sneakers and spice

It’s so much fun to watch my boys learn new things!

Liam is learning new words every day, and he’s picking up on cues more than I realized. I could swear that boy speaks French, too. Some days I can’t help but give him blank stares when he rattles off a few paragraphs to me. I wish I knew what he was saying! He's also learned little things like how to unlock doors and turn the water hose on outside.

Riley hit the six-week mark this past weekend, and he’s technically sleeping through the night now. I say technically because some nights he wakes at 5 instead of 7:30, but either way, it means more sleep for the whole family! He’s also been learning how to use his voice, and he smiles, laughs and coos a bunch.

Every day, I’m learning, too. Here are a few things I’ve picked up on since Riley came along:

The best way to get a toddler to cuddle is to let him see you cuddle a newborn. Liam hasn’t really been interested in sitting still long enough for cuddle time with me, but ever since my very-cuddly Riley entered the picture, all of a sudden Liam asks to be picked up, rocked, and accompanied while he goes to sleep. I love it!

The idea that oats increase milk supply is no wives’ tale. Of course the decision to pump meant that I’d face the challenge of keeping my supply up. What’s a girl to do but make a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies? I’ve eaten eight so far, and I can already tell a difference! (Whatever it takes, right? Wink wink)

How to chew without moving my jaw. Don’t lie; I know you all do it, too. I’m all for sharing cookies with Liam, but any responsible mom would agree I can’t let him eat the whole batch. But if he sees me eating one, he wants one, too. Problem solved.

How to breastfeed while chasing a toddler. Before Riley was day-weaned, Liam would take advantage of the fact that I was temporarily immobile to see what he could get away with. I’ve perfected the skill of breastfeeding in a football hold while keeping my oldest from destroying the house.

Cowboy boots go with everything. I actually already knew this one; I must be where Liam gets it from, but he wants to wear his cowboy boots all day, every day. I see no problem with this.

Getting a baby dressed every day is overrated. I mean, he's awake for an hour at a time and then he's right back asleep. Why get him dressed if we don't leave the house, just to put him back in a sleeper at night? And then I just have more laundry to wash. Waste. Of. Time.

The devil’s name is not George. Curious George is a good way to keep Liam still while I tend to Riley. You could say he’s like a personal assistant. I’ve decided TV is not evil after all. Some times.

What grace is really about. Last Friday, before 8:30 a.m., Riley had screamed through his feeding and vomited all over my pillow, and he and Liam were both fussy. I woke up with a terrible headache and a strained muscle in my back. It was not a good start to the day. So I put Liam in his playpen, Riley down for a nap, and I shut myself in my room to pray. I don’t think I’d ever really grasped the concept of grace, but I realize that it’s only by the grace of God that I can do what I do. It’s like God gives me the ability to handle any opposition with calmness and finesse, to come up with creative solutions, to make the most of my time. I don’t ask for it enough, but when I do, our home is a lot more peaceful.