Our Typical Morning

Although every day looks different, most of our mornings are identical. Around 7am I stumble to the coffee pot, pull out two sippy cups,a bottle and one coffee cup, and feed our morning addiction. Yes, I still let my kids use sippy cups for their morning coffee only and yes, I give my kids coffee. It all started when that was the only way I could get Amelia to drink milk and I haven't had the heart to break it ever since. Especially since, I, myself cannot do without my morning fix. I can assure you it is only like 2 inches of coffee and six inches of milk. But they still wake up begging for it. Anyway, then we go veg in front of the T.V to watch Word World and I have 30 minutes to drink my coffee and wake up. After that, I feed Owen his cereal, then the other kids and myself, and our day is off to its start! I love those 30 minutes of calm before our day starts racing. Almost every day is like this.

Not this morning. On occasion, my kids way up ready to play. A few sips of coffee and they are racing around the house, pushing loud toys, and screaming and laughing in delight. On these mornings I look at the clock at 8am and realize I am in for a LONG day. No easing into the day. They greet it at a full sprint.

This morning I have been laughing at how different kids can be. My friend Meg and I were talking about this yesterday. I am noticing it as most do, as each kid reaches the particular stage. She has the unique opportunity to notice how different three kids can be all at the same time, as hers are triplets. You hear this all your life, how your kids will be so different from each other despite that you are doing the exact same things and they're growing up in the exact same environment. It's so interesting. Amelia, for example, wants to do everything herself and she wants to do it perfect the first time or else she quickly moves into a very bad attitude. Lane has no desire to do anything by himself. He is quite content with having everything done for him. Minimal desire to dress himself, no desire to use the potty, couldn't care less to learn how to put himself in and out of the car seat. However, Lane cares very much about what he wears. He has very strong opinions about what shorts he wears and by all means, what shoes. Amelia is four and a half and still puts on whatever I tell her to. She doesn't give a thought to what she's wearing. Most days she wears a dress, not because she's particularly girly, but because it is the fastest way to get dressed and be done with it. Amelia cannot stand to clean up. When made to do so, she finds the most bizarre places to put things that are on the floor. I find things in pillow cases, under beds, in cubby holes. Wouldn't it take just as much energy to put it where it goes? Lane on the other hand knows exactly where things go and won't stand for it to be anywhere else. He is the first to start cleaning up when told to do so at church. I guess he gets that from Jason. I don't have much to compare with Owen so far. All I know is he is the busiest of all three of mine. I am not exaggerating when I say I can barely pin him down for a diaper change. He is all over the place. He is strong, too, and can pull himself out of my arms to get to whatever else is more interesting at the moment. Another difference is food. Once I started offering my other kids real food, they were done with baby food-no looking back. I cannot get this child to eat real food to save my life. He has this horrible gag reflex and also I think he just doesn't like the texture of real food. Who knows how long I'll be feeding this kid baby food. Very annoying. Anyway, all three of my kids are completely different in reaching milestones, temperament, personality, everything. They are definitely uniquely and wonderfully made.

I am working hard to enjoy every moment of Owen's baby months. There are not very many left. The baby stage is my favorite not only because they're so darn cute, but because I'm pretty successful as a mom at this stage. Or at least I was when I only had one. or two. This time, even though I typically love this stage, I am finding it easy to wish for the next stage. "Oh, things will be so much easier when Owen can.....". Fill in the blank. But I know this stage will be over in a flash and I will be wishing for the days back when. One day very soon I will be sad that I will not ever again have an infant. So I am trying, like I said, to not get lost in the routine. To not wish for bedtime. To not be annoyed that he's into EVERYTHING. To cherish his newly toothy grin and slobbery kisses and teary temper tantrums. I'm trying to have a greater perspective.