Our Kids

This morning I woke up to Landis on her tummy, propped up on her elbows, just cooing and looking around and smiling. It was very cute and a nice way to start the day.

Landis is really getting ready to start moving around on her own… she’s really already doing it. Yesterday I had put her on her blanket on the floor with some toys so she could get some sitting time. I went in to the office and checked my email, some scores, etc… The girls were in the same room playing on the sofa when we heard, “Mom! Dad! Look at Landis!” So we went in there… and Landis had rolled herself about 5 feet across the room to where Lela had just finished a puzzle. She, of course, was trying to put the puzzle pieces in her mouth.

I know we keep saying this, but Landis is quite different than the girls… I don’t remember the girls moving around quite as much. I suspect we’re going to have a crawler on our hands! Good thing we’ve got Piper and Lela to keep an eye on her!

jason

Sunday night, 11:30pm or so. The girls (all four of ‘em) are finally sleeping (see Mystique’s post, below).

I think about today and I cringe. It ended with a not-so-stellar parenting performance by myself after what really was an ok day with the girls. I went and got breakfast burritos and coffee with Piper and Lela (it’s becoming a Sunday tradition with us) and that went well enough. On the way home Piper was happily singing “The Saints go Marching In” way off key and butchering the lyrics, but I loved it. Lela was cracking me up with her now-very-common, “Pipe! Come on, Pipe!” I don’t know why that makes me smile, but it does.

Piper and I took off to Ikea to pick up a special order… that trip went well enough, too. Taking one of the girls to a store is literally 5 times as easy as bringing them all. No worries about attention, or who has who’s hand… just you and one little person, happily strolling around a store explaining things.

Got home, comforted Lela a bit (she had decided that she did want to go to Ikea about 10 minutes too late). Then we had a nice stretch where the girls played for a bit by themselves, giving Mystique and I some cleanup and email time.

After a yummy dinner of pizza the girls had a quick bath and then it was time for… bedtime. And that’s where I cringe. I still haven’t figured out bedtime and it just becomes a frustrating time of taking someone back to their bed where they’re either asking for another animal or crying because I’m being firm but gentle and not talking to them.

Anyhow, I failed… got frustrated with them… probably said a few things in, well, not my regular voice, and even though they’ve probably forgotten about tonight, I still feel terrible. So Sportscenter was delayed an hour. Big. Deal. I need to remember that the girls aren’t really trying to give me a hard time… they’re 3 1/2 yrs. old. That’s all they know… and really, they’re just acting their age.

So, just as with every day… the good times far outnumbered the tough times, but I forget that at times. I’ve got three very special daughters who make me smile and feel good about life more times in a day that I can count.

Lela’s infectious laugh, Piper’s gesture-filled conversations, and Landis’ neverending smile. That’s what I want to remember about today.

jason