Our Easter Bunnies

Kate :: 10 weeks old

Gwen :: 6 weeks old
Gwen may win for more baby rolls--and she is 4 weeks younger than Kate in this picture!

Kate’s nighttime routine

this picture is Kate's response to "show me your happy face"

Paul and I have been laughing to ourselves that Kate’s nighttime routine now has to begin practically 2-3 hours before she goes to bed. I’m not really sure how or when all of these steps became necessary, but they are now essential. They say kids thrive on routine and Kate proves this true. If one small part of this routine is broken, Kate is NOT happy about it. But follow the routine, every step of the way, and she doesn’t fight bedtime at all. Even blows me kisses at the door. It begins…

Help set the table for dinner.
Blessing on the food. (Lately Kate’s been insisting on saying it, all by herself. It gets interesting sometimes.)
Eat dinner while Paul and I try and have some sort of an adult conversation. Usually interrupted by “this is yucky” or “now Kate can take a bath”.
Gets down from highchair and undresses herself in about 3 seconds. She’s fast.
Puts her dirty clothes in the hamper.
Takes a bath. I think this is one of her favorite activities of the day.
Gets her jammies on. Makes sure to tell us that her sleeper has to be put on later.
Cleans up her toys. Usually gets distracted and starts playing with them again. Redirect.
Scripture time.
Kate gets to watch her show for the day. She rotates between Dora, Elmo and Mr. Kruger’s Christmas. The last one is a little strange, I know. She loves it.
Snack time. This is the one I have been trying to cut out because dinner was not that long ago. But when she looks up at me and says in a soft voice “But Mommy, I’m still hungry” how am I supposed to send her to bed?!
Brushes teeth.
Uses the toilet. (Sometimes.)
Runs to give her daddy a “big hug and a big kiss too”.
Oh and don’t forget about hugs and kisses for Gwen. Sometimes the table, chairs, door and whatever else she passes on the way to her room are recipients of these hugs and kisses also.
I put on her sleeper.
Kate says her nighttime prayers. Often she is thankful for whatever is in her direct line of sight. Dolls, drawers, crib, window. You get the idea.
Lights out. But make sure her “special light” is on. (Her red nightlight)
Put on her Primary Children’s CD.
Get her pink baby doll, pink blanket and cup of water.
Rock in the rocking chair with me for 2 songs.
I lay her down in her crib.
She asks for a story about Fanny and her three dolly’s; Annabelle, Chloe and Fiona. I oblige.
She asks to sing a song. Tonight it was “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”. Again, I oblige.
She asks me to turn on her stars (paper lanterns that hang from the ceiling) if she hasn’t already turned them on herself.
I walk out of the room and blow her a “big kiss and a big hug too” at the door.
Door closes. 7:48pm

Big sigh (from me).

Sweet dreams, my love.

watching the birds

Easter Weekend

what i've been meaning to post

all week I've had different things on my mind to write about. and each day has come and gone and i never get around to writing that blog post I've been thinking about. so here is the bullet point version of all those posts I've had floating around in my head. Because we have accomplished a few things this week...

like dress-up and dancing. I never realized dancing was innate. She just hears the music and goes. Complete with tutu and princess wand.

sleeping. at least one of us is getting some.
cooking and eating. we're eating mostly vegetarian lately. I say mostly because after the pork tenderloin with blackberry reduction sauce that we ate at a friends house last night, I don't think we will ever give meat up completely. Our new favorite lunch is a panini with roasted peppers, mushrooms, hummus and avocado. It's better than any deli meat I've had.

and plenty of holding, staring and giggling. we try to do this as much as possible.

I've also discovered a new-to-me website that some of my friends with small people in their lives might be interested in: simplemom.net. As I'm learning to find balance between all of my new and old responsibilities and roles of wife, mother, 20-something, story teller, child of God, nurse, nose-wiper, housekeeper, healthy human being, food source and well, me, a few articles I've appreciated reading lately: here, here, here and here.

our weekend

Easter preparations. Watching General Conference. Baths together (yes, I think Gwen looks scared). Lots of walks. Milk face. Gwen and her bunny. Messes. And cleaning, of course. Breakfast baking--delicious. Flowers (Spring, is that you? Please Stay.) Sewing. Smiles. Homework. Playing. And now sleeping.