[Editor's note: I started this post two months ago, but I probably still want to remember it, so I'll finish it now.]
March 24, 2016: Freestyle, free form reflections on my current life stage:
Last week I put away eight weeks worth of clean laundry (in traditional mother-fashion, I put away everything except my own clothes). Nevertheless, today it had to be put away again. I've converted the play pen to a clean laundry storage container and was enthusiastically sorting, when inspiration hit: "All service is worship. It's like I'm cleaning this house for Jesus himself. And in cleaning my house, I'm making more space for Jesus in my home." I got pumped about cleaning! I made plans for how to get my bedroom in order. Its current state would make a teenage boy's room seem presidential, and I realized that one hour of work could make my bedroom organized and beautiful. I didn't have anything scheduled for the day: I could totally do it!!
Then I was reminded that I had children. Whatever had been entertaining them both, ceased to entertain them. The baby crawled in, screaming to be held. The toddler stormed in demanding to be read to. Neither of them could be put off. The room would have to wait. I remembered why the room was a pigsty. And how I had gone eight weeks without putting away laundry. And why my husband and I haven't had more than ten minutes alone together since his birthday (when Grandma took the kids and we had almost an hour alone together before the basement flooded with sewage and he had to go fix it.)
When people ask me how motherhood is going, I always say (and sincerely mean) "It's great. The kids are awesome. Things are going as smoothly as can be expected." And I do believe that's true. I am super blessed. My kids are so smart and kind and healthy and (largely) obedient. I realized today that even if a toddler is a perfect child 90% of that time, that leaves 2.5 hours a day of non-perfection to deal with.
Adele and Ivar are best friends. Adele loves "the baby" and still wants to hold him all the time (even though it seems like he's almost as big as she is). She wants to look at him and hug him (especially when he's asleep). We're working on recognizing that when he starts crying, that means he doesn't like what she's doing and she needs to stop.
To prove my point, here are some March 2016 photos of Adele and Ivar being best friends
(in this one, she had just said "I love you, baby. You're my best friend.")
Ivar is crawling and standing up. Adele is getting really good at peddling her tricycle.
About every other night for the past two weeks, Ivar wakes up every 15-45 minutes. The other nights he wakes up only about 3-4 times, which is a relief in comparison.
My sister has called three times today. Each time we've had to hang up because both of my children are crying and I have to go handle the situation. My healthy, high-functioning, kind, and pleasant children. How do the parents of special needs children do it?!!!
During one conversation today I told my sister that a few days ago. I'd been standing in the living room trying to hold together a broken toy while the super glue dried. Ivar came up to me and wanted to be held. When I didn't pick him up, he tried pulling himself up on my leg. I was wearing pajama pants and they came right off when he pulled on them. So there I was, in front of our large picture window, de-pantsed by a baby, said baby screaming on my leg, super-glued toy in my hands rendering me incapable of picking up screaming baby, or pulling up my pants, and if I moved the standing baby would fall over and cry even more. My wiser, more experienced sister said, "Ah! You are right in the thick of motherhood."
These little people are adorable. Ivar is starting to understand what I say and respond appropriately. He will come when called. Adele is starting to be able to have conversations.
Adele is currently laying on the kitchen floor crying with a broken heart because her banana broke in half while she was peeling it, so she can't eat it, but I won't give her another one. Normally I would solve a problem like this by eating the broken food item myself, but bananas give me heartburn. And we're not throwing it away because it is organic, gosh darn it!
She just brought out Lucky Charms. She "loves Lucky Charms" and so she's happy again. I put the Lucky Charms away (and move her stool) and say she can have them once she eats her banana. Again, on the floor howling out her crushed dreams.
We just got a new renter in the basement apartment. Quiet is very important to him. It makes us realize just how noisy our children are. [Editor's note: he was very polite, but only lasted a month]
Adele likes to sit on the potty after having a poopy diaper and taking it off herself. It's messy, but I figure it's a step in the right direction [Editor's note: this is pretty much exactly where we still are].
Update on banana situation: Adele is now happily eating it. It just took some cuddles, and now she feels better. You will not be surprised to hear that now that Adele is happy, Ivar has started screaming. He needs a nap. He may or may not fall asleep, but I can't try to put him down until Adele is busy watching TV. But I've said no TV until the banana is eaten. I think we'll be there soon.
We are there! Adele (having finished her banana) has just settled down at the living room table with a bowl of Lucky Charms and instructions to eat the whole bowl (not just the marshmallows). I'm excited to go put Ivar down for a nap when I realize Matt will be home in 20-30 minutes and will need lunch/dinner.
I realized today that I make six meals a day: breakfast for the kids, breakfast for Matt, Matt's sandwiches for work, lunch for the kids, first dinner (when Matt gets home from work), and second dinner (around 7:00 when we're all hungry again). But first dinner will have to wait: Ivar desperately needs some TLC.
Later: I did put Ivar down for a nap and came out right as Matt was coming home. He took one look at me and sent me off for some personal time, bless him. I think reflecting about my life while living it made it seem more overwhelming then I usually realize it is.
Other cute things of current [March 2016] life stage:
Adele has taken to saying "I love you too!" Mostly when no one has said it first. I'm pretty sure she thinks "too" means "very much."
Adele is obsessed with the TV show "Phineas and Ferb." I can't blame her, it's an pretty awesome show. Matt and I love it too. And anyone who says TV doesn't affect children is clueless. Adele has taken to using her toy phone to call Jeremy (Phineas and Ferb's teenage sister's boyfriend, with whom she is frequently on the phone). I often find her making noises like Klimpaloon (the magical old-timey bathing suit that lives in the Himalayas). And she frequently will repeat over and over again "Dum dum dum.... Fossils!!" (from the museum episode)
Adele has taken to saying "Please! Please! Please!" with fingers interlaced placed under her chin just like a golden age movie melodrama. It's pretty endearing.
Ivar started crawling a few weeks ago and after about an hour of that, started standing independently. Now he's working on walking with a push toy, which he LOVES. Just now (three months ago), I realized he was in a corner (right above our downstair renter's bed) running his push toy into the wall. I lifted him up by his pajamas, but he didn't let go of the (rather large) push toy. It came up with him and hit me right in the shins. That boy is strong! [Editor's note: that was when he was eight months and two weeks-- he started walking one week later]
