Beds

Each time I check on my sweet sleeping children, they have shifted positions in their beds. Head on this side, then head on that; curled up in balls and then legs outstretched. Sweaty sticky-ups of hair and sweet faces on a pillow, then not on a pillow. Little arms and legs through the crib bars; not-so-little-anymore legs hanging off the edge of the toddler bed, sometimes kneeling and then back in a curled-up ball on the mattress. Buddy Boy could sure use a bigger bed. My, how they grow! Developing little personalities and minds of their own (but with Daddy's good nature and my stubbornness) by day, then snuggling in, and rolling rolling rolling across the mattress til finding the perfect place by night. I love the quiet, when they are sound asleep and dreaming of whatever they dream of, and I forget about the cares and the time-outs and the peas flung across the room and the many happenings of the day. The quiet reminds me how much I love my babies. 

Then all at once she awakes and calls out with a sleepy, hoarse little cry. As I hold her in my arms he wanders in, bleary-eyed and carrying the essentials - car blankie, Llama Llama, pillow. I should send him back to his bed but I don't. I kind of like having everyone in here. Tuck him in on the floor, feed her a midnight snack, exchange some happy smiles and blow kisses back and forth (her latest trick), then all returns to quiet as we climb into our beds.

Remembering

Sometimes being a mom is hard. Like, for example, at five in the morning when your baby awakes for the second time in the same two-hour period (or so it seems, for time - as well as perspective - is blurred at such an early hour).

I change another diaper as Little Miss fusses and whines loudly. "Shhh, don't wake up the whole house, Sweet Pea." (You see, we are staying at Nana's for spring break.) I nurse her again to quiet her. As Daddy stirs, I whine and fuss a bit myself, but he quickly rolls over and goes back to sleep (as daddies often do).

I start to grumble as Little Miss starts to fill her diaper again; but then I stop myself short, and remember. You see, at an early hour such as this, it's easy to forget. So as I hold my little sweetheart with her happy little 5 a.m. smile, and as I listen to my four-year-old utter a sweet prayer that he won't have scary dreams, I remember. I remember why I love my babies so. I remember the joy I feel when I see these little smiling faces (especially during daylight hours). I remember what a privilege it is to be their mama.

Screaming match over a jar of carrots

Ella is very happy. And very vocal. 

Ella nods her head

We took this video about a month ago. Ella had started nodding her head a lot to communicate...what a smart girl :)