And snipping, snipping
Scissors run
To cut out hearts
For everyone.~ John Updike “February” from A Child’s Calendar
For weeks Bella, inspired by one of her favorite poems, has been asking to cut out hearts.
I had this inspiration to cut out hearts from the vast supply of water colored papers that Bella and Sophie have been stockpiling and have the girls glue them onto construction paper. Then we could decorate these cards with plenty of glitter glue and stickers and whatever else might strike our fancy.
On trips to Target and CVS I collected a few crafting supplies: construction paper, heart stickers, glitter glue. Do you know how hard it is to find lace doilies? Why is that? I seem to remember them being everywhere when I was younger. In the grocery stores and pharmacies and anywhere that sold cards. Now they seem to be a rare bird. I found a one package of small gold heart doilies at Michael’s and that was it.
I tend to put off doing crafts with the kids because it always seems like it’s going to be so much work. But once we get started it is such a great deal of fun. And not just for the girls. I loved making my own collage cards. It must bring out my inner ten year-old. I could have kept it up all day.
We ended up with more than two dozen cards, two little girls covered in glitter glue, and not too much of a mess on the table.
Bella adored it all from gluing on hearts to sticking stickers to mixing the various colors of gliter glue into a sodden mess on her paper. She can be very methodical with craft projects—she is always the last child to finish when we do crafts at library’s story time—and I think she only applied glitter to two of her cards because she got so very absorbed in the process. But she didn’t mind when Sophie and I decorated the rest of them, so all was good.
I think Sophie’s favorite part was sticking on the stickers. She didn’t require any help with them and there was zero frustration factor in it. Most of the tasks were really beyond her, including squeezing the glitter out of the tubes; but she was pretty content to let me squeeze while she held the tube and directed me. She especially enjoyed having me write out her name in glitter.
Nonetheless, fun was had by all except Ben who was upset that he couldn’t throw all the art supplies all over the floor. You’ll enjoy it more next year, Ben.
I do hope that your last ten days of pregnancy continue to go smoothly. Many blessings to you and Dom.
I spent the weekend watching the seven episodes of Downton Abbey (yes, watch instantly on Netflix) and loved it. But what a cliff-hanger ending!!
Books for siblings (I’m sure I’ve mentioned them before, but just in case):
– You’ll soon grow into them, Titch (Adding a FOURTH child to a family) by Pat Hutchins
– the Very Worst Monster (all-time favorite in my house
Going from middle to more middle can be just as traumatic as going from baby to middle.
The kids will work it out, and more quickly than you’d think. If you take their love for and acceptance of the new baby for granted, so will they.
Also, for Bella’s many questions, see if you can find copies of the old “Waldo” series: “Waldo, tell me about God”, “Waldo, tell me about me”, and my favorite, “Waldo, tell me about guardian angels.” Worth buying used if you must.
Oh your Indian restaurant sounds divine. I only discovered Indian food after we moved to Las Vegas (taking a hideous pay cut and consequently having gone out for dinner exactly three times in three years), and after having it at a restaurant I’ve tried for years to re-create it at home. I’ve never been pleased but Charlotte loves the chicken tikka masala.
Regarding Sophie-she sounds like Charlotte was before Liam was born. Charlotte was much younger, of course, but she went totally to pieces in the weeks prior and still requires more of my time and attention than Liam does. She even reverted back to wanting to nurse every hour, at which point I drew the line.
What is Downtown Abbey about? I’m always on the lookout for new TV. Is it on Netflix?
I can’t believe it’s only ten days as well! I can’t wait to see pictures of little Anthony.
Thanks all, for the well-wishes and prayers.
Calah, I feel your pain. I’ve never had homemade Indian food come out tasting as good as it does in the restaurant. Yummy, yes. But never as good.
Downton Abbey is on Netflix. Though I’ve been watching it streaming on PBS.org. It’s a great BBC period piece set in the Edwardian era (circa 1912, 1913) that follows a family in an English manor house. Plot lines move back and forth between the family and the servants. Much intrigue and romance. Very funny in parts and heartbreaking in others. Good stuff if you like period pieces.
scotch meg, thanks for the book recommends.
You know, it’s strange: I’ve always been worried about a difficult transition period for one or more of the children but haven’t experienced one yet with any of my births. When I headed to the hospital in labor with Xavier (#4), my Cate (#3) absolutely fell to pieces on our way out the door. But I was prepared for that: she was only 14 months old, she had never been left with anyone before, and she had a terrible case of “stranger anxiety” to boot. According to my MIL, who was watching her for us, she did very well most of the time, but the drive to the hospital involved me sobbing during contractions and trying to refocus—not a fun experience.
When we brought baby home 24 hours later, though, and MIL went home herself, Cate was back to her usual self. She was a bit annoyed that I wouldn’t carry her around like usual for a few weeks, but none of that was directed toward the baby at all. It’s funny; my fears on that score have always been unfounded. This time, I know my older three will adore having a baby around. Xavier will only be 16 months, so it’s hard to tell what he will think and do.
The most difficult part of the family dynamics after bringing home a new baby has been figuring out how *I* relate to my former “baby.” After being with that newborn in the hospital, I come home and suddenly my barely-a-toddler looks HUGE. It’s really sad for me, and the postpartum hormones don’t help. I really do dread that part of the whole process. It takes some getting used to.
My husband and I love Indian food. Your post made me hungry.
I’m so glad you’re feeling so well. Know that you’re in my prayers and that I’m anxiously awaiting to hear about your big news.
Blessings to you and yours.
Celeste, So far my fears haven’t materialized either. But that doesn’t mean there won’t ever be any transitional issues. I remember my sister threw herself onto the floor of the hospital when our younger brother was born and threw a real tantrum. But again you are right that that is only at most a short-term reaction. In the long run they will of course adore him and will welcome him into their ranks with much love. My fears are really only about the immediate days after delivery and especially while I’m in the hospital. u about little details, not the big picture.