Looks Like We've Got Ourselves A Big Boy

When my parents arrived on Sunday to pick us up for Disney on Ice, they brought a bed with them. It's one of the bunk bed set that my sister and I used growing up. They keep one up in a bedroom at their house and the other in the attic. Brenna used the extra bed until we bought and stained hers. Now Daniel is going to use it.

Apparently this particular bed was mine. I found 'JULiE' etched in the wood - with a backwards J.

When we got home that night, Michael and I immediately took the crib apart and put the bed together. Not quite as easy as that one sentence makes it sound! The crib takes three different tools to dismantle. The bed doesn't take any....but it does take a lot of cooperation. And a little more space than we had to work with. Eventually we got it up and we used sheets that Mom brought and a blanket left over from my brother's college dorm.

I called Daniel into his room and with all the exuberance he had left, he jumped up in that bed and slid right down in the blankets. The picture above was taken shortly after.

At some point we're bound to have issues with sneaking out or refusing to take naps. For now, though, he loves his bed and is happy to be in it. He has slept well and stayed put until one of us came to get him. He's such a big boy!

A Letter To Uncle Randy

I think if Daniel could write a letter to Uncle Randy, it might sound something like this:


Dear Uncle Randy,

Where did you go? I spent a whole week with you and then you drove away. I haven't seen you since. Mommy says you live in Ohio. Where is that? I ask about you in the mornings while I'm getting dressed, but she always tells me you are at work. She says that Daddy is at work too. Does Daddy get to see you every day? 'Cause if he does I'll be mad.

Sometimes I just want to talk to you. Once we called you and that was fun. Whenever I bring Mommy the phone and say, "Bone?" (which is my word for phone) "Uncle Randy?" Mommy says we can't call right now. Most of the time she says you are at work. Do you work all the time? One time I just wanted to see you and Papa teased me that you were coming. I stood at the window and yelled for you. But you never came. Everybody thought that was kinda funny, but I didn't. If you really came, I'd probably yell "Uncle Randy" really loud and I might run straight to you and give you a big hug. Or I might feel a little shy and hang on to Mommy until I remember exactly how much fun you are. Either way, I'd be awfully glad to see you.

Did you know that I pray for you? Almost every night. When I say my God Blesses, after we do the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep prayer, I remember you. And when I say your name, it reminds me of Aunt Tina so I ask God to bless her too. And Emmy and Sarah. Sometimes I can't remember Ashley's name, so Brenna helps me out. She says, "And Ashley" and I say, "Yep!". Lately, though, I've been getting better about that, so I say "Ashey" all by myself. Is God blessing you like I asked him too? You should probably tell me if He's not so I can pray harder.

Mommy told me before dinner tonight that tomorrow is your birthday. I got so excited. I ran around the kitchen yelling happy birthday! It made mommy and daddy laugh. I think Mommy might let me call you tomorrow. I can sing happy birthday. Did you know that? I can. I'll try to sing it for you tomorrow. Sometimes I don't want to do it when I'm asked to, but since it's for you, I just might do it.

Well, I hope you have a fun birthday. I wish we lived closer to each other. I miss you Uncle Randy. But guess what? Last week, I learned how to say I love you.
I love you Uncle Randy!
Love,
Daniel



P.S. If I were there, I'd help you blow out the candles!

Bedtime Prayers With Daniel

Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
The angels watch me through the night
And wake me in the morning light.
Amen

God Bless,

Elllmmmo
Dieeego
Baby Jaguar
Dooora
Tiko
Isa

By this point the rest of us have the giggles.

Benny. Benny, daddy, Benny - he says with his hands on Michael's cheeks, trying desperately to get his attention.

Boot (Boots)
Clippord (Clifford)
Uncle Randy
An Tina (Aunt Tina)
Emmy
Darah (Sarah)
Ashey (Ashley)
Kap
Daddy
Brenna

Anybody else, Daniel?

...uh, nope.

Are you sure?

...Amen, Mommy. Let's ding (sing)!

Usually at this point, Michael cuts in with a few more people to bless - (including mommy)! And after we've all regained our composure, we sing a song or two before lights out.

Story Time

I have sweet memories of taking Brenna to story time at the library. She loved to listen to the stories and do the little finger plays. She made a few friends there (where doesn't Brenna make friends?) and we went pretty much every week until my third trimester with Daniel. She really enjoyed going.

I've been told at least a hundred times not to compare my kids.

I took Daniel to story time last week. I haven't decided if I'll take him back. Everything was going well as we walked into the library. He was saying hi to everyone we passed and asking me, "read a book, mom? read a book?" Something happened when we turned the corner into the children's section. I started feeling the resistance. The room was empty except for a lone librarian shelving books who pointed us to the story room.

I nearly drug Daniel into the room. As soon as he could see the other kids and moms he started backing up. We sat on the uncarpeted part of the room until I could convince him to scoot forward. For the next 20 minutes, he refused to participate. If the teacher asked everyone to get up, he sat firmly in my lap. If the teacher said everyone should sit down and listen to the story, he ran around in circles. Literally. My threats deterred him only momentarily, and I wondered if I should risk the tantrum and leave. He was by far the most distracting element in the room.

I stuck it out with evil glares, finger snaps, and firm arm grips. When story time finally came to an end, he fell in love with the bubble machine. And though it took a while, he warmed up to the other kids enough to go play in the cascade.

I felt torn between "never doing that again!" and "bringing him back so he'll learn!" With a few days distance, I'm leaning heavily toward the latter. We'll arrive a little earlier this week and try to sit up front. Maybe he'll do better that way.

Maybe.