West Virginia Time

Several years ago, we were driving home from out East from vacation.  We usually don't set planned stopping points but drive until we are tired and then we stop.  That particular night, it was starting to get dark and we were wondering how much longer we had it in us to go.  Both of us were exhausted.  It felt really late.  We just couldn't go any farther and we decided to stop in West Virginia.  We looked at the clock and laughed.  It was 7:30.  But we seriously felt like it was almost midnight!  We decided that West Virginia must be on different time.  

One of the biggest changes I noticed when I became a parent is how early my life became and how schedule crazy I became with my babies.  I have never been a night owl and have always been more of a morning person.  But I did occasionally stay up past 10:00.  Now, I am often in my jammies, settling the kids in for the night, turning the lights off downstairs and I will look at the clock and it will be 7:45.  7:45?  Really, I'm settling in for the night at 7:45?  Often we say to ourselves, "Where are we, West Virginia?"

When I was pregnant with Laci, my SIL gave me a book, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" about sleep.  It became my Baby Bible.  Schedule and early bedtimes became very important to me and I stuck to them.  It helps that the daycare has a nap schedule established when the kids were 6 months old.  Plus, the kids have to get up at 7 and don't have the luxury of "sleeping in".  My babies' bedtime has always been 7:00 by the time they are a few months old and they sleep 12 hours.  I think they were better off for it.  I am a firm believer in the importance of sleep.  What worked best for me is when they struggled sleeping through the night was putting them to bed earlier, not later.  And it worked!  By the time Laci was a year and a half or so, she was "staying up" to 7:30 or so.  Calvin is 18 months old now and he is still asleep by 7:15.  He loves his sleep.  We still struggle with naps on the weekend for Laci and she stays up too late.  Unfortunately, her behavior suffers for it.  I know when she doesn't get enough sleep that there will be tantrums the next day.  She has a very distinct tired tantrum.  It's clear that the tantrum is because she is tired, not naughty. 

The only problem with their great sleep schedule is that to get Calvin in bed by 7:15, we have really early lives.  Now that he is a little older, we make exceptions and occasionally, he is even able to stay out until 8.  I know, crazy.  We find ourselves going out to dinner early or saying silly things like "It's getting late, we need to get home" when it is 7:00.  We're often the first ones to parties and the first ones to leave.  Our weekend activities are scheduled for morning or late afternoon to accommodate a nap.  It is a bit limiting.  I know that this phase won't last forever.  Laci was almost 3 when Calvin was born and we were starting to go out in the evenings more often.  We'll resume our big "night life" soon enough.  But my happy children with their sleep schedule is definitely worth sacrificing the late nights.  Until then, we'll just keep living on West Virginia time.  

Calvin Rules

One of Laci's goals when Calvin was born is that she wanted to be able to hold him standing up.  We could all hold him while standing up and walking around, but she always had to be sitting while we gently placed him on her lap.  Now that he is bigger and a little more rugged, she likes to try to carry him around.  It's not pretty and he hates it.  They also love to rough house.  When Laci was a baby, we joked that you could always tell the "second child" at school versus the "first born".  Calvin is a good "second child" and loves to rough house.  We play and jump around every night before bed.  He loves jumping on the bed.  He loves jumping on piles of pillows.  He loves jumping on people.  Even though, he is pretty rugged, we still had to give Laci some "Calvin's Rules".  A few of Calvin's Rules - 1.  No attacking him.  2.  No jumping on him.  3.  No pestering him.  Now, when she starts to jump on him, we just say "Calvin Rules" and she knows to stop.  Sometimes we have to remind her that Calvin's Rules apply anywhere, not just as home.  Usually it works.  Sometimes it does not.

The other day, Calvin started jumping on Laci.  It must have been more than she wanted or could handle because suddenly she shouted out "Laci's Rules".  Apparently, in her mind, it works both ways.  :)

A Grandma didn't want to be left out

When I was pregnant with Laci, I found a half finished cross stitched quilt my special grandma had started.  So as a gift to her great granddaughter, from  I finished it for her.  My MIL was nice enough to finish the ends and add a wall hanger to it.  It has always hung in Laci's room.  I love that it was touched by so many hands for Laci.  Even though she never came out and said it, I always had the feeling my mom felt a little left out.  She is not crafty. 

When I saw my mom at Christmas, she gave me a clown wall hanging that she had made in the 70s and her MIL (my grandma) added the hanger to it.  She asked if we could hang it in Calvin's room so that each child had something their grandmas and great grandmas made for them.  I thought it was really sweet that she finally felt like she contributed and made something for them.  I noticed today that Charlie hung it up in his room.  As a side note, the goofy dog piggy bank was also Charlie's old childhood piggy bank.  I may be a bit sentimental but I love a few touches of our childhood that we have been able to pass down to our kids.

