Missing the babies

As we sit and sell our crafts at Norman Ingram, we are missing our kids. Everytime a little person comes by our table, we think of our own.

Just before we left to come here I had offered for Z to call us and say goodnight before he goes to bed. Just 20 minutes ago I got a phone call from our nanny and we were expecting tears. Not the first time. He just wanted to say goodnight and tell us he loved us.

The second call came after less than 10 minutes. The sibs and tears filled the earpiece. Our 3 year old was missing us terribly. He was sobbing so hard I could not make out most of what he was saying except, “I love you.”. My heart sank and my eyes started to well with tears. How I wish I could’ve run home to comfort him. I know he will be fine.

M suggested we wake him to let him know we are home just to give him some peace of mind.

328/365

327/365

Our kids like to snack before bedtime – V also likes to have a morning snack before breakfast. She was walking around carrying and eating from this container of cereal puffs.

As Z walked toward the school doors after I picked him up, I noticed that there was something funny about his walking. I looked at his boots and found the source. I asked him if he put his boots on himself and he said, “yeah”. That would explain it.

Our Blossoming Flower

Before we had babies, M and I always discussed what names we liked best for our kids.  The girls’ names were much easier to choose and the boys’ ones were always harder to come by.  ( I guess that is the curse that comes with being a teacher.)

Violet Rose was one of the names we had chosen for a girl.  I think it suits her so much because she is so beautiful.  And just like a rose, she has her thorns.  Most people will tell you that the second born tends to be quieter.  M and I would strongly disagree with that.  V advocates for herself – even though she still doesn’t talk.  She will let you know if she wants something or does not like something.  Even in times when she is being bothered by her big brother, she knows how to defend herself.

Since she turned a year old, V has blossomed so much  in every way.  She is every bit as smart as Z, if not smarter.  She uses signing and her comprehension of the English language is just astounding.  Every morning, after I change her diaper, I ask her to take the dirty one to the diaper pail in the bathroom.  Confidently, she walks over to the bathroom, opens the lid to the pail and deposits the soiled diaper. 

Playing together with her brother is still a tricky area.  Most times, someone ends up in tears – usually her.  But lately, it has been him.  Two days ago, she actually bit his hand.  She has also pulled his hair and pinched his cheek.  The truth is, as we discovered today, he is terrified of her.  Z was running away from V because she ‘attacks’ him.  It’s funny because it is totally payback time for him. 

Tonight, while I nursed her, she detached herself from me and sat up.  I got up and she pointed to her crib.  I then asked her if she wanted to go into her bed.  ‘Yes’, she nodded.  I was pleasantly surprised and impressed.  V was willing to go into her crib to sleep.  And she didn’t make a fuss at all.  She sat up after I laid her down and took a sip of her water cup and went to sleep.  Hahhh…relief.

THIS is the easy part that everyone keeps talking about, I guess.

324/365

Everybody loves IKEA – especially Z. Their duvets are now displayed on a round rack and it was so tempting for the kids to play in it. And so they did. And boy did they ever have fun!

325/365

Busy day today. M bought 2 besta units from IKEA and we were busy putting them together. Both kids were awake and so we had to keep them entertained.

Z was playing on his own when V went over and bit his hand – right where the meaty part of the palm was. It hurt him a lot and made him cry. So we sequestered each of them to their own space. They were content to play on their own for a good while. In fact, even V understood where her spot is and would go back to sit there when I told her to.

323/365

Asking a three year old to tell you about his days at school is like asking for fabricated stories. Apparently this is a common occurrence. Everyday on the drive home, Z sings. These are songs that he learns from school. Here, he is looking at the Hanukkah Party invitation and pretending to read it. In fact, i think he was reciting the things his teachers told them in class. It was so cute. Moments like these, I just stop and listen and not comment for fear of interrupting them.

See the Hanukkah bush? The kids loved it. V especially loves the Elmo ornament that sings. I actually took this photo because the previous attempts by Z was mostly his finger.

322/365

Although V is not talking using words yet, she is very good at using her fingers and hands to point. Today, she patted the chair seat at the computer, indicating that she wants to sit on it. She was so happy that I let her. She pretended to type away at the computer. So cute.

Pizza dough is great for many things – including easy donuts. Literally, you just cut, stretch and fry it up. Z loved the donuts we made and asked for more after he ate the first one.

320/365

Sleep Update

So far it has been at least 2 weeks since I sleep trained V. Now she doesn’t cry at all when I put her in he crib. She might get up and readjust her position or take a drink if water but she will go to sleep on her own. She does the same for naps as well.

In the morning she usually wakes around 6 or 6:30. But the last 2 days, she has woken up crying and calling for me around 5am. I go to her and nurse her then I try to put her back in the crib.

Except this morning it didn’t work so I had to go back to her around 6am and nurse her. After that I put her back down and she slept till about 7:15 am. Apparently she didn’t have a morning nap, but instead, slept for 2 hrs straight in he afternoon. How sweet it is!

We have never had Z nap for more than 1.5 hrs and we had to reset him if he did Wake before the 2 hr mark. V is definitely easier. I’m glad we sleep trained her earlier.