Here we are at the start of another week once again. Time sure ticks by when your days are full and busy! The children all seem to be growing and changing so much each day that I can hardly keep up with them. I chatted with my Mum on the phone today and she wisely said, "They grow fast". I've been thinking about that statement a lot today, and how true it is. I spent the better part of my morning clicking through old pictures of the children and letting them hear themselves on video. Camilla was amused by her little voice when she was first learning how to talk. Hyrum laughed at the one of him playing "ha-ee" with a wooden spoon at our old house. They both told me how much they missed our old floral couches and their shared bedroom. Their memories amaze me! My memory however isn't so good. Often the kids will say something funny or do something memorable and when I sit down to write about it at days end, I've forgotten! I always try to take note of things the moment they happen so I can write them in more detail later. Time just goes so quickly and I sure want to hang onto these moments after my children are grown.
Last night Camilla asked me to lay with her for a few minutes before bed. Almost every night I snuggle with her and scratch her back, arms and sometimes legs while she rattles off her days events to me. This time she snuggled her little body in close, positioning her head just below my chin and resting it near my chest. I pulled her in close and ran my fingers through her long damp hair. Her breathing soon became very heavy and her arm twitched letting me know she was asleep. The curtains were pulled open still and the orange streetlights filled the room with a special glow. I wanted to lay there forever with her sweet body nestled into mine. I thought about when she was a baby and remembered special moments we shared. I thought about when her body was small enough that she could sleep on my chest with her legs curled up on my stomach. Tears were shed in our snuggle and more tears come as I write this. Memories from the last four years flooded my memory. But those memories were a little foggy, and suddenly I wished I was better at keeping a journal when she was a baby (or that I had started this blog when she was first born). When I look back on pictures, the details of the moment seem distant, and I can't help but think, "They grow so fast!"
Camilla is such a great girl! The other day when we were driving she was telling me how awesome it was that Santa knew exactly what she wanted and how he "sees everything from the South Pole!" I smiled and listened. Tonight when I tucked her in, she told me all about her day. Then she said, "I'm SO excited for tomorrow because the day after that we get to go see our friends!" The enthusiasm in her voice was so contagious and left me wishing I could capture some of her energy and zest for myself. She will often wake up and tell me, "Today is a special day Mommy because..." and tell me a simple reason why it's special. If only we could all have that same outlook on life each night before bed and each morning when we wake. She teaches me so much this girl of mine.
And while I'm updating, here's a bit on Mr. H. His vocabulary is huge, and it's no wonder with the way his big sister teaches him. He always asks to say the dinner prayer and then gets Camilla to help him. One time this week, in a classic repeat after me prayer, Camilla said "Please bless we will get a new baby, and that it will be a GIRL" and Hyrum repeated, "Please bless a new baby, and that it will be a BOY!". Mike and I cracked up. He is doing awesome in his new undies and staying dry all day. We're still working on the other side of things. Often after I've made him sit on the potty for a few minutes he will tell me, "I'm full of sitting on the potty". He uses this line for other things too. "I'm full of..." whatever we're doing.
Joseph is absolutely hilarious lately and has perhaps changed the most of the three! Today I laughed when I was kneeling down to hug Camilla and he plowed in, climbed on my knee, clung onto my shirt and pasted himself to the front of me. I gave him a hug and he let out a big content sigh and remained snuggled for a few minutes. It seems whenever I try to give affection to anyone else, he will always make his way in there for a bit o' lovin'. He now folds his hands at night prayers and gives us all big hugs before bed. It's crazy how much he understands, and how obedient he is. He likes to walk around scheming with his tongue stuck out and pointing up. He has a love for climbing and will frequently hang from the handle of my oven as he tries to make his way up. He also tries to pull himself onto the counter using the dishwasher and can almost get on the couch all by himself. I dread the day when he's able to climb and jump on the couch with the older kids. They are getting better at watching him and keeping him safe though. Camilla always stands behind him when he goes downstairs to help him. He has developed a fear of the top of the stairs and will always turn around a good couple of feet before the stairs begin and scoot himself backwards. He takes the stairs on his tummy like they are a slide at the park and giggles the whole way down. I love him and the joy he brings to our little family!
