Embracing the Insanity – Page 31 – And finding grace in each moment

4-Year-Old Observations

Posted on January 6, 2011January 6, 2011 by Becky

“It doesn’t really work when you wear a headvand [headband] and glasses at the same time,” Mara observed. “Because then the glasses are saying ‘I’m sitting here!’ and the headvand says, ‘No, I’m sitting here!'”

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“Look at Carissa, Mommy! She’s going to be an early walker!” Mara called as Carissa walked along the couch hurling everything in her path–diapers, wipes and toys–on the floor.

Then Mara added, “You should really start standing behind her and holding her hands and walking with her. You should really start doing that.”

Mara must think I want Carissa to start walking. . . I need to go rescue the diaper bag before there is nothing left inside.

Already Got the Boot!

Posted on December 14, 2010December 11, 2010 by Becky

I can’t explain it. (Not being part of it.)

But there is this almost–dare I say–elitist? Red-Head Group that instinctively knows who is really and truly “one” of them. You have to be in the group to really know.

Growing up, I knew someone in The Group. She would look at other apparent red-heads and declare, “She isn’t a real red-head.”

Mara is definitely in that group. The Real Red-Head Group.

I would have thought Micah was too.

But . . . maybe not?

In this watercolor, Mara unceremoniously declares him blond.

Poor kid.

Already got the boot.

7 Years Later. . .

Posted on December 13, 2010January 1, 2011 by Becky

Micah has been waking up between 5 and 6 AM, which is challenging with Daniel’s work schedule–he’s been getting home from work around 11:30 PM three nights a week and going to bed even later all week long. . . So most mornings go like this:

5 – 6 AM: Knock on bedroom door. Small boy enters, carrying favorite blue blanket. Says something about getting in our bed. I take him back to his room, where he usually needs a diaper change (often its stinky, so I don’t want to make him wait). Then I say something like, “Okay, buddy–it’s still night-night. You need to lay back down now and go to sleep. . . Stay in bed now, buddy.”

That’s the background. Now.

It’s December 13, 2010. The morning of our seventh wedding anniversary.

Micah has already been up, in our room, diaper changed, put back to bed. . .

At 6:30 Daniel wakes up. I reach over to him and say, “It’s still night-night, buddy. Go back to sleep. . .”

Apparently (so he says) he started to get up.

Firmly, I insisted: “Buddy. It’s still night-night.”

Who knew what it would be like: waking up together after seven years of marriage, with three kids and another on the way?

Happy anniversary, dear.

“Coming Up To Be Good Sisters!”

Posted on December 11, 2010December 9, 2010 by Becky

One of my favorite pictures Mara has drawn was of the girls’ room:

I love it because despite its primitive nature in the design sense, it truly captures “their” room. Mara’s bed with her pink kasey quilt. The bars of Carissa’s crib, where every morning she stands and calls to her big sister, waking her up. The dollhouse where Mara spends hours and hours setting up the rooms and playing “princesses.” The magic wands–seems like either she or Micah is always playing with the magnetic magic wands!

Mara often writes on the back of her pictures. She can’t spell very many words yet, so she will tell me what she wants to say and I will spell it for her while she writes.

On back she wrote these beautiful words:

I hope and pray that this is only the beginning of a beautiful friendship. That Mara and Carissa would always be “good sisters.”

I love my girls!!!!

Beginner’s Artwork

Posted on December 10, 2010December 9, 2010 by Becky

At certain stages of life, children produce art en masse.

Mara’s at that stage. Micah is still dabbling in it.

A friend once suggested that rather than saving every piece of paper your child colors, you could instead take a photo of those you want to remember and keep a computer file of pictures of each child’s art.

What a great suggestion! (Especially for someone like me, who really struggles to keep clutter under control!)

Every day Mara colors and draws and cuts and tapes . . . She has discovered art! And she loves it.

I love the stories behind her pictures! So often, like any artist, she draws what she loves, what excites her, what makes her happy. . . Usually that includes siblings, family, and beauty (like flowers or princess dresses), occasionally fun activities.

Here are a few of her recent pictures. (You may have to click or double-click to see the explanations I’ve added with Picasa.)

They don’t always make complete sense. For instance, in the first picture, Grandmom S. is pushing the kids on the swing, but Mara told me that Grandpa B. is taking the picture!

I liked how she drew my ponytail blowing in the wind! 🙂