Roommates

 In the dark of Winter, it is so nice when the sun graces us with its presence. As I carefully placed Sawyer in his crib at nap time today I couldn't help but snap a picture of his sunny snooze. A part of me wished that I could curl up next to him and enjoy the warmth of the light pouring through his bedroom window.

With Mr. Stannix out of town for a few days I ended up with two new roommates. When I went to bed tonight I discovered Camilla and Ollie snuggled up together in the middle of my big bed, dreaming away. I just smiled to myself and then tucked in beside them. When Mr. Stannix is away I plug in all of the nightlights because the house always seems extra scary without him around to keep me safe. I usually stay up as late as I can before I let myself be overcome with sleep. Tonight, I was secretly grateful for the extra company, even if they were already asleep.

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Sawyer is ONE

 November is a month of birthdays in the Stannix home. Sawyer turned ONE yesterday, but we waited until today to celebrate with family! It was nice and low key. He napped all afternoon while I iced cupcakes and made dinner. At a year old he is sleeping through the night, standing on his own, and full of giggles and wonder. He still wants to be snuggled to sleep most of the time, and sometimes he will push away and want to be put in his crib to fall asleep on his own.  He's pretty much down to one nap a day, but still sometimes wants two. He is such a sweet boy and we are so glad he is a part of our family!

Warmth

As Winter is upon us I wanted to share a few thoughts on the importance of warmth. I've been doing a lot of reading recently about Waldorf education and the importance that Steiner placed on warmth. I find the whole thing fascinating and it really makes sense to me. Steiner believed that the amount of physical warmth a child received before age seven would positively impact not only their physical health, but also their capacity for emotional warmth as adults! Because children have a high metabolic rate, they rarely 'feel' cold, even though they are. When a child is sufficiently warm, their energy can be used to support the developing brain, heart, and other organs.  Things like warm socks, wearing hats outside, drinking warm tea, eating warm soup, candle light, warm hugs etc. are all things that can positively affect a childs well-being. Keeping our children warm during these colder months is essential to their physical, emotional, and cognitive development.

"Warmth holds a very special place in the life of the developing child, because it works throughout the entire spectrum of human experience. There is physical warmth, emotional warmth -- the warmth of love, of generosity, of true morality-- and all of these "warmths" pour over and merge with each other. Perhaps most importantly warmth is the essential ingredient in transformative work. Without warmth we cannot change, and the life of the small child is consumed with processes of growth and adaptation. Warmth helps us be healthy human beings on many different levels."

 ~Adam Blanning M.D

 

 

The Laundry Pile

After all of the kids were finally asleep I made my way to my bedroom to tackle the laundry pile. 

When I flicked on the light I discovered that a snoring Oliver had somehow found enough room to tuck himself in on the edge of the bed. 

Joseph: Seven Years

 Joe turned SEVEN today! It really isn't fair that time goes by so fast. I wanted to take a few minutes and talk about how awesome Joe is. He is such a special kid and has a big personality. He is bright and loves to learn and be engaged in what's going on around him. If given the choice between a movie or playing outside, he will always choose outside. He has so much energy and I still can hardly keep up with him. On the soccer field he can go pretty much non-stop. He is very social and will talk to everyone he meets. Joe loves to make new friends. I went through to find a few old photos to add to this post and couldn't believe he was that small! I miss his little laugh and the way he used to grab my face and smooch me. He still has a pretty infectious laugh and is a good salesman when he wants to convince you of something. He loves hard and is fiercely loyal. He's grown into such a great boy and I am so proud of him and all that he strives to do each day. This kid is going to go places! Happy birthday Joe-Joe!!

Mother

She wakes to the sound of a baby crying and tiptoes out of bed in the early hours of the morning like she's done almost every morning for many years before. She soothes and rocks as the dawn breaks in the East, painting the sky in the most magnificent colors. The babe nestles into her body for warmth, finding the perfect place to rest his head and they both close their eyes for just a moment. As the pleas for breakfast begin, she lets out a gentle sigh and puts one weary foot in front of the other making her way to the kitchen. The children snuggle on the heat vent while they wait to fill their tummies. When breakfast is served she lets their complaints go unnoticed, encouraging them to eat and nourish their bodies. When they are filled, they scurry from the table with brief expressions of gratitude. As the day goes on her capacity is tested and her emotions are constantly fluctuating. She experiences moments where she feels as though she might drown, and others that lift her spirits so high she can hardly express the joy she feels. After years of mothering she has learned to put up guards so that the hurtful words she sometimes endures from the children don't sting so badly. Her time at home allows her to craft, create, explore nature and nurture tiny souls. The demands are great, but she is up for the task. There is always someone who needs something and often the days go by without a moment to herself. Once again she creates a nourishing meal for her family. When they enjoy it she is filled with satisfaction, and when they do not, she is filled with a sense of failure. By days end she is worn down. Her patience has been tested to its limits and dark circles have formed under her eyes. She scrubs the dishes as loose hairs fall from her ponytail, framing her weary smile.  She tucks in each of the littles in her care with a long hug and a kiss on their head. She then moves about the house tidying and placing folded laundry into drawers. While most days she is left filled to the brim with joy, gratitude and a sense of satisfaction, it is not always this way. The work of a mother is relentless and tiring, but she does it without complaint because she recognizes that the fruits of her labors will be great one day as she watches those little souls grow and mature. She slips quietly into bed at days end, long after the rest of the house has grown quiet. As she falls asleep she wonders if anyone notices the hours she keeps and the service she selflessly renders on a daily basis. When she was a child she never dreamed that motherhood would be so much work, but she also didn't realize the way she would grow and become who she was truly meant to be all along.

"You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investment that you will ever make." ~Gordon B. Hinckley

Christmas Shopping

Today the little boys and I ventured down to Calgary. Daddy had to drop the work car off and needed a ride back home in the evening, so I decided to take advantage of our time in the city and get in some much needed Christmas shopping. This meant that I had to be super sneaky as I bought stuff at the mall, ensuring that little eyes wouldn't notice. Oliver and Finley enjoyed being pushed around the mall in the stroller while I bought gifts and even our Christmas eve jammies (on clearance thankyouverymuch). It was fun to wander around the mall while Sawyer napped in the baby backpack and the boys ate cookies all day. Near the end of the day, everyone was getting tired and cranky. The Bass Pro shop served as an awesome distraction and we walked around checking out the stuffed animals and giant fish tanks and water falls. The boys loved it! Now I feel like we are almost ready for Christmas! 

Cozy Fires

Time flies by so fast! This afternoon Sawyer was looking extra grown up. We spent some time at the library after school and I loved watching Camilla read a book to her baby brother in the big library chair by the fire place. I love how close all of our littles are in age, but I also love all of the different age gaps we have with the older and younger siblings. Seeing everyone interact on different levels and at different times warms my heart. 

 

Grown Up

Oliver is looking so grown up lately, I can hardly handle it! The things he says and does make him seem like such a big kid. He still enjoys a good afternoon nap though!

Spaghetti Face

Baby+Spaghetti = JOY