Love this picture I snapped of my youngest trying to do a handstand like his sister!

I am convinced that some of the best bonding between my kids takes place after we kiss them goodnight and shut the door.  The policy in our house has been that they can talk in bed (or in their drawers) as long as they are quiet and stay laying down.  (no jumping off the bed or playing with toys) The giggles and chattering drifting down the hall are some of my most cherished sounds.  In fact, it was during one of these “behind closed doors chats” that my son led his younger sister to the Lord.  She told me one day that she knew she was a Christian because she had prayed with her brother one night asking God to forgive her of her sins and be her Savior. 

So, naturally, when my oldest son moved out of the room he’d shared with his sisters for 4 years in order to share a room with his little brother, it was a bittersweet moment at the circus.

But, I think in the past year since that happened the bond of friendship between the girls has grown.  AND a genuine love of reading has transpired in my oldest sons life, as well, as a unique bond of brotherhood between the boys. 

When he moved into his brothers room, we knew the late night talking would cease for awhile.  But, we told him, you may stay up and read in your bed.   I had no idea at the time the hours of reading that would transpire with this new arrangement.   It is not unusual for me to have to go back and tell him lights out at 11:00.  In fact last Friday, he was beyond excited because he had managed to stay up until midnight! 

It’s a cute little arrangement that has taken place.  My youngest will contentedly lay in his crib falling asleep watching his big brother reading.  It doesn’t bother him to have the light on, or to fall asleep with someone else in the room.  In fact, I dare you to try to put him to sleep at night without his brother there. 

Last night we told the kids to get ready for bed and we went down the hall to find this. 

He sat there so quietly, so contently that we ended up leaving him there for awhile before going back and moving him to his crib.  

When I was taking my Elem Education classes in college, I learned that reading in front of your children is crucial to develop a life long love of reading.  They need to see that you too enjoy reading and it just isn’t something you do because you have to.  I can only imagine growing up watching his big brother read for hours every night, will have a similarly positive effect on him. 

As if the sight of one boy playing the piano, didn’t melt my heart enough…

2 boys just turns me to mush

As Scott and I worked to put together the scrapbook and video collage for our son’s 1st birthday, we looked at lots and lots of pictures and video clips. 

As we did, one reoccurring theme, was brought to mind.

This boy is adored by his siblings.

He really has been from day 1.  And by day 1, I mean, the day Scott and I told them about the baby in my belly.  But as we watched videos and looked at pictures of him at the hospital, coming home from the hospital, getting his first bath, changing his diapers, eating his first solid foods, drinking from a sippy cup, eating finger foods, crawling, standing… at each milestone, each new phase for him… you see 3 cheerleaders by his side.  Smiling and clapping, exclamations of “he did it!” ring over and over. 

As we celebrated his birthday, that love shone brightly though again.   They’re there, in his face , by his side, excitedly watching him open his gifts, eating his first bite of cake, watching his video that Daddy made.  They are excited.   They are involved.    The girls decided, on their own, to wear their big sister outfits… the same ones they wore when they met him at the hospital.  And they each made him thoughtful cards for his birthdayMy heart was so full as I looked at that love. Overflowingly full. I love the way they love him.   And my hearts desire, is that that love will only grow.  That they will be lifelong friends forever. 

By the way, if your friends with me on face book, you can see the video by clicking on my wall. 

As I watch my kids play together, I can’t help but think how my son has no idea how good he has it.  Growing up, it was just me and my little brother and we’d often play together.  I vividly recall playing GI Joe with him.  It pretty much went the same way every time.  I had the Princess Lea action figure and she would be married to either Shipwreck or Sgt Slaughter.  I’d let him go off on the side and fight his battles or whatever while Princess Lea would clean house and make dinner.  Then she’d call him home from war to sit at the table and eat his dinner.

Yea, I pretty much turned Joes into Ken and Barbie.

Lately, my oldest two have been playing GI Joe and it is a totally different game.  My daughter is Lady Jaye and she throws grenades across the toy room at the Cobra’s. 

I couldn’t help but chuckle when she came looking for a sack to wear on her back for her grenades to go in.  Yea… my son totally struck gold in the sister department.  Sorry bro!

There are many familiar and epic battles out there.  At the circus, I am often subject to reading, watching, and even role playing in such battles over good and evil.

Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker fighting for the future of the galaxy.

Spiderman and Doctor Octopus dueling over the city of New York.

Optimus Prime and the autobots verses Megatron and the decepticons in their fierce battle over the fate of earth. 

But none come close to the battle currently being fought at the circus. 

One one side we have my son who as a baby was comforted by his pacifier and wants his little brother to find comfort in the same place. 

His littlest sister weighs in in the other corner.  She’s found great solace in sucking her fingers and takes delight in finding her baby brother doing the same. 

On more than one occasion I have seen them trying to convince their brother that their way is the best way.  (Yes, that’s right my son will pull the fingers out of a content baby’s mouth in order to stick in the pacifier). 

Who will win for the heart and soul of the youngest circus member?  Will it be the pacifier or his fingers?

Right now, he’s a bit confused and scared over the choice at hand.

One of my favorite things about parenting, is watching my children interact with each other (when they aren’t fighting that is).  It’s fascinating to me to see the differences in their bonds and relationships.  One relationship which I have observed recently growing is that between my two girls.   

With only 17 mths, and a few inches and pounds between them, they are in so many ways peers.  They share much in common, and yet are so very different.  It’s been my prayer since the beginning that as they grow, their bond of friendship grows only stronger. 

A loyal sister is worth a thousand friends. 

~Marian Eigerman

What were my kids doing on the quilt in that picture yesterday?  Were they tracking an escaped ant from their ant farm? Were they studying the quilt pattern in preparation for making one of their own?  Were they praying over their baby brother?

Not quite

Believe it or not, underneath that pile of circus cast members was our youngest child…

You kinda get a little glimpse of him here…

We were attempting some tummy time, but I don’t think the poor guy had any room to lift his little head with all the smothering encouragement from his older siblings. 

So instead he laid his precious little head down on the quilt and fell asleep.

  Sweet dreams little man

I think I’ve mentioned before that my oldest three all share a room.  This week the kids have started taking turns sleeping with the baby. 

Sunday night the boys got to sleep together.  My oldest was so excited about sharing a room with his little brother.  I couldn’t help but snap a picture as I peeked in on them before going to bed.

When I went to look in on the girls I found them both cuddled up together on the floor… it appears they decided to have a sleep over of their own!

The next night my oldest daughter wanted to sleep with the baby.  As she was getting ready for bed she told me to make sure when I put him to sleep that I put his pacifier where she could reach in the crib so that she could help him if he woke up.  She told me she’d take care of him and I wouldn’t have to get up.  One of the times when I went in to feed him, I found her by his crib giving him his pacifier and talking sweetly to him.  In the morning I found she had moved off of the bed and onto the floor so she could be closer to him. I wonder how long it’ll be before all four of them are sleeping in the same room?!