precious moments

Only one of these two babies is really asleep. No prizes for guessing which one is the sleeping baby impersonator. Really, there are no prizes available here, just the satisfaction of knowing that you got the answer right. This is exactly the reason why we can’t resist shouting out the answer before the contestants do on Jeopardy or Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

Satisfaction, baby. And also to show off to the husband.

//

Yeah, if you guessed this baby, ding ding, you get 50 points worth of satisfaction.

I typically don’t let them nap in the same room but Finn wanted to “snuggle with his baby” and he was very convincing about promising not to disturb baby Theo. He did a pretty fine job of pretending to fall asleep too, so I thought I’d join in the nap party. Just as I got myself all comfy next to them, I heard giggling, followed by “Suuuurrrprise! I got you, mommy, hahhahahaha!!!”

So much for my nap.

***

Our bedtime setup these days is that Truett has to be in bed at 8pm. Kirsten and Finn, who don’t have to up at 6.30 in the morning, get to stay up till about 9-ish.

A few nights ago, he came out of the room sheepishly and whispered into Kirsten’s ear.

“WHAT??” she yelled. “I’m not a baby sitter, you know!!”

“Pretty please…” Truett said.

“Sighhh, ok fine fine fine.”

Kirsten followed her big brother into the room and when I went in to check on them a few minutes later, she was sitting next to him patting his head the way I usually do.

“Kor kor wants me to pat him to sleep,” she whispered, looking thoroughly pleased.

//To be clear, this isn’t good for my ovaries.

True love

We’ll be heading to Orlando and NYC this weekend with the 2 middle kids (rotational traveling!) and this time, the teary farewells have started early. Most kids would be excited out of their pants but Kirsten, while mostly thrilled, is the saddest child I’ve ever seen to be anticipating a trip to Disney World.

She told Truett, “I’m really sad that not going to see you for 21 days…I’m going to miss you so much” and started tearing up involuntarily. She covered her eyes and tried to smile away the tears as Truett tried to cheer her up.

“It’s ok, we can skype everyday,” he said, patting her on the head awkwardly. Almost like he’s the one who’s leaving Kirsten behind. “I will put a note on the fridge to say “skype Kirsten” so when I see it, I will remember.”

These two best buds been snuggling up to sleep and when I went into check on them last night, Tru fell asleep still patting her on the head.

The coin in the shoe

Truett and I were on our way to a friend’s place last week when we saw a foreign construction worker taking a nap on the floor at the void deck. We were in a bit of a hurry and I tried to rush him into the lift but he wanted to stop to talk about it so we did.

And this conversation happened.

Tru: Mom, why is there an uncle sleeping on the floor?

Me: I’m not sure. He’s probably tired so he’s having a nap. We’re running late, how about we talk about this on the way?

Tru: I think it’s because he has no mommy and daddy and no home to sleep in. Maybe we can give him some money.

Me: Okay sure, how much would you like to give him?

Tru: I have $1.20 in my wallet, how about I give him $1? I can sneakily put it in his shoe then when he wakes up, he will have a surprise. If lots of people give him money, he can have a house to sleep.

I often think that I’m the one teaching the kids about how life works but sometimes, it’s the other way around and they’re teaching me about how life is supposed to work.

Kirsten: Mom, is it super painful to give birth?

Me: Pretty much. Yeah, actually it is. But there’s epidural, which helps.

Tru: PHEW! Good thing I don’t ever have to give birth. Kirsten will have to do it next time.

Me: Well, she doesn’t have to if she doesn’t want to. She can decide when she grows up.

*pause*

Kirsten: When I grow up, I’m going to be a mom. Just like you.

Maybe it’s the postpartum hormones but that is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. It made me want to cry. I feel like amidst all the madness, maybe I’m doing something right.

This kid is going to be a great mom.

Me: Baby girl, can mommy hold your hand?

Kirsten: Of course! You can hold my hand anytime you want. 1 o’clock, 2 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 4 o’clock…ANY O’CLOCK also can!

Me: That’s like an unlimited holding hand pass, I like.

Kirsten: Um, just not too long ok, later my hands get sweaty and gross.

***

Truett: Mom, are you feeling better? Does your stomach still hurt?

Me: Yeah it does.

Truett: I think I know what will you need. I will pray for you and then hug you super long and you’ll feel better.

Me: You’re right, that would make me feel better. Also, I think I need about 50 kisses.

Tru & Kirsten: Me, me, me! I’ll kiss you so so so many times. Let’s all kiss momma!

Finn: ME! ME! KISS MOMMA PARTY!!

Me: Guys, this is the best party ever.

***

Yeah pregnancy can be rough but even the most awful moments aren’t really that bad when I have my very own feel-better-brigade to supply kisses and make it all better.

11 more days and all of this will be over one way or another, and then I’ll get to spend the rest of my life loving on these amazing babies.

Guess who’s been really into dressing up lately? Uh huh, this kid.

Say hi to Finn the Knight, with his trusty unicorn and his pink toothbrush sword. We take oral hygiene very seriously around here and he’s fighting cavities one tooth at a time. It’s all very proper business.

If you must know, he put all of this together himself, lychee basket and all. Kid’s got a future as a stylist. Or Lady Gaga.

This afternoon, I walked into the room to find Truett and Kirsten huddled over their baby brother, working on their latest dress up project. They were so proud of their creation that they paraded him around the house, giggling their heads off.

“Meet the Professor”, they said.

And then I died from cuteness.

No, seriously, does this kid look like me or what?

I’ve shown the kids my old photo like a thousand times and they know it’s me but every time I show it to them again, they’ll instinctively want to say it’s Kirsten and then their brain memory override kicks in and they’ll pause for a split second before going “no, it’s mommy!”

I’m secretly thrilled because the only thing better than having a daughter is having one that looks exactly like you, amirite?