think exercising was one of them. Ha! That one didn't work out so well. 

So what do I want for December?
-stop procrastinating Christmas presents
-figure out sleeping arrangements so I can...
-start putting Oren down in the evenings. Yes, literally. Mathew puts the older kids to bed while I go downstairs to nurse Oren to sleep. The problem with this is that once I sit down, I don't get up. I actually don't mind holding Oren while he sleeps, but I would like to start sewing again and exercising (yes, I said it again...I really do want to exercise, but finding motivation is difficult when I'm up at 6 am) in the evenings.