 

Pajama Puzzle Day

This has been a very strange weekend.  4 days at home with nothing to do.  I can't remember the last time we have had a break like this.  I wanted to go on an outing like the museum or something but realized playtime at home was just as fun.  So yesterday, we had a lazy, pajama day.  Laci was up late at a New Years Eve party and slept until 9:45.  I don't think she has ever slept that late in her life.  One of our traditions is to do a puzzle on New Years Day.  I love holidays that have no set traditions.  Days that are truely "free".  This year, we chose a 1000 piece Royal Wedding puzzle.  We tend to be a little obsessive when it comes to "puzzle day" and our child care lacks.  The one rule that I had to instill for Charlie is that he had to take breaks to help with the kids.  He did a good job of helping me when I asked.  I look forward to the day that the kids can do puzzle day with us.  Laci got a free pajama day and didn't even have to get dressed yesterday. 

During Calvin's nap, I also got to the neighborhood work out room to get the first run of the year done.  This year's goal is still 400 miles, hoping to be done by Thanksgiving again.  I rewarded my run with a pan of brownies Laci and I shared.  Yum. 



Working on our puzzles



The finished puzzles -
Will and Kate Wedding for Charlie and me, Princess for Laci and the Snowman Stacker for Calvin

For dinner, we had our lazy Sunday afternoon dinner of waffles and fruit.  We had that moment during dinner where we couldn't help but laugh.  Laci had applesauce all over her waffles and then proceeding to drop them all over the floor.  For a simple dinner, we made quite a mess.  I chose cleaning up the kids with baths and Charlie took over the kitchen.  Our lazy day finished with the Lion King for Laci and finishing the puzzle for Charlie and me.  The bonus this year is that we get today off too!  It's faux Sunday here - a cleaning and playing day!

Brightening up others day for Christmas

Christmas is over and back to work.  Another long weekend starts this weekend.  I want to share some of our Christmas - mostly to document it for me.

Friday - We visited Charlie's grandparents at their nursing home.  His grandma has severe dementia and didn't know who we were.  That was tough.  But his grandpa was very happy we were there.  Laci sang for him.  The memory unit has a pet dog and Calvin was pretty happy playing with her.  The highlight was getting rides on his walker down the hall.  I'm so glad that we are able to visit them and bring joy to him. 

That evening, we went to visit his dad at rehab. It was a quick visit but I am glad we went.  Laci loved seeing Grandpa and Grandpa loved seeing the kids.

Saturday - Christmas 1.  We woke up at Charlie's mom's house and had Christmas morning with his mom and aunt.  After their traditional Christmas breakfast, it was present time!  That afternoon, Charlie's cousin and their kids came to visit for lunch.  Their daughter is Laci's age.  After a few moments getting to know each other, the girls were fast friends.  Lunch was snacks and appetizers and I grazed all day.  I had planned to get Chick-fil-a or make dinner for a "special Christmas Eve" dinner tradition but I was so full from snacking, we all ended up eating cereal and peanut butter sandwiches.  It was a special dinner alright.  :)  It was important to me to take the kids to Christmas Eve Church service but the 7:00 service was a little late for them and we spent most of the hour walking Calvin or entertaining Laci.  But it is still an important tradition to me.  My favorite line after we put Laci to bed was when she walked back to our room to ask a question.  "Is it going to snow tonight?"  It broke our hearts to have to say no.  She insisted that it had to snow for Christmas!  

 

Getting ready to open presents at Grandma's

He loved his new hoop

 

Sunday - Christmas morning was awesome.  I was in heaven sitting there as wrapping paper was flying through the room and toys were opened.  Some of the highlights:

- Laci saying O-M-G after opening every present.

- Laci tossing aside her new Leap Pad (her "big" gift) to play with her new $5 Ariel doll.

- Laci thanked me and hugged me after every single present she opened.

- The fact that Laci mentioned her new Princess underwear to every relative that called that day.  Who knew the underwear would be such a hit! 

- I loved that the first thing Laci did when we came downstairs that morning was not look at everything she got but she made Calvin open the gift she gave him.  He loved it Rockin' Mickey Mouse.

- Having to take a break of opening presents to give Calvin a banana.  

- Christmas breakfast - everyone got their favorite "exotic" fruit that they don't normally get in winter - Blueberries for Calvin, Pineapple for Charlie and Pears for Laci.  

- Taking a family walk while Laci tried out her new bike.

- Charlie spent over an hour assembling the new rocking horse for Calvin and another half an hour putting training wheels on Laci's new bike.  The joy on their faces made it all worth it!

- After the excitement of the presents, Laci chose Christmas dinner as the perfect time to throw a enormous tantrum!  Charlie, Calvin and I enjoyed turkey, broccoli, mashed potatoes and homemade strawberry applesauce on the good china with sparkling cider in our wine glasses.  Laci screamed and threw things under the table.  At least it was memorable. 

