Bebbies.

During a quiet moment at work today, I commented to one of my co-workers that every time I see a stranger leaving St. Joe's with a newborn baby, my first thought is "ooh, how adorable!," and my second thought is "I'm glad it isn't mine." Not that I don't love babies. They are wonderful. Also, not that I don't plan on having another some day. It's just that they are so consuming. Time consuming, emotion consuming, sleep consuming, life consuming. The other nurse I was with commented that she always hopes the new mom or dad doesn't plan on sleeping for the next two years. I thought of how I still can't get through most nights without my big guy waking me up, and he is almost three.
It's a completely different experience waking up with him now, though. Referring to the experience in my previous blog post, Jonathan woke up one night and came out for a drink. I heard his little feet patter over to the heater vent (he loves to cuddle up there when it is on), but instead he climbed up on a chair and looked out the window. He noticed James' bumper on the lawn, and was very distraught. With furrowed eyebrows, he pushed his face to the glass. "Oh nos, car! Uh-oh Spaghettios, car! Mama, it's BROKEN!" He repeated this story several times. No words could calm him. My main goal became to control his volume, which continually escalated, and allow the rest of the neighborhood the joy of staying asleep. When I finally convinced him it would be OK to lay down, it took 2 rounds of the Hungry Hungry Caterpillar and one Baby Einstein Animal book adventure to calm him back to sleep.
Ethan also enjoys night-time adventures. He woke up early one morning (I know it was too early to let him up, but I was going to be at work all day and couldn't resist capitalizing on his awake time) and greeted me with "Hi! Hiii! Hiii!!!" He giggled and kissed my smiling face when I picked him up for a cuddle hug. I took him out to the kitchen with me, and held him while I unloaded the dishwasher. Being the helper that he is, Ethan grabbed out his whale plate and Jonathan's Cars fork, and used them to "feed me" while I put away the bowls and cups. He giggled with every pretend bite. Finally it was time to lay him back down, and all I could think of is how my cherished sleep took the backseat when I had my boys. I never thought I would be so OK with watching it go, but now that I have, I wouldn't change a thing.