Blessed Unrest

Adirah is Asher's new baby sister and today is the third day of her life outside the womb. I have not missed one night of putting Asher to sleep this week even though on Sunday night I was in early labor during Asher's bedtime. I wanted to keep his routine, so I went in to sing songs and settle Asher down after Daddy read him books. "Mommy, what are you blowing?" Asher asked during one of my contractions. I was determined to get him to sleep so I just said, "Oh, my belly hurts a little. The blowing helps." My midwives assured me that my labor would probably not really kick in until Asher went to sleep so I just followed our usual routine. And sure enough, Adirah was born (at home) just 6 hours later. Since then I have been playing a game, just with myself, that I call Big Kid, Little Kid. Little Kid: Adirah wakes up, mouth open she turns her head and roots on her blanket. I pick her up and touch her furry little head. Her arms flail and her legs kick. I hol...

Often when I am trying to put Asher to bed, random thoughts pop into his head. He just can not fall asleep until he talks about these thoughts and gets answers to his questions. A couple of weeks ago Asher wondered, "Mom? How come all the time when the monkeys are jumping on the bed, one bonks his head there are colorful stars all around his head?" Asher must be talking about a book he reads at school because we don't have that book at home. "I think the colorful stars show where the monkey's head was hurting," I answered. "Oh." Said Asher And we went back to stories and songs and bedtime.