Bristle Block Bed

Robbie and I were up late last night wrapping gifts and assembling. Vivian started crying around 11:30 pm, and I convinced Robbie to climb out of bed to check on her. I've been the one to get up in the middle of the night for a bad stretch lately, and we were still awake - if only slightly. He returned to explain that she had dumped an entire bag of bristle blocks into her crib, and that's why she was upset and uncomfortable. Later, at 3:30 am, she called for me again. This time she was wet up to her armpits with pee, and I had to strip her and her bed. Her linens, PJs, and blankies are now washing, and she keeps looking for her favorite small blanket with longing eyes. Shortly after 6 am all of my goslings were awake and ready to roll. Robbie is making oatmeal.

NO-FAY-UH!!

Numerous naked Christmas gifts for the children scream to be wrapped, but I must write. It has been too long since I made an entry, and this time of year is full of excitement and humor around this happy little home.

Vivian has been keeping me on my toes all day. She began by climbing onto the door of the dishwasher three times in the span of ten minutes. Each time she completely caught me off guard. I turned my back for an instant or left the room when a child called. She acted like she was doing some serious work, and she was quite put out that I yanked her baby body off the open door. Of all things!!

She climbed onto the kitchen table recently right after Olivia lit the Advent candles without permission before dinner. Robbie and I were both out of the room when she put a napkin into the flame. Luckily, she flung it to the floor without catching anything on fire, and Olivia's quick thinking saved the day. She grabbed the flaming paper, ran to the kitchen sink, and ended up with a burn. She cried for many minutes, and I think a solid impression was made on all four children about the dangers of messing with fire. We got lucky.

The baby is getting some spirit. This evening I made salmon patties for dinner with homemade sweet potato fries. Henry entered the kitchen saying, "Something STINKS!!" I served the patties on hamburger buns, and I heard Olivia say, "This tastes like a fish burger. IS this a fish burger?" "Yes, actually it is." Evelyn said, "Mom, this taste-es disgusting." Usually I get quite up in arms over such comments, but tonight I just laughed. I had the upper hand. I knew that Robbie had brought home mini cupcakes with glitter icing from my all time favorite bakery. I knew there would be no dessert for any child who chose to forego my dinner creation. I explained this to Vivian, and she said, honest to goodness, "Mommy, no fay-uh! NO-FAY-UH!!" She is only 1. I take this as Evelyn's influence.

Miss Evelyn is quite a lovely singer. She knows the words, and her voice is pretty. She had a kindergarten Christmas program this week, and I took the little kids. Little Ev was in the front row. Vivian said to her brother as she stood in the aisle, "Henry! Let's dance." She kept spinning around and doing her darling baby dance moves. She bobs and sways and spins happily. Our sweet neighbors the Scarboros had us over for a holiday evening celebration last weekend. I dressed the girls in their Christmas church dresses. We always go to the neighbor's evening in fancy attire, and the kids enjoy this. The girls had matching dresses, and Vivian said, "Oh, pretttttyyyyy!" when she first saw hers. As soon as the zipper reached the top of her dress, she began to twirl. It was classic. She loved the dress. She felt beautiful. She wanted to dance. She was a picture of joy in that moment.

Olivia chose red, green, and gold rubber bands for her braces at the start of December. She now wears glasses during each school day. She has been playing the piano for us, and Robbie's face lights up with delight each time he listens to her music.

We have a little elf in our house. His name is Porton, and he uses magic to fly to the North Pole each evening to tell Santa about my children. I find myself reminding my young son of this nightly event, and each time he says, "Sorry, Mom!!" Vivian sometimes copies his reply.

She was acting feisty after her bath, and she didn't want lotion on her face. She swatted at me, and I said, "No, NO. You don't hit Mommy." She did an unexpected kick at my face, and I said, "Oh, no you don't. I'll eat your foot like a dinosaur if you try to kick me." Henry ran into the room, and he said, "Oh, Mommy. Please don't eat baby's foot. That would be TERRIBLE. Wait, Mom. Are you just kidding?"

Robbie and I still look at each other and wonder if our family is complete. Then moments come when Henry sneaks into my bed in the 5 o'clock hour after using the restroom and manages to still let more pee come out next to me on my bed. I'm tired. Another load of laundry is instantly added to my to do list before my eyes even open, and I doubt I have it in me to effectively mother another newborn. Actually, I could mother another newborn on hormones alone, but I might need another substance to handle another male preschooler. God bless Henry. He can be such a sweetheart. He asks me to rock him each evening for a few minutes, and he snuggles against my chest as I rub his back. Vivian often wakes me up to, "Mommy, where are you?" or "Mommy, I'm ready." She's killed my sleep pattern this week with night wakings. The worst was when I entered her room and she said, "Hay-uh in my EYES." I brushed it aside, used a clip to hold it, and I put her back into her crib. Henry told me that he used to sleep in a bed with bars like Vivian, and he'd prefer another one instead of his bed. At least he isn't climbing into baby's bed anymore.

On the bright side...everyone here is healthy. Our Christmas tree has not yet been knocked over. I learned most kids will eat almost anything to get glitter cupcakes. I'm still excited to wake up by my sweet husband, and I'm thrilled when Robbie gets home each evening. I am LOVED, and I get hugs and kisses each and every day. Sometimes they are sticky or wet or stinky, but they are kisses just the same. I am one lucky woman.

The kids favorite things:

Vivian - "me we" (her little pink blanket that I made) and her thumb

Evelyn - "night night" (her brown blanket that I made) and her thumb

Henry - ME and being Violet the girl dog (strangers think he's saying he's violent)

Olivia - The Chronicles of Narnia and pretend play