With your sixth child the rules just aren't the same as they were with the first. My friend, Katie, sent me this email detailing how our lives and habits change with each additional baby....one of the many examples was this:
1st baby: At the first sign of distress - a whimper, a frown-you pick up the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your 3-year-old how to turn on the swing.
How true is this??!!! We have similar rules for napping at our house:
I tip-toed around the house to let Bray nap peacefully when he was a baby.
I played classical music and lullabies for McKenzie to drown out the sounds coming from Bray.
By the time Monson rolled around I actually had all three napping at the same time...or whatever they wanted to do in their beds. It was my time! With three kids under three years old nap time was no longer for them--it was sanity time for me!
Lexie learned to nap amidst chaos.
I didn't stop my errands or my life for my fifth. Izzie napped in the car if she napped at all.
And now Vivie naps wherever she can find a somewhat comfy place to lay her head when the 'Sandman' calls. Hardwood floor, rug, bumbo chair, carseat, supersaucer...usually not her crib. What's next?
And when is it my turn again?
For the record, I really am enjoying this stage of life. REALLY. I am. My three little girls at home right now are a dream-come-true and I love the older/younger sibling balance we have going on. Really. I do. And yes, the older three were a dream-come-true as well. I just never in my wildest dreams, the lone girl with FIVE brothers....thought I'd have FOUR girls....with three of them less than three years apart. I am blessed. And I adore my boys too.
14 years ago
11 comments:
This is funny because just with my THIRD I noticed the stark difference...he napped in the car much more than Em ever did, and still does! I can't imagine how drastically it all changes with six.
That 1 year announcement of Viviana is so precious. I love the sleeping pictures of babies. I'm glad that you are enjoying life, your children are great. I'm nervous about having two, but excited to see what its going to be like!
I thought that said "2nd baby: You threaten your baby when her wails wake up your firstborn". I totally would, does that make me a bad mom? Just kidding. Cute pics of sleeping Viv. Since my boys are sick they both actually napped yesterday and I got to nap with them, heaven!
Such a cute, precious, sleeping Vivie! Is that a new rug I spy???
Nap come to seniors just like they do to newborns - anytime, anywhere - doesn't matter if Kelly is sitting at the dinner table, on the throne, watching TV, or when our hometeachers are here - not to mention Sacrament meeting - in fact - he's taking a nap right now - Gives me uninterupted time to clean out another closet (did the pantry storage room and garage on Tuesday and Wednesday - I'm so proud of myself) - Kelly already has told me there's no more room in the trash - but this doesn't stop my spring cleaning - already one truck load to the second hand store and another one getting stacked up! I'm finding things from wife #1 and #2 - like old xrays etc - things we really don't need to keep!
Love the pics of Viv's napping.
That is so cute Vivie will fall asleep anywhere! I love the pictures!
Those are the saddest yet, cutest pictures of Baby Vivie "Napping"! Poor thing, she's a trooper. I don't think Madison ever really napped!
I have the exact same picture of Addie napping in the bouncing saucer! I remember the nasty look I got from an aunt when she watched me change Addie's diaper right on the floor of a restaraunt (in a private party room). She made a comment like, "I guess diaper changing standards are a little more lenient with your fourth child." Ease and convenience replaces pretty much anything else!
Love every entry and can relate... all mom's can, I am sure. When you get tired of "projects" you should consider organizing your entries into book form... You really are a great writer and one that makes all mom's say, "yeah, I know!"... helps us laugh at ourselves and that laugher gets us through another day. I am serious about the book!
Love, love, triple love those pictures of Vivi sleeping. Especially that one where she is half on, half off the braided rug.
My story has been the reverse--my first 2 I was clueless about how to teach a child to sleep, so their naps were pathetic. My third and fourth, showing up as they did at the same time, I really got into the joy of the INSANELY RIGID sleeping and eating schedules and I can say they never missed a nap that first year and by 6 months they slept from six at night until 9 in the morning--without interruption. So my fifth was taught in the ways of serious sleeping as well and took a 4 hour power nap every afternoon. I wish I could say he is still sleeping so well, but now that he is 2 1/2 he is wanting to be up with the birds and then out with the owls. Oh well, I got a couple of good years out of him.
I cannot imagine any one reading your blog and ever getting an idea other than that You Love Being A Mom. Comes through loud and clear here! So keep up with the enjoyable posts--we love to hear the nitty gritty details of motherhood.
Wes doesn't sleep wherever, but the boy gets his 2 naps/day still and hangs out in his crib sometimes (sanity break from the chaos? :))
Nap time is a beautiful thing...wherever and whenever!
Love the darling pics of your sleeping princess.
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