i don't want to miss a thing

"...before falling into sleep, remember the ordinary moments of the day, the moments with your children that meant something to you. this simple exercise is like a spiritual corrective lens. in your vision of your kids, it helps restore the prominence of "who they are" over "what they need to do" or "what they need to work on". review the images; revisit the funny yet strangely insightful thing your child said. relive those moments, and give them their due. let the images rise to the surface of your day. let them fill the emotional waters that will lull you, in waves of appreciation and wonder, into sleep." (Simplicity Parenting, Kim John Payne)

i treasure these words, and i have been trying to heed them. it has made a difference. i have re-fallen in love with my children and have deepened my appreciation for both of them. there were so many moments this week that i soaked in; they calmed me and made me smile. i hope to never forget them.

sam: you always have a schedule/routine. i love the morning routine you have created. you get yourself dressed immediately after breakfast. you choose your own clothes and dress in your room with the door shut. then you brush your teeth, wash your hands, and comb your hair- all on your own of course. you are getting so big.

will: any time you want candy, juice, or any other thing we tell you that you can't have you always say "i just hold it". we have learned that you don't get to hold any of the things we don't want you to have because you sneak it until it's all gone, and you are sneaky about it. if we won't give it to you always say "i save it". that just rarely happens.

sam & will: you have been best friends so much this week, and it is pleasant. today sam wanted will to be in his school. sam set up the preschool stuff and had will be the student. it was fun to listen to him go through the opening exercises with him exactly how we do it at his preschool. he was a very encouraging teacher as opposed to being frustrated.

sam & will: the 2 of you have been racing around the house all day. sam is constantly asking will to hold his hand to race. i love the happy squeals and seeing the two of them running around hand in hand. i especially loved seeing sam pick will up and spin him around, both laughing. then they kissed. it was a precious moment. i know they won't be kissing and hugging too much longer, so i'm fortunate to see it now.

sam & will: will loves going into the bathroom with sam when sam is sitting on the toilet. sam loves it, too. he always takes will's diaper off so he can sit on his potty chair. sam is always so encouraging about using the potty. every time they are finished he always puts underwear on will and gets him a piece of gum for a reward. sam will whisper to me that he just went for pretend. however, tonight was different. same routine but this time will actually peed in the toilet. sam was so excited and screaming for me to come quick. we were all proud, especially sam. i loved will's shy smile; he was proud and wanted underwear on right away. sam took him into the other room and told him that his treat was going to be to get to sleep with him in his bed. will was thrilled. they are now sleeping soundly with each other in sam's bed. what a reward for 2 brothers.

sam & will: you both spent the night with aunt dawn dawn and had a great time. will was so brave to not even cry and stay asleep the whole night. sam reassured me before i left them there that he would help will if he got scared. when they got home this morning sam told me that in the night will was asking for mommy but he told him that he was there for him and that it would be ok. will agreed; he said "sam help me". i'm always relieved to know that they are there for each other.

sam: i discovered tonight that you keep a notebook and pencil under your pillow and draw at night after we put you in bed. tonight you asked me if i could leave the light on because he needed to draw me something really special and he needed more light to do it right. i was touched; he is always writing me "special" notes and leaving them under my pillow. they are very special. i love that he chooses a notepad to entertain himself over other things.

will: you love pretending. whenever we ask you to stop doing something that is naughty, like trying to hit someone with a stick, you always say "i not do it, i just pretending". then you really stop doing what we ask and actually just pretend to do it. i guess that's better than doing it. i love that you are always pretending something; you've got quite the imagination.

sam: you played soccer outside tonight until it was dark. you were all over the ball, falling, kicking, and everything. you reminded us every time that sometimes in soccer people get taken down and that's just how you play. we are grateful for warmer evenings to start our outdoor evenings.

will: i love that you are our singing child. you sing all the time, mostly songs you make up or your stand by "jingle bells". all day today in the car you were singing about your cousin amber being in your bed, in sam's bed, and in mom & dad's bed. kinda weird to sing about, but you really like amber even though she never really plays with you.