 

Laci is under the table screaming.  Charlie looks nice. :)

 

Monday - Christmas 3.  We drove to my sister's house for Christmas with my family.  More cousins.  Lots more gifts and presents.  Laci had a big sleepover with her cousins that night.  She loved it.  We came home yesterday through snow.  I freaked out a bit but we all made it home fine.  Laci loved playing in the 1" of snow.  The next task on my list - finding places for all the new toys and putting away new clothes. 

 

I am really looking forward to the 4 day weekend coming up.  I love that we have no where to go and no where to be but just to have fun and be together.

Sunday Nights

I've written about Sunday mornings.  I've written about Sunday afternoons.  This week, I had a great Sunday night.  Sunday really is my favorite day of the week.  Right now, it's a family day.  We do our errands on Saturday.  On Sunday morning, I review the schedule with Laci - after church, Mom and Dad's responsibility is to clean.  Calvin's job is to nap.  Laci's job is to play.  I love that she has an afternoon just to play.  She doesn't have many of those open times to do that.  If the weather is nice, we try to take a family walk too.  This week, it was.  Dinners are usually simple on Sundays.  Last night we had ramen noodles, soup, hot dogs and applesauce.  The applesauce ended up all over Calvin's head, floor and clothes.  Off to the bath they both went. 

Sunday evenings are special too.  Part of our bedtime routine is play time in our bedroom.  Rarely do all four of us get to play.  Calvin loves playing on our bed - mainly jumping up and down.  When he gets tired, he jumps less and he just lays there on the bed with his head down.  Then we read a few books with him.  Last night, we played Fashion Show.  Laci loves to do this.  She goes in my closet and puts shoes, belts, bags, hats on.  When she walks out, I clap and describe what she is wearing.  If I have ever wondered why I bought so many shoes that I never wear, I now know that the answer is so Laci can play Fashion Show.  My high heels that I have never worn are her favorite.  She calls them the TaDa shoes - as in, she poses and says "TaDa!".  Last night, Calvin played with her.  He had no idea what she was doing.  But he would come out of the closet carrying the same bag.  I would clap for him and he would walk back into the closet.  It was so cute and fun.  Charlie was reading the paper but he clapped at the appropriate time too.  It was so nice to just be together and play.  I had to pause a moment to take it all in.  These are my memories.  

Laci doesn't take a nap Sunday afternoons so she is pretty tired by bedtime.  Therefore, Sunday bedtimes are much more pleasant and she goes to sleep a little earlier.  It's nice to have a little time to myself to unwind and watch TV before passing out asleep like I do most nights!

This time of year must remind me a lot of my childhood.  Last night, I was remembering a game I used to play with my brothers occasionally on Sunday evenings.  My younger brother and I would sit on our bed and turn off the lights.  Our older brother would come in and try to get us in the dark.  The bed was "safe".  I remember the feeling of terror of getting caught so I would just sit on the bed.  My younger brother was braver and would venture off the bed and run around the room as our older was the "monster" chasing him.  So simple but so memorable.  Sometimes I remember these memories and times as a kid and I am reminded that my children are building these memories right now.  I wonder what silly games my kids will play that they will remember as adults.  



If Calvin wakes up from his nap on time, he loves cleaning too! 
The broom is his favorite.  I hope he doesn't outgrow this!


 

Peanut Brittle

I got my dad some Peanut Brittle for Christmas.  He loves Peanut Brittle.  Whenever I see Peanut Brittle, I think of him and Christmas growing up.  I often got him peanut brittle for Christmas.  Now as a parent, I am wondering if he likes peanut brittle at all.  

A few weeks ago, I was shopping with my niece.  I asked her what I should get her mom.  Her answer was "Lotion, my mom loves lotion.  I always get her lotion because she told me that she loves it when I get it for her."  I thought that was the sweetest thing I ever heard.  Because I know that my sister does not like lots of lotion.  For her daughter to honestly believe that her mom loves the lotion she gets for her tells me that my sister is doing something right.  It's not the lotion my sister loves.  It's that the lotion came from her daughter.  

Maybe my dad hates peanut brittle.  Maybe he loves it.  But I know he will love it that I got it for him...  even if I am all grown up now.  I really know what it means now.  Sometimes I feel more like his little child as a grown up than I did as a little child who couldn't wait to grow up.  Just like Laci and Calvin will always be my little children.. even when they are all grown up.  This is why I know Charlie will love the pliers and bright yellow stocking cap that Laci picked out for him for Christmas.  He will run every morning wearing that hat with pride.   

Hmmm, now I wonder how my dad feels about the Pineapple Upside Down cake we made him every year for his birthday.