So. I had this goal to update this blog four times a month this year. Because I love you all. But now that goal has the lofty title of being the first New Year's goal to be kaput. Unless we pretend January didn't happen. So Happy February and Happy New Year!
No, but really. I didn't really have much time to blog this month. I know I like to be a bit sarcastic and light-hearted on this blog, but we can be real enough for one paragraph to admit motherhood is no walk in the park, right? I love all my children like I love chocolate cake, but it's been a rough patch. One of those seasons when every child likes to go through a "challenging phase" at the same time. Now, I'm no shrinking flower when it comes to challenges, but four at a time can really deplete your patience. But we're still alive, and still glad to have four kids, so Warners for the Win!
So, in order to honor the good and the bad, and make you simultaneously desperately want children and as community birth control, here's one awesome and one not so awesome thing about parenting each of of our little rascals. No pictures, because of copyrights and such.
Ethan, the challenging: Worst Sleeper Award: I think Ethan might give Madeline a run for her money for most needy baby. Between teething (1 tooth and counting), and skin issues that make him really itchy, Ethan does not like sleeping. And when he wakes up he lets you know his displeasure with those signature Warner lungs. Combine that with some of the other children and sleep deprivation abounds.
Ethan, the delightful: Baby Laughs: This is not unique to Ethan, but he is in that charming baby stage where his smiles and laughs are free and easy, and everyone in the house is addicted. Nothing can cure the fatigue blues like a good hearty Ethan laugh.
Spencer, the challenging: Busy Bee: Spencer never. Ever. Stops. He is always in everything, attacking the baby for those laughs, trying to eat everything in the pantry, tormenting his sisters, and stealing any electronic device he can get his hands on. We switched him to a toddler bed after Christmas and he has not quite gotten the swing of things, so he is often up until ten or eleven because he sneaks out and falls asleep on the stairs. Which means a long day of busy Spencernkess for Mom and Dad, with no respite when the other kids are fast asleep.
Spencer, the delightful: Every Day is So Exciting: Spencer, at almost two, is constantly in wonder at all the cool stuff around him. A cookie! Wow! A book! Amazing! Nursery! Yay! He is constantly giggling at his good fortune and reveling in all the cool things he's never seen before, and his excitement is a bit infectious. It's hard to stay mad long at that happy go lucky kid.
Kimberly, the challenging: Lest you get weary of hearing how my children never sleep (ha, see what I did there?), we'll choose for our one thing Kimberly's aversion to Primary. She does not like change, and has only successfully attended Primary all the way through a few times. She doesn't want us to leave and gets all puppy dog eyed and cries and has to use the bathroom and gets stomach aches and head aches and is generally pitiful. (Doesn't school sound like it's going to go well?) And she has no qualms about missing singing and fun to come sit quietly in the adult Sunday School class.
Kimberly, the delightful: Little Charmer: Kimberly defitnitely has the gift of charm. She asks adorable questions, mothers her siblings, sings little songs, and every inflection and twirl and smile screams "Love me!" She is a sensitive soul who knows what just to say to melt your heart when she's in trouble, and even when she's in full meltdown mode, she'll shut her eyes and bunch her fists and scream, "I'm trying to listen and be good but I JUST. CAN'T. LIFE IS SO HARD." And you're laughing.
Madeline, the challenging: Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde: Madeline, bless her soul, lives life with a passion that must be exhausting. And as sweet as she is, when something happens she doesn't approve of, she can turn on a pin and start the scariest tantrums you've ever seen. Usually about small, meaningless things, usually ending in her screaming and kicking her bedroom door. As our guinea pig, she has parents who have no tried and true method for dealing with these behaviors, so there are a lot of tears on both sides figuring it out. We'll either get it someday, or start selling tickets.
Madeline, the delightful: Learner Extraordinaire: Can I just say that probably one of the absolute best and most satisfying aspects of parenting is seeing your child learn and master new things? Madeline has grown leaps and bounds in kindergarten, and she can now read entire picture books mostly by herself. And it is delightful. We have so much fun reading together and she constantly startles me with things she knows. I love seeing her use her talents and maybe, someday, become as nerdy and awkward as me.
So, there's a sampling of what's making us laugh and cry lately. If you don't hear from me for a while, I'm just discovering a whole new crop of fantastic and terrible things about my children, and enjoying, if not every minute, enough amazing ones to make it worth it ten times over.
