Sweetness

Last night I was reading "No Flying In The House" to the kids for bedtime. Gentry was keeping herself occupied while the three older children were tucked in bed. I knew Lauren was tired and going to fall asleep. The kids also know I don't like interruptions while reading and they are supposed to be falling asleep. But Lauren got my attention and interjected sweetly enough to say, "Mommy I'm going to fall asleep but I still want a kiss goodnight." Meaning she didn't want me to forget to kiss her but she couldn't stay awake any longer. She is so stinking cute!

Bedtime

I know all kids & their moms (and maybe even dads) go through different sleep/bedtime ritual phases. They are constantly changing but there are some things I want to remember about each of them.

With Hadley I used to rock her in the purple glider chair and sing "I Am A Child of God" holding her peach blanket up to her and a pacifier. She would drink a bottle until she turned 1 and then she just had no desire. She just wanted the 'feel'. Never really took to the blanket either but I always gave her the same one and have since kept it as 'her' blankie - mostly from my own memories.

Vincent's most vivid bedtime ritual was knowing he was tired but waiting for the perfect moment to put him in bed. Typically he would sit/play on the couch and eventually bonk his head, cry, and I'd whisk him to bed. Whenever he was very tired he would always hit his head on something it seemed. Then I'd get his blankie, sing "Mary's Lullaby" to him and put him to bed (I think with a bottle of milk). That was his song and I always thought of him as my little Christmas baby even though he was born in April. It had to do with the song and him being a boy I guess.

I remember less about Lauren's bedtime routines except mostly that I would rock her - with her blankie of course - and she would tell me the songs to sing. Her song was always "I Love To See The Temple". She and Vincent were tummy sleepers as babies which was an awful feeling and yet they were such great sleepers that way too!

Now that I don't nurse Gentry she gets bottles. Of chocolate milk at this point. Hey, whatever works. For naps we read a couple books first but at night I rock her, with her blankie and a bottle and sing anything. Her baby song was always "Come Follow Me" b/c that is what I sang to her the most and then I usually hum "Silent Night". When she finishes her bottle she hands it to me and in the cutest little voice says 'mo, mor, mommy'. I confirm 'you want more?' and lay her in her crib with another bottle.

Holding

Lauren is three and enjoys asking to be held. Several times a day she'll come to me, usually when my hands are thick in dirty dishes or I'm helping someone with homework, with her blankie in her hand and thumb in her mouth and ask "can you hold me?" I try soooo hard to always take advantage of holding her when she asks but more often than not, it is too hard b/c I'm in the middle of helping someone else or getting dressed to leave because we're late. My favorite is when she'll say "can you hold me for forty minutes?" Or sometimes it's just 20 minutes - silly little girl.

Parent-Teacher Conference/Swinging

Last Fall I had a parent-teacher conference with Vincent's preschool teacher. I remember it because I think it will be the only conference in my children's careers that we began with a prayer (since he attends preschool at a church). Anyway, it was just a short 10-minute briefing on our child. Everything was fine. Great. No problems - c'mon this is preschool. When we were starting to end Miss Jolene excitedly said "Vincent is a good pumper! I mean he is a really good swinger. It is amazing! I wish he could teach the other students so I wouldn't have to push them."

It is true. Ever since he learned how to pump from our friend Hallie, he is really impressive. He swings really high and pumps with great determination. Kinda a funny story. Let's hope all of his parent-teacher conferences in the future go as well.

Tender Memory

I frequently remember this and finally thought today of writing it down. I'm not sure why but I can remember it so vividly:

When Gentry was only months old I took her and the other kids to Grandma Sylva's to watch them while I went to the nearby thrift store in Ontario. When I returned to pick them up Gentry was and had been VERY upset. Sylva told me she was fine until about the last 20 minutes. There was nothing anyone, including A.Laura, could do to comfort her. I remember she was wearing a little onesie with pink and red cherries and pink pants. I took her and she nestled on the crook between my left shoulder and collarbone (note: my kids NEVER snuggled and slept on me - maybe this is why I remember it so well). She was still sniffling from crying so hard but instead of resting on me and going to sleep she just stared at me. She laid there on my should as I rocked in Grandpa's chair with the saddest little eyes that told me how much she had missed me. How much she longed for me. How much it hurt her to be separated. I looked at her as she stared back at me, in between sniffles, and just relished in the experience. I am glad that I have this tender memory of her.

Soft Spot

Gentry has always had a soft spot for well, soft spots. As a baby she would always lay her head on a pillow or the armrest of the couch. When we would play on the bed she would always seek out the pillow and lay her head on it. I have a pillow in her crib that most times I find her laying her whole body across it - lengthwise. Sometimes when I put her in her crib with her head on the pillow she immediately crawls on the pillow so her entire body is on it. Funny little quirk but definitely a noticeable one.

Christmastime

Tonight I laid on the couch (with a sore neck muscle) and put Christmas music on while the kids danced around. They had so much fun and Gentry was so cute imitating everything they did. She ran around in circles for the longest time. I don't know if there is anything better than watching your children share in and get excited in the joy of Christmas. It reminded me of so many childhood memories of Christmas.